Depression in Mature Marriages: Impact and Implications for Marital Therapy

Sandberg, Jonathan G.; Harper, James M.

doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.1999.tb00256.x

Cited by 22 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Specifically, “hardy people…[tend to] feel they can control or influence the events of their experience [and] feel involved or committed to the activities of their life,” and this may provide an extra resource in the struggle to deal with stressors (Campbell, Swank, & Vincent, 1991, p. 54). For example, the ability to maintain a sense of control and commitment during stressful transitions in later life (e.g., retirement, change of residence, health problems) may protect against depressive symptoms (Sandberg & Harper, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The participants were recruited from a national research study of couples prior to and during the early stages of retirement. Couples who participated in this segment of the study were a smaller subgroup of the larger, random national sample (Sandberg & Harper, 1999). Specifically, approximately 90 couples reported in the first mailing that they were willing to participate in follow-up mailings or phone calls.…”

Section: Subjects and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Qualitative Study of Marital Process and Depressionin Older Couples^*

Sandberg¹,

Miller²,

Harper³

2002

Family Relations

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although research has established that depression in later life can negatively impact the quality of an individual's life, few studieshave addressed the relationship between depression and marital process in aging couples. To understand how older couples' experience and describe depression and its impact on their marriage, 26 older couples were interviewed. Results from 10 couples where one partner was experiencing depression and 16 nondepressed couples revealed that the depressed couples reported greater difficulty communicating and problem solving during ''down'' times. The nondepressed spouse in these couples reported feelings of confusion and frustration, whereas the depressed partner felt isolated and misunderstood. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Subjects and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Study of Marital Process and Depressionin Older Couples^*

Sandberg¹,

Miller²,

Harper³

2002

Family Relations

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Within the marriage and family therapy literature, several book chapters have been written to guide therapists working with older adults (Hargrave & Hanna, 1997;Long & Mancini, 1990;Miller, Hemesath, & Nelson, 1997). A handful of studies have examined aspects of later life family relationships that therapists may encounter (Brown-Standridge, & Floyd, 2000;Garwick, Detzner, & Boss, 1994;Sandberg & Harper, 1999).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Acquired hearing impairment in older couple relationships: An exploration of couple resilience processes

Yorgason

Piercy

Piercy³

2007

Journal of Aging Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A substantial number of older adults have acquired a hearing loss. Natural aging processes often result in gradual hearing impairment called presbycusis. Also, many adults who acquire a hearing impairment at some earlier point in their lives have to adjust to significant additional hearing losses. Because hearing loss affects basic communication processes, couples often have to adjust their ways of interacting. Extant literature presents relevant information about couple relationships in later life, individual adaptation to a hearing loss, and couple relationships where one spouse has a hearing loss. The current study was conducted to better understand the resilience processes that occur for many of these couples. The family resilience theoretical framework guided this study (Ganong & Coleman, 2002; Walsh, 1996), with an emphasis on meaning that couples give to their experiences. The interaction of belief systems (meaning) was explored in connection with resilience processes and the development of couple relationships over time. The findings from this study represent a snapshot of the couple relationships at one point in time. iii Qualitative semi-structured interviews with couples was the main method of data collection. Couples were recruited through local audiologists and through a snowball sampling method. At least one partner had to be 60 years of age or older. Each hearingimpaired participant acquired a hearing loss in adulthood or experienced a dramatic additional loss to one acquired earlier in life. Audiograms of each hearing-impaired participant were requested from doctors and audiologists, and couples completed a marital satisfaction scale. Themes describing meaning and resilience processes emerged from interviews with eight couples in which one spouse was hearing-impaired. Themes related to meaning included couples' understanding and acceptance of the hearing loss, and demonstrations of the beliefs and values regarding their loss such as optimism, humor, gratitude, and pleasure through hearing. Resilience processes emerged in response to both individual and relational hearing-related difficulties. Couples reported having confidence in their communication skills. They also said that models of resilience, assistive listening devices, and faith in God, helped them to adapt to hearing loss stressors. In addition to what couples reported, resilience processes were observed during the interviews. Couples demonstrated healthy spousal caregiving relationships and the rebalancing of emotional ledgers during the interviews. They also reported retrospectively the development of their relationship in relation to the hearing loss. A focus group with experienced marriage and family therapists was also conducted to obtain clinical interpretations of the themes that emerged from the couple interviews. Clinicians' responses to themes from the interviews focused on couple relationship dynamics, possible clinical situations with these couples, and the iv therapist/client relationship. Therapists also viewed the focus gro...

show abstract

“…The limited research investigating depression in mature marriages suggests that "wives' depression is more closely related to relationship functioning than that of husbands" (p400, Sandberg & Harper, 1999); potentially, however, in rural areas the same may be true for older men. That is, in rural areas typified by geographic isolation and a culture that values independence and privacy, developing strong social support networks and a confidant outside of the marital relationship may be particularly difficult for older men.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeling blue? The importance of a confidant for the well-being of older rural married Australian and American men

Miller¹,

Buys²,

Roberto³

2006

Ageing Int.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Older men have been described as relatively invisible in gerontological research, with knowledge about the wellbeing of older men in a rural and cross-cultural context limited. Thus, this research investigated the prevalence and predictors of mild depression, or "the blues", among older married Australian and American men living in rural areas. Comparable data from two separate studies, phone interviews for Americans (n=118) and a self-complete postal questionnaire for Australians (n=53), was integrated to determine whether the prevalence and predictors of mild depression, specifically demographic factors, health, pain, functional limitations and social networks, differed according to nationality. Approximately 20% of older rural men described themselves as recently "feeling blue" or "down in the dumps". Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that, for both older Australian and American men, mild depression was predicted by functional limitations and not having someone to trust and confide in. These findings emphasise the importance of friendships beyond the marital relationship for older married rural men. Unfortunately, the remoteness and isolation of rural life, combined with the "masculine culture of the bush" and men's resistance to share their feelings, may impede the formation of close friendships. As the first study to identify the predictors of mild depression for older married men in a

show abstract

Depression in Mature Marriages: Impact and Implications for Marital Therapy

Cited by 22 publications

References 45 publications

A Qualitative Study of Marital Process and Depressionin Older Couples^*

A Qualitative Study of Marital Process and Depressionin Older Couples^*

Acquired hearing impairment in older couple relationships: An exploration of couple resilience processes

Feeling blue? The importance of a confidant for the well-being of older rural married Australian and American men

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Depression in Mature Marriages: Impact and Implications for Marital Therapy

Cited by 22 publications

References 45 publications

A Qualitative Study of Marital Process and Depressionin Older Couples*

A Qualitative Study of Marital Process and Depressionin Older Couples*

Acquired hearing impairment in older couple relationships: An exploration of couple resilience processes

Feeling blue? The importance of a confidant for the well-being of older rural married Australian and American men

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

A Qualitative Study of Marital Process and Depressionin Older Couples^*

A Qualitative Study of Marital Process and Depressionin Older Couples^*