The Widowhood Effect: Does Losing a Spouse Raise the Risk of Dying?

People sometimes say a widow or widower “died of a broken heart.” Researchers have studied whether there is something to it. This article explains what they found and what is still unclear.

What is the widowhood effect?

It is the finding that people whose spouse has died face a higher risk of dying themselves than people whose spouse is still alive. EBSCO’s research summary says the risk is highest in the first three months after a partner dies. It also says the pattern has been documented in men and women around the world.

What did the research find?

A well-known 2008 study by Felix Elwert and Nicholas Christakis followed 373,189 older married couples in the United States from 1993 to 2002. According to CNN’s report, the risk of death from any cause rose by 30% to 90% in the first three months after a spouse’s death, then dropped to about 15% in the months that followed. The study found that widowhood did not raise the risk of every cause of death equally. CNN reports that the risk rose when a spouse died suddenly, such as from an accident or infection. When a spouse died of Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, no effect on the survivor’s health was found. A possible reason is that the survivor had time to prepare.

A 2013 study by Harvard researchers found a 66% higher risk of death in the first 90 days, for both men and women, according to the National Council on Aging.

Why would it happen?

Researchers are not sure. The National Council on Aging says there are many theories but no firm evidence of the cause. Ideas include the physical effects of grief, such as poor sleep, weight loss, and lower immunity. Another is the loss of the daily care and support a spouse provides.

What is “broken heart syndrome”?

It is a real heart condition, but it explains only a small part of the picture. Its medical name is takotsubo cardiomyopathy, named for a Japanese octopus trap that the heart’s shape resembles. According to the American College of Cardiology’s summary of a 2020 review, it usually follows emotional or physical stress. It can feel like a heart attack, but the arteries are not blocked. About 90% of cases worldwide are in postmenopausal women. Within several weeks, 95% of patients recover full heart function. So it is unlikely to explain the higher death rates among widowed people on its own.

How should these numbers be read?

With care. They are relative increases averaged across very large groups. They do not mean most widowed people will die soon, and they cannot predict what will happen to any one person. Even with a higher risk, most widowed people do not die in the following months.

What can help?

Sources point to staying connected with other people. CNN’s report notes that grief counseling can help, and that the U.S. National Institute on Aging and AARP offer guidance for people coping with the loss. If someone you know has lost a spouse, the first weeks are a time to check in often. See Losing a Spouse or Partner and Why Grief Feels Physical.