@article {10840, title = {Concurrent and enduring associations between married partners{\textquoteright} shared beliefs and markers of aging}, journal = {Psychology and Aging}, volume = {35}, year = {2020}, pages = {925-936}, abstract = {Beliefs about aging are grounded in social experience. This study considered the extent to which married older adults{\textquoteright} shared beliefs about aging and markers of aging maintain a concurrent and enduring association with their partners{\textquoteright} beliefs about and markers of aging. Data from the 2010/2012 and 2014/2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study provided measures of husbands{\textquoteright} and wives{\textquoteright} (3,779 couples) positive and negative beliefs about aging and internal (Cystatin C) and external (grip strength) markers of aging at 2 time points. Latent dyadic models parsed beliefs and markers into partners{\textquoteright} individual and shared variances, which were connected both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Longitudinal analysis showed that the cross-sectional associations between shared beliefs and markers of aging were stable over 4 years. Partners{\textquoteright} shared beliefs and markers of aging were found to have enduring associations with each other over time. The enduring association between grip strength and future negative beliefs remained significant after accounting for partner selection and similarity in health. Model comparisons across marriage duration and emotional closeness showed partners{\textquoteright} beliefs to be more similar in marriages that were either long established or emotionally close. In all groups, shared beliefs and markers of aging were associated with each other over time. The association between positive beliefs and future grip strength was stronger in long-established than in recent marriages. In summary, this study provides evidence that, within older couples, beliefs about aging are shaped in part through experiences of aging together.}, keywords = {Couples, markers of aging}, isbn = {0882-7974}, doi = {10.1037/pag0000515}, url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/32525338}, author = {Shannon T. Mejia and Hannah L. Giasson and Jacqui Smith and Gonzalez, Richard} } @article {9300, title = {Couples{\textquoteright} Shared Beliefs About Aging and Implications for Future Functional Limitations.}, journal = {Gerontologist}, volume = {57}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Aug 01}, pages = {S149-S159}, abstract = {

Purpose of the Study: Individual beliefs are known to be predictive of health. This study examines the co-construction of couple norms and links couples{\textquoteright} shared beliefs about aging to future individuals{\textquoteright} and couples{\textquoteright} functional limitations.

Design and Methods: Data from the 2008 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (1,231 couples; age range = 51-90) were analyzed using latent variables that estimated shared and individual variance in beliefs about aging in 2008 and functional limitations at follow-up in 2014. Spouses{\textquoteright} individual processes of physical activity and disease burden were modeled to contribute to couples{\textquoteright} shared beliefs about aging and subsequent functional limitations. Models progressively controlled for indicators of partner selection, couples{\textquoteright} shared health experiences, and similarities and differences in age.

Results: Couples{\textquoteright} beliefs about aging predicted future functional limitations. The effect magnitude decreased but remained significant in all models. Physical activity predicted couples{\textquoteright} future functional limitations but was largely explained by shared health experiences and similarities and differences in age for wives and husbands, respectively. Disease burden contributed to couples{\textquoteright} shared beliefs about aging. Husbands{\textquoteright} contributions were explained by partner selection, but wives{\textquoteright} contributions remained significant in all models. The effect of couples{\textquoteright} shared beliefs on change in couples{\textquoteright} functional limitations was explained by couples{\textquoteright} shared health experiences.

Implications: Beliefs about aging and health occur within the context of close relationships and shared experiences. Knowledge of couples{\textquoteright} beliefs and health is necessary to support their individual and collective efforts to age successfully together.

}, keywords = {Marriage, Self-perception}, issn = {1758-5341}, doi = {10.1093/geront/gnx071}, author = {Shannon T. Mejia and Gonzalez, Richard} }