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The Transition to Widowhood and the Social Regulation of Health: Consequences for Health and Health Risk Behavior

Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, Columbus.

Address correspondence to Kristi Williams, Department of Sociology, 342 Bricker Hall, 190 N. Oval Mall, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210. E-mail: williams.2339{at}osu.edu

Objectives. This study estimates the effects of the transition to widowhood on changes in the social regulation of health and examines the consequences of this association for health and health risk behavior following spousal death.

Methods. Analysis of longitudinal data from the Changing Lives of Older Couples Study tests the following hypotheses: (a) Widowed individuals experience greater declines in health regulation over time than their married counterparts and (b) the extent to which widowhood undermines health and increases health risk behavior depends on whether it is accompanied by a decline in health regulation.

Results. Compared with their continually married counterparts, those who experience the transition to widowhood report a significant decline in the frequency of health reminders and health assistance received from others. The decline in the frequency of health regulation has important consequences for health behavior and health outcomes. Widowhood undermines health and increases health risk behaviors only when it is accompanied by a decline in health regulation. Widowed individuals who experience increases in health regulation show improvements in health and declines in health risk behavior.

Discussion. Interventions targeted at improving the health habits of widowed individuals by mobilizing health-related support systems may be effective at minimizing the negative health consequences of spousal loss.