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Death Studies Apr 2018The authors developed and tested a novel measure of parenting self-efficacy specifically for recently widowed parents of dependent-age children. They tested the scale...
The authors developed and tested a novel measure of parenting self-efficacy specifically for recently widowed parents of dependent-age children. They tested the scale among 244 recently widowed fathers via an open-access web survey. Exploratory factor analysis identified 3 factors: perception of meeting parenting expectations (α = .88), provision of effective discipline (α = .69), and sense of parental burden (α = .69). Scores on the new scale correlated positively with Kansas Parenting Satisfaction and Psychological Adaptation Scale scores, and negatively with CES-D (depression) and TRIG (grief) scale scores. The resulting 9-item Widowed Parenting Self Efficacy Scale is a promising measure for use in research and clinical settings.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Fathers; Humans; Male; Parenting; Psychometrics; Self Efficacy; Widowhood
PubMed: 28609258
DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2017.1339743 -
Population Studies Jul 2022With few exceptions, greater disparities in mortality risk by socio-economic status (SES) have been found among men than among women. Most research has also shown that...
With few exceptions, greater disparities in mortality risk by socio-economic status (SES) have been found among men than among women. Most research has also shown that the higher mortality risk after widowhood (the widowhood effect) is greater for men. However, a different picture appears when examining these associations jointly. Based on Swedish register data, this study shows that widowhood weakens, or even reverses, the sex differences in socio-economic disparities in mortality. The overall findings also indicate that higher SES elevates the widowhood effect for men but diminishes it for women, and that the widowhood effect is greater for women than men in the lowest SES categories. These results imply that men with higher SES are more vulnerable after widowhood, perhaps because of their previous relatively privileged situation. The disadvantage of widows in lower SES categories may reflect exposure to financial strains after spousal loss and inequalities in the healthcare system.
Topics: Female; Gender Identity; Humans; Male; Widowhood
PubMed: 33730966
DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2021.1892809 -
African Journal of Medical Practice 1994
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Africa; Africa South of the Sahara; Africa, Eastern; Behavior; Condoms; Contraception; Data Collection; Developing Countries; Disease; Economics; Family Planning Services; HIV Infections; Health Behavior; Interviews as Topic; Kenya; Marital Status; Marriage; Ownership; Research; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Socioeconomic Factors; Virus Diseases; Widowhood; Wills
PubMed: 12287807
DOI: No ID Found -
BMC International Health and Human... Sep 2018In Mozambique, the widow is traditionally required to undergo a cleansing ritual called pita-kufa, which generally involves several sessions of unprotected sexual...
BACKGROUND
In Mozambique, the widow is traditionally required to undergo a cleansing ritual called pita-kufa, which generally involves several sessions of unprotected sexual intercourse with the brother of her deceased husband. This ritual may play a role in the spread of HIV and reveals, to some degree, the subordinate position to which women are subjected in Mozambican society. Thus, this study's aim was to map Mozambicans' views on the acceptability of this ritual, given the gender and public health concerns linked to it.
METHODS
A total of 359 Mozambicans participated in the study. The data collection instrument consisted of 18 vignettes describing realistic pita-kufa situations, varying as a function of three factors: a widow's willingness or not to perform the ritual, the perceived effectiveness of the ritual, and the risk level of HIV infection linked to the practice. For each pita-kufa situation presented in the vignettes, the participants were asked to rate its acceptability on an 11-point scale. In addition, the participants wrote comments giving their general views on the ritual. A cluster analysis using the K-means procedure was applied to the quantitative raw data to capture different perspectives, and the participants' written comments were subjected to thematic and frequency content analysis.
RESULTS
From the data gathered though the vignettes, three different perspectives were found: total unacceptability (55% of the participants), conditional acceptability (29% of the participants) and unconditional acceptability (16% of the participants). From the data gathered though the participants' written comments, it emerged that they thought that the practice of this ritual should evolve (61%), stop (27%) and be kept as it is (12%).
CONCLUSION
According to the main results, it seems that a large majority of study participants think that this ritual is outdated and needs to evolve in order to minimize the risk of HIV transmission and respect women's rights.
Topics: Ceremonial Behavior; Developing Countries; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Mozambique; Public Health; Sexual Behavior; Widowhood; Women's Rights
PubMed: 30236108
DOI: 10.1186/s12914-018-0177-z -
Journal of Women & Aging 2023This study aimed to picture the experience of the meaning of life in widows by using a photovoice approach with thematic analysis. The participants involved were 10...
This study aimed to picture the experience of the meaning of life in widows by using a photovoice approach with thematic analysis. The participants involved were 10 widows living in West Timor, Indonesia. The results of the thematic analysis show that the meaning of life in widows relates to the following three themes: the spiritual meaning of life, risks of abuses and harassment, and supporting systems for widows. The photovoice approach managed to spark social change and improve community awareness on issues threatening widows' well-being.
Topics: Female; Humans; Widowhood; Social Change; Indonesia
PubMed: 35324412
DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2022.2052545 -
Lancet (London, England) Aug 1963
Topics: Humans; Marriage; Mortality; Suicide; United Kingdom; Widowhood
PubMed: 14044326
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(63)92193-7 -
Journal of Clinical Nursing Apr 2009To explore through literature review the appropriateness of three common tools for use by community nurses to screen war veteran and war widow(er) clients for... (Review)
Review
A literature review of the application of the Geriatric Depression Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist to community nursing cohorts.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To explore through literature review the appropriateness of three common tools for use by community nurses to screen war veteran and war widow(er) clients for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
War veterans and, to a lesser extent, war widow(er)s, are prone to mental health challenges, especially depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Community nurses do not accurately identify such people with depression and related disorders although they are well positioned to do so. The use of valid and reliable self-report tools is one method of improving nurses' identification of people with actual or potential mental health difficulties for referral to a general practitioner or mental health practitioner for diagnostic assessment and treatment. The Geriatric Depression Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist are frequently recommended for mental health screening but the appropriateness of using the tools for screening war veteran and war widow(er) community nursing clients who are often aged and have functional impairment, is unknown.
DESIGN
Systematic review.
CONCLUSIONS
Current literature informs that the Geriatric Depression Scale accurately predicts a diagnosis of depression in community nursing cohorts. The three Depression Anxiety Stress Scales subscales of depression, anxiety and stress are valid; however, no studies were identified that compared the performance of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales in predicting diagnoses of depression or anxiety. The Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist predicts post-traumatic stress disorder in community cohorts although no studies meeting the selection criteria included male participants.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
This review provides recommendations for the use of the Geriatric Depression Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and The Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist based on examination of the published evidence for the application of these screening tools in samples approximated to community nursing cohorts. Findings and recommendations would guide community nurses, managers and health planners in the selection of mental health screening tools to promote holistic community nursing care.
Topics: Anxiety; Community Health Nursing; Depressive Disorder; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Humans; Mass Screening; Nursing Assessment; Nursing Evaluation Research; Predictive Value of Tests; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; Research Design; Severity of Illness Index; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Veterans; Widowhood
PubMed: 19284431
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02731.x -
People & the Planet 1995
Topics: Africa; Africa South of the Sahara; Africa, Eastern; Africa, Western; Asia; Bangladesh; Developing Countries; Economics; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Ghana; India; Marital Status; Marriage; Politics; Public Opinion; Social Change; Socioeconomic Factors; Uganda; Widowhood; Women; Women's Rights
PubMed: 12290004
DOI: No ID Found -
Omega Aug 2020Grieving is manifested differently around the world depending on culture, social desirability, and social norms. Little is known about grieving patterns in Africa. As... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Grieving is manifested differently around the world depending on culture, social desirability, and social norms. Little is known about grieving patterns in Africa. As such, a study of the grieving patterns of young widows of the Banso tribe of the Cameroon was conducted. This examination used Doka and Martin's model of grieving styles as the lens for this research. This model delineates a continuum of grief styles: instrumental on one end, intuitive on the other, and blended in the middle. This study used the validated Grief Pattern Inventory to determine if young Banso widows in this sample are intuitive, instrumental, or blended grievers. The study employed a cross-sectional design. The results indicated that 47% of the participants were intuitive grievers and 41% were blended grievers. Policy, research, and clinical implications emerging from the results were presented.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cameroon; Cross-Sectional Studies; Culture; Female; Grief; Humans; Widowhood; Young Adult
PubMed: 29938601
DOI: 10.1177/0030222818785090 -
Psycho-oncology Dec 2012Cancer is a leading cause of widowed fatherhood in the USA. Fathers whose spouses have died from cancer constitute a potentially vulnerable population as they adjust to...
Cancer is a leading cause of widowed fatherhood in the USA. Fathers whose spouses have died from cancer constitute a potentially vulnerable population as they adjust to their role as sole or primary caregiver while managing their own grief and that of their children. The importance of addressing the psychological needs of widowed fathers is underscored by data showing that father's coping and emotional availability are closely tied to their bereaved children's mental health. Surprisingly, scant attention has been given to the phenomenon of widowed fatherhood with virtually no clinical resources or research studies devoted to fathers who have lost their wives to cancer. This commentary highlights key challenges facing this underserved population of widowers and calls for development of research agendas and clinical interventions for single fathers due to cancer.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Bereavement; Child; Father-Child Relations; Fathers; Humans; Male; Neoplasms; Parenting; Widowhood
PubMed: 21830258
DOI: 10.1002/pon.2033