Title | The effect of widowhood on husbands' and wives' physical activity: the Cardiovascular Health Study. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
Authors | Stahl, ST, Schulz, R |
Journal | J Behav Med |
Volume | 37 |
Issue | 4 |
Pagination | 806-17 |
Date Published | 2014 Aug |
ISSN | 1573-3521 |
Keywords | Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular System, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Prospective Studies, Sex Characteristics, Spouses, Time Factors, Widowhood |
Abstract | <p>This prospective study examined the effect of widowhood on physical activity by comparing widowed elders to health status-, age-, and sex-matched married controls. Participants included 396 married controls and 396 widows/widowers age 64-91 (M age = 72.7 years) who experienced the death of their spouse while participating in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Compared to married controls, widowed men, but not women, were more likely to increase their physical activity following the death of their spouse. However, this increased level of activity was not sustained and declines as time since spousal death passes. Moreover, during the year before spousal death, soon-to-be widowed men, but not women, increase their physical activity. Our results suggest that widowed men experience significant changes in physical activity and that the transition to widowhood contribute to these changes. </p> |
DOI | 10.1007/s10865-013-9532-7 |
Alternate Journal | J Behav Med |
PubMed ID | 23975417 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3932151 |
Grant List | P30 MH090333-01A1 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States P30 MH090333 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States R01 AG026010 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG032370 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG015928 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States AG026010 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States U01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States MHO19986 / / PHS HHS / United States N01 HC015103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R56 AG020098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States AG-20098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States T32 MH019986 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States N01HC55222 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01HC85086 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States AG-027058 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201200036C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R21 NR013450 / NR / NINR NIH HHS / United States R01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 AG020098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States N01HC75150 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States AG032370 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States AG-023629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States N01HC85079 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 AG027058 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States N01 HC045133 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01 HC035129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States L30 MH098406 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States |