The never-married and divorced elderly: Comparison of economic and health status, social support, and living arrangement

Despite their increasing numbers, the divorced and never-married elderly comprise a neglected minority in aging research. Based on data from the Longitudinal Survey of Aging, this paper analyzes similarities and differences in economic and health status, social support, and living arrangement of divorced and never-married elderly men and women. The findings indicate that any differences between the divorced and never-married elderly groups are likely to stem from different individual attributes (gender, race, education, and health status) and familial environments (numbers of children and siblings) rather than from different marital statuses. Those with higher education are more likely to lack social support than those with lower education, and women are more likely to experience economic hardship than men. Necessary changes in or expansion of relevant policies and social set-vice programs in preparation for the aging of the single men and women of the baby-boom generation are discussed.