Answer to Question 1
Answer: About 5 percent of older Americans have remained unmarried and childless throughout their lives. Almost all are conscious of being different from the norm, but most have developed alternative meaningful relationships. Some nonmarried older adults speak of the centrality of extended family and of younger people in their social networksoften nieces and nephewsand of influencing them in enduring ways. In addition, same-sex friendships are key in never-married older womens lives. These tend to be unusually close and often involve joint travel, periods of coresidence, and associations with each others extended families. Never-married, childless men are at risk for loneliness and depression. And without pressure from a partner to maintain a healthy lifestyle, these men engage in more unhealthy behaviors. Hence, their physical and mental health tends to be less favorable than their married counterparts. Nevertheless, never-married older people report a level of social connectedness and psychological well-being equivalent to that of married aging adults. Because friendships are not the same as blood ties when it comes to caregiving, being unmarried and childless in very old age reduces the likelihood of informal personal care. And with close ties weighted toward friends, nonmarried childless individuals lose more network members with increasing age. Still, most say that some informal support is available.
Answer to Question 2
Answer: In research on diverse samples of adults followed over the lifespan, George Vaillant looked at how various life-course factors contributed to late-life physical and psychological well-being. Findings revealed that factors people can control to some degree (such as health habits, coping strategies, marital stability, and years of education) far outweighed uncontrollable factors (parental SES, family warmth in childhood, early physical health, and longevity of family members) in predicting a satisfying, active old age. Vaillant concluded, The past often predicts but never determines our old age. Successful aging is an expression of remarkable resilience during this final period of the lifespan.
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An older woman with wrinkled skin, gray hair, and darker teeth, smokes a cigarette.