Pair-bond and survival in historical population: Marriage, widowhood, and social class
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Marriage is widely associated with improved health and longevity, but spousal death significantly heightens immediate mortality risk, a phenomenon known as the "widowhood effect." While these relationships are well-documented in modern populations, their prevalence in historical societies with extended family structures is less understood. Using church book records from Finland (1730-1910) and discrete-time event models, this study examined the survival probabilities of 11,892 individuals aged 40-90 across five marital statuses, with attention to socioeconomic status. In line with previous studies, we found large detrimental short-term widowhood effect. Long-term widowhood effect was smaller, and lower in women compared to men. Survival after remarriage was similar to first-time marriage. The survival of individuals who had never married did not differ from those who were married, suggesting that more communal living may have buffered against the possible negative effects of being single.
Source: iScience
Institutions: University of Turku, Väestöliitto
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,240
Awards: Inequalities, Interventions and a New Welfare State, G3424664437, G4400702748, G4443580230, G4465031545, Evolution of death causes across time and space in Finland, Exposure to relatives in childhood and kin relationship quality over the life course, Center of Excellence for Human Diversity Through Contacts (HuDi-Con), Social networks, fertility and wellbeing in ageing populations: Building demographic resilience in Finland (NetResilience), Social networks, fertility and wellbeing in ageing populations: Building demographic resilience in Finland (NetResilience), G8339925729
OpenAlex ID: W7154458339