The Gerontologist, Vol 29, Issue 1 101-107, Copyright © 1989 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

Adjusting to widowhood: do social networks really make it easier?

DL Morgan

Positive and negative aspects of relations with friends and family were examined among groups of widows in focus-group discussions, where relationships mentioned were coded as positive or negative. Approximately 40% of all mentions were negative, with family members receiving more negative mentions. Family relations showed commitments involving both problematic obligations and an inability to avoid undesirable behavior. Non-family relations showed flexibility, with increases in positive relationships and decreases in negative ones.

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