title: Long-term mental health of men who lose a wife to cancer--a population-based follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the long-term risk of psychological morbidity for men after losing a wife to cancer. A further aim of the study was to investigate if being in a new relationship at the time of follow-up affects the risk of psychological morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a population-based cohort study, we collected data from 907 men in Sweden who lost a wife to cancer in the breast, ovary or colon 4-5 years earlier. A control group of 330 married men was also included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred ninety-one of the widowers (76%) and 262 of the controls (79%) answered a questionnaire. Widowers in a new relationship had a similar risk of psychological morbidity compared with a control group of married men. However, compared with widowers in a new relationship, single widowers reported increased risks of (among other symptoms) the following: depression (RR 2.2, confidence interval [CI] 1.5-3.2), anxiety (RR 1.6, CI 1.1-2.5) emotional numbness (RR 2.2, CI 1.7-2.8), and waking up at night with anxiety (RR 2.2, CI 1.4-3.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Men who lost a wife to cancer in Sweden in 2000 or 2001 and are single 4-5 years later have increased risks of psychological morbidity, both compared with widowers who are in a new relationship at the time of follow-up and with married men. Further scientific effort is needed for improved understanding of the most likely underlying mechanisms; that is, that enhanced emotional support of a new relationship after the loss of a wife protects against psychological morbidity, or alternatively, that the healthiest widowers enter a new relationship.
authors: Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. arnah@hi.is
authors: Arna
authors: A
authors: Hauksdóttir
authors: Unnur
authors: U
authors: Valdimarsdóttir
authors: Carl Johan
authors: CJ
authors: Fürst
authors: Gunnar
authors: G
authors: Steineck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001601:Bereavement; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D017805:Widowhood / Q000523:psychology*