Widowhood: a review of the social and medical implications.

Widowed women in America are a rapidly growing and expanding proportion of the population. This article reviews important research on the social changes, family relationships, and health risks associated with widowhood from the perspective of providing background for teachers of family medicine and suggesting research directions in this area. Since research indicates widowed women utilize outpatient and inpatient services more often than married individuals of either sex, family physicians have the opportunity to assist women who are facing the changes associated with the death of a life partner.