The effect of widowhood on psychological wellbeing and social support in the oldest groups of the elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate how long-term widowhood affects psychological wellbeing and perceived social support of the oldest groups of the elderly. Using a case-control study design, long-term widowed males and females were matched with married controls. Widows reported lower levels of psychological wellbeing than married individuals, and both widowers and widows reported considerably lower levels of perceived social support than their control groups. Furthermore, there were some indications that the perceived social support had a buffering effect on the psychological wellbeing of the respondents. The findings may thus indicate that widowhood has some long-term effects on adaptation to old age.