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 GREENE, R. W. Articles by FELD, S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Social Support Coverage and the Well-Being of Elderly Widows and Married Women

University of Michigan

SHEILA FELD

University of Michigan

The relationship between social support coverage and well-being was examined in four subgroups from a national sample of women ages 50 and older: first married (N = 151), widows (N = 144), widows within the last five years (n = 60), and widows for longer than five years (n = 84). The index of support coverage represented how many of six functions were carried out by at least one supporter. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) that support coverage is associated with well-being in all subgroups, and (2) that social support is more strongly associated with well-being in the subgroups experiencing higher stress, that is, widows more than married women and recent widows more than long-term ones. The hypotheses were not supported. Instead, the relationships between social support and well-being were positive in some groups and negative in others. The importance of considering the causal directions of links between social support and well-being and the possible negative consequences of receiving social support are discussed.

Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 10, No. 1, 33-51 (1989)
DOI: 10.1177/019251389010001002


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

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. B. MILLER, V. L. SMERGLIA, D. S. GAUDET, and G. C. KITSON Stressful Life Events, Social Support, and the Distress of Widowed and Divorced Women: A Counteractive Model Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 1998; 19(2): 181 - 203. [Abstract]

				D. S. Clark-Lempers, J. D. Lempers, and C. Ho Early, Middle, and Late Adolescents' Perceptions of Their Relationships with Significant Others Journal of Adolescent Research, July 1, 1991; 6(3): 296 - 315. [Abstract]

				G. C. KITSON, K. B. BABRI, M. J. ROACH, and K. S. PLACIDI Adjustment to Widowhood and Divorce: A Review Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 1989; 10(1): 5 - 32. [Abstract]