| |
| |
| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
Re-engaging
— new partnerships in late-life widowhood | | Author(s) | Nan Stevens |
| Journal title | Ageing International, vol 27, no 4, Fall 2002 |
| Pages | pp 27-42 |
| Keywords | Widows ; Individuals ; Engagement ; Personal relationships ; Longitudinal surveys ; Netherlands. |
| Annotation | Gender and age differences in the desire for a new partner following widowhood in later life are examined in this article, which also explores variations in actual partnerships that have developed within 3-5 years of widowhood. Findings are reported from the Dutch Ageing Survey (DAS) of people aged 40-85 that included 130 widowed people; and from a study of 81 widows and widowers aged 60-75 that combines qualitative and quantitative methods. Desire for a new partner relationship is more often characteristic of those aged under 70. Although more widowers than widows expressed the desire for a new partner in the survey (16% vs 9%), this difference is not significant. Three different types of partnerships developed in widowhood are described: consummate partnerships, steady companions, and service providers. There is evidence of continuing loyalty to the deceased partner in almost all the partnerships, suggesting that widowed people do not simply replace their former partners. Re-engagement in consummate partnerships and steady companionship appear to be effective in meeting fundamental relational needs, reducing loneliness, and providing meaning in later life. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-030430212 A |
| Classmark | SP: SA: DN: DS: 3J: 76H |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|
|