PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 7157818

Why study widowed women: a rationale.

G D Heinemann
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

This essay represents an attempt to bring together literature from a variety of sources and develop it into an explanation and rationale for studying widowed women. Four factors are important in this regard: (1) the disproportionate number of widows vis-à-vis widowers, (2) the problems faced by widows and their accentuation as a result of prevailing societal norms and values, (3) the differences in response and adaptation to widowhood by sex, and (4) the more negative consequences, experienced by widowed women as compared to divorced women. Widows are more likely than other persons who have lost a spouse to work through the loss outside the context of remarriage and to develop single lifestyle adaptations with fewer available resources. The importance of social supports--both formal and informal--are paramount to their successful outcomes. To date these supports are weak and ineffective.

Explore related subjects

Adaptation, PsychologicalFemaleHumansLife Change EventsLife StyleMalePopulation DynamicsSingle PersonSocial EnvironmentSocial ValuesWomenComparative StudyJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

G D Heinemann. 1982. Why study widowed women: a rationale.. https://doi.org/10.1300/j013v07n02_03

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2007

Neuropeptide Y activates urocortin 1 neurons in the nonpreganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus.

Central regulatory pathways promoting stress adaptation utilize various neurotransmitters/neuropeptides, such as urocortin 1 (Ucn1) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Ucn1 is abundantly expressed in the nonpreganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus (npEW), where it is codistributed with NPY-immunoreactive (ir) terminals. A special role for both neuropeptides has been postulated in stress adaptation. Using double-labeling immunohistochemistry, we observed close appositions between NPY-ir terminals and neurons immunoreactive for Ucn1 in the rat, as well as in the human npEW. Therefore, we hypothesized that NPY might control the activity of Ucn1-positive neurons in the npEW. To test this hypothesis, NPY was injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle of rats, resulting in a strong activation of npEW Ucn1 neurons as revealed by Fos immunohistochemistry. Ucn1 mRNA was also upregulated in the npEW 2 hours after the injection of NPY. In a search for the type of NPY receptor that mediates this NPY-induced recruitment of npEW-Ucn1 cells, we found that the great majority of Ucn1 cells exhibited NPY Y5 receptor immunoreactivity, and only a few of the Ucn1 cells coexpressed the Y1 receptor. We concluded that NPY, via NPY Y5 and to a lesser extent via the Y1 receptors, exerts a stimulatory action on Ucn1 cells in the npEW. Further studies are currently in progress to elucidate the significance of this NPY-Ucn1 interaction in the npEW.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2007

Coping with hallucinated voices in schizophrenia: a review of self-initiated strategies and therapeutic interventions.

This article reviews the state of knowledge about strategies used by people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia to cope with hallucinated voices, and considers the role of coping in psychological treatments for persisting symptoms. The use of self-initiated ('natural') coping strategies appears almost universal amongst voice-hearers. These strategies are similar across cultures, and include diverse behaviours, only a minority of which is specific to hallucinations. Most strategies are reported by at least some users to be effective, but more sophisticated outcome studies are lacking. Some evidence for the efficacy of certain behavioural techniques of coping, for the manipulation of auditory input, and for strategies involving subvocalisation, is available from experimental studies. Therapeutic enhancement of natural coping strategies for persisting symptoms has demonstrated some efficacy, but its benefit for voices is unknown. Despite this, it has become an established part of some CBT interventions for psychosis. Further advances in knowledge and practice may come from utilisation of coping models in research, longitudinal and ideographic methods of study and a movement away from descriptive coping lists to investigations of coping styles, mechanisms of action, and the process of coping.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2007

Spirituality/religiosity promotes acceptance-based responding and 12-step involvement.

BACKGROUND: Previous investigations have observed that spirituality/religiosity (S/R) is associated with enhanced 12-step involvement. However, relatively few studies have attempted to examine the mechanisms for this effect. For the present investigation, we examined whether acceptance-based responding (ABR) - awareness or acknowledgement of internal experiences that allows one to consider and perform potentially adaptive responses - accounted for the effect of S/R on 12-step self-help group involvement 2 years after a treatment episode. METHODS: Data were collected as part of a multi-site treatment outcome study with 3698 substance-dependent male veterans recruited at baseline. Assessments were conducted at baseline, discharge, 1-year follow-up, and 2-year follow-up. We utilized structural equation modeling to examine the relationships among latent variables of S/R, ABR, and 12-step involvement over time. RESULTS: In the final model, S/R was not directly related to 12-step involvement at 2-year follow-up. However, S/R predicted enhanced ABR at 1-year follow-up after accounting for discharge levels of ABR. In turn, ABR at 1-year follow-up predicted increased 12-step involvement at 2-year follow-up after accounting for discharge levels of 12-step involvement. CONCLUSIONS: S/R promotes the use of post-treatment self-regulation skills that, in turn, directly contribute to ongoing 12-step self-help group involvement.

Adaptation, Psychological↗