A recent study from Norway suggests that individuals who are divorced or widowed may face a higher risk of death compared to those who remain in a marriage or partnership. Researchers examined extensive national health data to understand how living without a partner might affect mortality rates. The study was published in the journal BMJ Public Health.

Study Details

Investigators analyzed three distinct groups, each consisting of around 20,000 people, from 1984 to 2019. These individuals were all either married or living with a partner during the study’s initial phase. In subsequent stages, participants were categorized into three groups: those still married or cohabiting, those who divorced or moved out, and those who became widowed.

The study utilized statistical models to explore the relationship between living alone and mortality risk. Results consistently showed a higher risk of death for those who experienced divorce or breakup compared to those who remained partnered. This was independent of factors such as age, gender, health habits, self-rated health, and loneliness.

Findings on Mortality Risk

Being widowed correlated with a roughly 14% increase in mortality risk, most notably during the study’s earliest phase. Particularly for women during the second study period, the breakup-related mortality risk was statistically significant.

The authors emphasized societal disconnection’s role in preventable mortality and called for public health interventions.

Expert Insights

M. David Rudd, a psychology professor and director of the Rudd Institute for Veteran & Military Suicide Prevention at the University of Memphis, commented on these findings. He noted the long-established understanding that loneliness adversely impacts physical health and emotional well-being. Rudd, uninvolved in the study, highlighted the increasing isolation due to digital technology’s influence.

Rudd stressed the importance of maintaining social relationships, whether they are romantic or otherwise, for health and happiness. He underscored the critical nature of developing, nurturing, and sustaining these connections.

Angelica Stabile reports on lifestyle for Fox News Digital.