Long-Term Elderly Widows and Divorcees:

Abstract

Few previous studies analyzed long-term effects of widowhood or divorce. Based on the data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging, 1984-1990, this study analyzes similarities and differences in economic and health status and the scope of social support systems for elderly women who have been widowed or divorced for 20 or more years. Findings show that, despite their higher education, long-term divorcees were worse off than long-term widows. The two grouvs did not differ in their functional health status, but divorce& w&e more likely to lack informal support systems and to rely on paid helpers than were widows. Implications of these findings as they apply to increasing numbers of divorced elderly women are discussed.