The Social Readjustment for the Remaining Partner.

This study is a compilation of some of the published material on the social readjustment of widows and widowers plus a sampling (26) of personal interviews which the researcher conducted. The loss of a spouse is a traumatic experience. The emotional turmoil that follows, caused by the personal mode of living, circumstances of the death, treatment by friends, job situation, and other factors influence the recovery from grief. The completeness of recovery bears directly on the remaining partner's entry or re-entry into the social world, dating, and remarriage. Anticipated grief during a spouse's long illness, continuing friendships, and the remaining partner's own determination to gain self-confidence in the new "singles" world, were found to be important factors in the remaining partner's re-entry into the social world. (Author)