Also Included In: Men's health;��Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Article Date: 16 Dec 2011 - 0:00 PST
Current Article Ratings:
| Patient / Public: |  | 4.33 (3 votes) |
| Healthcare Prof: |  | |
| Article Opinions: | �2 posts |
Men who have lost their partner to cancer and who are still single four to five years after their loss run a far greater risk of developing mental illness than those who have managed to find a new partner, reveals a unique study of 691 Swedish widowers carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy.
More than 22,000 people die of cancer in Sweden each year. It has been scientifically proven that relatives of the deceased are at greater risk of dying themselves or developing mental and physical illness, although studies have tended to focus on widows, and on the short-term risks.
Unique long-term study
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg's Sahlgrenska Academy have now carried out a unique long-term study of 691 Swedish men who lost their wives to cancer. Part-funded by the Swedish Cancer Society and the Swedish Research Council, the study shows that widowers who had found a new partner four to five years after the death of their wife managed to deal with their loss relatively well.
Sleeping pills and antidepressants
However, those who remained single were at far greater risk of developing depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and emotional blunting, and were also more likely to use sleeping pills and antidepressants.
Long-term risk
"Previous studies have shown that people who lose their partner are at greater short-term poor mental health," says professor Gunnar Steineck who worked on the study. "Our study is the first to show that the risk of poor mental health last for many years but, on the average, the risk is restricted to those who don't find a new partner."
Can your results be interpreted as proof that love heals?
"We need more research to understand the underlying mechanisms, but yes, emotional support from a new partner does probably help to process grief and protect against mental illness," says Steineck. "But it could also be the case that those men who cope best with their loss are more likely to show an interest in finding a new partner."
Visit our mental health section for the latest news on this subject.
The study was based on a questionnaire sent out to 691 widows in Sweden. It included questions on medication and perceived quality of life, and the answers were then compared with those from a control group of around 300 married men.
The study has been published in the journal Psycho-Oncology. Link to article: http://bit.ly/w0gh5P
University of Gothenburg
MLA
University of Gothenburg. "The Mental Health Of Widowers Improves With New Relationship." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 16 Dec. 2011. Web.
4 Jan. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/239232.php>
APA
Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.
| Rate this article: (Hover over the stars then click to rate) | Patient / Public: | or | Health Professional: |
suspicious
posted by James Bond on 16 Dec 2011 at 1:23 amThis sounds 'shallow' so to say.
The people should have been thoroughly evaluated(mentally and phisically) at the time their spouse died.
The fact that some of them find a new partner might be a CONSEQUENCE from their better mental or physical health, not the REASON for it.
Mental health after loosing loved one
posted by Ernie Lemay on 20 Dec 2011 at 11:55 amAs a survivor of suicide I believe this study to be accurate I have dated and believe it has helped me to move on so to speak. Though there isn't a specific timeline when one should seek another I think it helps the healing process. I also feel its important to find the right individual and not jump into another relationship for the sake of self gratification.
Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.
All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)
Contact Our News Editors
For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.
Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:
Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/239232.php
good health for women womens health club health insurance for pregnant women womens health pregnancy
No comments:
Post a Comment