Bereavement related mortality among older adults

This study examined the relationship between bereavement and mortality among the elderly using longitudinal data (i.e., The Changing Lives of Older Couples Study). A series of survival analyses (6 and 12 months following the loss of a spouse) was conducted with 225 individuals who became widowed during the study period to examine the extent to which age, gender, income, education, instrumental support provided and received, emotional support within the marriage, marital satisfaction, and religious involvement moderated the risk of mortality following bereavement, while controlling for race, physical health, mental health, and financial stress. Some support for the following hypotheses was found: (1) Widowed were at a higher risk for mortality following the loss of a spouse compared to married persons; (2) Widowers had a higher risk of mortality than widows; (3) The risk for mortality following bereavement was highest during the first 6 months of bereavement; (4) The risk for mortality shortly following bereavement was higher for the widowed under 70 years of age compared to those 70 years of age and older; (5) The risk for mortality shortly following bereavement was higher for the widowed in a low income group (<{dollar}20,000 vs. ≥{dollar}20,000 annually); (6) The risk for mortality shortly following bereavement was higher for the widowed with less emotional support within the marriage; (7) The risk for mortality shortly following bereavement was higher for the widowed with higher levels of religious involvement; (8) The risk for mortality shortly following bereavement was higher for the widowed with lower levels of marital satisfaction. These results support previous research findings that individual reactions to bereavement vary widely and that certain categories of bereaved elderly are more at risk for negative outcomes shortly after the loss of their spouse. Health professionals, clergy, and funeral personnel have frequent contact with individuals who are faced with the impending death of a spouse and/or individuals who were recently bereaved. If these professionals become more knowledgeable of the risk factors in bereavement-related mortality through their training programs, continuing education programs, and public health education programs they might be able to better assist elderly bereaved individuals and they might be able to prevent some of the bereavement related mortalities.