Spouseless, Childless Elderly Women and Their Social Supports

A study of spouseless, childless elderly women living in a metropolitan area included women who had never married, women who were widowed, and women who were divorced or separated. Although potentially at risk with regard to attaining social supports, most of the women had developed substitute supports for the close kin they lacked. Most respondents were younger elderly— aged 65 to 74—who considered themselves in good health.