ABSTRACT
A basic and broad assumption in psychosomatic research is that psychological stress can change physical health status. The high rate of research activity in the area of stressful life events is testimony to the potential significance for this basic assumption, although that research has shown generally weak effects [1. 2], Among life events, deaths of significant others would appear to be the most intensely stressful, and therefore most likely to affect health. In this study, bereavement effects were studied in older adults for whom death is a particularly relevant event, since it can have severe economic, social, and psychological ramifications, and has been found to require more readjustment than any other stressful life event [3].
