Differential Effects of Widowhood on Network and Support.

This study examines the mobilization of close and supportive relationships following widowhood and whether these trajectories differ by educational level or gender. It is assumed that widowed spouses call up social relationships to compensate for their spousal loss and accompanying cuts in subjective well-being. Using longitudinal data from the German Ageing Survey (N = 7,012; observations = 20,816), fixed effects models were estimated. Widowhood results in increases in the network size and the providers of support up to the fourth post-widowhood year. After that, starting decreases reach pre-widowed levels around seven years after widowhood. The most pronounced changes were found for widowed spouses with university degree and for widowed women. The overall mobilization of social relationships is thus limited in time and widowed spouses without vocational degree, as well as men in part, are the most vulnerable to the adverse social consequences of widowhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]