Predictors of life outlook of older single women.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether personal and social factors differentiate between widowed, divorced or separated, and never married older women, and predict the life outlook of older single women. A secondary analysis of data from a subsample of the older single women (n = 816) in the 1975 National Survey of the Aged was undertaken. Significant differences between groups were found: never married women were better educated, healthier, less lonely, and had a more positive life outlook than widows. The model predicted 29% of the variance in life outlook. Health and loneliness had the strongest effects on life outlook when predictors were compared.