Widowhood effect
The widowhood effect refers to a significant increase in the risk of death for individuals following the loss of a long-term partner. This phenomenon highlights how deeply social relationships can impact overall health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that the risk is highest within the first three months after a partner's death, with surviving spouses being up to 66 percent more likely to die during this period. The effect is notably prevalent among older adults, especially those over fifty, though it can also occur in younger couples.
Research suggests that various factors may contribute to this heightened risk, such as the emotional stress of losing a partner, changes in health status, and an increase in conditions like heart disease and "broken heart syndrome." Mental health issues, difficulties in adjusting to life without a spouse, and potential isolation from social networks can exacerbate the situation. Support systems play a crucial role, as strong social connections may help mitigate the adverse effects of widowhood. Understanding the widowhood effect can foster greater empathy and awareness of the challenges faced by those who have lost a partner.
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Widowhood effect
The widowhood effect is a phenomenon related to long-term relationships. If one partner in a longtime relationship dies, the other partner is at an increased risk of dying as well. The first three months after a spouse or partner's death are when the surviving partner's chances of dying are highest. The widowhood effect has been documented in men and women around the world. It is unknown why surviving partners may die shortly after losing their spouse, but experts speculate that there could be a few reasons why the phenomenon occurs. The widowhood effect is considered proof that social relationships greatly influence a person's overall health. A key factor that is studied in the widowhood effect is the time between the death of the first partner and the death of the second partner.
Naturally, the widowhood effect is more prevalent among elderly people. Most studies focus on widows/widowers older than fifty. The widowhood effect does occur in younger couples, but it is not as common.
Brief History
The widowhood effect has been investigated since at least the 1960s. During this time, Colin Murray Parkes, a British psychiatrist, followed more than four thousand widowers over the age of fifty-five to see how their health fared following the loss of their spouse. More than two hundred of the widowers died within the first six months of losing their wives. Murray Parkes found that this was more than 40 percent above the average rate of death for other married men in the same age group.
Researchers Richard Schulz and Scott Beach conducted another study on the phenomenon in the late 1990s. This study focused on spouses between the ages of sixty-six to ninety-six who provided care for their partners. The caregiving spouses were twice as likely to die following the deaths of their spouses as a person of the same age who was not acting as a caregiver.
In the early 2000s, Nicholas A. Christakis and Felix Elwert conducted one of the largest and most comprehensive studies on the widowhood effect. They collected, studied, and analyzed nine years' worth of data from more than 370,000 elderly married couples in the United States. The results showed that men had an 18 percent chance of dying following the death of their wives. For women, the results were a little lower. About 16 percent of women died following the death of their husbands. However, the numbers regarding the increased risk of death following the loss of a partner varies from study to study.
Overview
According to a 2013 study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health, surviving partners are 66 percent more likely to die in the first three months following the loss of their spouses. As time passes, the surviving spouse's chances for survival increase.
Experts do not know why widows/widowers are more likely to die after their spouses die, but there are various theories as to why the widowhood effect occurs. One idea is that the effects of stress and changes in the immune system can contribute to death soon after the loss of a spouse.
In cases where spouses know that their partners will die from a terminal disease, such as cancer or Alzheimer's disease, it is less likely that the widows/widowers will die soon after their spouses do. The idea behind this is that the healthy partners are more emotionally prepared for their spouses' deaths in these situations and may not be as distressed as someone whose partner dies suddenly. When a person knows his or her partner is going to die, he or she often experiences anticipatory grief. The loss is just as severe, but the surviving partner is less likely to experience shock because of the death.
The number one cause of death after a spouse dies is heart disease. Often the surviving partner experiences takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as "broken heart syndrome." It occurs following great stress and traumatic emotional loss. The condition is characterized by chest pain and eventually leads to sudden heart failure, which is believed to occur because of a surge in fight or flight hormones. It results from hormones causing inflammation and enlargement of a portion of the heart. The enlarged portion of the heart is less effective at pumping blood and forces the rest of the heart to work harder. Eventually, the heart gives out and the person dies.
After a spouse dies, there can also be an increase in the risk of death from accidents or emergencies, such as bone fractures or infections. Widows/widowers also have an increased risk of dying from chronic diseases they already suffer from, like diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One thought is that widows/widowers often have difficulties adjusting to life without their spouses. This may make them more prone to accidents. Additionally, those with chronic health conditions may fail to get treatment because they are experiencing emotional distress. After the death of a spouse, the surviving partner's mental health may also be in jeopardy. For many widows/widowers, it can be stressful to create new routines and difficult to interact with others in social situations.
Grief manifests itself in different ways for different people. The grieving process is often different in men and women. Some research shows that men become more isolated than women do when they lose their spouse. Often in relationships, women are the ones who check on extended family and invite them to visit. When a wife dies, the husband may become estranged from other family members because he is not used to reaching out to others for socialization or emotional support.
Experts believe that strong support systems help to combat the widowhood effect in some cases. The stronger a person's support system is, the less likely it is that he or she will succumb to the widowhood effect. Checking in on and spending time with widows/widowers can help them through this difficult period in their lives.
Bibliography
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Christakis, Nicholas A., and James H. Fowler. Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives—How Your Friends' Friends' Friends Affect Everything You Feel, Think, and Do. Back Bay Books, 2011.
Dahl, Melissa. "The Science of Longtime Couples Who Die Close Together." New York Magazine, 19 Nov. 2015, HYPERLINK "http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/11/science-of-longtime-couples-who-die-together.html" nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/11/science-of-longtime-couples-who-die-together.html. Accessed 30 Oct. 2017.
Elwert, Felix, and Nicholas A. Christakis. "The Effect of Widowhood on Mortality by the Causes of Death of Both Spouses." American Journal of Public Health, vol. 98, no. 11, Nov. 2008, p. 2092.
Garrett, Mario D. "Following Your Spouse to Death." Psychology Today, 2 Mar. 2014, ://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/iage/201403/following-your-spouse-death" www.psychologytoday.com/blog/iage/201403/following-your-spouse-death. Accessed 30 Oct. 2017.
Jegtvig, Shereen. "Widowhood Effect: Strongest after First Three Months." Reuters, 14 Nov. 2013, HYPERLINK "http://www.reuters.com/article/us-widowhood-effect/widowhood-effect-strongest-during-first-three-months-idUSBRE9AD0VU20131114" www.reuters.com/article/us-widowhood-effect/widowhood-effect-strongest-during-first-three-months-idUSBRE9AD0VU20131114. Accessed 30 Oct. 2017.
Meekoff, Kristin, and James Windell. A Widow's Guide to Healing: Gentle Support and Advice for the First 5 Years. Sourcebooks, 2015.
Pelley, Lauren. "Widowhood Can Shorten a Partner's Lifespan." CBC, 17 May 2011, HYPERLINK "http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/widowhood-can-shorten-a-partner-s-lifespan-1.1125407" www.cbc.ca/news/health/widowhood-can-shorten-a-partner-s-lifespan-1.1125407. Accessed 30 Oct. 2017.