This study uses the concept of uncertainty in general, and specifically objective and subjective uncertainty, as a framework for understanding how a widow experiences grief and attempts to reestablish her sense of self. It investigates how widows understand, internalize, and act on objective and subjective uncertainty and the interplay between them. Objective uncertainty usually refers to more concrete situations or conditions, for example, health and finances, and there is more consensus regarding them, whereas subjective uncertainty is more individual and volatile, and refers to relationships or interpretation of the objective conditions. The researcher used a combination of participant observation and semistructured interviews. of widows from different socioeconomic classes and ethnic groups. The research revealed that uncertainty plays a large role in the widows’ attempt to live new “suddenly single” lives and that they experience both subjective and objective uncertainty, with subjective uncertainty playing a greater role. Further research is needed to understand the effect of different familial and societal “uncertainty avoidance cultures” on widows experiencing multi-ethnic or multinational identities either by descent of intercultural marriage.

这项研究使用一般的不确定性概念，特别是客观和主观不确定性，作为理解寡妇如何经历悲伤并试图重新建立自我感的框架。它研究寡妇如何理解，内化和应对客观和主观的不确定性以及它们之间的相互作用。客观不确定性通常指的是更具体的情况或条件，例如健康和财务状况，对此有更多的共识，而主观不确定性则更具个体性和易变性，指的是客观条件的关系或解释。研究人员结合了参与者观察和半结构化访谈。来自不同社会经济阶层和种族的寡妇。研究表明，不确定性在寡妇尝试新的“突然单身”生活中起着很大的作用，并且他们经历主观和客观的不确定性，而主观的不确定性则起着更大的作用。需要进一步的研究，以了解不同的家族和社会“避免不确定性文化”对跨文化婚姻下降而经历多民族或多民族身份的寡妇的影响。