Widowhood Effect

What is the Widowhood Effect (aka) Broken Heart Syndrome? The Widowhood Effect is where the death of a spouse significantly increases the death risk for the surviving spouse particularly within the first 3-6 months. This has been researched and studied at a staggering rate of 66%. This is often driven by extreme grief, loneliness and stress related inflammation such as heart disease, stroke or infection. With immense emotional and physiological stress of losing a spouse this transition can often lead to poor self-care, reduced social engagement and a diminished will to live. 

Research shows that women who were dependent on their husbands financially had more post widowhood anxiety. Women also often experienced overwhelming sadness, sleep changes, digestive problems, lack of energy, decreased immunity, pain, discomfort and weight loss/gain.

Studies also showed that men experienced worse outcomes when it came to widowhood due to the loss of their wife who was their primary social support. Male spouses may feel especially lonely because they don’t know they need to be proactive about inviting friends/family. They may feel no one stops by anymore to visit, but they don’t realize the wife was the one calling and inviting.

Overall within the first year of losing their spouse men were 70% more likely to die than similarly aged men who did not lose a spouse and women were 27% more likely to die compared to women who had not become widowed.

In closing, caring for widows is vital for their physical and emotional well being. Partner with us so we can be that hand that reaches out to make sure no more widows become a statistic of the Widowhood Effect. 

“Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need” 1 Tim 5:3

Sources

https://www.verywellmind.com/surviving-widowhood-4011236

https://time.com/6265173/men-dying-after-spouse-dies/

https://www.thewidowshandbook.com/home/the-widowhood-effect

https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/14/us-widowhood-effect-idUSBRE9AD0VU20131114/