Life after loss: cognitive differences by gender and age following widowhood or divorce transitions.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

There is a rich literature documenting the often deleterious impact of widowhood and divorce on health. Widowed and divorced older adults report a higher incidence of chronic illness, more comorbidities, and are at greater risk of premature mortality. However, the association between the transition from married to widowed or divorced and subsequent cognitive function is not as well understood. This study examined within-person differences in cognition during the first 2 years after becoming widowed or divorced, and whether the patterns varied in middle age and older adulthood for men and women.

Methods

Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2018), multilevel models using person-mean centering were employed to estimate within-person asso

SUBMITTER: Schlameus JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12919363 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature