Exploring loneliness across widowhood and other marital statuses: A systematic review integrating insights from grief research

Abstract

The vital role social relationships play in mental health and well-being has been well-documented. Disruption of an intimate bond through bereavement can be enduringly stressful, with loneliness featuring prominently, possibly compromising mental and physical health. We systematically reviewed studies examining loneliness across marital status groups, focusing on the widowed. The aim was to establish what is known about the prevalence of loneliness in widowhood, to compare loneliness between widowed and people with other marital statuses (divorced, married, never-married persons), and to investigate correlates of loneliness. Furthermore, our objective was to compare the empirical understanding of loneliness within the context of widowhood to how loneliness is addressed in contemporary grief literature. Searches were conducted via multiple, relevant databases. Studies investigating loneliness across marital statuses were considered if they included an adult, bereaved sample, were written in English, and used quantitative research methods. Thirty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. Widowhood was associated with a greater likelihood of loneliness. On average, the widowed were found to be lonelier than divorced, married, and never-married people. Additionally, correlates of loneliness were identified, including mental health adversities, lack of social support, recent loss, and gender. Comparing empirical information from the two domains of marital status and grief research contributes to a more comprehensive knowledge about loneliness and bereavement. However, evidence remains limited due to several methodological shortcomings, such as inconsistent use of comparison groups, insufficient control for bereaved individuals in non-widowed marital statuses, lack of prospective, longitudinal studies, unreported means, and the use of different measures of loneliness.