Marital Transitions, Change in Depressive Symptomology, and Quality of Social Relationships in Midlife and Older U.S. Adults: An Analysis of the Health and Retirement Study

Tucker, Julia; Bishop, Nicholas; Wang, Kaipeng; Phillips, Farya

doi:10.1177/00914150211066551

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Existing research in the context of late-life marriage suggests that the quality of a relationship with a spouse has a substantial impact on one's physical and mental health outcomes (Tucker et al, 2022). This impact may be particularly salient among older adults.…”

Section: Caregiving Relationship Quality and Mental Health Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mediating Effect of Caregiving Relationship Quality on the Association Between Caregiving Stressors and Mental Health Problems Among Older Spousal Caregivers

Wang

Irani

Tian³

et al. 2022

Int J Aging Hum Dev

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Providing care to a spouse can be especially challenging for older adults given their compounding stressors resulting from aging and caregiving. This cross-sectional study examines the relationships between caregiving stressors and caregiver mental health problems and the potential mediator (i.e., caregiving relationship quality) of these associations. A total of 431 Americans (≥65 years) were selected from the National Study of Caregiving. Path analysis shows that care assistance was positively associated with caregiver mental health problems, and this association was mediated by negative relationship quality (Indirect effect = .14, p = .016). Moreover, role overload was positively associated with caregiver mental health problems, which was mediated by negative relationship quality (indirect effect = .13, p = .002). Findings suggest that caregiving stressors can adversely affect mental health by exacerbating negative relationship quality. Interventions that limit negative exchanges and increase compassionate communications between older spousal caregivers and their care-receiving partners are needed.

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Section: Caregiving Relationship Quality and Mental Health Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mediating Effect of Caregiving Relationship Quality on the Association Between Caregiving Stressors and Mental Health Problems Among Older Spousal Caregivers

Wang

Irani

Tian³

et al. 2022

Int J Aging Hum Dev

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“…Prior research on divorce has differentiated its impact using a crisis model or a chronic strain model [6][7][8]. The chronic strain model suggests that divorce has lasting, perhaps permanent effects on individuals who endure chronic stresses following this major life crisis [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Security and Health Outcomes following Gray Divorce

Zhao,

Andreyeva,

Sun

2024

Nutrients

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The study evaluates the immediate and long-term consequences of gray divorce (i.e., marital dissolution after age 50) for the food security, depression, and disability of older Americans. Staggered Difference-in-Difference models were fitted to a nationally representative longitudinal sample of adults aged ≥ 50 years from the Health and Retirement Study, 1998–2018. Food insecurity and disability increase in the year of gray divorce and remain significantly elevated for up to six years or more following the event, consistent with the chronic strain model of gray divorce. Gray divorce has particularly adverse consequences for the food security of older women, while no gender differences were observed for disability. Increasing trends in gray divorce have important negative implications for food security and health of older Americans, particularly women, who appear to be less prepared to financially withstand a marital collapse in older age. Targeted policies to provide nutrition assistance and support in reemployment might be necessary to reduce the burden of food insecurity in the wake of gray divorce among women.

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Estimating the Sex Gap in Depression-Free Life Expectancy Among Widowed Americans Aged 50 and Older: An Application Using the Interpolated Markov Chain Approach

Feraldi,

Giudici,

Brouard

2024

J Aging Health

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Objectives Using Interpolated Markov Chain software, we compare the length of life with and without depression among married individuals and widowers, and the related sex differences. Methods We applied a multi-state life table approach to estimate depression-free life expectancy among recent cohorts of older married and widowed women and men in the United States, using data from the Health and Retirement Study over a 7-year period (2012–2018). Results The study revealed that the difference in life expectancy between sexes widens in the context of widowhood. At age 50, the sex gap in depression-free life expectancy is 0.8 years among married people, whereas the gap almost doubles to 1.7 years among widowed people. Discussion By quantifying disparities in the duration of life affected by depression between married and widowed women and men, policymakers could properly allocate resources specifically to address the mental health needs of these groups.

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Marital Transitions, Change in Depressive Symptomology, and Quality of Social Relationships in Midlife and Older U.S. Adults: An Analysis of the Health and Retirement Study

Cited by 3 publications

References 42 publications

The Mediating Effect of Caregiving Relationship Quality on the Association Between Caregiving Stressors and Mental Health Problems Among Older Spousal Caregivers

The Mediating Effect of Caregiving Relationship Quality on the Association Between Caregiving Stressors and Mental Health Problems Among Older Spousal Caregivers

Food Security and Health Outcomes following Gray Divorce

Estimating the Sex Gap in Depression-Free Life Expectancy Among Widowed Americans Aged 50 and Older: An Application Using the Interpolated Markov Chain Approach

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