>"The interesting part is that there is no effect the other way, no health advantage--married women aren't healthier than single women."
Actually, I suspect that there "is" such an effect,<
No. There isn't. Widows go on forever, widowers croak when their 'caretakers' aren't there to be their mommies any more.
Malarkey. In a good marriage, you are EACH OTHER's caretakers.
The elderly couples with sound marriages that I know are flesh-of-flesh, spirit-of-spirit. She prepares meals, washes clothes, and tends to the flower garden. He fixes the plumbing, repairs the leaky roof, and chases the racoons out of the attic. They love each other deeply and would do anything for one another. When one dies, the other's heart is broken beyond repair.
I believe women tend to live longer in part because men tend to wear their bodies out sooner. Women experience childbirth, it is true--a physical stress men do not know. But men have greater physical mass, tend to move harder, and under more strenuous conditions, in more dangerous occupations over the long haul. They just wear out quicker.
I have seen men die within one month of their wives' passing; I have seen women die shortly after the funerals of their beloved husbands.
I know of one case in which the husband and wife, both in their 80s, died within six hours of each other.
Nope!
Grandpa was 6 yrs. older than Grandma and lived 7 yrs. after she died.