PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ann Bowling
AU  - John Charlton
TI  - Risk factors for mortality after bereavement: a logistic regression analysis
DP  - 1987 Dec 01
TA  - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
PG  - 551--554
VI  - 37
IP  - 305
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/37/305/551.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/37/305/551.full
SO  - J R Coll Gen Pract1987 Dec 01; 37
AB  - A national sample of elderly widowed people was followed up for six years. Excess mortality was found for men aged 75 years and over in the first six months of bereavement compared with men of the same age in the general population. Logistic regression analysis, controlling for age and sex together, demonstrated that the best independent predictors of mortality among the elderly widowed were: interviewer assessment of low happiness level; interviewer assessed and self-reported problems with nerves and depression; and lack of telephone contacts. The general practitioner is well placed to assess levels of depression and unhappiness among the widowed and to check that they have adequate social support.