Widowed Young: The Role of Stressors and Protective Factors for Resilience in Coping with Spousal Loss

Abstract

While distressing, late life spousal loss is considered a normative life event and most demonstrate resilient recovery from grief. However, for 5–7% of the population spousal loss comes early, before the age of 50, and little is known about the factors that influence adjustment in this population. We used the DPM integrative framework to examine correlates and predictors of mental wellbeing and grief intensity in an international sample of 603 young widows and widowers. Contrary to existing bereavement research, loss-orientated stressors (e.g., expectedness and cause of death) did not predict bereavement outcomes. Employment and financial wellbeing were the only statistically significant restoration-orientated stressors associated with coping, mental wellbeing and grief intensity. We found no significant associations between parental status and coping or bereavement outcomes. Loss-orientated coping, followed by inter and intrapersonal protective factors for resilience and financial wellbeing were the greatest predictors of grief intensity. Loss-orientated coping was highest in early bereavement, the greatest predictor of grief intensity and associated with being unemployed, financial insecurity and decreased protective factors for resilience. Restoration-orientated coping was highest in later bereavement, was a weak predictor of grief intensity and associated with being employed, increased financial wellbeing and protective factors for resilience. Overall, we found the young-widowed population is at heightened risk of poor adjustment. Almost two-thirds reported decreased functioning, probable depression with high rates of psychological distress. Nearly half met diagnostic criteria for prolonged grief disorder. We discuss implications for research and clinical practice.

In search for a new identity after spousal death: the desire to remarry among young widows in South Africa

“…The first was the loss of social identity, found in our study that had similarities with previous research on young widows, which represents this loss or change of identity, following the death of the spouse [24]. Furthermore, the results are confirmed by the theory of remarriage, where the supply of older single males is comparatively lower than the supply of older single females, the rate of remarriage will be lower for widows, thus, resulting in lower remarriages among widows.…”

“…Furthermore, the results are confirmed by the theory of remarriage, where the supply of older single males is comparatively lower than the supply of older single females, the rate of remarriage will be lower for widows, thus, resulting in lower remarriages among widows. Widows described increased responsibility, changes to identity, and struggles, associated with sole parenting [24]. Widowhood is more likely to cause financial difficulties for women than men.…”

Resilience in Widowhood: The Coping Mechanisms against the Social Odds Occasioned by Death of a loved one in Kenya

“…This helped in cushioning them from economic vulnerabilities. Similar findings have also been recorded by Chami and Pooley (2021); and Aslam (2021) who both highlighted the need for diversification of sources of income for widows upon the death of their spouses. Where such supports anticipated from the in-laws were not forthcoming, the respondents were supported by other people who were not their relatives.…”

Resilience to depression: Implication for psychological vaccination

“…In which, most biological (e.g., neurotransmitter) and psychological (cognition, emotion, et al) variables may be shared by both protective factors of depression and resilience to depression. While most sociodemographic variables (e.g., age, gender, and education), physical factors such as weight, and lifestyle factors (e.g., dietary patterns, smoking and alcohol consumption) may only belong to protective factors of depression, since they are unstable factors which influence the resilience to depression dynamically ( 50 ). And for social variables (e.g., stressful life-events), part of them may belong to protective factors of depression, and others belong to resilience to depression.…”