Cited by 68Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthDeath, Funerary Practices, and MourningHealth disparities and outcomes

Death from a broken heart”: A systematic review of the relationship between spousal bereavement and physical and physiological health outcomes

Ennis, Jeffrey, Majid, Umair·2021·Death Studies

Abstract

The loss of a loved one is often associated with "death from a broken heart" for the survivor, and there is evidence that shows that widowers and widows are at risk for higher morbidity and mortality than the general population. This systematic review will summarize the physical and physiological health outcomes of spousal bereavement. A systematic database search was conducted, and 38 studies were analyzed. The majority of studies found a statistically significant and positive association between spousal bereavement and adverse physical and physiological health outcomes such as inflammation, cardiovascular risk, chronic pain, and mortality.

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Crossref · 10.1080/07481187.2019.1661884

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Authors
Ennis, J., & Majid, U.
Affiliations
  • McMaster University (CA)
  • University Health Network (CA)
Corresponding author
Majid, Umair
Venue
Death Studies
Published
2019-09-19
Volume
45
Issue
7
Pages
538-551
ISSN
  • 0748-1187 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-7683
OpenAlex
W2974779212
Cited by
68
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7
FWCI
0.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Death Studies (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
Keywords
death of a spouse, widowhood, grief, physical health outcomes, inflammation, cardiovascular risk, chronic pain, mortality, morbidity
MeSH terms
Bereavement, Grief, Humans, Outcome Assessment, Health Care

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