Spouse Death Research Paper

The death of a loved one alone is heartbreaking, but the death of a spouse can be unbearable. While some adults cope with a spouse death fairly well others are at risk of death for as long as 10 years (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2010). Women tend to have a longer life expectancy than men, therefore, over half of the women over sixty-five years old are widowed. There are only fifteen percent of men of the same age that are widowed (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2010). Widowhood is very difficult to deal with because the widow or widower becomes isolated. They tend to lose family and friends because the family and friends don't know how to handle a person who is grieving over the loss of their spouse. Family and friends also typically do not invite the widow or widower out to social gatherings because they feel uncomfortable inviting one person instead of a couple (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2010). This may be just my thought, but I think that sounds silly not to invite the widow or widower out to be with friends and family but I guess it happens. The widow or widower who was …show more content…
This is because widows only receive half of their husband's' pension. Financial burdens are seen in both men and women, but as a result of women getting only half of their husbands pension her standard of living decreases (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2010). Kay may also have trouble with forming a new heterosexual relationship as opposed to Jay. Men are usually older when widowed than women and it is socially acceptable to see older men with younger women in a romantic relationship. This makes it easier for Jay to form a relationship with a younger woman. Even though men form romantic heterosexual relationships, men typically have a hard time forming new friendships after the death of their spouse. In chapter 11 it was expressed that men don't have too many close friends and as theyy get older it doesn't really change (Kail and Cavanaugh,