The Long-Term Effects of Memory Performance in Conjugal Bereavement

It has been found that the loss of a spouse has a negative effect on mental & physical health including depression & stress & has also lead to mortality. It has been largely unexamined whether the effects of bereavement have an impact on memory performance. The present study examines the effect on memory performance in widowhood in a sample of persons aged 18 to 65 years. The sample in this study consisted of 30 bereaved & non-bereaved participants. The sample was matched for age, gender, & education. The bereaved sample consisted of 15 participants who lost a partner or spouse within a minimum of one year & a maximum of seven years. Memory performance was tested using The Verbal Memory Test. The study also controlled for effects on memory performance associated with education, gender & time passed since loss. Bereaved participants showed a greater decline in memory performance than the non-bereaved participants & the widowers performed more poorly on tests than the widows. This study concluded that the loss of a spouse is correlated to a greater decline in memory in the absence of depression compared to those who had not suffered a loss.