Drop in positive emotions -- rather than jump in negative -- linked to poorer health in widowhood
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 07:00
in Psychology & Sociology
(PhysOrg.com) -- When a spouse or life partner dies, the survivor experiences more illness, mental health issues and earlier death than non-widowed counterparts, research has found. Now, a new Cornell prospective study reports that the culprit is not bereavement's negative emotions -- grief, distress, fear and anger -- that disrupt the stress response system and cause harmful biological changes. The study finds that it is the steep drop in positive emotions that does the damage.