# LIFESTYLES AND GENERATIVITY OF CHILDLESS OLDER MEN

> **NIH NIH R01** · MADLYN/LEONARD ABRAMSON CTR/JEWISH LIFE · 1991 · $133,631

## Abstract

The major specific aim of the proposed 36-month study is to examine the
lifestyles of childless elderly men.  While important areas to be
investigated include social networks and support, well-being, activities,
and self-conceptions, central to the proposed research is the concept of
generativity.  Defined first by Erikson as "an interest in establishing and
guiding the next generation," generativity will be defined here as enduring
involvement or investment by individuals in people, groups, activities, and
things, often in a caring or nurturant way, which may survive their
passing.  A focal question to be addressed is how themes of personal
generativity are expressed by childless older men in later life.

A great deal of recent gerontological research has examined parent-child
relations.  However, about 20% of those 65 and older have no living
children, this having occurred through conscious decision, infertility, or
loss.  There is little published information on this social category.
Groups of older men to be investigated in the proposed research include:
(1) the never married, (2) the husband in a currently married older couple
who never had children, (3) widowers who never had children, (4) both
married and widowed who have suffered the loss of an adult child/ren and
are now childless.  These will be compared to men with one child and those
with four or more.  Twenty-five persons of each type will be interviewed;
(N=150).  Each subject will undergo a series of three qualitative
interviews.  A first interview features the collection of background data
and a life history.  A second and third interview feature the collection of
data on generativity and the meaning of childlessness.  Data analysis is
primarily qualitative; a number of hypotheses will also be tested
quantitatively.  Cross-gender hypotheses will be examined by comparing
these findings with those on women.

Findings from the research will provide significant descriptive and
comparative data on the lives of aged childless men.  Data on network and
support adequacy will be of use to practitioners, providing useful data for
health-related interventions.  Information on self-conception and
generativity should add a new dimension to gerontological perception of
these elderly.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3120604
- **Project number:** 1R01AG008836-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** MADLYN/LEONARD ABRAMSON CTR/JEWISH LIFE
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert L. Rubinstein
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $133,631
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1991-09-01 → 1994-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3120604

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3120604, LIFESTYLES AND GENERATIVITY OF CHILDLESS OLDER MEN (1R01AG008836-01A2). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3120604. Licensed CC0.

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