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Young widowhood: A qualitative study of sexuality after partner loss.

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Title: Young widowhood: A qualitative study of sexuality after partner loss.
Authors: Barros-Lane, Liza, Yang, Fei, Vollmann, Sarah, Allen, Austin, Gilmore, Elizabeth, Ellis, Kelley, Sanchez, Lucas, Buckler, Kevin
Source: Death Studies. 2025, Vol. 49 Issue 6, p789-798. 10p.
Subjects: Sexual partners, Qualitative research, Human sexuality, Loneliness, Psychological adaptation, Bereavement, Sex customs, Phenomenology, Widowhood, Psychosocial factors, Adults
Abstract: Partner loss deprives young widows of physical contact, emotional intimacy, and the fulfillment of sexual desire. Although disenfranchised and oppressed, sexuality is a core piece of women's identity, and sexual bereavement may compel widows to reconstruct their sexual identities. This existential phenomenological study seeks to illuminate the sexual loss and coping of young widows aged 45 and under. Qualitative findings from 21 women indicated three findings: a) young widows felt profound loss regarding their sexual relationships, leading to deep physical loneliness and an initial disinterest in sex; b) some subsequently experienced widows' fire, an involuntary and often distressing intense sexual desire marked by cravings, obsessive thoughts, and a longing for connection; c) widows' fire complicated their struggle to understand their post-loss identities as sexual beings. These findings highlight the neglected and significant repercussions of sexual loss for young widows and point to a need for heightened support, psychoeducation, and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Death Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Young widowhood: A qualitative study of sexuality after partner loss.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barros-Lane%2C+Liza%22">Barros-Lane, Liza</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Fei%22">Yang, Fei</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vollmann%2C+Sarah%22">Vollmann, Sarah</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Allen%2C+Austin%22">Allen, Austin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gilmore%2C+Elizabeth%22">Gilmore, Elizabeth</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ellis%2C+Kelley%22">Ellis, Kelley</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sanchez%2C+Lucas%22">Sanchez, Lucas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Buckler%2C+Kevin%22">Buckler, Kevin</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Death+Studies%22">Death Studies</searchLink>. 2025, Vol. 49 Issue 6, p789-798. 10p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+partners%22">Sexual partners</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+sexuality%22">Human sexuality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Loneliness%22">Loneliness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+adaptation%22">Psychological adaptation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bereavement%22">Bereavement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sex+customs%22">Sex customs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phenomenology%22">Phenomenology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Widowhood%22">Widowhood</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychosocial+factors%22">Psychosocial factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adults%22">Adults</searchLink>
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  Data: Partner loss deprives young widows of physical contact, emotional intimacy, and the fulfillment of sexual desire. Although disenfranchised and oppressed, sexuality is a core piece of women's identity, and sexual bereavement may compel widows to reconstruct their sexual identities. This existential phenomenological study seeks to illuminate the sexual loss and coping of young widows aged 45 and under. Qualitative findings from 21 women indicated three findings: a) young widows felt profound loss regarding their sexual relationships, leading to deep physical loneliness and an initial disinterest in sex; b) some subsequently experienced widows' fire, an involuntary and often distressing intense sexual desire marked by cravings, obsessive thoughts, and a longing for connection; c) widows' fire complicated their struggle to understand their post-loss identities as sexual beings. These findings highlight the neglected and significant repercussions of sexual loss for young widows and point to a need for heightened support, psychoeducation, and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Death Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/07481187.2024.2356041
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        Text: English
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        PageCount: 10
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Sexual partners
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human sexuality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Loneliness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bereavement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sex customs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phenomenology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Widowhood
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychosocial factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adults
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Young widowhood: A qualitative study of sexuality after partner loss.
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: 2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 49
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