Title | Individual well-being in middle and older adulthood: do spousal beliefs matter? |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2009 |
Authors | Windsor, TD, Ryan, LH, Smith, J |
Journal | J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci |
Volume | 64 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 586-96 |
Date Published | 2009 Sep |
ISSN Number | 1758-5368 |
Keywords | Adult, Affect, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Attitude to Health, Culture, Female, Humans, Individuality, Internal-External Control, Male, Marriage, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Spouses |
Abstract | Associations between health, control beliefs, and well-being in later life are frequently conceptualized in terms of the characteristics of individuals. However, spousal interdependencies in psychosocial characteristics are also likely to be relevant for well-being. The present study investigated associations of self-rated health, control, and relationship closeness with life satisfaction and positive and negative affect in a sample of 2,235 spousal dyads. A significant proportion of variance in health, control, closeness, and well-being occurred between dyads. Individuals' self-rated health, control, and relationship closeness were associated with higher well-being. Spouses' self-rated health and control beliefs were consistently and positively associated with individuals' well-being; however, effect sizes were small. Some evidence for individual's control beliefs buffering the association between health and well-being emerged, whereas spouses' perceived control was not a significant moderator of the health-well-being association. Results highlight the importance of couple interdependencies for contextualizing health and well-being in older adulthood. |
DOI | 10.1093/geronb/gbp058 |
User Guide Notes | |
Endnote Keywords | psycho-social/spousal care/SELF-RATED HEALTH/Couples |
Endnote ID | 62841 |
Alternate Journal | J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci |
Citation Key | 7421 |
PubMed ID | 19608855 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC4303061 |
Grant List | U01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |