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Psychological Resilience in the Face of Later-Life Spousal Bereavement

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Resilience and Aging

Part of the book series: Risk, Systems and Decisions ((RSD))

Abstract

This chapter draws on stress and coping perspectives to document the contextual, relational, and personal characteristics associated with psychological resilience following late-life spousal loss. It highlights how social/structural and developmental factors are linked with older bereaved spouses’ high levels of resilience relative to their younger counterparts. The chapter synthesizes research on psychological adaptation to late-life spousal loss, highlighting factors that distinguish those who withstand or bounce back emotionally, relative to those who suffer from intense or sustained distress. Potentially modifiable aspects of the death and structural factors linked to resilience are highlighted in an effort to challenge notions that resilience is a trait-like feature of the individual alone. The chapter concludes by identifying avenues for future research.

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  1. Department of Sociology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Deborah Carr

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  1. Simon Fraser University, Gerontology Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Andrew V. Wister

  2. Simon Fraser University, Gerontology Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Theodore D. Cosco

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Carr, D. (2020). Psychological Resilience in the Face of Later-Life Spousal Bereavement. In: Wister, A.V., Cosco, T.D. (eds) Resilience and Aging. Risk, Systems and Decisions. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57089-7_8

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