This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Zisook, S. Articles by Mulvihill, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Zisook, S. Articles by Mulvihill, M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Aging and Bereavement

Department of Psychiatry (Drs Zisook, Shuchter, and Sledge) and the Outpatient Clinical Research Center (Dr Mulvihill), University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA.

Stephen R. Shuchter, MD

Department of Psychiatry (Drs Zisook, Shuchter, and Sledge) and the Outpatient Clinical Research Center (Dr Mulvihill), University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA.

Paul Sledge, PhD

Department of Psychiatry (Drs Zisook, Shuchter, and Sledge) and the Outpatient Clinical Research Center (Dr Mulvihill), University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA.

Mary Mulvihill, PhD

Department of Psychiatry (Drs Zisook, Shuchter, and Sledge) and the Outpatient Clinical Research Center (Dr Mulvihill), University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA.

This paper compares the grief responses of widows and widowers of different age groups over the 1st year of bereavement. The results strongly suggest that older widows and widowers perceive themselves as adjusting better to their loss and suffering from less depression and fewer anxiety symptoms than their younger counterparts. Furthermore, the oldest widows/widowers demonstrate the most consistent improvement in their levels of distress over time. Thus, when it comes to coping, older persons are not at the disadvantage that certain stereotypes and "clinical wisdoms" have previously suggested. Seniors are every bit as adaptive and able to cope with the severest forms of stress as anyone else, and they are, if anything, less prone to depression than are younger individuals.

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, Vol. 6, No. 3, 137-143 (1993)
DOI: 10.1177/089198879300600302


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Grimby and A. K Johansson Factors Related to Alcohol and Drug Consumption in Swedish Widows American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, February 1, 2009; 26(1): 8 - 12. [Abstract] [PDF]