Intimacy in Widowhood

Abstract

This article explores all intimate relationships potentially available to the widowed woman. Friends, relatives, professionals and non-professional associates are considered, in addition to the deceased spouse, God, and the widow herself. The author concludes that traditional resources are inadequate to meet the widow's intimacy needs. The issue of reciprocity is addressed. The widow's experience stands opposed to human values which needlessly limit definitions of intimacy to dyadic, human relationships among opposite sex age peers. Research is needed to evaluate the correspondence between relationship styles in marriage and those in widowhood, to assess the inter-dependency of the widow's relationships, and to examine individual differences in the intimacy patterns of widows.