Publicação
Widowhood: The experience of loneliness and subjective well-being
| Resumo: | Widowhood is one of the stressful life events in a life course. Adjusting may be difficult for older adults experiencing a decrease in social networks. This study aims to explore widowhood in old age - the experience of loneliness and subjective well-being. The attachment perspective (Bowlby, 1980), the relational model of loneliness (Weiss, 1973) and the subjective well-being construct (Diener, 2000) are the frames of reference. Sample consisted of 65 Portuguese community-dwelling men and women (65 to 96 years), married and widowed. Participants answered a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larson, & Griffin, 1985), the reduced version of the Emotional and Social Loneliness Scale (Stroebe, Stroebe, Abakoumkin, & Schut, 1996) and the Instrumental and Expressive Social Support Scale (Ensel & Woelfel, 1986). Results of discrete discriminant analysis considering age group, gender, emotional loneliness, social loneliness, subjective well-being, emotional, practical and financial support variables showed good discrimination between widowed and married groups. All results were favourable to married participants as far as positive affects were concerned. Weiss theory, the association between loneliness and attachment, was supported, with the marital relationship being a means of emotional support, and widowhood having an impact on the experience of emotional loneliness. |
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| Autores principais: | Silva, Maria Eugénia Duarte |
| Outros Autores: | Carreira, Cláudia; Sousa Ferreira, Ana Maria; Costa, Catarina |
| Assunto: | Widowhood Old-age Subjective well-being Loneliness |
| Ano: | 2008 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | artigo |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso restrito |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa |
| Resumo: | Widowhood is one of the stressful life events in a life course. Adjusting may be difficult for older adults experiencing a decrease in social networks. This study aims to explore widowhood in old age - the experience of loneliness and subjective well-being. The attachment perspective (Bowlby, 1980), the relational model of loneliness (Weiss, 1973) and the subjective well-being construct (Diener, 2000) are the frames of reference. Sample consisted of 65 Portuguese community-dwelling men and women (65 to 96 years), married and widowed. Participants answered a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larson, & Griffin, 1985), the reduced version of the Emotional and Social Loneliness Scale (Stroebe, Stroebe, Abakoumkin, & Schut, 1996) and the Instrumental and Expressive Social Support Scale (Ensel & Woelfel, 1986). Results of discrete discriminant analysis considering age group, gender, emotional loneliness, social loneliness, subjective well-being, emotional, practical and financial support variables showed good discrimination between widowed and married groups. All results were favourable to married participants as far as positive affects were concerned. Weiss theory, the association between loneliness and attachment, was supported, with the marital relationship being a means of emotional support, and widowhood having an impact on the experience of emotional loneliness. |
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