Race and Residence Variation in Living Arrangements among Unmarried Older Adults

This study examines race and residence differences in the likelihood of unmarried older persons living alone. Using data collected from a stratified, random sample of elderly persons conducted in both rural and urban areas of north Florida (N = 1,200), the investigation demonstrates that among the unmarried (n = 704), African Americans and residents of urban areas are more likely to live with others than are Whites and rural residents, respectively. This study also finds that the effects of race and residence on living alone are additive. Other factors found to significantly influence living arrangements are age, gender, the occurrence of a hospitalization in the past year, and the number of unmarried children. Variation in two additional aspects of the living arrangements of unmarried elders-the proximity of children and the relationship between elders and other members of the household-offer insight into the race and residence differences in living alone that remain unexplained by the multivariate analysis.