%0 Journal Article %J Qual Life Res %D 2015 %T Population-level impact of loss on survivor mortality risk. %A Joseph C. Allegra %A Amara E. Ezeamama %A Simpson, Cherie %A Toni Miles %K Bereavement %K Female %K Humans %K Longevity %K Male %K Quality of Life %K Risk %K Survivors %X

INTRODUCTION: The loss of a loved one adversely affects the bereaved.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using data from the 2010 and 2012 waves of Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we estimate the risk for death in a 2-year span after the loss of a parent, spouse, or child for adults aged 50 to 70 years.

CONCLUSION: A respondent with a loss was twice as likely to die when compared similarly aged persons with no loss (OR 2.32; 95 % CI 1.14, 5.30). Loss of either a parent (OR 1.93; 95 % CI 1.01, 4.07), or a child (OR 1.77; 95 % CI 1.08, 2.96) also increased respondent mortality. This elevated risk persists after adjustment for gender and other high-risk health conditions. Any physical activity reduces survivor death rates during this critical period by more than 85 %.

%B Qual Life Res %I 24 %V 24 %P 2959-61 %8 2015 Dec %G eng %U https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11136-015-1048-x %N 12 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26081295?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4615662 %R 10.1007/s11136-015-1048-x