Loneliness, optimism, and well-being among married, divorced, and widowed individuals

The study explored feelings of loneliness and dispositional optimism and their unique contribution to well-being. The sample included 196 women and men (M age = 45.94 years; 54% were women; 34% were married, 34% were divorced, and 32% were widowed) who completed inventories assessing feelings of loneliness, dispositional optimism, and well-being measured by life satisfaction and negative affect. Widows and widowers scored higher than married respondents on loneliness and negative affect and lower on life satisfaction and optimism. Divorced persons scored lower on life satisfaction than married respondents but higher than widows and widowers on optimism. Loneliness was negatively correlated with optimism. Multiple regression analyses using demographics, family status, loneliness, and optimism as independent variables showed that loneliness contributed negatively to well-being, while optimism contributed positively to well-being. A Structural Equation Modeling analysis and mediation tests showed that both loneliness and optimism mediated the effects of widowhood on well-being. The findings are in support of Conservation of Resources (COR) theory (S. E. Hobfoll, 1989, 2001).     

Life Satisfaction After Spousal Loss: The Potential Influence of Age,Gender, and Leisure

Life satisfaction is considered an important part of successful aging. The purpose of this study was to examine how age, gender, and participation in leisure activities influence the life satisfaction of widowed older adults. Results suggest that age, gender, and changes in physical activity participation are possible predictors of widowed older adults’ life satisfaction. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

The broken heart phenomenon: An examination of the mortality of bereavement

Bereaved people are at greater risk of losing their lives than the non-bereaved. This paper explores the evidence on this ‘bereavement—mortality relationship’, to establish who among the bereaved are most vulnerable to such dire consequences of loss. Information is drawn from several sources, including epidemiological research on sociodemographic variables, analyses of causes of death and recent empirical studies that have identified differences between bereaved decedents and survivors. The survey shows that risk factors interact in complex ways to determine level of vulnerability. A simple explanation in terms of ‘broken heart’ cannot account for the pattern of results. Some bereaved subgroups are more vulnerable to death than others, excess risk occurs across a variety of causes of death (suggesting different underlying processes), and personal characteristics in combination with circumstantial factors lead to high vulnerability. It is concluded that two types of process underlie the bereavement–mortality relationship. These are related: (a) to the direct effects of grief (broken heart); and (b) to secondary consequences associated with the stress of bereavement.     

Spouse Bereavement Processes of Holocaust Child Survivors: Can One Differentiate a Black Frame from a Black Background?

This article highlights the relation between the mourning processes of Holocaust war orphans and their expected bereavement processes in later life when a spouse dies. The relation between the two processes is explored through a clinical case study. In addition, we define the concept of subtle mourning as an adjustment in the bereavement process. We assume that orphans, who survive after genocide, suffer a lifelong sense of bereavement. They create a subtle mourning process which can be disclosed much later in their lives when they must cope with the death of a spouse.     

鳏与寡对老年人抑郁水平的影响:社会网络的调节作用

为了进一步探讨丧偶与抑郁水平之间的关系,讨论社会网络（包括家庭网络和朋友网络）在其中的作用机制,并比较丧偶与抑郁水平的关系及社会网络作用机制的性别差异,本研究对中国老年社会追踪调查（CLASS）2014年调查中7649名老年人（其中丧偶老人2149名,男性715,女性1434;在婚老人5500名,男性3398,女性2102）的数据进行分析。结果发现,丧偶对老年人抑郁水平有消极影响,但影响作用不存在性别差异;男性丧偶老人的朋友网络显著低于男性在婚老人,而女性老年人中无此差异;相对于在婚老人,家庭网络对男性丧偶老人的抑郁水平的缓解作用更大,而在女性样本未发现家庭网络的缓冲作用。应重视丧偶老年人,特别是男性丧偶老年人,家庭网络的建设与维护,从而缓解丧偶对老年人心理健康的消极影响。     

The surviving sisters club: Examining social support and posttraumatic growth among FDNY 9/11 widows

This paper examines the relationship between social support and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among a sample of 55 widows who lost their firefighter husbands in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Data revealed that 73% gathered informally with other 9/11 widows in the years following the attacks and 55% participated in one-on-one therapy. Results found PTG was related to attending an FDNY-sponsored support group (r = .37), one-on-one therapy (r = .37), and socializing with other FDNY widows (r = .29). Qualitative responses suggested the primary benefits of informal peer support were a shared understanding of grief, close companionship, and emotional strength.     

The Ghost Triangle as an Obstacle to Intimacy

SUMMARY

This paper addresses some of the issues associated with a ghost triangle that threatened intimate bonding between a couple. A widower's unresolved mourning had led to an impasse in the relationship. Because only one partner sought therapy, intervention was limited to assessing options for detriangulation as requisite to the viability of the relationship, followed by individual and group support to develop relationship closure. Additional treatment goals included creating self-awareness about past and present problematic relationship patterns and strengthening self-care and mutual support.