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Risk factors for mortality after bereavement: a logistic regression analysis
The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
|December 1, 1987
Summary
Elderly men aged 75+ experiencing bereavement face higher mortality risks, especially within six months. Depression, low happiness, and fewer social contacts predict mortality in widowed seniors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Bereavement significantly impacts the elderly population.
- Widowed individuals, particularly older men, may face elevated mortality risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mortality risks associated with bereavement in elderly widowed individuals.
- To identify key predictors of mortality among this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A six-year follow-up study of a national sample of elderly widowed people.
- Logistic regression analysis controlling for age and sex.
Main Results:
- Excess mortality observed in men aged 75 and over within six months post-bereavement.
- Key predictors of mortality included low happiness, depression (self-reported and interviewer-assessed), and limited telephone contact.
Conclusions:
- General practitioners can play a crucial role in assessing mental health and social support for widowed elderly patients.
- Early identification of depression and social isolation can mitigate mortality risks in the bereaved elderly.