The Widowhood Effect: How to Survive the Loss of a Spouse
We’ve all heard stories of inseparable older couples where one person passes away shortly after the other. The idea of dying from a broken heart may seem like something straight out of a Hollywood movie. But there’s an official name for this very real occurrence. It’s called the “widowhood effect.”
What is the widowhood effect?
With the widowhood effect, older adults grieving a spouse’s death have an increased risk of dying compared to those whose spouses are living. This effect has been documented by researchers. A 2013 study showed that people had a 66% increased mortality risk within the first 90 days of losing their spouse.1 These results held true for both men and women.
