The feminization of bereavement among community-dwelling older adults.
We examined gender differences in frequency and sociodemographic predictors of spousal, non-spousal family, and friendship bereavement events among community-dwelling older adults using data from the UAB Study of Aging. Analysis involved a 30-month observation period of 893 subjects. There were significant differences between women and men for all types of loss. Significant differences were also found in the sociodemographic predictors of loss between and within gender categories. This study revealed the extent to which older women disproportionately bear the burden of loss and points to the need for greater attention to bereavement as a women's issue.
Williams
Beverly Rosa
BR
Birmingham/Atlanta VA Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA. bwilliams@aging.uab.edu
Baker
Patricia Sawyer
PS
Allman
Richard M
RM
Roseman
Jeffrey M
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001601:Bereavement; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D017805:Widowhood / Q000523:psychology*