Family life crisis: middle aged women ´s coping and social networks facing divorce and widowhood.

SEIDMANN, S.; STEFANI, D.; BAIL PUPKO, V.; AZZOLLINI, S.; VIZOSO, S.; VIDAL, V.

Beijing

Congreso; 28th International Congress of Psychology; 2004

We explore family life crisis – divorce and widowhood – middle age women through methodological triangulation of quantitative approaches. Quantitatively we evaluate the social network structure and the satisfaction with it and the main coping strategies involved. Qualitatively we explore women ´s subjective feelings and perspectives facing the crisis. Divorced women cope actively, have a larger social support network, feel not so lonesome but are more angry with their circumstances. Widowed women don’t feel responsible and are resigned with the crisis. Their social support wet works change quantitative and qualitatively. Their husband ´s death is felt as an unbendin event.