@article {6924, title = {The effect of spousal mental and physical health on husbands{\textquoteright} and wives{\textquoteright} depressive symptoms, among older adults: longitudinal evidence from the Health and Retirement Survey.}, journal = {J Aging Health}, volume = {16}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 Jun}, pages = {398-425}, publisher = {16}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of spousal depressive symptoms and physical health on respondents{\textquoteright} depressive symptoms in a national sample of older married couples.

METHOD: We used data on 5,035 respondent husbands and wives from the 1992 and 1994 waves of the Health and Retirement Survey. Multivariate regression models were estimated to examine the impact of spousal depressive symptoms and physical health on respondents{\textquoteright} depressive symptoms.

RESULTS: Adjusting for respondent mental and physical health and sociodemographic traits, having a spouse with more depressive symptoms was associated with significantly higher follow-up depressive symptoms in the respondent (p < .001). Controlling for spousal depressive symptoms, a decline in the spouses{\textquoteright} physical health was associated with a significant reduction in respondent depressive symptoms (p < .05).

DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that health care providers treating older adults should be sensitive to the possibility that spouses may be affected when clients suffer poor mental or physical health.

}, keywords = {Aged, Caregivers, depression, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Models, Theoretical, Spouses, United States}, issn = {0898-2643}, doi = {10.1177/0898264304264208}, author = {Michele J. Siegel and Elizabeth H Bradley and William T Gallo and Stanislav V Kasl} } @article {6868, title = {Impact of Husbands{\textquoteright} Involuntary Job Loss on Wives{\textquoteright} Mental Health, Among Older Adults}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences}, volume = {58B}, year = {2003}, pages = {S30-S37}, publisher = {58B}, abstract = {Objectives. This study estimates the consequences of older husbands{\textquoteright} involuntary job loss for their wives{\textquoteright} mental healthMethods. Using longitudinal data from the 1992, 1994, and 1996 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, multivariate regression models were estimated to measure the impact of older husbands{\textquoteright} involuntary job loss on wives{\textquoteright} mental health. We created two longitudinal data sets of two waves each to use in our analysis. The first data set, or period, combined Waves I and 2 of the Health and Retirement Study and described the 1992-1994 experience of spouse pairs in our sample. It included the wives of 55 husbands who experienced involuntary job loss between these survey dates and a comparison group of wives of 730 continuously employed husbands. The second data set described the 1994-1996 experience of couples. In particular, it included the wives of an additional 38 husbands who were displaced from their jobs between Waves 2 and 3, and a compar ison group of wives of 425 husbands who were continuously employed from 1994 to 1996.Results. Husbands{\textquoteright} involuntary job loss did not have a statistically significant effect on wives{\textquoteright} mental health. We found no evidence that changes in husbands{\textquoteright} depressive symptoms modified the effect of his job loss on wives{\textquoteright} mental health. In the first period only, the effect of husbands{\textquoteright} job loss on wives{\textquoteright} mental health was more pronounced for wives who were more financially satisfied at baseline.Discussion. There is limited evidence among this cohort that husbands{\textquoteright} job loss increases wives{\textquoteright} subsequent depressive symptoms. However, the effect of husbands{\textquoteright} job loss on wives{\textquoteright} mental health appears to be magnified when wives report being financially satisfied pre-job loss. This suggests that, for subgroups of older couples, mental health services specifically targeted at displaced men should also be made available to wives.}, keywords = {Employment and Labor Force}, url = {http://psychsoc.gerontologyjournals.org/}, author = {Michele J. Siegel and Elizabeth H Bradley and William T Gallo and Stanislav V Kasl} } @article {6873, title = {Self-rated life expectancy as a predictor of mortality: evidence from the HRS and AHEAD surveys.}, journal = {Gerontology}, volume = {49}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Jul-Aug}, pages = {265-71}, publisher = {49}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: An extensive literature has demonstrated that self-ratings of health predict mortality, even after controlling for more objective measures of health, health habits and sociodemographic characteristics. We examine the role of a related concept, self-rated life expectancy, in predicting mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether self-rated life expectancy predicts mortality after controlling for measures of health, self-rated health, and sociodemographic characteristics.

METHODS: Using data from the 1992 Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), the 1993 Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) survey, and the second Tracker file (2.0), Cox proportional hazard models were estimated to assess whether self-rated life expectancy predicts mortality, after adjusting for self-rated health and several potential confounders that might otherwise explain this relationship. The AHEAD sample included 2,102 men and 3,160 women. During the 2 years of follow-up, 9\% (n = 185) of the men died and 5\% (n = 166) of the women died. The HRS sample was comprised of 4,090 men and 4,885 women. Four percent (n = 164) of the men died and 2\% (n = 99) of the women died in the 3 years of follow-up.

RESULTS: In the older, AHEAD sample, both self-rated life expectancy (p < 0.01) and self-rated health (p < 0.05) predicted mortality for both men and women, even when the two measures were included in the model together. In the younger, HRS sample, self-rated life expectancy was not significantly associated with mortality when self-rated health was included in the model.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that, although self-rated life expectancy and self-rated health may be conceptually related, they have independent empirical effects on mortality.

}, keywords = {Aged, Female, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Life Expectancy, Male, Mortality, Prognosis, Proportional Hazards Models, Self Concept, Sex Distribution, Survival Analysis}, issn = {0304-324X}, doi = {10.1159/000070409}, author = {Michele J. Siegel and Elizabeth H Bradley and Stanislav V Kasl} } @article {6753, title = {The Impact of Involuntary Job Loss on Subsequent Alcohol Consumption by Older Workers: Findings from the Health and Retirement Survey}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences}, volume = {56B}, year = {2001}, pages = {S3-9}, publisher = {56B}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of involuntary job loss on subsequent alcohol consumption by older workers in the United States. METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the 1992 and 1994 waves of the Health and Retirement Survey, the authors estimated multivariate models to assess the impact of involuntary job loss on subsequent alcohol use. Two outcomes were investigated: reported daily alcohol consumption and onset of drinking. The analysis sample included 207 workers who experienced involuntary job loss between survey dates and a comparison group of 2,866 continuously employed workers. RESULTS: After baseline alcohol consumption and a variety of socioeconomic and illness-related covariates were controlled, involuntary job loss was not associated (p .05) with number of daily drinks consumed at follow-up. However, among those who did not consume alcohol at baseline, individuals who suffered involuntary job loss were twice as likely as continuously employed individuals to start drinking by follow-up (OR = 2.01; CI = 1.06-3.80). The majority of those who began drinking at follow-up reported drinking less than 1 drink per day. DISCUSSION: The findings provide evidence of a significant relationship between job loss and subsequent alcohol use among baseline nondrinkers. However, the magnitude of the changes in drinking was quite modest.}, keywords = {Demographics, Employment and Labor Force, Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Methodology, Other, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction, Risk Taking}, url = {http://psychsoc.gerontologyjournals.org/contents-by-date.0.shtml}, author = {William T Gallo and Elizabeth H Bradley and Michele J. Siegel and Stanislav V Kasl} } @article {6705, title = {Health effects of involuntary job loss among older workers: findings from the health and retirement survey.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {55}, year = {2000}, month = {2000 May}, pages = {S131-40}, publisher = {55B}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the health consequences of involuntary job loss among older workers in the United States.

METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the 1992 and 1994 waves of the Health and Retirement Survey, multivariate regression models were estimated to assess the impact of involuntary job loss on both physical functioning and mental health. Our analysis sample included 209 workers who experienced involuntary job loss between survey dates and a comparison group of 2,907 continuously employed workers.

RESULTS: The effects of late-life involuntary job loss on both follow-up physical functioning and mental health were negative and statistically significant (p < .05), even after baseline health status and sociodemographic factors were controlled for. Among displaced workers, reemployment was positively associated with both follow-up physical functioning and mental health, whereas the duration of joblessness was not significantly associated with either outcome.

DISCUSSION: The findings provide evidence of a causal relationship between job loss and morbidity among older workers. This relationship is reflected in both poorer physical functioning and mental health for workers who experience involuntary job loss. In addition to the economic consequences of worker displacement, there may be important health consequences of job loss, especially among older workers.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Adaptation, Psychological, Aging, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Health Status, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Retirement, Unemployment, United States}, issn = {1079-5014}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/55.3.s131}, author = {William T Gallo and Elizabeth H Bradley and Michele J. Siegel and Stanislav V Kasl} }