Changes in Social Participation and Volunteer Activity Among Recently Widowed Older Adults

Older adults increase their reliance on sources of other social support following spousal loss but do not change their volunteer activities. This suggests that continuity of volunteer engagement and enhanced social participation are important following widowhood. Given their positive associations with late-life well-being, efforts to help older widows and widowers increase their social participation and maintain established patterns of volunteerism following spousal loss are warranted.