Unmarried in Later Life

This pioneering study examines the resources and well-being of older widowed, divorced or separated, and never-married men and women over time. The first comprehensive, longitudinal study of its kind ever published, The Unmarried in Later Life considers the effects of changes in health, finances, work, social networks, vulnerability, and psychological well-being and compares adaptations to these transitions for unmarried men and women. Because it focuses attention on one of the fastest growing--yet often neglected--segments of the population, this volume is an ideal supplemental text for courses in sociology, gerontology, family studies, and the psychology of aging.

Several features make The Unmarried in Later Life a unique contribution to the social sciences literature: The author considers unmarried categories (widowed, never-married, etc.)_ separately, permitting more extended comparisons between groups; The study is based upon a nationally representative sample and contains data on more unmarried persons than are usually available for study; The use of longitudinal data facilitates the observation of the unmarried over a longer period of time than is often possible; The author offers a detailed evaluation of common assumptions about living alone, challenging widely held negative stereotypes of the unmarried. What emerges is a clear view of the changes in social relationships and their patterns by marital status and gender over the course of a decade. Researchers and practitioners will find here much new information about the social status of the aged unmarried.

PAT M. KEITH is Professor of Sociology at Iowa State University. She has published more than 70 articles and coedited the book, Later Life Transitions.