Spousal associations between functional limitation and depressive symptom trajectories: Longitudinal findings from the study of Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD).

TitleSpousal associations between functional limitation and depressive symptom trajectories: Longitudinal findings from the study of Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD).
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsHoppmann, CA, Gerstorf, D, Hibbert, A
JournalHealth Psychol
Volume30
Issue2
Pagination153-62
Date Published2011 Mar
ISSN Number1930-7810
KeywordsActivities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, depression, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Psychometrics, Spouses, United States
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine spousal associations between functional limitation and depressive symptom trajectories in a national sample of older long-term married couples.

DESIGN: We used 14.5-year longitudinal data on functional limitations and depressive symptoms from 1,704 couples participating in the Study of Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Activities of daily living and a short version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale were used.

RESULTS: Between-person difference findings corroborate previous research by showing that levels and changes in functional limitations and depressive symptoms are closely interrelated among wives and husbands. Our results further demonstrate sizable associations in levels and changes in functional limitations and depressive symptoms between spouses. For example, functional limitation levels in one spouse were associated with depressive symptom levels in the other spouse. Spousal associations remained after controlling for individual (age, education, cognition) and spousal covariates (marriage duration, number of children) and did not differ between women and men.

CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the important role of marital relationships in shaping health trajectories in old age because they show that some of the well-documented between-person differences in functional limitations and depressive symptoms are in fact related to spouses.

Notes

Hoppmann, Christiane A Gerstorf, Denis Hibbert, Anita U01 AG009740-12/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States U01AG009740/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't United States Nihms256806 Health Psychol. 2011 Mar;30(2):153-62.

DOI10.1037/a0022094
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21401249?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Activities of Daily Living/Aging/Longitudinal Studies/Psychometrics/Spouses/marital Status/Functional limitations/Depressive Symptoms

Endnote ID

69474

Alternate JournalHealth Psychol
Citation Key7672
PubMed ID21401249
PubMed Central IDPMC3078040
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG009740-12 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States