The impact of own and spouse's urinary incontinence on depressive symptoms.

TitleThe impact of own and spouse's urinary incontinence on depressive symptoms.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsFultz, NH, Jenkins, KRahrig, Ostbye, T, Taylor, Jr., DH, Kabeto, MU, Langa, KM
JournalSoc Sci Med
Volume60
Issue11
Pagination2537-48
Date Published2005 Jun
ISSN Number0277-9536
Call Numberpubs_2005_UIarticle.pdf
KeywordsAged, Caregivers, Cohort Studies, depression, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, United States, Urinary incontinence
Abstract

This study investigated the impact of own and spouse's urinary incontinence on depressive symptoms. Attention was paid to the possibility that gender and caregiving might be important factors in understanding significant effects. We used negative binomial regression to analyze survey data for 9974 middle-aged and older respondents to the Health and Retirement Study in the USA. Results supported the hypothesis that the respondents' own urinary incontinence was associated with depressive symptoms (unadj. IRR = 1.73, 95% CIs = 1.53, 1.95 for men; unadj. IRR = 1.50, 95% CIs = 1.38, 1.63 for women). Controlling sociodemographic and health variables reduced this relationship, but it remained statistically significant for both men and women. Having an incontinent wife put men at greater risk for depressive symptoms (unadj. IRR = 1.13, 95% CIs = 1.02, 1.25), although this relation became nonsignificant with the addition of control variables. No relation between women's depressive symptoms and husbands' (in)continence status was found. Caregiving was not a significant variable in the adjusted analyses, but spouses' depressive symptoms emerged as a significant predictor of the respondents' own depressive symptoms. Health care providers must be sensitive to the emotional impact of urinary incontinence. Our findings also suggest the importance of considering the patient's mental health within a wider context, particularly including the physical and mental health of the patient's spouse.

DOI10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.11.019
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15814179?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Depression Symptoms/Incontinence/Health Services/Mental Health

Endnote ID

14350

Alternate JournalSoc Sci Med
Citation Key7019
PubMed ID15814179
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K08 AG19180 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K12 HD01438 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG09740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States