Widowhood Grief: A Cultural Perspective

Abstract

Grieving widows are at risk for health problems and mortality (Rigdon, Clayton & Dimond, 1987), and are of special interest to nurses who could provide culturally relevant care. The death of a spouse, even when expected, leads to distress (Click, Weiss & Parkes, 1974; Lopata, 1979). While self-help groups for widows are available (Silverman, 1975, 1986), clinical observations demonstrate that many widows avoid these groups as well as professional assistance. Could it be that such help is inconsistent with their cultural values, beliefs and lifeways, and therefore is viewed as irrelevant? The purpose of this transcultural nursing study, which was part of a larger study that also investigated cultural care and health (Rosenbaum, 1990a), was to describe and explain the grief meanings and experiences of older Greek-Canadian widows, within their world view and social structure dimensions.