[Contact behavior of elderly females living alone from the social psychologic viewpoint--an exploratory study. I: Theoretical and methodologic principles].

The authors specify the theoretical and methodical fundamentals of an exploratory study on the contact behaviour of older women living alone. As the method of examination they chose the fully standardized interview, by which all variables to be examined were covered. The sample consisted of 100 fit women aged 62 to 77 years not working any more and living alone, 80 of whom living in a residential district and 20 in an old-age home (in a city of the GDR).