Changes in depressive symptoms following spousal bereavement among Japanese older individuals across the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES).

Publication date: Jun 21, 2026

This study investigated changes in depressive symptoms among older individuals who experienced spousal bereavement versus those who did not, comparing the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a nationwide survey, we followed married participants (2016 or 2019) over a three-year period (2019 or 2022). Participants were categorized as either remaining married or having become widowed. We used a difference-in-differences approach to estimate the differential change in depressive symptoms associated with bereavement over time, comparing the periods before and during the pandemic. This model accounted for time-invariant group differences and common secular trends while adjusting for baseline covariates, including gender, age, socioeconomic status, health-related factors, and social factors, to balance the participants’ backgrounds. Comparing the periods before and during the pandemic (2019-2022), depressive symptoms decreased in the bereaved group, whereas they increased in the non-bereaved, with consistent findings across multiple analyses.

Semantics

Original Article