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Mortality after bereavement: A prospective study of 95,647 widowed persons

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  • Kaprio, J.
  • Koskenvuo, M.
  • Rita, H.

Abstract

The mortality of 95,647 persons, widowed during 1972-76 and identified by linking the Finnish Population Register and cause-of-death files, was followed up to the end of 1976. A total of 7,635 deaths during 225,251 person-years of experience were observed. Cause-specific standardized mortality ratios by time after bereavement were computed. The highest relative mortality risk was found immediately after bereavement. For all natural causes, mortality during the first week was over two-fold compared to expected rates. The relative risk was larger for ischemic heart disease (RR = 2.3 for men, and RR = 3.5 for women), an effect found in all age groups. Among men under age 65, excess mortality from IHD was also observed during later years of widowhood. For violent causes, exclusive of accidents simultaneously affecting both spouses, mortality was over two-fold during the first month. Mortality from suicides was greater than expected during the first years of widowhood. While the greatest excess mortality after bereavement seems to be due principally to the acute effects of becoming widowed, there also seems to be some excess mortality in younger persons widowed for a longer time.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaprio, J. & Koskenvuo, M. & Rita, H., 1987. "Mortality after bereavement: A prospective study of 95,647 widowed persons," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 77(3), pages 283-287.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1987:77:3:283-287_6
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    Cited by:

    1. J Robin Moon & Naoki Kondo & M Maria Glymour & S V Subramanian, 2011. "Widowhood and Mortality: A Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(8), pages 1-9, August.
    2. Saeed Shoja Shafti & Masuod Ahmadie, 2019. "Cardiac Rehabilitation in Coronary Artery Disease: A Clinical Study to Assess its Effect on Comorbid Depressive Symptoms," Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, vol. 16(3), pages 11999-12004, March.
    3. Christopher S. Carpenter & Samuel T. Eppink & Gilbert Gonzales & Tara McKay, 2021. "Effects of Access to Legal Same‐Sex Marriage on Marriage and Health," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(2), pages 376-411, March.
    4. Herbert J A Rolden & David van Bodegom & Rudi G J Westendorp, 2014. "Changes in Health Care Expenditure after the Loss of a Spouse: Data on 6,487 Older Widows and Widowers in the Netherlands," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(12), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Apostolos Papachristos & Georgia Verropoulou & George Ploubidis & Cleon Tsimbos, 2020. "Factors incorporated into future survival estimation among Europeans," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 42(2), pages 15-56.
    6. Miles S. Kimball & Robert J. Willis, 2023. "Utility and Happiness," NBER Working Papers 31707, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Shepherd, Dean A. & Patzelt, Holger, 2015. "The “heart” of entrepreneurship: The impact of entrepreneurial action on health and health on entrepreneurial action," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 4(C), pages 22-29.

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