Bereavement Among African American and White Older Adults

Purpose: The authors examined epidemiology and sociodemographic predictors of spousal, nonspousal family, and friendship bereavement among African American and White community-dwelling older adults using longitudinal data from 839 participants of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Agin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of aging and health 2007-04, Vol.19 (2), p.313-333
Main Authors: Williams, Beverly Rosa, Sawyer Baker, Patricia, Allman, Richard M., Roseman, Jeffrey M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
African Americans
African Americans - psychology
Age Factors
Aged
Alabama
Bereavement
Death & dying
European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology
Female
Geriatric psychology
Grief
Health risk assessment
Health technology assessment
Humans
Male
Marital Status
Middle Aged
Older people
Racial differences
Socioeconomic Factors
Widowhood
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Summary:Purpose: The authors examined epidemiology and sociodemographic predictors of spousal, nonspousal family, and friendship bereavement among African American and White community-dwelling older adults using longitudinal data from 839 participants of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging, a prospective cohort study of a random sample of Alabama Medicare beneficiaries. Method: Authors calculated cumulative incidences of each type of loss and used logistic regression to identify factors significantly and independently associated with loss. Results: Of participants, 71% reported at least one loss; 50% reported nonspousal family loss, and 37% reported friendship loss. For married participants, the cumulative incidence of spousal loss was 8.1%. Female sex and income < $12,000 were predictors of spousal loss. Female sex and education ≥ 12 years were predictors of friendship loss. Higher educated African American women were at greater risk of nonspousal family loss. Discussion: Future research should examine bereavement burden and identify health outcomes of multiple losses.
ISSN:0898-2643
1552-6887
DOI:10.1177/0898264307299301