Alina Schmitz1. 1. Technical University of Dortmund, Institute of Sociology, Emil-Figge Str. 50, 44227, Dormund, Germany. Electronic address: alina.schmitz@tu-dortmund.de.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study analyses the gendered experiences of widowhood and its relation to depressive symptoms in four European regions. A special focus lies on the question whether loneliness and reduced financial contribute to the detrimental effect of widowhood on mental health. METHODS: Using waves 5,6 and 7 of the Survey of Health. Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), this study estimates fixed-effects linear regression models for the effect of widowhood on depressive symptoms with and without adjustment for potential mediating factors. RESULTS: There were no gender differences in the mental health consequences of widowhood irrespective of the regional context. Whereas loneliness was a major pathway through which widowhood exerts its negative consequences on mental health, reduced financial resources did not play a substiantial role. Moreover, the magnitude of the widowhood effect on depressive symptoms differed between European regions with stronger increases in Southern Europe. These regional differences were attenuated when accounting for inequalities in financial resources and loneliness. DISCUSSION: The findings support Attachment Theory, which postulates that it's mainly the loss of such an emotionally strong tie as one's spouse that leads to psychological distress following widowhood. Moreover, one can conclude that some contexts in Europe provide conditions that buffer the negative effect of widowhood on mental health at least to some extent.
OBJECTIVE: This study analyses the gendered experiences of widowhood and its relation to depressive symptoms in four European regions. A special focus lies on the question whether loneliness and reduced financial contribute to the detrimental effect of widowhood on mental health. METHODS: Using waves 5,6 and 7 of the Survey of Health. Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), this study estimates fixed-effects linear regression models for the effect of widowhood on depressive symptoms with and without adjustment for potential mediating factors. RESULTS: There were no gender differences in the mental health consequences of widowhood irrespective of the regional context. Whereas loneliness was a major pathway through which widowhood exerts its negative consequences on mental health, reduced financial resources did not play a substiantial role. Moreover, the magnitude of the widowhood effect on depressive symptoms differed between European regions with stronger increases in Southern Europe. These regional differences were attenuated when accounting for inequalities in financial resources and loneliness. DISCUSSION: The findings support Attachment Theory, which postulates that it's mainly the loss of such an emotionally strong tie as one's spouse that leads to psychological distress following widowhood. Moreover, one can conclude that some contexts in Europe provide conditions that buffer the negative effect of widowhood on mental health at least to some extent.
Authors: Claudia Recksiedler; Boris Cheval; Stefan Sieber; Dan Orsholits; Robert S Stawski; Stéphane Cullati Journal: Aging Ment Health Date: 2021-09-08 Impact factor: 3.658