Marital disruptions and loss of support in later life: a longitudinal study of the United Kingdom

Abstract

Marital disruption (i.e. due to death, divorce or separation) at older ages is an important issue as it removes the usual primary source of help and support: a husband or wife. To date, few studies have investigated the support implications (both , here defined as perceived support and social embeddedness and, defined as use of domiciliary care services) of marital disruptions in later life. This issue needs addressing as widow(er)hood and divorce are increasingly occurring at older ages. Employing data from the longitudinal British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) (1991-2003) we investigated the association between marital disruption and first loss of (a) perceived support and (b) at least weekly contact with at least one non-relative friend, among those aged 50 and over. We also examined first use of domiciliary care services (i.e. health visitor or district nurse, home help or meals-on-wheels) among those aged 70 and over. Our findings show that marital separation increased the odds of losing perceived support whereas widow(er)hood showed no significant association among people aged 50 and over. Separation and widow(er)hood increased the odds of losing weekly contact with non-relative friends (although the odds were greater for separation) in this age group. Finally, widow(er)hood increased the odds of using domiciliary care services among respondents aged 70 and over.

The comparison of quality of life among people with mild dementia in nursing home and home care—a preliminary report

“…This might be due to significant difference in marital status between older adults with dementia in the nursing home and home care. As suggested by other studies, absence of a partner creates insecurity and isolation to the other (Beal, 2006;Glaser, Tomassini, Racioppi, & Stuchbury, 2006;Thomopoulou, Thomopoulou, & Koutsouki, 2010).…”

Help from spouse and from children among older people with functional limitations: comparison of England and Finland

“…For example, loss of a spouse in later life increases the odds of turning to formal care services (Glaser et al . 2006). Processes of substitution may be at work in society in general, while it has also been argued that generous welfare allocation may help to increase rather than decrease the probability of family solidarity and exchange of help between generations (Künemund and Rein 1999).…”

Couples' provision of informal care for parents and parents-in-law: far from sharing equally?

“…This will lower the care provided by children's spouses because the study has revealed a lower level of involvement of cohabiting spouses in the care of their parents-in-law. Recent research has also demonstrated the importance of divorce for intergenerational relationships both as it affects elderly parents (Glaser et al 2006; Kalmijn 2007) and affects children (Brody et al 1995; Dooghe 1992; Grundy 1995). There is a risk that divorce and remarriage will lead to less caring by children-in-law, but it is up to future research to test this presumption.…”