Navigating Financial Decisions: A Review on the Impact of Spousal Loss on Widows during Uncertainties

Title

Navigating Financial Decisions: A Review on the Impact of Spousal Loss on Widows during Uncertainties

Creator

Nelson, D.; Iyer, Anusha Srinivasan

Description

Emotional setbacks and theloss of identity are commonly seen as the primary outcomes of spousal loss for widows. However, are these the only factors that impact widows in their new phase of life? Certainly not; many other invisible factors may hinder the livelihood of a widow and their surviving family during the phase of bereavement. This study aims to address one such important factor by analysing various literature available in related areas, specifically focusing on the financial aspects of widowhood, which cannot be avoided by the surviving family even prior to, during, and the later stage of bereavement. An integrated review method is adopted to support the aim of the study. Four major themes have emerged from the review, reflecting significant dimensions of finance. Each theme isfound to be interrelated with others, highlighting the challenges faced, decisions made, and outcomes experienced by the widows during widowhood. A conceptual model has been developed depicting the factors that influence the financial behaviour of widows. The findings of this study emphasise the need for future research to explore widows financial dimensions during the widowhood phase in underdeveloped and developing nations where deprivation is alarming. The implications can lead women to participate actively in household decisions to resist financial adversities during lifes uncertainties. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Source

Studies in Systems, Decision and Control;Volume;620;pp.459-468

Date

01-01-2026

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

Subject

Financial challenges; Financial decision-making; Spousal loss; Widowhood; Widows

Coverage

Nelson D., Department of Commerce, School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; Iyer A.S., Department of Commerce, School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISSN: 21984182;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Book chapter

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02056-7_37

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105027079012?origin=resultslist