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Partner loss

Partner loss has been studied in 5 papers since 2020: 4 observational studies in people, 1 review. The newest paper, Jan 27, 2024: “Suicide After Partner's Death in the Elderly Population: Results From a Nationwide Cohort Study in Italy”.

Exposure

5 papers study it8 findingsUpdated

See all 5 papers on partner loss

At a glance

Independent labs found the same change in people. 5 independent labs in 4 countries.

“women (β=0.237 (95% CI: 0.106 to 0.369), p<0.001) showed initial effects of partner loss on frailty”
Partner loss and its effect on frailty trajectories: results from the 13-year follow-up Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)Journal of epidemiology and community health2021doi:10.1136/jech-2021-216637

3 of its findings point the other way.

Humans: replicated by independent labs. Cells, worms or flies and mice: nothing yet.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

  • 5 independent labs in 4 countries
  • 3 findings against
  • Funders: National Institute on Aging and 6 more
  • Humans4

What did studies of partner loss find?

2

Studies of partner loss measured 2 outcomes: frailty and social network replenishment.

Frailty

upin humans2no changein humans1downin humans1OR 2.59

2 studies

  1. Partner loss was not clearly linked with frailty in humans (trajectory over time following partner loss) (β<0.001 (95% CI: -0.029 to 0.029), p=0.998).

    “among men, the effect of partner loss persisted (β<0.001 (95% CI: -0.029 to 0.029), p=0.998)”

    Humanstrajectory over time following partner lossmalesn = 83,494

    Partner loss and its effect on frailty trajectories: results from the 13-year follow-up Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)

    Journal of epidemiology and community health

  2. Partner loss is linked with higher frailty in humans (partner loss) (β=0.237 (95% CI: 0.106 to 0.369), p<0.001).

    “women (β=0.237 (95% CI: 0.106 to 0.369), p<0.001) showed initial effects of partner loss on frailty”

    Humanspartner lossfemalesn = 83,494

    Partner loss and its effect on frailty trajectories: results from the 13-year follow-up Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)

    Journal of epidemiology and community health

  3. Partner loss is linked with lower frailty in humans (compared with partnered women) (80% lower odds, 95% CI 0.05–0.86).

    “older women who lost their partner had 80% (95% CI 0.05-0.86) lower odds of frailty than those with a partner”

    Humanscompared with partnered womenfemales

    Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Marital Status and the Development of Frailty: A Swedish Longitudinal Population-Based Study

    Journal of women's health (2002)

  4. Partner loss is linked with higher frailty in humans (compared with partnered men) (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.16–5.77).

    “those who lost their partner (OR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.16 - 5.77) had higher odds of frailty than those with a partner”

    Humanscompared with partnered menmales

    Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Marital Status and the Development of Frailty: A Swedish Longitudinal Population-Based Study

    Journal of women's health (2002)

Social network replenishment

downin humans1upin humans1

1 study

  1. Partner loss is linked with lower social network replenishment in partner-exclusive core networks upon partner death.

    “men and individuals at early old age are relatively unlikely to rebalance their core networks in case of partner death.”

    Humansin partner-exclusive core networks upon partner deathmales

    Isolation or Replenishment? The Case of Partner Network Exclusivity and Partner Loss in Later Life

    The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences

  2. Partner loss is linked with higher social network replenishment in older adults in partner-exclusive core networks.

    “Individuals in partner exclusivity are especially likely to enlist additional ties upon partner loss.”

    Humansin older adults in partner-exclusive core networks

    Isolation or Replenishment? The Case of Partner Network Exclusivity and Partner Loss in Later Life

    The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences

What is partner loss linked with?

2

Studies link partner loss with 2 measures: suicide mortality and cognitive function.

Suicide mortality

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Partner loss is linked with a higher risk of suicide mortality in humans (age-adjusted) (MRR 2.83).

    “the impact of the spouse loss on mortality was stronger in men (age-adjusted MRR=2.83) than in women (1.41).”

    Humansage-adjustedmales

    Suicide After Partner's Death in the Elderly Population: Results From a Nationwide Cohort Study in Italy

    The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

Cognitive function

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Partner loss is associated with cognitive function in humans.

    “both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies revealed an adverse association between partner loss and cognitive outcomes.”

    Review

    Spousal caregiving, widowhood, and cognition: A systematic review and a biopsychosocial framework for understanding the relationship between interpersonal losses and dementia risk in older adulthood

    Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews

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