Bereavement Events Among Elderly Men: The Effects of Stress and Health

Abstract

Previous bereavement studies have focused on the loss of a spouse and have been limited to surviving women. Studies of the effect of the death of a friend or of male survivors remain sparse. This article reviews the literature on bereavement events as they relate to elderly men who have experienced the loss of a spouse, adult child, parent, sibling, or friends. Several psychoanalytic, cognitive and sociobiological theories are examined along with stress and health-related factors that are said to influence grief and mourning. The review of the literature indicates that health is particularly affected by stressful life events such as the loss of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or friend, and that elderly men are at a disadvantage as evidenced by higher rates of psycho logical and physical disorders The necessity to extend research beyond present theories and to consider specific social supports as they buffer the impact of stress on the health of bereaved elderly men is discussed.