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Increasing excess mortality among non-married elderly people in developed countries

Author

Listed:
  • Tapani Valkonen

    (Helsingin Yliopisto (University of Helsinki))

  • Pekka Martikainen

    (Helsingin Yliopisto (University of Helsinki))

  • Jenni Blomgren

    (Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (National Institute for Health and Welfare))

Abstract

This article analyses changes in marital status differences in mortality from approximately 1970 to 1995 among men and women aged 65-74 in ten developed countries (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England and Wales, Finland, France, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden). Data were obtained from the United Nations Demographic Yearbooks and national statistical sources. According to the results there has been a trend towards increasing excess mortality among single men compared to married men and single, divorced and widowed women compared to married women in most western European countries and Canada in the 1980s and 1990s. This has been brought about by a more rapid decline in mortality among married persons and a slower decline or even an increase among non-married persons. In Japan the excess mortality of non-married men and women decreased.

Suggested Citation

  • Tapani Valkonen & Pekka Martikainen & Jenni Blomgren, 2004. "Increasing excess mortality among non-married elderly people in developed countries," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 2(12), pages 305-330.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:drspec:v:2:y:2004:i:12
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2004.S2.12
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Markéta Pechholdová & Gabriela Šamanová, 2013. "Mortality by marital status in a rapidly changing society: Evidence from the Czech Republic," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 29(12), pages 307-322.
    2. Moisés H. Sandoval & Marcela E. Alvear Portaccio, 2022. "Marital Status, Living Arrangements and Mortality at Older Ages in Chile, 2004–2016," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Ma, Jin & Yun, Youngyun, 2010. "Correlated intensity, counter party risks, and dependent mortalities," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 337-351, December.
    4. Haan, Peter & Prowse, Victoria, 2014. "Longevity, life-cycle behavior and pension reform," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 178(P3), pages 582-601.
    5. Michael Rendall & Margaret Weden & Melissa Favreault & Hilary Waldron, 2011. "The Protective Effect of Marriage for Survival: A Review and Update," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 48(2), pages 481-506, May.
    6. Donrovich, Robyn & Drefahl, Sven & Koupil, Ilona, 2014. "Early life conditions, partnership histories, and mortality risk for Swedish men and women born 1915–1929," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 60-67.
    7. Requena, Miguel & Reher, David, 2021. "Partnership and mortality in mid and late life: Protection or selection?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    8. Pilar Zueras & Roberta Rutigliano & Sergi Trias-Llimós, 0. "Marital status, living arrangements, and mortality in middle and older age in Europe," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 0, pages 1-10.
    9. Pilar Zueras & Roberta Rutigliano & Sergi Trias-Llimós, 2020. "Marital status, living arrangements, and mortality in middle and older age in Europe," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(5), pages 627-636, June.
    10. Michel Poulain & Luc Dal & Anne Herm, 2020. "Trends in living arrangements and their impact on the mortality of older adults: Belgium 1991‒2012," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(15), pages 401-430.
    11. Iliana Kohler & Pekka Martikainen & Kirsten P. Smith & Irma T. Elo, 2008. "Educational differences in all-cause mortality by marital status," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(60), pages 2011-2042.
    12. Riina Peltonen & Jessica Y. Ho & Irma T. Elo & Pekka Martikainen, 2017. "Contribution of smoking-attributable mortality to life-expectancy differences by marital status among Finnish men and women, 1971-2010," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 36(8), pages 255-280.
    13. Berntsen, Kjersti Norgård & Kravdal, Øystein, 2012. "The relationship between mortality and time since divorce, widowhood or remarriage in Norway," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2267-2274.
    14. Serena Vigezzi & Cosmo Strozza, 2024. "Differences in mortality before retirement: The role of living arrangements and marital status in Denmark," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 50(20), pages 515-546.
    15. Christian Monteil & Isabelle Robert-Bobée, 2006. "Différentiels sociaux et familiaux de mortalité aux âges actifs : quelles différences entre les femmes et les hommes ?," Économie et Statistique, Programme National Persée, vol. 398(1), pages 11-31.
    16. Dimiter Philipov & Sergei Scherbov, 2016. "Differences by union status in health and mortality at older ages: Results for 16 European countries," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(19), pages 535-556.
    17. Scafato, Emanuele & Galluzzo, Lucia & Gandin, Claudia & Ghirini, Silvia & Baldereschi, Marzia & Capurso, Antonio & Maggi, Stefania & Farchi, Gino & for the ILSA Working Group, 2008. "Marital and cohabitation status as predictors of mortality: A 10-year follow-up of an Italian elderly cohort," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(9), pages 1456-1464, November.
    18. Øystein Kravdal, 2007. "A fixed-effects multilevel analysis of how community family structure affects individual mortality in Norway," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 44(3), pages 519-537, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mortality; developed countries; marital status; old age; trends; mortality differences; inequalities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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