title: Aging and creating families: Never-married heterosexual women over forty.
abstract: An examination of women over age forty who had never married was conducted. The women completed a structured questionnaire about their aging and their self-esteem was assessed with a standard measure. The participants were women from across the United States. Descriptive analyses of the data were ordered with ecological systems theory and findings revealed that the women are self-satisfied, socially productive and well adjusted with their single status and that singleness runs in their families. These women have defined what family means for them as they age-family of origin and close friendships. This description may be helpful in understanding this group as a social force and as role models for young women as they age.
authors.affiliation: University of Guadalajara, Mexico. tlmtexas@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Tandace
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McDill
authors.forename: Sharon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Turell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D005610:Freedom; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012847:Single Person / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health