Emotional and immunological impact of marital loss on men and women

Resum

Background: This work analyzed whether psychological variables (depression and anger) and physiological variables (Immunoglobulin A) are related to each other in the context of partner loss, focusing on the influence of sex.
Method: Three groups of 100 participants were included: widowed, divorced, and a control group (50% men; age between 30 and 60 years). To assess psychological variables, two inventories were used and the technique of radial immunodiffusion was used to measure IgA.
Results: Widowed and divorced people appeared to be less healthy, more depressed, and angrier than the control group. IgA and psychological variables were inversely related. Women appeared to be more depressed after divorce while men were more depressed after being widowed. Men were angrier in both situations.
Conclusions: This study shows the interrelation of psychological and physical indicators in the context of partner loss and the influence of sex on it.