The bereavement process of elderly male and female surviving spouses was compared in a 2-year longitudinal study. No statistically significant differences at any of the time periods indicate that their bereavement processes were characterized more by similarities than differences. (Author/ABB)

Studied the role of structural and qualitative components of social support in depression, coping, health, and life satisfaction in bereaved persons (N=192) between the ages of 50 and 93. Found that social support played a significant but modest role in bereavement outcomes during the first two years after the death of a spouse. (Author/ABL)

This study examined the relationship between widowed persons' baseline assessments of self-efficacy beliefs and their ratings of perceived health-related quality of life, life sanctions, and self-esteem obtained in an 18-month follow-up. Results revealed widows and widowers differ significantly with respect to self-efficacy and perceived quality…