Viudez y Vejez en América Latina

Translated title of the contribution: Widowhood and Old Age in Latin America

Elsye Dalila De Las Mercedes Heredia Calderon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

The loss due to the death of a spouse constitutes the state called widowhood and implies a change that requires a psychosocial and family adjustment to assume the loss. The meaning attributed to widowhood depends on socio-cultural, economic and personal conditions such as age, gender, number of years lived with the partner, stage of life in which widowhood is experienced, among others. The objectives of the study focused on investigating the circumstances of widowhood, consequences, social support network, social participation and formation of new couples. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in elderly people aged 60 years and older (N: 235), with at least 10 years of widowhood, living in different areas of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. The results show that the majority of women 62.6% lost their husbands to a terminal illness, 65.5% took care of their husbands. With widowhood came economic problems (37.4%), health problems (31.5%) and loneliness (51.5%). A total of 77.9% reported that they had overcome the loss of 86.5% of their children. reported having overcome the loss 86.4% received the most emotional support from the family of origin. of origin. The majority did not maintain a relationship with the spouse's family after the death. death. A high percentage of the participants increased their participation in the different activities: religious 56.6%, 40.6%, 40.0%, and 40% of the activities: religious 56.6%, 40.4% banking, 39.1% education and 35.7% tourism. tourism. The majority described their relationship with their partner as good, while 77.4% did not form new relationships. did not form new relationships. Conclusions: the life expectancy of women determines a higher percentage of widows. a higher percentage of widows, women are responsible for the care of the spouse. The death and loneliness due to the loss of a partner caused widows to seek refuge in the family. family. After the loss, social participation increases and the relationship with the spouse's family decreases. with the spouse's family decreases.
Translated title of the contributionWidowhood and Old Age in Latin America
Original languageSpanish (Ecuador)
Pages (from-to)9-26
Number of pages18
JournalRevista Kairos Gerontología
Volume17
Issue number17
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2016

Keywords

  • Latin America
  • Old age
  • Widowhood

CACES Knowledge Areas

  • 313A Psychology

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