The effects of widowhood on physical and mental health, health behaviors, and health outcomes: The Women's Health Initiative.

Abstract

This study examined whether widowhood was associated with physical and mental health, health behaviors, and health outcomes using a cross-sectional (N ϭ 72,247) and prospective (N ϭ 55,724) design in women aged 50 -79 years participating in the Women's Health Initiative observational study (85.4% White). At baseline, married women reported better physical and mental health and generally better health behaviors than widowed women. Whereas women who remained married over the 3-year period showed stability in mental health, recent widows experienced marked impairments and longer term widows showed stability or slight improvements. Both groups of widows reported more unintentional weight loss over the 3-year period. Changes in physical health and health behaviors were inconsistent, with generally small effect sizes. Findings underscore the resilience of older women and their capacity to reestablish connections, but point to the need for services that strengthen social support among women who have difficulty during this transition.

A cross-sectional study of socioeconomic status and cardiovascular disease risk among participants in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) Study

“…The mechanisms for increased susceptibility of widowed persons to CVD risk have been studied, and there is support for our observation that people who have experienced marital loss have a significantly higher prevalence of CVD risk factors than those who are or have never been married. [14] Wilcox et al [15] reported significant association between marital status and hypertension. September 2016, Vol.…”

Is bereavement-related depression different than non-bereavement-related depression?

“…These studies report high rates of depressive syndromes extending well beyond the first several months of bereavement. Overall, compared to non-bereaved controls, elevated rates of depression may last as long as 6 months (Bruce et al 1990;Thompson et al 1991), 9 months (Norris & Murrell, 1990), 18 months (Brent et al 1994), 2 years (Harlow et al 1991 b;Stroebe & Stroebe, 1991 ;Hays et al 1994 a, b;Carnelley et al 1999;Turvey et al 1999), 30 months , or even as long as 3 or more years (Bodnar & Kiecolt-Glaser, 1994;Mendes De Leon et al 1994 ;Lichtenstein et al 1996;Wilcox et al 2003). Thus, depressive symptoms whose onset occurs within the post-bereavement window of time the DSM uses to exclude the diagnosis of MDE appears to be as chronic and/or recurrent as SMD.…”

Psychological Health of Older Women in Hong Kong: Do Demographic Characteristics Make a Difference?

“…The stress experienced by widowed women exerts a negative impact on their psychological health (21). Furthermore, the resultant depression may last for many years after widowhood, which prolongs the adverse effects in older women (22,23).…”