Conjugal Bereavement Effects on Health and Mortality at Advanced Ages

Gerard J. van den Berg, Maarten Lindeboom () and France Portrait ()
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Maarten Lindeboom: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
France Portrait: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

No 07-009/3, Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers from Tinbergen Institute

Abstract: We specify a model for the lifetimes of spouses and the dynamic evolution of health, allowing spousal death to have causal effects on the health and mortality of the survivor. We estimate the model using a longitudinal survey that traces many health status aspects over time, and that is linked to register data on the vital status of the individuals. The model takes account of selectivity in partners' mortality and health evolution. We find strong instantaneous effects of bereavement on mortality and on certain aspects of health. Individuals lose on average 12% of residual life expectancy after bereavement. Bereavement affects the share of healthy years in residual lifetime, primarily because healthy years are replaced by years with chronic diseases.

Keywords: death; longevity; health care; disease; life expectancy; elderly couples; impairment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 C41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
Date: 2007-01-17
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Working Paper: Conjugal Bereavement Effects on Health and Mortality at Advanced Ages (2006)
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dgr:uvatin:20070009

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