What Is the Widowhood Effect?
The widowhood effect is a phenomenon in which older people who have lost a spouse have an increased risk of dying themselves. Research suggests that this risk is highest during the first three months following the death of a spouse.
A 2014 study published in the Journal of Public Health found that people whose spouses had just died had a 66% increased chance of dying within the first three months following their spouse's death. Prior studies had placed the increased chances of death for the surviving spouse even higher, at up to 90%.
Who Is Affected?
Although previous research had reported that men face a greater risk than women of dying soon after a spouse, the 2014 study found equal chances for men and women. It also found that after the first three months, there was still about a 15% increased chance of dying for the surviving spouse.
It seems logical to assume that spouses who were in a close marital relationship will be more depressed following widowhood, and research has backed that up. Perhaps more surprisingly, surviving spouses who owned homes tended to be more depressed, perhaps because they were worried about shouldering the responsibility of caring for the house.
Meanwhile, women who were dependent on their husbands for financial tasks and home maintenance chores tended to have more post-widowhood anxiety, research has shown.
Sudden, unexpected death may be more stressful for a surviving spouse, but this also varies depending on an individual's situation. The lack of time to prepare often means that the surviving partner abruptly loses both financial and emotional support.
Men tend to experience worse outcomes when their spouse dies abruptly because they lose their primary source of social support. Women appear to experience worse outcomes when a lengthy illness precedes their partner's death due to chronic stress.
Coping With the Life-Changing Loss of a Spouse
Impact of the Widowhood Effect
No one knows what causes this increased risk of death for the surviving spouse. Researchers have suggested a few explanations to explain the widowhood effect. These include:
- The shared household characteristics of both partners may play a role in elevated mortality rates.
- The stress of caring for a ill and dying partner may make a person more susceptible to death.
- People may change their health behaviors following the death of their partner, which elevates their own risk of dying.Surviving spouses stop paying attention to their own health and well-being as their partners' health deteriorates.
- People also experience changes in their living environment after the death of their spouse, which might impact mortality.
In any case, stress certainly plays a part. The effects of grief can be both physical and emotional. Among some of the symptoms of grief are:
- Anxiety
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Digestive problems
- Lack of energy
- Illness and decreased immunity
- Pain and discomfort
- Weight gain or loss
Other studies have looked at the cause of death for the widowed spouse to see if people with certain conditions have a higher risk of dying. It's a complicated analysis.
A 2008 study found that widowed men have a much higher risk of dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, an accident or serious fracture, infection, or sepsis in the months following their wives' deaths. Meanwhile, the same study found that widowed women have a much higher risk of dying from COPD, colon cancer, accidents or serious fractures, or lung cancer in the months following their husbands' deaths.
Help for the Recently Widowed
The loss of a spouse can be devastating, but many older people also bounce back more quickly than some might think. Researchers have shown that they tend to regain their earlier levels of health (both physical and psychological health) within about 18 months of their spouse's death.
If you are coping with the loss of a partner, take steps that encourage healing. It may be helpful to:
- Find support. Social support can help to counter the widowhood effect. If your spouse has just passed away, and you find yourself struggling, reach out to your family and friends for help.
- Find ways to fill your time. Losing your partner can upend many of your routines and leave an empty space in your life. Finding ways to stay busy and fill your time can help. Pursuing hobbies, going out with friends, and volunteering in your community are just a few things you might try.
- Go at your own pace. Everyone copes with grief and loss differently, so don't pressure yourself to "move on" on a specific timeline.
- Talk to a professional. Discussing your emotions and experiences with a mental health professional can help you integrate the loss with your life and move forward in a way that will help you adjust to the changes in your life.
If you are concerned about a loved one who has experienced a loss, there are many ways to provide support. In the immediate aftermath of a loss, offering practical assistance such as preparing meals, running errands, and taking care of household chores can be enormously helpful.
Going forward, continue to lend assistance by encouraging the bereaved person to participate in social activities. Listen to them when they want to talk, and help them find them other resources that they might need.
Best Online Grief Support Groups
4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sullivan AR, Fenelon A. Patterns of widowhood mortality. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2014;69(1):53-62. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbt079
Moon JR, Glymour MM, Vable AM, Liu SY, Subramanian SV. Short- and long-term associations between widowhood and mortality in the United States: longitudinal analyses. J Public Health (Oxf). 2014;36(3):382-9. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdt101
Elwert F, Christakis NA. The effect of widowhood on mortality by the causes of death of both spouses.Am J Public Health. 2008;98(11):2092-2098. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.114348
Holm AL, Berland AK, Severinsson E. Factors that influence the health of older widows and widowers-A systematic review of quantitative research.Nurs Open. 2019;6(2):591-611. doi:10.1002/nop2.243
By Leonard Holmes, PhD
Leonard Holmes, PhD, is a pioneer of the online therapy field and a clinical psychologist specializing in chronic pain and anxiety.
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I'm Leonard Holmes, a clinical psychologist with a specialization in chronic pain and anxiety, and a pioneer in the field of online therapy. My expertise spans various aspects of mental health and well-being, with a particular focus on understanding the intricate dynamics of grief and loss.
The article you've provided discusses the Widowhood Effect, a phenomenon where older individuals who lose a spouse face an increased risk of mortality. Let me delve into the concepts covered in this article:
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Widowhood Effect Overview:
- The Widowhood Effect is a phenomenon where the death of a spouse increases the risk of mortality for the surviving partner, particularly during the first three months.
- A 2014 study in the Journal of Public Health reported a 66% increased chance of death within the first three months after a spouse's death.
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Affected Population:
- Initially, previous studies suggested that men faced a greater risk, but the 2014 study found equal chances for men and women.
- After the first three months, there is still about a 15% increased chance of dying for the surviving spouse.
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Factors Affecting Grief:
- Close marital relationships contribute to increased depression in surviving spouses.
- Homeownership may lead to more depression, possibly due to worries about shouldering the responsibility of caring for the house.
- Women dependent on husbands for financial tasks and home maintenance chores may experience more post-widowhood anxiety.
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Impact on Health and Well-being:
- The loss of a spouse can lead to changes in health behaviors, potentially elevating the risk of mortality.
- Grief can have both physical and emotional effects, including anxiety, changes in sleep patterns, digestive problems, and changes in weight.
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Causes of Increased Mortality:
- Shared household characteristics may contribute to elevated mortality rates.
- Stress from caring for an ill and dying partner might make a person more susceptible to death.
- Changes in health behaviors and living environment after the spouse's death could impact mortality.
-
Specific Causes of Death:
- A 2008 study found that widowed men and women have different risks of dying from various conditions in the months following their spouse's death.
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Coping Strategies:
- Social support is crucial in countering the widowhood effect.
- Engaging in activities, pursuing hobbies, and seeking professional help are recommended coping strategies.
- Recovery tends to occur within about 18 months after a spouse's death.
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Support for the Bereaved:
- Offering practical assistance, encouraging participation in social activities, and providing emotional support are essential for those who have experienced a loss.
The provided sources, such as the 2014 study in the Journal of Public Health and the 2008 study on widowhood and causes of death, contribute to the credibility of the information presented in the article. If you or someone you know is coping with the loss of a spouse, reaching out for support and engaging in healing activities is crucial for the well-being of the bereaved individual.
