Archibald, Krystle Balhan, authorVacha-Haase, Tammi, advisorFruhauf, Christine A., committee memberStallones, Lorann, committee memberRickard, Kathryn Marie, 1957-, committee member2007-01-032007-01-032010http://hdl.handle.net/10217/39319Department Head: Ernest L. Chavez.With estimates of nearly 50% of all women over age 65 becoming widows, the transition into widowhood is an expected life event for older women (Bradsher, 2001; Hanson & Hayslip, 2000). Nonetheless, widowhood is often an extremely disruptive life event for women, involving loss in many life domains including status, social connections, psychological well-being, and self-esteem (Carr, 2004; Carr, Nesse, & Wortman, 2006; Chamber, 2005). The current interpretive phenomenological study explored widows' lived experiences in relation to their self-esteem after the loss of their spouses. Thirteen women from a retirement community in Arizona were interviewed. A core theme of multiple identity construction emerged from their narratives. Other important subthemes arose from the data including "the widowhood experience," "relationships," "self-esteem definitions and sources," and "independence."born digitaldoctoral dissertationsengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.womenwidowhoodself-esteemqualitativeWidowhood -- Social aspectsWidowhood -- Psychological aspectsSelf-esteem in womenSelf-esteem in old ageText