Social Health and Mortality Risk Following Bereavement: A Systematic Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Social Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Psychosocial Medicine

Background:

• Bereavement is a major social stressor linked to increased mortality.
• The specific role of social health in bereavement-related mortality remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically scope the existing literature on the association between social health and mortality risk in bereaved individuals.
• To identify patterns, protective factors, and risk factors within the current research landscape.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive systematic scoping review was conducted using multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AgeLine, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus) from inception to July 2024.
• The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework guided the methodology.
• Twenty-three studies with diverse measurement methods and contexts were included.

Main Results:

• Social health demonstrates a dual association with mortality risk post-bereavement, influenced by context, sex, and time since death.
• Consistent perceived social support and remarriage were linked to reduced mortality, while declining support and isolation increased risk.
• Protective effects of social factors like remarriage varied by gender and cause of death.

Conclusions:

• Social health is a critical modulator of mortality risk following bereavement.
• Future research should investigate social structural factors, explore underlying mechanisms, and include diverse populations and bereavement types.
• Addressing social health disparities is crucial for mitigating bereavement-related mortality.