Later Life Widowhood : Bereavement and Gender Effects on Lifestyle and Participation, 2000-2001

The aim of the study was to examine the lifestyles of women and men widowed in late life, highlighting gender, social participation, wellbeing and emotional response, with a view to promoting more effective adjustment to bereavement and widowhood.<br> The objectives of the study were as follows:<br> 1. to identify and investigate variations within a sample of widowed people of three items - (a) the gender differences in response to widowhood; (b) the lifestyles, social participation and wellbeing of widowed people, and (c) the effects of transition from married to single status;<br> 2. to examine emotional adjustment following bereavement - (a) describing the time course of emotional changes and identifying different patterns; (b) examining the impact of emotional changes and identifying different patterns; and (c) examining to what extent the trauma of bereavement provokes disturbances of cognitive functioning;<br> 3. to identify patterns of response that lead to successful or unsuccessful adjustment to bereavement and widowhood, and identifying the circumstances that lead to successful/unsuccessful adjustment;<br> 4. to propose strategies both for prevention of and intervention in unsuccessful adaptation to bereavement and widowhood.