MARRIAGE AND ROMANTIC INVOLVEMENT AMONG AGED AFRICAN-AMERICANS

This study examined the extent and structural correlates of marriage, romantic involvement, and preference for romantic involvement among ol der adults in a national sample of African Americans. Multivariate ana lyses indicated that gender, age, education, income, and urban residen ce were important predictors of marriage and romantic involvement. In particular, men and younger respondents were more likely than women an d older respondents to be married, have a romantic involvement, or be desirous of a romantic involvement. The effects of the decreased proba bility of marriage for future cohorts of older African American women on their supportive networks, living arrangements, and income adequacy are discussed.