The impact of widowhood on wellbeing, health, and care use: A longitudinal analysis across Europe

Objective To estimate whether becoming widowed had a significant effect on individual’s health status as well as on healthcare and non-healthcare resources use, compared to people who remained in a couple in Europe. Data and method It was used the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe from 2004 to 2015. The statistical technique used was genetic matching which analysed the differences in wellbeing, mental health, health status, risk of death, health care resources and long-term care utilization of people who have become widowed, comparing with people who remained married or with a partner. We considered shortterm and medium-term effects. Results In the short term, those who became widowed had a worse wellbeing and mental health, in addition to a greater probability of receiving formal care and informal care from outside the household. There seems to be a significant effect in the use of formal and informal care from outside the household in the medium term. Conclusions The results might help to concentrate a major effort of any policy or strategy, not only in the field of health but also in the provision of long-term care, immediately after the negative shock occurs.