THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND MORBIDITY ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF LIVING ALONE AMONG OLDER US ADULTS WHO BECOME UNMARRIED - A COMPARISON OF WOMEN AND MEN

This study examined gender differences in the associations of sociodem ographic variables and morbidity with changes in living arrangements a mong adults aged 55-74 years old (n = 820) who became unmarried betwee n the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1971-75 and the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study 1982-84. Preexisting family co nstellations (living in two person households at NHANES I compared to living in larger households, and not having children) were important p redictors of living alone for both women and men following a change in marital status, Analyses also suggest gender differences in the effec ts of race, education and income on living alone after becoming unmarr ied.