The First Anniversary: Stress, Well-Being, and Optimism in Older Widows

The first anniversary for older widows (n = 47) has been explored during Months 11, 12, and 13. Concurrent correlations show that optimism inversely correlates with psychological (intrusion and avoidance) stress as measured with the Impact of Event Scale (r = —.52 to —.66, p < .005) and positivel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Western journal of nursing research 2009-12, Vol.31 (8), p.1035-1056
Main Authors: Minton, Mary E., Hertzog, Melody, Barron, Cecilia R., French, Jeffrey A., Reiter-Palmon, Roni
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Anniversaries
Avoidance behavior
Bereavement
Female
Humans
Intrusion
Life satisfaction
Nursing
Optimism
Personal Satisfaction
Psychological well being
Psychosocial factors
Salivary cortisol
Spiritual well being
Spirituality
Stress
Stress, Psychological
Well being
Wellbeing
Widowhood
Widowhood - psychology
Widows
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Summary:The first anniversary for older widows (n = 47) has been explored during Months 11, 12, and 13. Concurrent correlations show that optimism inversely correlates with psychological (intrusion and avoidance) stress as measured with the Impact of Event Scale (r = —.52 to —.66, p < .005) and positively correlates with well-being (physical: r = .36 to .46, p < .025; psychosocial: r = .58 to .72, p < .005; spiritual: r = .50 to .69, p < .005). Lagged correlation patterns suggest that higher levels of optimism at a given time are associated with higher life satisfaction and spiritual well-being at later times. Psychological stress is higher at Month 12 when compared to Month 13, t(43) = 2.54, p = .01, but not when compared to Month 11, t(43) = 1.49, p > .10. There are no significant differences in physiologic stress (salivary cortisol) or well-being during the first anniversary of spousal bereavement.
ISSN:0193-9459
1552-8456
DOI:10.1177/0193945909339497