Working Paper Summary 01-06
Click the red triangle buttons above to page through each working paper summary, or click the red circle to return to the table of contents. For copies of Pathways working papers, contact the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute at 607-274-1965.
Pathways Working Paper 01-06 Moen, P., Dempster-McClain, D., Driscoll, E. & Boyce, A. (2001, November). Couples' Residential Shifts in Later Adulthood: Moving Expectations and Actions.
Phyllis Moen, Cornell University
Donna Dempster-McClain, Cornell University
Eileen Driscoll
Alice Boyes, Cornell University
Objectives
Assesses couples' expectations and actions about moving (creating 3 groups), focusing on the similarities and differences in reasons for considering a move, recent life events, role involvement and well-being.
Key findings
- About one-third of the couples indicated they were currently considering or would consider moving in '98 and '00.
- Those considering moving were most likely to list upkeep and maintenance of their current residence (20%), health problems (27%), ability to get around (17%), and illness of spouse (13%) as potential or actual reasons for a relocation.
- Forty percent of the couples in the "considering moving group" experienced the death of a friend or loved one.
- Couples in all three groups were similar in their role involvement and evaluation of their relationship.
- On measures of well-being, the couples were healthy, satisfied with their life, reported high levels of social integration and positive affect, revealing only minimal differences by moving expectations and gender.
Couples, people whose lives are linked, tend to make similar decisions about moving. They also report similar role involvement.
Ithaca College
Center for Health Sciences
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: (607) 274-1965
Fax: (607) 274-1968
        |