A re-examination of widowhood and morale

Previous research has suggested widowed status to be associated with lower morale or life satisfaction. The effects of marital status on morale relative to five covariates (health, income, age, family interaction, and employment status) were examined with 232 widowed and 363 married women aged 45-74, drawn in a multistage stratified area probability sample of Los Angeles County. Analysis of covariance was utilized with a six-item, factor analyzed measure of morale. Parallel analyses were performed for each of three ethnic groups (blacks, Mexican-American, and white) to examine specific ethnic patterns. In the total sample, poor health was associated with significantly lower morale among widowed than among married women. The analysis with age showed the widowed group catching up and surpassing their married peers on morale at higher ages. Controlling for income and employment status eliminated differences between the marital status groups on morale scores. Higher family interaction was positively associated with morale in both groups, but married women were consistently higher on morale regardless of level of interaction. Most ethnic differences were not significant, but family interaction appeared to be crucial among Mexican-American widows. The findings suggest that lower morale scores found among the widowed may be partly attributable to other factors commonly associated with this status and not due to the role of widowhood per se.