Nonspousal Family Loss among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

We examined the prevalence and correlates of recent nonspousal family loss among older adults using data from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging, a stratified random sample of community-dwelling older adults living in central Alabama. Twenty-three percent of participants reported a recent nonspousal family loss. African American ethnicity, education <12th grade, functional difficulty, restricted life-space mobility, depressive symptomology, pain and other somatic symptoms were associated with recent nonspousal family loss. Compared to non-widowed participants, widows with family loss reported a higher proportion of mental health and activity-limiting physical problems as well as restricted life-space. Programs to improve physical function and enhance health and wellbeing in older bereaved spouses should be expanded to include older adults with nonspousal family loss, particularly targeting the mental health needs of previously widowed persons who lose another family member.