Widow Research Articles

Relationship of depression and loneliness with quality of life in rural widowed elderly women living alone.

Rural widowed elderly women living alone may face higher risks of depression and loneliness than general elderly people, which will have an impact on their quality of life. This study aims to explore the correlation of depression and loneliness with quality of life among rural widowed elderly women living alone. A two-stage cluster sampling method was used to select 234 rural widowed older women living alone in Longshan county, Xiangxi autonomous prefecture, Hunan Province, and a questionnaire survey was conducted with the General Situation Questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale-8 (ULS-8), and the 36 Items Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The ages of 234 rural widowed older women living alone were (73.29±7.36) years. Among them, 103 (44.0%) women were detected as depressed, 114 (48.7%) were not lonely or mildly lonely, 111 (47.4%) were moderately lonely, and 9 (3.9%) were severely lonely. The total quality of life scores were 63.39±19.70. Depression and loneliness were negatively correlated with quality of life (all P<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, number of acute and chronic diseases, personal monthly income, depression, and loneliness independently impacted the quality of life among rural widowed older women (all P<0.05). Depression and loneliness can affect the quality of life of rural widowed older women living alone. In healthy aging efforts, the quality of life of these rural widowed older women can be improved by strengthening the management of underlying illnesses, increasing income, and alleviating depression and loneliness.

Operationalization, implications and correlates of the cultural deviance criterion for ICD-11 and DSM-5 prolonged grief disorder

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is included in ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR and includes a requirement of cultural deviance. This study examined endorsement rates and factors associated with endorsement of this criterion among Danish bereaved spouses (n = 425) and their adult children (n = 159) four years post-loss. In total, 7.5% (n = 44) participants endorsed this criterion. Both including and excluding the criterion, the prevalence rates for probable DSM-5-TR PGD were 1.4% (n = 8) and 1.7% (n = 10), respectively and for probable ICD-11 PGD were 1.4% (n = 8) and 2.2% (n = 13), respectively. Age and gender of the deceased, age of the bereaved, greater grief severity, and comorbid psychopathology were positively associated with endorsement of the criterion. Findings demonstrate low endorsement of the cultural deviation criterion, that its inclusion excludes several potential PGD cases, and unanticipated associations with several factors raise questions about the criterion’s validity.

THE CO-EVOLUTION OF PERSONAL NETWORKS AND LONELINESS FOLLOWING WIDOWHOOD FOR MEN AND WOMEN

Abstract Late-life transitions such as widowhood often re-calibrate people’s close personal networks. Some network change—particularly growth in network size and closer geographic access to network members—is assumed to protect against loneliness, but scholars have yet to systematically examine these processes post widowhood. This study uses data from four waves of the German Aging Survey (DEAS), conducting gender-specific hybrid panel modeling to estimate both within- and between-individual effects of (1) network conditions up to seven years past widowhood, and (2) the effects of network change on loneliness. Results reveal that network size takes on a reversed U-shape: Germans becoming widowed tend to see an influx of new core ties from beyond their family, but this trend slows and reverses with time. There was also some evidence of non-linear change related to distance: geographic distance to core network members tended to shrink following widowhood before expanding back outward. Furthermore, moderation analyses an important role for these network characteristics on loneliness. Larger non-kin networks in the aftermath of widowhood partially alleviated the loneliness associated with that transition. The role of geographic proximity was gender-specific, as widowed men with nearby non-kin ties were most protected against loneliness, whereas widowed women fared best if their kin ties were farther away. Altogether, this study presents novel insight into how personal networks evolve after widowhood, revealing the nuanced, gendered ways that networks adapt. Efforts to reduce loneliness after widowhood may consider how gender roles and expectations shape the transmission and meaning of companionship and support.

HOW SPOUSAL BEREAVEMENT SHAPES LIFE SATISFACTION: STABILITY AND CHANGE ACROSS HISTORICAL TIME

Abstract Lifespan psychological and life course sociological research have long shown that spousal bereavement constitutes one of the most stressful life events in older adulthood that is often associated with marked declines in well-being. It is an open question though whether and how the well-being implications of spousal loss have changed over the past decades. To do so, we used multi-year within-person longitudinal change data from 2,042 participants (Mage at event =65.73 years, 71% women) of the German Socio-Economic Panel obtained annually since 1984. We combine latent basis growth models with methods that analyze the Area under the Curve so as to consider the time window from five years prior to five years after spousal loss. Results revealed that having lost one’s spouse in the 2000s and 2010s is associated with overall less well-being declines than having lost one’s spouse in the 1980s and 1990s. Building on earlier approaches that have distinguished anticipation, reaction, and adaptation phases of bereavement revealed that such improvements are primarily driven by fewer declines in the anticipation phase and faster recovery in the adaptation phases (both by about 0.1 SD per 10 years of historical time), whereas we found partial evidence for steeper declines in the immediate reaction phase. We discuss and in part examine possible explanatory factors at the individual, spousal, social, and societal level for the observed historical improvements in life satisfaction trajectories surrounding spousal loss in Germany over the last three decades.

Interaction of widowhood, gender, and age in predicting loneliness among older adults in China

Background Loneliness is a significant issue for the elderly, and widowhood is considered a major risk factor. However, research on the intersectional effects of gender, age, and widowhood on loneliness is limited, especially within the Chinese cultural context. Methods Using six waves (2002–2018) of national longitudinal data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (N = 22,777), this study employed multilevel mixed-effects ordered logistic regression to analyze the impact of widowhood on loneliness. Moderating roles of gender and age were examined through interaction effects. Results Widowhood significantly increased loneliness across genders and age groups, but this effect diminished with age. Widowed men experienced greater loneliness than women, but this difference converged by age 90. The buffering effect of age on the widowhood-loneliness link was less pronounced among older women. Conclusion The study unravels the complexity of how gender, age, and widowhood interact to shape loneliness in later life. Targeted interventions considering these intersections are needed to alleviate loneliness among Chinese widowed elderly.

FRIENDSHIP MATTERS: UNDERSTANDING THE LINK BETWEEN FRIENDSHIP AND HEALTH IN LATER LIFE

Abstract Friendship matters in later life, as friends provide social support to older adults. Yet, current social relationships and health literature focuses primarily on family relationships. This symposium aims to highlight studies that explore the associations among friendship, health, and health behaviors, with a focus on individual differences. First, using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), Lim and Burr demonstrate a non-linear relationship between the number of friends and loneliness, with a possible threshold effect for men but a more complex relationship for women. In their investigation of the moderating role of friendship on the association between widowhood and cognition using the HRS, Zhang et al. also find interesting gender differences where greater friendship strain is associated with a faster cognitive decline for widowed men, but not women. Ng and Birditt also uncovers important individual differences, this time in the association between friendship and mental health among Black and White dementia caregivers. They find that emotional support from friends is linked to lower levels of anxiety and depression, but primarily for White caregivers. Mimbs et al. extend these studies to focus on health behaviors, addressing links between interactions with family and friends and hurricane preparedness and evacuation likelihood. Using an online survey of older Floridians, they show that more interactions with friends are associated with greater preparedness and evacuation likelihood. Our discussant, Katherine Fiori, will discuss how these findings can extend the literature on friendship and health in later life, with a focus on the roles of individual differences and context.

MARITAL TRANSITIONS IN MID AND LATE LIFE

Abstract Marital transitions are common in mid and late life, yet little is known about what makes some middle aged and older adults thrive and others experience hardship through these transitions. This symposium will discuss antecedents, consequences, and moderators of adjustment to marital transitions in mid to late life. Monin and colleagues will address antecedents of divorce/separation, presenting results from a case control study showing that later stage dementia is associated with a lower likelihood of divorce/separation, and certain neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated with a greater likelihood of divorce/separation. In terms of consequences of relationship dissolution, Bourassa and colleagues will present findings from a study across a 20-year period of adulthood, showing that people with more breakups in adulthood have more advanced biological age in midlife. Two studies will discuss moderators of associations between relationship transitions and well-being. Carr and Choi will discuss the experiences of childless older adults who become widowed or divorced, and whether they suffer poorer mental health than their peers with children. They will show that childless widowed men and divorced men who lost a child to death have dramatically higher levels of social loneliness, relative to other men. Finally, Scheffer and colleagues will talk about the transition out of dementia spousal caregiving. They will present findings indicating that although caregivers’ emotional well-being and energy improves from moving from being an active caregiver to moving out of the caregiving role, those with lower household income had worse outcomes after caregiving ended.

JUST THE TWO OF US? THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF MARITAL DISSOLUTION ON CHILDLESS OLDER ADULTS

Abstract An estimated 15% of U.S. adults ages 55+ are childless, with this proportion projected to increase among future cohorts. Of the 15 million childless older adults today, 40 percent are married – challenging the notion that childlessness is the domain of never married persons only. Little is known about the experiences of childless older adults who become widowed or divorced, and whether they suffer poorer mental health than their peers with children. Widowed and divorced persons lack the support of children yet may possess other resources or strengths as they age on their own. We use data from the 2016 and 2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 16244) to evaluate whether parental status (childless, any living biological child(ren), stepchild(ren) only, all child(ren) now deceased) moderates the association between marital status (married, cohabiting, divorced/separated, widowed) and mental health (depressive symptoms, and social and emotional loneliness) and whether these patterns differ by gender. Multivariate moderation analyses show that childless widowed men and divorced men who lost a child to death have dramatically higher levels of social loneliness, relative to other men. Childlessness does not moderate the effect of marital status on loneliness or depressive symptoms among women. However, widowed and divorced women with stepchildren only evidence significantly higher depression and emotional loneliness. We discuss implications for understanding late-life mental health, underscoring that childlessness does not uniformly compromise mental health among unmarried persons, and that some parent-child relations (especially step-relations) may be a source of stress rather than solace.

Multilayer perceptron modeling for social dysfunction prediction based on general health factors in an Iranian women sample.

In the year 2022, this research conducted an in-person study involving 780 single or widowed women, aged between 20 and 70, falling within the bottom three economic deciles and possessing varying levels of education. All participants held educational qualifications below a high school diploma and were beneficiaries of charitable financial support in Khorasan province, Iran. The study aimed to investigate the predictive factors of social dysfunction in this specific demographic. Data collection spanned a 12-month period throughout 2022, with participants completing the GHQ-28 questionnaire during their visits to the charity office. Clinical in-person interviews were also conducted to gather comprehensive data. Data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS version 27. The research employed a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) neural network model, considering an extensive set of input factors and covariates. These factors included cognitive functioning, anxiety, depression, age, and education levels. The MLP model exhibited robust performance, achieving high overall accuracy and sensitivity in identifying cases of high social dysfunction. The findings emphasized the significance of cognitive functioning, anxiety, and depression as pivotal predictors of social dysfunction within this specific demographic, while education and age displayed relatively lower importance. The normalized importance scores provided a relative measure of each covariate's impact on the model's predictions. These results furnish valuable insights for the development of targeted interventions and evidence-based policies aimed at addressing social dysfunction and promoting societal well-being among economically disadvantaged, single or widowed women. Notably, the research underscores the potential of MLP modeling in social science research and suggests avenues for further research and refinement to enhance the model's predictive accuracy, particularly for cases of low social dysfunction.

Trichomonas vaginalis and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital, Oromia Region, Southern Ethiopia.

Trichomoniasis is caused by a flagellated protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. It is one of the most common, curable nonsexually transmitted infections globally. In Ethiopia, complications associated with genital infection in pregnant women are a common problem. Despite the burden of the disease, epidemiological data related to this disease is currently rare in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. Objective. This research is aimed at assessing the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital. Methods. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 196 pregnant women attending ANC at Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital. Structured questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic and associated factor data. The consecutive sampling technique was used to include study participants. The two vaginal swabs were collected by brushing the vagina with a sterile cotton swab and tested by using direct wet mount and the Giemsa staining. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 for logistic regression analysis. A p value < 0.05 with 95% CI was used to declare it statistically significant. Result. An overall prevalence of T. vaginalis among pregnant women was 7.7% (95% with confidence interval (CI), 0.043-0.123). The highest prevalence was observed among the 35-39-year-old age group with 18.2% and among widowed women with 25%. This study revealed that the number of sexual partners (AOR: 3.215, 95% CI: 1.062-9.731) was a significant associated factor of T. vaginalis.Conclusion. The prevalence of T. vaginalis was considerably high among pregnant women in this study. This finding emphasizes the need for routine screening and treatment of pregnant women in the first antenatal care and enhances the need for regular health education for pregnant women at antenatal clinics to make them aware of their health, and avoidance of the risk of trichomoniasis is advised.

Marital status and cause-specific mortality: A population-based prospective cohort study in southern Sweden

The aim was to investigate associations between marital status and mortality with a prospective cohort study design. A public health survey including adults aged 18–80 was conducted with a postal questionnaire in southern Sweden in 2008 (54.1% participation). The survey formed a baseline that was linked to 8.3-year follow-up all-cause, cardiovascular (CVD), cancer and other cause mortality. The present investigation entails 14,750 participants aged 45–80. Associations between marital status and mortality were investigated with multiple Cox-regression analyses. A 72.8% prevalence of respondents were married/cohabitating, 9.1% never married, 12.2% divorced and 5.9% widows/widowers. Marital status was associated with age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES) by occupation, country of birth, chronic disease, Body Mass Index (BMI), health-related behaviors and generalized trust covariates. Never married/single, divorced, and widowed men had significantly higher hazard rate ratios (HRRs) of all-cause mortality than the reference category married/cohabitating men throughout the multiple analyses. For men, CVD and other cause mortality showed similar significant results, but not cancer. No significant associations were displayed for women in the multiple analyses. Associations between marital status and mortality are stronger among men than women. Associations between marital status and cancer mortality are not statistically significant with low effect measures throughout the multiple analyses among both men and women.

Examining widowhood duration with depression and cognitive impairment among older women using nationally representative Longitudinal Aging Study in India

AbstractBackgroundLosing loved ones is considered one of the most stressful events in life. With the increase in life expectancy globally over the past century, widowhood has become an older women’s issue. The study aimed to examine the association of widowhood duration with depression and cognitive function among older women in India.MethodWe used the nationally representative Longitudinal Aging Study in India baseline wave, conducted during 2017‐18. Sample comprised of 16,075 older women ages 60 years and above. We conducted descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression to examine the association of widowhood duration with depression and cognitive impairment.ResultNearly 25% of the older women who suffered from cognitive impairment were widowed for more than 10 years whereas, about 14% of older women who suffered from depression were widowed for at least four years. Older women who were widowed for more than 10 years were 43% significantly more likely to suffer from cognitive impairment in reference to older women who were currently married [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.43, confidence interval (CI): 1.27‐1.61]. Older women who were widowed for at least four years were two times significantly more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms compared to older women who were currently married [AOR: 2.01, CI: 1.66‐2.42].ConclusionThe findings highlight that widowed older Indian women are disadvantaged with respect to the duration of bereavement that leads to worse mental health both in the short and long terms. It suggests that women who are struggling to adjust to such transitions may be particularly at risk for adverse mental health outcomes.

The influence of widowhood on amyloid positivity status in cognitively normal older adults

AbstractBackgroundWidowhood and associated spousal bereavement is a life event that may lead to stress, loneliness, and depression. Previous research found associations between widowhood and an elevated risk of dementia. However, no direct relationship has been evidenced between widowhood and beta‐amyloid (Aβ) pathology, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, little is known about whether particular demographic or background factors might contribute to potential influences of widowhood on Aβ levels in older adults. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between widowhood and Aβ positivity status in older adults, and to determine whether subgroups based on age, gender, educational attainment, or APOE ε4 status are driving effects.MethodCognitively normal (CN) subjects (n = 182) who were either widowed (including widows and widowers) or married from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were included in this study that underwent [18F]Florbetapir PET imaging on the baseline study visit. Multivariable logistic regression interrogated associations between widowhood status and Aβ positivity classification based on a global standardised uptake value ratio threshold of 1.11. This analysis included age, gender, APOE ε4 allele possession, education, and MMSE score as covariates. Regressions were also run in subgroups of CN subjects based on gender (male vs. female), APOE ε4 allele possession (carriers vs. non‐carriers), age (youngest, middle, oldest tertiles), and education (at least an undergraduate degree vs. no undergraduate degree).ResultIn CN subjects, there was overall no significant association between widowhood status and Aβ positivity (p = 0.114). When examining subgroups, widowhood was significantly associated with an increased risk of Aβ positivity in CN individuals with an undergraduate degree or higher (p = 0.025) or in the oldest age tertile (ages ranging from 76.3 to 89) (p = 0.024).ConclusionFindings from this cross‐sectional study indicated that a positive relationship between widowhood and in vivo Aβ neuropathology measured by PET exists specifically in those that are highly educated or undergoing advanced ageing. Whereas cognitive reserve is often hypothesised to mediate links between social isolation, depression and dementia risk, these results suggest that there may also be a direct effect on Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology.

Factors Associated with Maternal Near-Miss (MNM) Among Women in Eastern Province, Rwanda

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Maternal Near-Miss (MNM) as a situation where a woman nearly dies but survives a life-threatening condition during pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal mortality rate, used to gauge obstetric care quality globally, can aid in achieving the SDG target 3.1, which aims to lower the global maternal mortality ratio below 70 per 100,000 live births. A retrospective cross-sectional design was employed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with MNM at Kirehe District Hospital in Rwanda. 350 women admitted to the hospital's maternity units from January to December 2020 were sampled. Data from patients' medical records was extracted, focusing on demographics, MNM characteristics based on WHO criteria, and clinical outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 21. Women aged 20-29 constituted the majority, primarily with primary education and working in agriculture. From the 350, 6.3% encountered severe postpartum haemorrhage, 3.1% severe preeclampsia, and 2% uterine rupture. 53.7% underwent cesarean section, 38.9% had vaginal deliveries, and 4.9% experienced abortion. The MNM prevalence for 2020 was 10.2%. Age and marital status correlated with MNM; younger, married, or widowed women exhibited higher MNM rates. Among maternal factors, only labor duration significantly related to MNM. The MNM rate at Kirehe District Hospital remains a concern. Cesarean section was predominant. Age and marital status played pivotal roles in MNM occurrences. Access to enhanced maternal healthcare and improved labor monitoring can mitigate severe complications.

Blossoming: Finding a New Identity after the Loss of a Spouse

The passing of a spouse is a difficult life event that many older women face. This study focuses on the transition period and the implications for the life left to live. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 older widowed women regarding their thoughts, feelings, and adjustments after the loss of their spouses and understand how their routines and lifestyle have changed over time. Overcoming challenges and finding new interests, often through leisure, created a sense of positivity about the future without their spouse and allowed these women to create a new identity and blossom into fulfilled individuals. Our findings suggest three ways that managing these adjustments may help women. Discovering that they can manage being alone can improve confidence to overcome larger tasks. Mastering new skills can create a sense of positivity about the future, and finally developing new activity patterns contributes to a new identity.

The relationship between viral load status and fertility intention of HIV-positive women of reproductive ages in Addis Ababa: A hospital based study

Background: People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), like everyone else want and intend to have children. Although the fertility impact of HIV is already well acknowledged, women’s fertility behaviors could also largely be influenced by the level of their viral loads. Being sexually active and not taking contraception, women who never became pregnant had greater HIV viral loads. Objectives: To assess the relationship between viral load status and fertility intentions of HIV positive women of reproductive ages in six selected public health hospitals, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A sample size of 432 reproductive ages HIV-positive women who got ART service at the selected public hospitals were interviewed. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between viral load status and fertility intention. Results: Of the total respondents, 196(45.4%) had intention to give birth within the coming 3 years, while the remaining 236(54.6) had no intention. Fertility intention was 2.71 times higher among women of ages 25-34 compared to age &gt;34 years (95% CI: 1.005-7.339). Moreover, married women had fertility intention 6.06 times higher (95% CI: 1.12-32.7) compared to widowed women. Further, fertility was higher among women who knew their partner HIV status. Intention was 5.63 times higher (95% CI: 0.846-37.484) and 19.28 times higher (95% CI: 2.533-148.326) among women who knew their partner HIV status to be positive and negative respectively, compared to those with no knowledge of their HIV status. On the other hand, fertility intention decreased for women with no formal education and primary by 95.1 (95% CI: 0.010-0.252) and 83.9 (95% CI: 0.039-0.662), respectively compared to secondary and above level of education. For women who believed they have enough number of children the odds of fertility intention decreased by 99.7 (95% CI: 0.001-0.011). Further, the odds of fertility intention of women who made decision on pregnancy or contraceptive use alone was lower by 71.5% compared to those who jointly made the decision. Conclusion and recommendation: A high proportion of HIV positive reproductive ages women desire to conceive. However, the finding witnessed that there was no significant association between viral load status and fertility intention. Beside that there was no fertility differentials between women who have undetectable and detectable viral loads. The findings strongly implicate the need for strengthening and proper implementation of the various health policies and guidelines pertaining to HIV/AIDS for increased uptake of reproduction health services by PLHIV women. The government and other stakeholders should reach young women including sexually active with HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.

امام ابو الحسن الماوردیؒ کے مصادرتفسیر اور منہج واسلوب : سورۃ النساءکا اختصاصی مطالعہ

"The chapter of An-Nisa (Women) in the Holy Quran is not limited to a single theme, but encompasses various subjects, including an important topic addressing the rights and responsibilities among relatives. It begins with a brief account of human history before elaborating on the rights and regulations pertaining to family ties and relationships. The exposition starts with a concise historical account of human origin, emphasizing that all humans are the offspring of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). Hence, there exists a familial relationship among all humans. Whether the relationship is close or distant, there is a bond of kinship between individuals. The rights of relatives are discussed, including the guidelines concerning orphans. The responsibilities of the guardians of orphans are emphasized regarding their care and upbringing. Similarly, the rights of women are discussed, encompassing marriage, inheritance, and protocols to be observed during conflicts between co-wives and in the event of a husband's death, ensuring the rights of the widowed woman and other related matters.&#x0D; Furthermore, social issues affecting Muslims are discussed, such as financial matters, defense in times of enemy attack, establishment of justice, fulfillment of trust, and some basic rules regarding the prohibition of alcohol. Additionally, certain primary rules and regulations related to worship, specifically concerning prayer, cleanliness, and prayer during fear, are addressed. Alongside, there is a discussion about Jews, hypocrites, and some of their characteristics. Within these regulations, preaching and advice, encouragement for good deeds, caution against envy, and similar admonitions to refrain from evil actions are also highlighted.

Self-compassion and its Relation to Psychological Happiness among Widowed Men in Karak Governorate

The study aimed to identify the level of self-compassion and its relationship to psychological happiness among widowed men in Jordan. The sample consisted of (100) widowed men who were selected by using the convenience sampling method. The measures of self-compassion and psychological happiness were applied. The study used the descriptive correlational method. The results showed that the level of self-compassion was medium, as well as the level of psychological happiness. The results also showed that there is a positive correlation between psychological happiness and each of the dimensions of self-compassion. There was no difference in the level of self-compassion and psychological happiness of widowed spouses according to the variables (age, number of years of widowhood). The study came out with some recommendations among of which are: including some concepts such as self-compassion and psychological happiness in family counseling (for married couples), and addressing other variables to link them with empathy, such as decreasing stress and low self-esteem.

Do early symptoms of prolonged grief disorder lead to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression? A longitudinal register-based study of the two first years of bereavement.

Symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGD), depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often emerge concurrently in bereavement. The understanding of temporal relationships between these syndromes in a general bereaved population is limited. This study aims to investigate temporal relationships between these syndromes from 2 months postloss throughout the two first years of bereavement. Data were derived from a registry-based cohort study with 1,224 adult participants, who lost a spouse or parent. Participants completed self-report measures of PGD, depression, and PTSD at 2, 6, 11, 18, and 26 months postloss. Random intercept cross-lagged panel analyses examined the temporal relationships between PGD, PTSD, and depression. In spousal and parental bereavement, high levels of grief symptoms at 2 months postloss predicted subsequent high symptoms of PTSD and depression at 6 months postloss, not vice versa. PGD, PTSD, and depression showed strong intertwined relationships over the two first years of bereavement. Between-person differences explained an increasingly large amount of variance in symptoms of PGD, PTSD, and depression over time. Losing a spouse and younger age was associated with higher symptoms of PGD, PTSD, and depression compared to losing a parent and older age. In the early years of bereavement, large differences exist between bereaved individuals in general levels of PGD, PTSD, and depression. Within bereaved individuals, the temporal relationships between these syndromes become increasingly complex and intertwined over time. Findings should be interpreted with respect to the nonclinical sample and self-report data used. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Widowhood status, morbidity, and mortality in India: evidence from a follow-up survey.

A known health effect of widowhood is an increased mortality risk among surviving spouses, with gender- and age-specific observations. While morbidity conditions with socio-economic factors may exacerbate the effect of widowhood on mortality, no research has attempted to predict mortality among the widowed over the married population with the presence of morbidity in India. Thus, the present study concurrently examines marital status and health in the Indian setting, bringing substantial empirical evidence to explore the link between marital status, morbidity, and mortality. The study used prospective data from India Human Development Survey (IHDS) wave 1 (2004-2005) and wave 2 (2011-2012). In total, 82,607 individuals aged 25 years and above were considered for the analysis. To present the preliminary findings, descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used. Using multivariable logistic regression, the interaction effect of marital status and morbidity status was estimated to predict the likelihood of mortality. Across all socio-economic groups, widowed individuals reporting any morbidity had a higher mortality proportion than married people. Young widowers with any morbidity are more susceptible to increased mortality. Asthma among young widowers and cardiovascular diseases among elderly widowers significantly elevate the probability of mortality. However, older widowed women with diabetes had a lower probability of mortality than older married women with diabetes. The widowers' disadvantage in mortality and morbidity may be attributable to less care-receiving and the greater incidence of unhealthy lifestyle practices during the post-widowhood period, indicating the need for more research.