Widowed Persons in Serbia: Change in Number and General Demographic Characteristics (1980-2016)
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Widowed persons represent a vulnerable population group, especially because the loss of a spouse is usually a part of old people’s experience. In old age, people are typically faced with multiple constraints, related to health, financial resources, family and other social relationships. Changes that accompany the death of spouse and widowhood are generally long-term and largely negative for many widowed persons.
With advanced population ageing, the share of the widowed in the total population is increasing, and this is also true for Serbia. With a crude widowhood rate of 11.7% in 2011, Serbia is at the very top of the list of European countries and has the highest widowhood rate of men (5.2%). However, widowhood primarily affects women, and 78% of the widowed in Serbia are widows.
This paper analyses the widowhood in Serbia from 1980 to 2016. The main objective is to describe the trends and characteristics of widowed persons in this period. This article is primarily based on the analysis of previously unpublished census results and vital statistics data.
In Serbia, in the period of 1981-2011, there was a continuous increase in the number of widowed persons and in 2011 it was 37.5% higher than 30 years before. Furthermore, the share of the widowed in the total population increased significantly (from 8.5% to 11.7%). Widowhood is considerably more present among women and the elderly. More than four fifths of the widowed are older than 60 years, and the values of all used demographic indicators of widowhood are three or four times higher in women. The authors mention the noticeable decrease in remarriage among widowed persons and a major decrease in the nuptiality rate of the widowed, especially among widowers. The observed educational structure of the widowed shows a higher percentage of persons with a lower educational level. Another significant finding was that the widowed represent half of the total number of people who live alone in one-person households. Among them, more than four fifths are 65 years old or older, and a full half are older than 75.
The authors concluded that further quantitative and qualitative studies of demographic, but also social, psychological, health and other aspects of the widowed in Serbia are needed. Additionally, these results can represent the analytical basis for policy makers to identify needs and define different measures and actions directed towards the elderly, among which widowed persons, and especially widowers, are particularly vulnerable categories.
Downloads
Article Details
Published by the Institute of Social Sciences - Center for Demographic Research
References
BENNETT, K. M., ARNOTT, L., & SOULSBY, L. K. (2013). You’re not getting married for the moon and the stars: The uncertainties of older British widowers about the idea of new romantic relationships. Journal of Aging Studies 27(4): 499–506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2013.03.006
BIRO, A. (2013). Adverse effects of widowhood in Europe. Advances in Life Course Research 18(1): 68–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcr.2012.10.005
BOBIĆ, M. (2003). Prekomponovanje braka, partnerstva i porodice u savreme-nim društvima. Stanovništvo 41(1–4): 65–91. https://doi.org/10.2298/STNV0304065B
BOYLE, P. J, FENG, Z., & RAAB, G. M. (2011). Does widowhood increase mortality risk?: testing for selection effects by comparing causes of spousal death. Epidemiology 22(1): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181fdcc0b
CALASANTI, T., & KIECOLT, K. J. (2007). Diversity Among Late-Life Couples. Generations 31 (3): 10–17.
CARR, D. (2004). The Desire to Date and Remarry among Older Widows and Widowers. Journal of Marriage and Family 66(4): 1051–1068. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.00078.x
CARR, D., & BOERNER, K. (2013). Dating after late-life spousal loss: Does it compromise relationships with adult children. Journal of Aging Studies 27(4): 487–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2012.12.009
CHAMIE, J., & NSULY, S. (1981). Sex Differences in Remarriage and Spouse Selection. Demography 18(3): 335–348. https://doi.org/10.2307/2061001
DE JONG GIERVELD, J. (2004). Remarriage, unmarried cohabitation, living apart together: Partner relationships following bereavement or divorce. Journal of Marriage and Family 66(1): 236–243. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-2445.2004.00015.x
DELBÈS, C., GAYMU, J., & SPRINGER, S. (2006). Les femmes vieillissent seules, les hommes vieillissent à deux. Un bilan européen. Population & Sociétés 419 (janvier): 1–4. https://www.ined.fr/fichier/s_rubrique/19089/pop_et_soc_francais_419.fr.pdf
DIGIACOMO, M., DAVIDSON, P. M., BYLES, J., & NOLAN, M. T. (2013). An Integrative and Socio-Cultural Perspective of Health, Wealth, and Adjustment in Widowhood. Health Care for Women International 34(12): 1067–1083. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2012.712171
ĐURĐEV, B., ARSENOVIĆ, D., PENEV, G., ŠOBOT, A., STANKOVIĆ, B., & RADIVOJEVIĆ, B. (2015). Domaćinstva – broj i strukture. U V. Nikitović (ur.), Populacija Srbije početkom 21. veka (str. 264–292). Beograd: Repub-lički zavod za statistiku Srbije. http://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2015/Pdf/G20154006.pdf
EUROSTAT (2016). Population by age, sex and legal marital status. Table (electronic resource). Luxembourg: Eurostat. http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=demo_pjanmarsta&lang=en
EUROSTAT (2017). Glossary: Marital status. Eurostat Statistics Explained (electronic resource). Luxembourg: Eurostat. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Glossary:Marital_status
GOLDMAN, N. (1993). Marriage Selection and Mortality Patterns: Inferences and Fallacies. Demography 30(2): 189–208. https://doi.org/10.2307/2061837
GRUNDY, E. (2006). Ageing and vulnerable elderly people: European perspectives. Ageing & Society 26(1): 105–134. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X05004484
JAFFE, D. H., MANOR, O., EISENBACH, Z., & NEUMARK, Y. D. (2007). The Protective Effect of Marriage on Mortality in a Dynamic Society. Annals of Epidemiology 17(7): 540–547. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2006.12.006
KIRS (2001). Registracija izbeglica u Srbiji, mart-april 2001. Beograd: UNHCR, Komesarijat za izbeglice Republike Srbije, Visoki komesarijat Ujedinjenih nacija za izbeglice. http://www.kirs.gov.rs/docs/izvestaji/Registracija%20izbeglica%20u%20Srbiji%202001%20(mart-april).pdf
KOLIP, P. (2005). The association between gender, family status and mortality. Journal of Public Health 13(6): 309–312. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-005-0129-7
LILLARD, L. A., & PANIS, C. W. A. (1996). Marital Status and Mortality: The Role of Health. Demography 33(3): 313–327. https://doi.org/10.2307/2061764
LUY, M. (2003). Causes of Male Excess Mortality: Insights from Cloistered Populations. Population and Development Review 29(4): 647–676. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2003.00647.x
MARTIKAINEN, P., & VALKONEN, T. (1996). Mortality after the Death of a Spouse: Rates and Causes of Death in a Large Finnish Cohort. American Journal of Public Health 86(8):1087–1093. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1380614/pdf/amjph00519-0033.pdf
OKSUZYAN, A., JUEL, K., VAUPEL, J. W., & CHRISTENSEN, K. (2008). Men: good health and high mortality. Sex differences in health and aging. Aging clinical and experimental research 20(2): 91–102. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324754
PENEV, G. (2015). Struktura stanovništva prema polu i starosti. U V. Nikitović (ur.), Populacija Srbije početkom 21. veka (str. 130–165). Beograd: Repub-lički zavod za statistiku Srbije. http://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2015/Pdf/G20154006.pdf
PENEV, G., & PREDOJEVIĆ-DESPIĆ, J. (2012). Prostorni aspekti emigracije iz Srbije. Tri „vruće” emigracione zone? Stanovništvo 50(2): 35–64. https://doi.org/10.2298/STNV1202035P
PERRIG-CHIELLO, P., SPAHNI, S., HÖPFLINGER F., & CARR, D. (2016). Cohort and Gender Differences in Psychosocial Adjustment to Later-Life Widowhood. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 71(4): 765–774. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbv004
PHILIPOV, D., & SCHERBOV, S. (2016). Differences by union status in health and mortality at older ages: Results for 16 European countries. Demographic Research 35: 535–556. https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2016.35.19
PETROVIĆ, M. (2011). Promene bračnosti i porodičnih modela u postsocija-lističkim zemljama: zakasnela i nepotpuna ili specifična druga demografska tranzicija? Stanovništvo 49(1): 53–78. https://doi.org/10.2298/STNV1101053P
PREDOJEVIĆ, J. (2006). Domaćinstva i porodice. U G. Penev (ur.), Stanovništvo i domaćinstva Srbije prema popisu 2002. godine (str. 251–275). Beograd: Republički zavod za statistiku Srbije – Institut društvenih nauka / Centar za demografska istraživanja – Društvo demografa Srbije. http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G2006/pdf/G20064005.pdf
RZS (2013). Population: Marital status. Data by municipalities and cities. 2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia, Book 5. Belgrade: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G2013/pdf/G20134004.pdf
RZS (2014). Complete life tables for the Republic of Serbia, 2010-2012. Belgrade: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/DTM%202010-2012.pdf
RZS (2016). Demographic Yearbook 2015. Belgrade: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G2016/pdf/G20164001.pdf
SCHRIJVERS, C. T. M., STRONKS, K., VAN DE MHEEN, D. H., & MACKENBACH, J. P. (1999). Explaining Educational Differences in Mortality: The Role of Behavioral and Material Factors. American Journal of Public Health 89(4): 535–540. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.89.4.535
SEIFARTH, J. E., MCGOWAN, C. L., & MILNE, K. J. (2012). Sex and Life Expectancy. Gender Medicine 9(6): 390–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genm.2012.10.001
SHKOLNIKOV, V. M., ANDREEV, E. M., JDANOV, D. A., JASILIONIS, D., KRAVDAL, Ø, VÅGERÖ, D., & VALKONEN, T. (2012). Increasing absolute mortality disparities by education in Finland, Norway and Sweden, 1971-2000. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 66(4): 372–378. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2009.104786
SHOR, E., ROELFS, D. J., CURRELI, M., CLEMOW, L., BURG, M. M., & SCHWARTZ J. E. (2012). Widowhood and Mortality: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression. Demography 49(2): 575–606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-012-0096-x
SMITH, K. R, ZICK, C. D., & DUNCAN, G. J. (1991). Remarriage Patterns Among Recent Widows and Widowers. Demography 28(3): 361–374. https://doi.org/10.2307/2061462
STEVENS, N. (2002). Re-engaging: New Partnerships in Late-Life Widowhood. Ageing International 27(4): 27–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-002-1013-1
STROEBE, M. S., & STROEBE, W. (1983). Who Suffers More? Sex Differences in Health Risks of the Widowed. Psychological Bulletin 93(2): 279–301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.93.2.279
STROEBE, M., SCHUT, H., & STROEBE, W. (2007). Health outcomes of bereavement. Lancet 370(9603): 1960–1973. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61816-9
VAN GROOTHEEST, D. S., BEEKMAN, A. T. F., BROESE VAN GROENOU, M. I., & DEEG, D. J. H. (1999). Sex differences in depression after widowhood. Do men suffer more? Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 34(7): 391–398. https://doi.org/10.1007/s001270050160
VAN DEN HOONARD, D. K. (2002). Attitudes of older widows and widowers in New Brunswick, Canada, towards new partnerships. Ageing International 27(4): 79–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-002-1016-y
WU, Z., SCHIMMELE, C. M., & OUELLET, N. (2014). Repartnering After Widowhood. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 70(3): 496–507. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbu060