CONTRIBUTION OF HASSLES, APPRAISAL, AND COPING TO PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG ELDERLY WIDOWS

The goal of the study was to determine whether hassles, cognitive appr aisal and coping were related to the adaptation of elderly widows. One hundred and eight women (M = 69.17 years) widowed for less than three years participated in the study. Multiple regression analysis indicat ed that the health factor from the Hassles Scale for Older Adults, thr eat to self-esteem from the Primary Appraisal Questionnaire, and escap e-avoidance from the Ways of Coping Questionnaire together accounted f or 65 per cent of the psychological distress variance as measured by t he Brief Symptom Inventory. The variable most related to the level of distress was health, Methodological implications as well as suggestion s for future projects are discussed.