Loneliness After Bereavement: The Role of Survivor Gender and Caregiving Involvement

Despite a growing body of research on the effects of spousal bereavement, little is known about whether spousal loss is longitudinally associated with changes in loneliness among widowed individuals. Furthermore, few studies have examined the roles of spousal caregiving and gender in this context. The present study investigates (a) trajectories of loneliness before and after the death of a spouse, and (b) whether these trajectories of loneliness differ by gender and caregiving involvement of surviving spouse.

Using data from nine waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), the analysis employed fixed effects models to account for individual heterogeneity. Moreover, stratified analyses were conducted to investigate the moderating effect of gender and spousal caregiving.

The study revealed that spousal loss significantly increased loneliness during the first-year post-bereavement, with levels returning to baseline thereafter. Gender-stratified analyses indicated that female survivors experienced a temporary increase in loneliness, while male survivors showed no significant changes. Moreover, male spouses, who provided care, experienced an increase in loneliness within the first year after the death, which persisted though the second years.

The findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive, gender-specific support programs for bereaved individuals, particularly targeting the first year of loss and addressing the unique challenges faced by male caregivers. Policies promoting social engagement and community support for widowed older adults are essential to mitigating the emotional burden of bereavement in Korea.