Physical activity as a wonder drug for overcoming adversity of widowhood

Background: Women encounter widowhood far more often and endure much longer than men. Widowhood was associated with increased mortality, and poor physical and mental health. This study explores the role of physical activity in improving widow’s health.

Method:A cohort of 446, 582 adults in Taiwan who successively participated in a comprehensive medical screening program since 1994, was followed up for mortality as of the end of 2008. Each individual had a comprehensive health history, including leisure time physical activity levels, and panels of blood tests analyzed. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by the Cox model.

Result: In the cohort, 15% of women above age 40 and 34% of women above age 60 were widowed, in contrast to 3% and 8.5% of men, respectively. Compared with married women, widows were less educated, more obese, smoked and drank more.   Half of widows (47%) were inactive. Widows had significantly higher mortality risk compared to the married women in all cause (HR, 1.10), ischemic heart disease (HR: 1.43) and respiratory system disease (HR:1.40). Among the physically active widows, however, mortality was 14% less (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76–0.98) than the inactive married individuals. Being active, the widow gained 4 years in life expectancy. This was also reflected in a 3-year advantage in life expectancy between physically active widows and inactive married women.

Conclusion:

Widows had poor physical and mental health. Physical activity can improve their quality of life and extend their life span by 4 years, and widows can outlive inactive married women.