Loneliness and the Rural Widow

The purpose of this study was to determine if rural widows (N = 103) could be classified into three levels of loneliness on the basis of one or more of 16 physical, social, and psychological variables. A multiple discriminant analysis derived two factors that differentiated among levels of loneliness. The first and more important function served to distinguish the sometimes from the never lonely on the basis of satisfaction with relationships. The second separated the frequently from the never lonely and appeared to be a measure of physical isolation as determined by selfperceived health and transportation. Implications for intervention are discussed.