Journal of Family Issues

KITSON, GAY C.; BABRI, KAREN BENSON; ROACH, MARY JOAN; PLACIDI, KATHLEEN S.

doi: 10.1177/019251389010001001pmid: N/A

Authors have commented upon the theoretical similarities in adjustment to widowhood and divorce, but little research has empirically explored this issue. This review examines studies of adjustment to widowhood and/or divorce and points out those places where findings are similar or different. The impact upon adjustment of cause of death or divorce, timing of the event, demographic correlates, economic issues, social support, and attachment is explored. The review concludes with a discussion of methodological issues and topics for future research in widowhood and divorce adjustment research.

GREENE, RITSUKO WATANABE; FELD, SHEILA

doi: 10.1177/019251389010001002pmid: N/A

The relationship between social support coverage and well-being was examined in four subgroups from a national sample of women ages 50 and older: first married (N = 151), widows (N = 144), widows within the last five years (n = 60), and widows for longer than five years (n = 84). The index of support coverage represented how many of six functions were carried out by at least one supporter. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) that support coverage is associated with well-being in all subgroups, and (2) that social support is more strongly associated with well-being in the subgroups experiencing higher stress, that is, widows more than married women and recent widows more than long-term ones. The hypotheses were not supported. Instead, the relationships between social support and well-being were positive in some groups and negative in others. The importance of considering the causal directions of links between social support and well-being and the possible negative consequences of receiving social support are discussed.

COYSH, WILLIAM S.; JOHNSTON, JANET R.; TSCHANN, JEANNE M.; WALLERSTEIN, JUDITH S.; KLINE, MARSHA

doi: 10.1177/019251389010001003pmid: N/A

The postdivorce adjustment of 149 men and 149 women with joint or sole physical custody of their children was examined along two dimensions: parents' individual adjustment and their relationships with ex-spouses. A multivariate multiple regression analysis was employed to assess the relative impact of custody arrangements in the context of men's and women's pre- and postseparation psychological, social, and occupational functioning. Shared custody arrangements (whether joint or sole physical custody), and access of parents to their children had no significant relationship to parents' postdivorce adjustment or relationships with their ex-spouses. However, there was strong evidence for a marked continuity in parents' functioning before and after divorce; that is, prior levels of individual functioning were indicators of postdivorce adjustments and relationship to the ex-spouse. Also, it was estimated that the quality of relationship with a new partner had different effects on men's and women's postdivorce adjustment.

DOHERTY, WILLIAM J.; SU, SUSAN; NEEDLE, RICHARD

doi: 10.1177/019251389010001004pmid: N/A

This study offers prospective data on the psychological well-being of men and women before and after a marital separation, in comparison with a control group who remained married during the same period. Data were gathered as part of the Minnesota Family Health Study on a primarily middle-class White sample. Primary variables were current psychological well-being, self-esteem, mastery, substance use, and family income. Findings were quite different for men and women. Prior to separation, men in the disrupted group had lower psychological well-being scores than the continuously married group had, but showed no declines in any of the measures in the follow-up period. Separated women scored lower than did women from continuing marriages on psychological well-being prior to the separation, and they declined further afterwards. Separated women also increased their use of alcohol and other substances, and experienced a decline in family income. Findings are discussed in terms of the social causation hypothesis and the social selection hypothesis for understanding the relationship between divorce and mental health in adults.

MORGAN, LESLIE A.

doi: 10.1177/019251389010001005pmid: 12281786

Separate studies of divorced and widowed women show increased odds of becoming poor following the termination of marriage. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal data suggest that the end of marriage is correlated with higher poverty rates. Less is known, however, about factors that influence economic well-being over time, and whether these factors are similar for widows and divorced women. This analysis uses data from the National Longitudinal Surveys cohort of mature women (1967-1982) to examine the probability of becoming poor after widowhood or divorce among mid-life women, and factors that seem to influence economic well-being. Findings show that 40% of widows and over one-quarter of divorced women fall into poverty for at least some time during the first five years after leaving marriage. The type of marital transition experienced by the woman is not a significant factor in economic well-being, but both age and prior economic standing have positive estimated effects.

FARNSWORTH, JUDY; PETT, MARJORIE A.; LUND, DALE A.

doi: 10.1177/019251389010001006pmid: N/A

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that seem substantially to affect the management of loss and subjective well-being of older divorced and widowed individuals. Data were obtained from 219 adults, ages 50-69 years, who were divorced or widowed within two years of interview. Stepwise regression analyses indicated that self-reported personal health was the major predictor of management of loss and well-being for both divorced and widowed respondents with positive ratings of health consistently indicating more satisfactory outcomes. For widowed respondents, time since death of the spouse emerged as a strong predictor in six of the seven criterion measures of loss and well-being. For divorced respondents, time since divorce was not a significant predictor of management of loss and well-being, but divorced women reported more feelings of helplessness/avoidance and anger/guilt/confusion than men.

GOVE, WALTER R.; SHIN, HEE-CHOON

doi: 10.1177/019251389010001007pmid: N/A

In this article we focus on the psychological well-being of the widowed and divorced. The data are from a national stratified probability sample in which the divorced and widowed, particularly divorced and widowed males, were oversampled. Seven different indicators of psychological well-being are used. Compared to the married and, to a lesser extent the never married, the psychological well-being of the divorced and widowed is poor. Overall the psychological well-being of divorced males, divorced females and widowed females is roughly comparable and better than the psychological well-being of widowed males.