Increased hospitalization risk for recently widowed older women and protective effects of social contacts.
J Women Aging, 2003;15(2-3):7-28; discussion 185-7.
Laditka JN[1], Laditka SB
Affiliations
PMID: 14603999
Impact factor: 1.792
Abstract
This study examines effects of recent widowhood on health for a nationally representative sample of older women in the United States. Mediating effects of social connectedness on the health of recently widowed women are also explored. Using data from the 1984-1990 Longitudinal Study of Aging and Medicare claims, discrete-time hazard models estimate the risk of hospitalization for any 30-day period for women who were married at the time of the baseline survey (n = 1,138). Compared to women who are not recently widowed, those recently widowed have a 40% higher risk of hospitalization. Social connectedness, measured by having phoned a friend/neighbor or family member in the period prior to the baseline survey, significantly decreases hospitalization risk for the recently widowed. The findings indicate that recent widowhood has a large adverse effect on the health of older women. Results highlight the need to provide additional support to recently widowed older women.
MeSH terms
Aged; Bereavement; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Life Change Events; Longitudinal Studies; Models, Theoretical; Risk; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Widowhood; Women's Health
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