title: Economic well-being following marital termination: a comparison of widowed and divorced women.
abstract: Several 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 know, 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 1/4 of divorced women fall into poverty for at least some time during the 1st 5 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.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000569:Americas; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D004243:Divorce; D004467:Economics; D005190:Family; D005191:Family Characteristics; D007182:Income; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017533:Marital Status; D008393:Marriage; D009656:North America; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011203:Poverty; D012106:Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D017805:Widowhood
keywords: Age Factors; Americas; Comparative Studies; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Divorced--women; Economic Factors; Family And Household; Family Research; Income; Life Cycle; Longitudinal Studies; Marital Status; North America; Northern America; Nuptiality; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Poverty; Research Methodology; Socioeconomic Factors; Studies; Time Factors; United States; Widowed--women