RACE AND RESIDENCE VARIATION IN LIVING ARRANGEMENTS AMONG UNMARRIED OLDER ADULTS - FINDINGS FROM A SAMPLE OF FLORIDIANS

This study examines race and residence differences in the likelihood o f unmarried older persons living alone. Using data collected from a st ratified, random sample of elderly persons conducted in both rural and urban areas of north Florida (N = 1,200), the investigation demonstra tes that among the unmarried (n = 704), African Americans and resident s of urban areas are more likely to live with others than are Whites a nd rural residents, respectively. This study also finds that the effec ts of race and residence on living alone are additive. Other factors f ound to significantly influence living arrangements are age, gender, t he occurrence of a hospitalization in the past year, and the number of unmarried children. Variation in two additional aspects of the living arrangements of unmarried elders-the proximity of children and the re lationship between elders and other members of the household-offer ins ight into the race and residence differences in living alone that rema in unexplained by the multivariate analysis.