HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ha, J.-H. Articles by Ingersoll-Dayton, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ha, J.-H. Articles by Ingersoll-Dayton, B.

The Effect of Widowhood on Intergenerational Ambivalence

¹ Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison.
² School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Address correspondence to Jung-Hwa Ha, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Room 529A, Madison, WI 53705. E-mail: ha{at}waisman.wisc.edu

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the extent to which widowhood affects older adults' ambivalence about their adult children, (b) the role of intergenerational dependence in explaining the effect of widowhood on parent–child ambivalence, and (c) temporal changes in the effects of widowhood on ambivalence.

Methods. We based analyses on Changing Lives of Older Couples, a prospective study of 1,532 married individuals aged 65 and older. We used ordinary least squares regression models to estimate the direct effect of widowhood and the mediating effects of dependence on intergenerational ambivalence 6 and 18 months after spousal loss.

Results. Widowhood was associated with a decrease in ambivalent feelings toward adult children 6 months after spousal loss, which was partially explained by a reduction in the extent to which children were dependent upon their bereaved parents. However, at 18 months, widowhood did not exert any significant influence on intergenerational ambivalence.

Discussion. Our findings suggest that major life events such as widowhood influence intergenerational ambivalence. The results shed light on the mechanisms by which parent–child dependence contributes to intergenerational ambivalence.

Key Words: Spousal loss • Parent-child relationships • Bereavement • Intergenerational dependence