Tested Erikson's theory of an ego integrity versus despair crisis in old age using interviews with 40 older adults. Four integrity statuses were defined: integrity achieving, dissonant, foreclosed, despairing. Results supported the validity of the integrity status construct and the interview designed to measure it. (JAC)

Increased divorce rates, declining marriage rates, and a predisposition to widowhood in later life all contribute to the heterogeneous marital histories of women approaching retirement. Existing research on retirement, however, has not considered the diversity in marital status that exists among retired women. The purpose of the present study was…