This study is concerned with comparing death attitudes among widows and non-widows. Since the status of widowhood indicates the loss through death of a significant other, it was hypothesized that widows would respond differently than non-widows on a number of death-related interview questions. Attempts were made to match the age, ethnicity, and educational status between the participants. The interview included such topics as expectations and preferences concerning funerals, fear of death, belief in immortality, and feelings as to appropriate behavior for widows and widowers. In general, the role of widowhood seemed to have little or no effect upon death attitudes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BerardoF., Survivorship and social isolation: The case of the aged widower. The Family Coordinator, 1970, 19, 11–25.
2.
BerardoF., Widowhood status in the United States: Perspective on a neglected aspect of the family life-cycle. The Family Coordinator, 1968, 17, 191–203.
3.
KalishR. A.ReynoldsD. K., Death and bereavement in a cross-ethnic content. Unpublished manuscript.
4.
KalishR. A.ReynoldsD. K., Phenomenological reality and post-death contact. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 1973, 12, 209–221.
5.
LindemannE., The symptomatology and management of acute grief. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1944, 101, 141–148.
6.
LopataH. Z., Widows as a minority group. The Gerontologist, 1971, 11 (Spring, Part 11), 67–77.
7.
ParkesC. M., Bereavement. New York: International Universities Press, 1972.
8.
SilvermanP. R.The widow as caregiver in a program of preventive intervention with other caregivers. Mental Hygiene, 1970, 540–547.
9.
WilliamsW. V.PolakP.VollmanR. R., Crisis intervention in acute grief. Omega, 1972, 3, 67–70.
