WIC Online Colloquium

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Alina Schmitz, TU Dortmund

Gendered Experiences of Widowhood and Depression Across Europe: The Role of Loneliness and Financial Resources from a Longitudinal Perspective

Tuesday, November 23^rd, 2021
11:00-12:00 (CET)

Please register for the presentation here until one day before the presentation 10:00 (CET): 

https://www.oeaw.ac.at/vid/events/wic-colloquium/wic-colloquium-registration

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Abstract

Numerous studies document the detrimental consequences of widowhood on mental health. Yet widowhood is – especially for women – a central experience of ageing so that it has been questioned whether women adapt to widowhood more easily. Previous research has provided mixed answers, reflecting both methodological and substantive issues, such as differences in statistical modeling and study samples. Furthermore, prior research largely ignores the societal context, although the social consequences of widowhood may vary according to macrosocial conditions. Thus, the mental health consequences of widowhood may both be gendered and context - specific. Based on longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), this study analyses the gendered experiences of widowhood and depressive symptoms in four European regions. A special focus lies on the contribution of loneliness and reduced financial resources to the detrimental effect of widowhood on mental health.

More Information: https://www.oeaw.ac.at/fileadmin/subsites/Institute/VID/PDF/Colloquium/2021/Online_Colloquium_Announcement_20211123_Schmitz.pdf