Premium
The effects of widowhood on social support from significant others
Author(s) -
Dean Alfred,
Matt Georg E.,
Wood Patricia
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6629(199210)20:4<309::aid-jcop2290200406>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - psychology , social support , developmental psychology , social psychology
The effects of widowhood on social support from significant others are variously predicted by the decremental model, the continuity model, and the compensatory model. This study distinctly tested for these possible effects to discern whether they vary with specific types and sources of support. We examined possible changes over 22 months by comparing two recently widowed groups with matched controls of married and unmarried persons, each from a community sample. Findings were consistent with the continuity model: Widowhood was not associated with decrements or increases in expressive, instrumental, or confidant support, or direct or telephone interactions. Independent of widowhood, the stability of support varied by type and source. Methodological strategies are suggested to further distinguish possible changes prior to and during widowhood.