Singlehood

Abstract

Singlehood in later life is a subjective experience that includes individuals who have never been married, or who are divorced, separated, or widowed. More women than men are single in late life. Women who become single as older adults tend to stay single, whereas older men tend to remarry. Similar to married older adults, single older people both give care to and receive care from family and friends, and occasionally former partners. Unlike their married counterparts, single older adults are more likely to face health and financial disadvantage in later life. Research on singlehood in later life is fraught with measurement problems because asking for a person's current marital status may mask their actual relationship history and obscure cohabiting relationships and other nontraditional attachments. Cohort is an important variable to consider when investigating singlehood as the baby boomer generation has experienced more varied relationship histories than its predecessors.