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The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of health risk behaviors among elderly widowers with that of elderly partnered males, as well as single or divorced/separated men. Additionally, we set out to examine the prevalence of risk behaviors in elderly widowered men according to age, education level, and race/skin color. A cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly men (≥ 60 years) who were interviewed through the Surveillance System of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel) in 2016 (n=5,384) and 2017 (n=5,801). The Vigitel survey includes representative samples of adults residing in the capitals of Brazilian states and the Federal District, and of those surveyed, 886 were widowers. Identified risk behaviors included physical inactivity during leisure time, irregular consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes, smoking and alcohol abuse. The prevalence of smoking was lower among partnered elderly men [PR=0.68, CI95% (0.52-0.90)] than among widowers. There were no differences in the prevalence of other risk behaviors between widowers and other groups. When only widowers were taken into account, there was significant association of risk behaviors with age and educational level, but not with race/skin color.

Se buscó comparar la prevalencia de comportamientos de riesgo para la salud en hombres mayores viudos con las de hombres mayores con pareja, solteros y divorciados/separados, así como la prevalencia de comportamientos de riesgo en hombres mayores viudos según rango de edad, escolaridad y raza/color. Se realizó un estudio transversal con hombres mayores (≥ 60 años) entrevistados por el Sistema de Vigilancia de Factores de Riesgo y Protección para Enfermedades Crónicas por Encuesta Telefónica (Vigitel) en 2016 (n=5.384) y 2017 (n=5.801) que incluye muestras representativas de adultos de las capitales de los estados brasileños y del Distrito Federal. De ellos, 886 eran viudos. Los comportamientos de riesgo fueron: inactividad física en el tiempo libre, consumo irregular de frutas, verduras y legumbres, tabaquismo y consumo abusivo de alcohol. La prevalencia de tabaquismo fue menor entre los hombres mayores con pareja [RP = 0,68; IC95% (0,52-0,90)] que entre los viudos. En los demás comportamientos de riesgo no se observaron diferencias en la prevalencia de los viudos en relación a los demás grupos. Cuando se analizaron solamente los viudos, se observaron importantes asociaciones de los comportamientos de riesgo con las variables grupo de edad y escolaridad, pero no con raza/color.

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RESUMEN Se buscó comparar la prevalencia de comportamientos de riesgo para la salud en hombres mayores viudos con las de hombres mayores con pareja, solteros y divorciados/separados, así como la prevalencia de comportamientos de riesgo en hombres mayores viudos según rango de edad, escolaridad y raza/color. Se realizó un estudio transversal con hombres mayores (≥ 60 años) entrevistados por el Sistema de Vigilancia de Factores de Riesgo y Protección para Enfermedades Crónicas por Encuesta Telefónica (Vigitel) en 2016 (n=5.384) y 2017 (n=5.801) que incluye muestras representativas de adultos de las capitales de los estados brasileños y del Distrito Federal. De ellos, 886 eran viudos. Los comportamientos de riesgo fueron: inactividad física en el tiempo libre, consumo irregular de frutas, verduras y legumbres, tabaquismo y consumo abusivo de alcohol. La prevalencia de tabaquismo fue menor entre los hombres mayores con pareja [RP = 0,68; IC95% (0,52-0,90)] que entre los viudos. En los demás comportamientos de riesgo no se observaron diferencias en la prevalencia de los viudos en relación a los demás grupos. Cuando se analizaron solamente los viudos, se observaron importantes asociaciones de los comportamientos de riesgo con las variables grupo de edad y escolaridad, pero no con raza/color.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of health risk behaviors among elderly widowers with that of elderly partnered males, as well as single or divorced/separated men. Additionally, we set out to examine the prevalence of risk behaviors in elderly widowered men according to age, education level, and race/skin color. A cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly men (≥ 60 years) who were interviewed through the Surveillance System of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel) in 2016 (n=5,384) and 2017 (n=5,801). The Vigitel survey includes representative samples of adults residing in the capitals of Brazilian states and the Federal District, and of those surveyed, 886 were widowers. Identified risk behaviors included physical inactivity during leisure time, irregular consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes, smoking and alcohol abuse. The prevalence of smoking was lower among partnered elderly men [PR=0.68, CI95% (0.52-0.90)] than among widowers. There were no differences in the prevalence of other risk behaviors between widowers and other groups. When only widowers were taken into account, there was significant association of risk behaviors with age and educational level, but not with race/skin color.

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OBJECTIVE: Analyze the perception of elderly widow women about their health situation. METHOD: Descriptive and exploratory research, based on qualitative approach performed with 34 widowed women aged 60 years and over, enrolled in primary health care. It was used content analysis in its thematic analysis modality. RESULTS: Three thematic nuclei were obtained: "positive self-perception of health in old age", "negative understanding of health related to the diseases" and "negative repercussions of the absence of the husband in the health situation of the widows". Presence of the family, chronic diseases under control, physical limitations and absence of the partner directly influenced the responses of the elderly widows. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The elderly widows perceive their health situation as relatively good and some factors are challenges to a better health situation. For the participants, widowhood means more than just the physical loss of the husband, interfering negatively in the perception of their health situation.

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INTRODUCTION: The death of a spouse greatly affects the survivor's emotions and may change one's everyday occupations, especially during recent bereavement. Considering the centrality of everyday occupations to occupational therapy practice, this research aimed to understand women's restoration-oriented everyday occupations within the first six months after the death of their spouse. METHODS: This was a qualitative thematic analysis that applied a realistic method and a theoretical approach at the semantic level. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand the everyday occupations of widows after their husbands' deaths, emphasising those that were restoration-oriented, according to the dual process model of coping with bereavement framework. The analysis was conducted according to the phases expected to be conducted during a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Fourteen widows with long-term marital relationships participated in this research. Their perceptions concerning their relationships with their spouses were an important aspect that influenced their everyday occupations. Women who qualitatively described their marital relationships in terms of attributes grouped by the researcher as lost and lonely also mentioned difficulty managing previously habitual occupations and changes in the meanings assigned to some of those occupations. These women mobilised unique strategies to address suffering and occupational changes during bereavement. Women who qualitatively described their relationships with attributes grouped by the researcher as free at last felt freedom after their husbands' deaths, which, according to the widows, brought happiness and feelings of peace and enabled them to engage in freely chosen occupations and to broaden their social networks. CONCLUSION: Everyday occupations and their meanings can considerably change during widowhood. This study contributes to comprehending the uniqueness of responses to loss.

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Research on marital status-gender differences in later-life trajectories of cognitive functioning is scarce. Drawing on seven waves of data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly, this research uses growth curve models to examine later-life dynamics of cognitive functioning among married and widowed older men and women of Mexican descent (aged 65+; N = 3329). The findings demonstrate that the widowed, regardless of gender, had lower initial levels of cognition but a less steep cognitive decline across waves, compared to married men. Age and socioeconomic resources accounted for these marital status differences in levels and rates of change in cognitive functioning completely among widowed men and partially among widowed women. Moreover, net of all the factors, married women had a slower cognitive decline than married men. This study also shows that health and social integration might shape cognitive functioning among older adults of Mexican descent.

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This study examined the association between widowhood and depressive symptoms and the extent to which the association is contingent upon risk and resiliency, including immigration status, functional limitations, financial strains, and intergenerational support, among older Mexican Americans. The sample included 344 parent-child pairs reported by 83 respondents. Clustered regression analysis showed that widowhood elevated risks for depressive symptoms. We found that having some functional limitations, having more children and living in the same city with children exacerbated the adverse effects of widowhood on depressive symptoms. We also found that living in the same city with children increased the detrimental effects of widowhood on the depressive symptoms in men, whereas we did not find this pattern in women. The findings highlight the heterogeneity within the widowed Mexican American older adults. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

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Little is known about the implications of marital status for the age patterning of depressive symptoms in later life. Drawing on seven waves of data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly, this research uses growth curve models to examine age trajectories of depressive symptoms among continuously married and recently and continuously widowed older adults of Mexican descent (aged 65 years and older; N = 1,452). The findings demonstrate that despite having a higher mean level of depressive symptoms, the recently widowed experienced a similar rate of increase in distress with age to that of their married counterparts. Compared with the married, the continuously widowed had a steeper rise in depressive symptoms with age, although they had fewer symptoms at younger ages in later life. Physical health, financial strain, social support, and church attendance might account to a certain extent for marital status differences in depressive symptoms across later life.

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ABSTRACT Objective: Analyze the perception of elderly widow women about their health situation. Method: Descriptive and exploratory research, based on qualitative approach performed with 34 widowed women aged 60 years and over, enrolled in primary health care. It was used content analysis in its thematic analysis modality. Results: Three thematic nuclei were obtained: "positive self-perception of health in old age", "negative understanding of health related to the diseases" and "negative repercussions of the absence of the husband in the health situation of the widows". Presence of the family, chronic diseases under control, physical limitations and absence of the partner directly influenced the responses of the elderly widows. Final considerations: The elderly widows perceive their health situation as relatively good and some factors are challenges to a better health situation. For the participants, widowhood means more than just the physical loss of the husband, interfering negatively in the perception of their health situation.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar la percepción de la mujer viuda anciana acerca de su propia situación de salud. Método: Investigación descriptiva y exploratoria, basada en el enfoque cualitativo realizado con 34 mujeres viudas de al menos 60 años, inscritas en la atención primaria de salud. Se utilizó análisis de contenido en su modalidad de análisis temático. Resultados: Se obtuvieron tres núcleos temáticos: "autopercepción positiva de la salud en la vejez", "comprensión negativa de la salud relacionada con las enfermedades" y "repercusiones negativas de la ausencia de la pareja en la situación de salud de las viudas". La presencia de la familia, las enfermedades crónicas bajo control, las limitaciones físicas y la ausencia de la pareja influyeron directamente en las respuestas de las viudas ancianas. Consideraciones finales: Las viudas ancianas perciben que su situación de salud es relativamente buena y algunos factores son desafíos para mejorar la situación de la salud. Para las participantes, la viudez significa más que solo la pérdida física del esposo, lo que interfiere negativamente en la percepción de su situación de salud.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a percepção de mulheres idosas viúvas sobre sua situação de saúde. Método: Pesquisa descritiva e exploratória, baseada na abordagem qualitativa realizada com 34 mulheres viúvas com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, cadastradas na atenção primária à saúde. Utilizou-se da análise de conteúdo em sua modalidade análise temática. Resultados: Foram obtidos três núcleos temáticos: "a autopercepção positiva da saúde na velhice", "compreensão negativa da saúde relacionada aos agravos" e "repercussões negativas da ausência do companheiro na situação de saúde das viúvas". Presença da família, doenças crônicas sob controle, limitações físicas e ausência do companheiro influenciaram diretamente as respostas das idosas viúvas. Considerações finais: As idosas viúvas percebem sua situação de saúde como relativamente boa e alguns fatores são desafios a uma melhor situação de saúde. Para as participantes, a viuvez significa mais que apenas a perda física do cônjuge, interferindo negativamente na percepção de sua situação de saúde.

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OBJECTIVES: This study examines how depressive symptoms change during the widowhood process among older adults of Mexican descent. This research also investigates whether financial strain, social support, and church attendance moderate changes in depressive symptoms in the context of widowhood. METHOD: This study uses seven waves of data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly collected at approximately two-year intervals. This research applies multiphase growth models to examine changes in depressive symptomatology before, during, and after the transition to widowhood (the measurement wave at which spousal bereavement was first reported) among 385 older adults of Mexican descent who experienced the death of a spouse during the survey. RESULTS: This study demonstrates that older adults of Mexican descent experienced a significant increase in depressive symptoms pre-widowhood and in particular, during the transition to widowhood. The levels and rates of changes in depressive symptoms post-widowhood did not differ from the pre-widowhood ones. Greater social support was related to more depressive symptoms during the transition to widowhood. More frequent church attendance was a protective factor against increases in depressive symptoms pre-widowhood. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the multiphase pattern in the effects of the widowhood process on depressive symptomatology among older adults of Mexican descent. The findings also suggest that social support and church attendance can have implications for the interplay between widowhood and depressive symptoms.

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Widowhood is often associated with decreased mental health. In developing countries with low institutional support, such as Mexico, social integration can be particularly consequential for widowed older adults' psychological well-being. This study investigates the interplay among depressive symptoms, widowhood, gender, and social integration in a nationally representative sample of older Mexicans. Drawing on Waves 1 (2001) and 2 (2003) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study, we estimated the ordinary least squares regressions to examine the implications of widowhood, gender, social support, social network, and social engagement for changes in depressive symptoms between the waves among Mexicans aged 50 and older (N = 8,708). The findings indicate that social integration can mitigate as well as exacerbate depressive symptomatology among older Mexicans. Certain aspects of social integration can moderate marital status-gender differences in depressive symptoms among older Mexicans.

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