@article {13869, title = {Partner Plan Choices and Medicare Advantage Enrollment Decisions Among Older Adults.}, journal = {JAMA}, year = {Forthcoming}, abstract = {In 2023, 50\% of Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA).1 While enrollment is common, so is disenrollment: between 2011 and 2018, 12\% to 20\% of enrollees left their MA contract within 1 year.2 Beneficiary- and plan-level characteristics, including Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility, functional limitations, health care needs, and plan star rating, are associated with disenrollment.3-6 For working-age adults, spouses or partners (hereafter, partners) often share insurance coverage under the same plan; whether this pattern occurs in MA is unknown. This study considered dyadic MA enrollment decisions, examining the association of respondent plan changes with partner plan changes and other beneficiary and plan characteristics.}, keywords = {Couples, Insurance Coverage, Medicare, Medicare advantage}, issn = {1538-3598}, doi = {10.1001/jama.2024.1773}, author = {Lei, Lianlian and Levy, Helen and Ankuda, Claire and Hoffman, Geoffrey J and Kim, Hyungjin Myra and Strominger, Julie and Maust, Donovan T} } @article {13863, title = {Couples with similar drinking habits may live longer}, year = {2024}, publisher = {Michigan News, The University of Michigan}, keywords = {Couples, Drinking, Life span}, url = {https://news.umich.edu/couples-with-similar-drinking-habits-may-live-longer/}, author = {Meerdink, Jon} } @article {13716, title = {Hypertension Concordance in Heterosexual Couples Consistent in Different Countries}, year = {2024}, publisher = {Cardiology Advisor}, keywords = {CHARLS, Couples, ELSA, Hypertension, LASI}, url = {https://www.thecardiologyadvisor.com/home/topics/hypertension/hypertension-concordance-heterosexual-couples-consistent-in-different-countries/}, author = {Stong, Colby} } @article {13870, title = {In sickness and in health, older couples mostly make Medicare moves together}, year = {2024}, publisher = {Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan}, keywords = {Couples, Medicare, Medicare advantage}, url = {https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/psychiatry/news/archive/202403/sickness-health-older-couples-mostly-make-medicare-moves-together}, author = {Michigan Medicine} } @article {13867, title = {Medicare Decisions Often Made in Tandem by Couples}, year = {2024}, publisher = {AARP}, keywords = {Couples, Medicare}, url = {https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2024/couples-make-medicare-decisions-together.html}, author = {Urban, Peter} } @article {13865, title = {Partners May Live Longer When They Drink Together}, year = {2024}, publisher = {Newsweek}, keywords = {Couples, drinking habits, Life span}, url = {https://www.newsweek.com/partners-live-longer-drink-together-1884728}, author = {Dewan, Pandora} } @article {13652, title = {Couples Often Share High Blood Pressure, Says Study}, year = {2023}, publisher = {healthnews}, keywords = {CHARLS, Couples, ELSA, high blood pressure, LASI}, url = {https://healthnews.com/news/couples-often-share-high-blood-pressure-says-study/}, author = {Min, Penny} } @article {12721, title = {Depressive Symptom Trajectories and Cognition Among Older American Couples: A Dyadic Perspective.}, journal = {Journal of Aging and Health}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether trajectories of depressive symptoms of one spouse are associated with the other spouse{\textquoteright}s memory.

METHODS: Longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (2004-2016) were used ( = 5690 heterosexual couples). Latent-class growth analysis and structural equation models examined the actor and partner effects of depressive symptom trajectories on memory.

RESULTS: Four depressive symptom trajectories were identified (i.e., persistently low, increasing, decreasing, and persistently high). Compared to the low trajectory group, the increasing and persistently high trajectories were associated with worse memory for both men and women. While none of the wives{\textquoteright} depressive symptom trajectories was significantly associated with husbands{\textquoteright} memory ( > .05), husbands{\textquoteright} decreasing trajectory was linked to wives{\textquoteright} better memory (β = 0.498, 95\% CI = 0.106, 0.890).

DISCUSSION: Older adults with increasing and persistently high depressive symptoms may experience worse memory. Psychosocial interventions targeting depressive symptoms among older men may be beneficial to their spouses{\textquoteright} memory.

}, keywords = {Couples, depressive symptom trajectory, dyadic data, latent class growth analysis, Memory}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/08982643221125838}, author = {Kong, Dexia and Lu, Peiyi and Solomon, Phyllis and Woo, Jean and Shelley, Mack} } @article {11613, title = {Advance Directives Completion among Older American Couples: A Dyadic Perspective on the Role of Cognitive Function and Other Factors.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series B}, volume = {77}, year = {2022}, pages = {1144-1153}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Dyadic perspective is scarce in existing advance directive (AD) literature. Particularly, the significance of one{\textquoteright}s own and/or one{\textquoteright}s partner{\textquoteright}s cognitive function on AD remains unknown. This study investigates the relationship of cognitive function and other factors with AD completion within the spousal context.

METHODS: Data from the Health and Retirement Study (2014-2015) were used. Older heterosexual couples (age >=65) married for 10+ years were asked if they had a living will and/or appointed a durable power of attorney for healthcare (DPAHC). Structural Equation Models examined the actor and partner effects of sociodemographic, health, and couple-level characteristics on wife{\textquoteright}s and husband{\textquoteright}s AD, respectively.

RESULTS: Moderate spousal interdependence was observed in living will (Kappa coefficient, k =0.60) and DPAHC (k=0.53). Older age and higher education were related to both spouses having AD. Less household wealth and being racial/ethnic minority were associated with a lower probability of having AD. Notable gender contrasts in actor and partner effects were found. Wife{\textquoteright}s higher level of cognitive function was associated with husband{\textquoteright}s AD completion. Contrarily, husband{\textquoteright}s lower level of cognitive function was associated with wife{\textquoteright}s AD completion. Retirement status had primarily actor effects for both husbands and wives. More chronic conditions were linked to husband{\textquoteright}s AD completion.

DISCUSSION: The spousal interdependence of AD warrants practitioner efforts to facilitate family-oriented end-of-life planning. Wives and husbands may have different thoughts regarding their spouse{\textquoteright}s cognitive capacity to surrogate. Facilitating couple-based discussions may be a feasible approach to promote engagement with AD among older adults.

}, keywords = {actor-partner interdependence model, advance directive, Couples, dyadic analysis}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbab077}, author = {Lu, Peiyi and Kong, Dexia and Lee, Jeongeun and Shelley, Mack} } @article {12640, title = {FP-22-18 Marital Status Variation in Religiosity Among Older Women and Men }, number = { 287}, year = {2022}, institution = {National Center for Family and Marriage Research Family Profiles}, abstract = {Religiosity, feelings of closeness to a God, and involvement in religious activities, are linked to higher levels of couples{\textquoteright} commitment to one another and marital quality (Dollahite \& Lambert, 2007). In long-term couples they are associated with a reduced likelihood of divorce (Dollahite \& Lambert, 2007; Tuttle \& Davis, 2015). A growing number of older adults are currently unmarried due to increasing shares experiencing a gray divorce (Brown \& Lin, 2022, 2012) or never marrying (Lin \& Brown, 2012), demonstrating the need to explore the heterogeneity in church attendance and religious attitudes among the unmarried. Using the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this family profile examines religious service attendance and religious attitudes by marital status among adults aged 65 and older, distinguishing between women and men.}, keywords = {Couples, Divorce, Marital quality, religiosity}, url = {https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ncfmr_family_profiles/287}, author = {Marino, Francesca A. and Mellencamp, Kagan A.} } @mastersthesis {12697, title = {The Joint Retirement Decision and Life Satisfaction of Older Adults}, year = {2022}, school = {Texas Tech University }, address = {Lubbock, TX}, keywords = {Couples, Life Satisfaction, Retirement}, url = {https://hdl.handle.net/2346/90267}, author = {Slabach, Colin} } @article {12538, title = {Married Mixed-gender Couples{\textquoteright} Midlife Employment and Later Life Well-being and Housework}, journal = {Sex Roles}, volume = {87}, year = {2022}, pages = {154{\textendash}166}, abstract = {This study explored the role of midlife market-work arrangements of married mixed-gender couples on gendered experiences in emotional well-being and housework during the encore years. Working during midlife may shape long-term outcomes after couples leave the workforce and begin retirement. Using three theories of gender as a framework to understand work sharing in couples, the study theoretically connects work arrangements in midlife with long-term predictions of gender differences in couple emotional well-being and housework. Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (2000{\textendash}2015; N = 3,231), the study found that gender differences in housework were similar in male-earner and dual-earner couples during the encore years. However, women in male-earner marriages reported low levels of emotional well-being in the encore years, while men in dual-earner couples in mid-life reported high levels of well-being. The findings suggest more gendered experiences in midlife employment correlated with worse mental health in the encore years for women. Understanding midlife employment as a protective factor against depressive symptoms is useful for families, practitioners, and policymakers to be aware of as they seek to understand and mitigate drivers of poor mental health during the encore years. The study demonstrates a need for further development of dynamic theoretical models to explain gender differences over the life course.}, keywords = {Couples, Division of labor, Housework, Sex roles, Well Being}, doi = {10.1007/s11199-022-01306-0}, author = {Wikle, Jocelyn S and Yorgason, Jeremy B.} } @article {11526, title = {The Prospective Association of Patient Hospitalization with Spouse Depressive Symptoms and Self-Reported Heath.}, journal = {Behavioral Medicine}, volume = {48}, year = {2022}, pages = {230-237}, abstract = {

After hospital discharge, patients experience a period of generalized risk for adverse mental and physical health outcomes (post-hospital syndrome [PHS]). Hospital stressors can explain these effects in patients (e.g., sleep disruption, deconditioning). Patients{\textquoteright} partners also experience adverse outcomes following patient hospitalization, but mechanisms of these effects are unknown. The purpose of this study was to test whether greater times and nights of patient hospitalization (proxies for partner exposure to hospital stressors) are prospectively associated with greater increases in partner depression and in partner self-reported poor health. Participants were 7,490 married couples (11,208 individuals) enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study. Outcomes were prospective changes in depressive symptoms and self-reported poor health, and primary predictors were spouse hospitalization over the past two years (/), spouse hospitalized >= two times (/), and spouse spent >= eight nights in-hospital (/). Covariates included age, gender, race, ethnicity, income, own hospitalization experiences during the past 12 months, and one{\textquoteright}s own and spouse comorbidities. Having a spouse who experienced two or more hospitalizations was associated with an increase in one{\textquoteright}s own depression over time, as was having a spouse who spent eight or more nights in-hospital. Spouse hospitalization was not associated with prospective changes in self-reported health. Results suggest that PHS mechanisms may account for adverse post-hospitalization outcomes in patients{\textquoteright} partners.

}, keywords = {Couples, distress, Hospitalization, Marriage, post-hospital syndrome, Self-reported health}, issn = {0896-4289}, doi = {10.1080/08964289.2020.1870431}, author = {Cornelius, Talea and Birk, Jeffrey L and Shechter, Ari} } @mastersthesis {12484, title = {Retirees{\textquoteright} psychological and financial well-being: Investigating partnership effects and financial knowledge on retirement outcomes}, year = {2022}, school = {Texas Tech University }, address = {Lubbock, TX}, abstract = {An obvious trend over the past years showed an increased number of retirees in the United States. The increase in retirees has brought increased concern about how individuals adjust to the retirement life phase. This dissertation investigates retirees{\textquoteright} psychological and financial well-being by looking at partnership effects and financial knowledge on retirement outcomes. The first paper looked into the relationship between couples{\textquoteright} joint retirement and retirement satisfaction. The analysis uses cross-sectional data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). This paper shows a positive relationship between the likelihood of being very satisfied during retirement and the partner{\textquoteright}s retirement status, household income, net worth, health, education, and age. The second paper investigated the relationship between couples{\textquoteright} joint retirement and post-retirement depression. The analysis uses cross-sectional data from the HRS for 2016. This paper indicates that retirees are less likely to be depressed when their partner is fully retired than retirees with a not retired partner. The third paper examined whether financial knowledge is associated with older investors{\textquoteright} investment holdings by looking at the type and the number of investment instruments in a portfolio. The analysis uses cross-sectional data from the 2015 National Financial Capability Study-Investor Survey by FINRA. The results show a positive relationship between financial knowledge and having an investment instruments score of zero and one. The results also show a negative relationship between financial knowledge and having a portfolio with investment instruments score above one.}, keywords = {Couples, Financial well-being, psychological well-being, Retirement}, url = {https://hdl.handle.net/2346/89461}, author = {Abualshamat, Ghirass Ghazi} } @article {11756, title = {Who Decides? Financial Decision-Making Among Older Couples}, journal = {Journal of Family and Economic Issues}, volume = {43}, year = {2022}, pages = {310{\textendash}337}, abstract = {Using a sample of 2621 respondents from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this study identifies factors associated with who makes complex financial decisions among older couples. Our results show that the bargaining power of wives has a positive association with their decision-making about savings, investments, and health insurance, while the power of husbands is negatively associated with wives being more responsible for decisions about health insurance and tax filing. Moreover, while the husband{\textquoteright}s sense of control, risk tolerance, and cognitive ability are associated with decisions for all financial decisions, the wife{\textquoteright}s sense of control, risk tolerance, and cognitive ability are related to some financial decisions only. Our results show some moderating roles of the perceived spousal social support, household income, and mother{\textquoteright}s education on the association between the four explanatory variables (bargaining power, sense of control, risk tolerance, and cognitive ability) and who makes the financial decisions. The findings provide potential benefits for older couples who consult financial professionals about financial management.}, keywords = {Bargaining power, Cognitive Ability, Constraints on self-control, Couples, Financial decisions, Risk tolerance}, isbn = {1573-3475}, doi = {10.1007/s10834-021-09775-3}, author = {Lim, HanNa and Su Hyun Shin and Wilmarth, Melissa J. and Park, Narang} } @article {11351, title = {Chronic condition discordance and physical activity among midlife and older couples.}, journal = {Health Psychology}, volume = {40}, year = {2021}, pages = {11-20}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Chronic conditions in middle and later life are associated with lower physical activity. Yet little is known about chronic condition discordance (i.e., the extent to which conditions have nonoverlapping self-management requirements) within older individuals and couples and its implications for physical activity. We determined how the degrees of chronic condition discordance at the individual level and the couple level (i.e., between spouses) were linked to moderate physical activity across an 8-year period.

METHOD: The U.S. sample included 1,621 couples from five waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2014). Dyadic growth curve models estimated how individual-level and couple-level chronic condition discordance were linked to initial levels of and rates of change in moderate activity. Models controlled for age, minority status, education, and own and partner reports of baseline negative marital quality, time-varying depressive symptoms, and time-varying number of chronic conditions.

RESULTS: A considerable proportion of wives (25.4\%) and husbands (18.9\%) reported moderate activity less than once a week. When individuals (wives: β = -0.10; husbands: β = -0.09) or their spouses (wives: β = -0.04; husbands: β = -0.05) had greater individual-level chronic condition discordance, lower initial moderate activity was reported. When husbands had greater individual-level discordance, both wives (β = -0.16) and husbands (β = -0.19) had a faster rate of decline in moderate activity over time. Couple-level chronic condition discordance was not significantly linked to moderate activity.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the importance of promoting physical activity among individuals and couples managing complex chronic conditions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

}, keywords = {Chronic conditions, Couples, Physical activity}, issn = {1930-7810}, doi = {10.1037/hea0001040}, author = {Courtney A Polenick and Kira S. Birditt and Turkelson, Angela and Helen C Kales} } @article {10476, title = {Discordant Chronic Conditions and Depressive Symptoms: Longitudinal Associations Among Middle-Aged and Older Couples}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Series B}, volume = {76}, year = {2021}, pages = {451-460}, abstract = {Individuals often manage chronic conditions in middle and later life that may diminish well-being. Little is known, however, about discordant conditions (i.e., two or more conditions with competing self-management requirements) among older couples and their links to depressive symptoms. We considered discordant conditions at both the individual level and the couple level (i.e., between spouses), along with their long-term implications for depressive symptoms.The U.S. sample included 1,116 middle-aged and older couples drawn from five waves (2006{\textendash}2014) of the Health and Retirement Study. Longitudinal actor-partner interdependence models evaluated whether individual-level and couple-level discordant chronic health conditions were concurrently linked to depressive symptoms, and whether these associations became stronger over time. Models controlled for age, minority status, education, prior wave depressive symptoms, and each partner{\textquoteright}s baseline report of negative marital quality and number of chronic conditions in each wave.Wives and husbands reported significantly greater depressive symptoms when they had individual-level discordant conditions about 2 years after baseline, and these links intensified over time. Beyond this association, husbands had significantly greater depressive symptoms when there were couple-level discordant conditions.Individual-level and couple-level discordant conditions may have lasting implications for depressive symptoms during midlife and older adulthood.}, keywords = {Chronic conditions, Couples, Depressive symptoms, Longitudinal analysis}, issn = {1079-5014}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbz137}, author = {Courtney A Polenick and Kira S. Birditt and Turkelson, Angela and Bugajski, Benjamin C and Helen C Kales} } @article {11449, title = {The effects of involuntary job losses on depressive symptoms among couples}, number = {2021:5}, year = {2021}, institution = {Centre for Demographic and Ageing Research, Ume{\r a} University}, address = {Ume{\r a}, Sweden}, abstract = {The way job loss affects mental health within couples attracts increasing attention.While previous studies focused on the working-age population, this paper investigateshow job loss affects spouses{\textquoteright} depressive symptoms in later life. We focus on spousesaged 50 or older, who represent a vulnerable segment of the labor market, and whoalso have a high prevalence of depressive symptoms.We use data from the Health and Retirement Study, which provides longitudinalinformation about changes in labor market status and mental health outcomes amongrespondents and their spouses in the United States. To deal with potential reversecausality problems, we utilize data on job loss resulting from business closures. Wefind that job loss may affect the levels of depressive symptoms among the spouses ofolder adults who experience these adverse life course events. The effects aregendered, as women are negatively affected by job losses experienced by theirhusbands, but we do not observe such harmful effects among men whose wives losetheir jobs. We also show how the effects of job loss vary across couples with differinglevels of economic resources and health care needs, as well as differential access to health care.}, keywords = {Couples, Depressive symptoms, Job loss}, url = {https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2\%3A1528052\&dswid=941}, author = {Vega, Alejandro and Baranowska-Rataj, Anna} } @article {10548, title = {Hearing Impairment and Mental Health Among Married Couples}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Series B}, volume = {76}, year = {2021}, pages = {933-943}, abstract = {Disablement is a significant health problem and chronic stressor for older adults and is associated with negative mental health outcomes. Although some research has explored how disability extends beyond individuals to influence the mental health of their support networks, less population-based research has assessed the consequences of hearing impairment, a growing public health concern that affects 72.4\% of people aged 65 and older. Moreover, although much research has examined the negative individual impact of hearing impairment, less population-based research has assessed its consequences on spouses. To fill this gap, the current study builds on gender, marriage, and stress proliferation research to examine 1) the association between own hearing impairment and spouses{\textquoteright} depressive symptoms, and 2) whether this association varies by the gender of the spouse.Fixed-effects regression models were conducted using data from 5,485 couples (10,970 individuals) from 10 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2016).Wives{\textquoteright} fair or poor hearing is significantly associated with an increase in husbands{\textquoteright} depressive symptoms, net of controls. However, husbands{\textquoteright} fair or poor hearing is not associated with an increase in wives{\textquoteright} depressive symptoms.These findings suggest that hearing impairment can proliferate from one spouse to the other, but that this proliferation depends on gender. Health care providers need to be aware of the implications for husbands when treating women with hearing impairment.}, keywords = {Couples, hearing, Mental Health}, issn = {1079-5014}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbaa023}, author = {Jessica S West} } @article {11216, title = {Identifying cohabiting couples in administrative data: evidence from Medicare address data}, journal = {Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology}, volume = {21}, year = {2021}, pages = {238-247}, abstract = {Marital status is recognized as an important social determinant of health, income, and social support, but is rarely available in administrative data. We assessed the feasibility of using exact address data and zip code history to identify cohabiting couples using the 2018 Medicare Vital Status file and ZIP codes in the 2011{\textendash}2014 Master Beneficiary Summary Files. Medicare beneficiaries meeting our algorithm displayed characteristics consistent with assortative mating and resembled known married couples in the Health and Retirement Study linked to Medicare claims. Address information represents a promising strategy for identifying cohabiting couples in administrative data including healthcare claims and other data types.}, keywords = {Cohabitation, Couples, Marriage, Medicare}, isbn = {1572-9400}, doi = {10.1007/s10742-020-00229-1}, author = {Matta, Sasmira and Joanne W. Hsu and Theodore J Iwashyna and Micah Y. Baum and Kenneth M. Langa and Lauren Hersch Nicholas} } @article {11529, title = {Marital Transitions, Housing, and Long-Term Care in Old Age}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Retired couples dissave housing wealth at a much slower rate than singles, conditional on income. This paper studies mechanisms through which marital transitions affect housing decisions of retirees. We develop and estimate a life-cycle savings model where marital transitions affect long-term care arrangements, bequest motives, and eligibility for means-tested welfare programs. We find that the key driver behind the stark difference in dissaving of housing wealth between retired couples and singles varies substantially by income. For low-income households, how means-tested public insurance treats housing has the most impact on their housing decisions. For middle- and highincome households, family caregiving and bequest motives are the dominant driver, respectively. Our counterfactual policy experiments show that the current structure of the Medicaid estate recovery program which exempts housing wealth only for couples is more desirable than alternative rules, such as extending the homestead exemption to singles or providing the exemption to singles only. By inducing lower-income couples to decumulate housing wealth at a slower rate, the current Medicaid program reduces impoverishment risk in retirement.}, keywords = {Couples, Housing, Retirement}, url = {http://www.ko-ami.com/uploads/1/0/5/9/105963965/chang_ko_march2021.pdf}, author = {Chang, Minsu and Ko, Ami} } @article {11746, title = {Why do couples and singles save during retirement?}, number = {28828}, year = {2021}, institution = {National Bureau of Economic Research}, address = {Cambridge, MA}, abstract = {While the savings of retired singles tend to fall with age, those of retired couples tend to rise. We estimate a rich model of retired singles and couples with bequest motives and uncertain longevity and medical expenses. Our estimates imply that while medical expenses are an important driver of the savings of middle-income singles, bequest motives matter for couples and high-income singles, and generate transfers to non-spousal heirs whenever a household member dies. The interaction of medical expenses and bequest motives is a crucial determinant of savings for all retirees. Hence, to understand savings, it is important to model household structure, medical expenses, and bequest motives.}, keywords = {AHEAD, Couples, Retirement, Savings, Singles}, doi = {10.3386/w28828}, author = {Mariacristina De Nardi and Eric French and John Bailey Jones and McGee, Rory} } @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 {2020-19126-00120200319, title = {Loneliness trajectories and correlates of social connections among older adult married couples.}, journal = {Journal of Family Psychology}, volume = {34}, year = {2020}, pages = {1014-1024}, abstract = {How loneliness manifests in older adult married couples is necessary to consider. Marriage partners may become more or less lonely based on shared circumstances with one another (i.e., the shared environment hypothesis). Moreover, individuals may pair off with a marriage partner who shares similar levels of loneliness (i.e., the homophily hypothesis; Cacioppo, Fowler, \& Christakis, 2009), which can potentially lead to higher or lower levels of loneliness. Therefore, examining couples dyadically is beneficial in order to understand how loneliness operates over time. Three waves of the Health and Retirement Study were used and participants included 1,389 older adult couples. The current study uses growth-mixture modeling to examine older adult couples{\textquoteright} joint loneliness trajectories. Multinomial logistic regressions were also used to examine social and demographic correlates of these trajectories. Three classes emerged, including classes characterized by high loneliness (N = 69), low lon}, keywords = {Aging, Couples, Loneliness, Marriage, Older Adults, Partners, person-centered modeling, Simulation, social connections, Social Interaction, Spouses}, issn = {0893-3200}, doi = {10.1037/fam0000652}, author = {Ashley E. Ermer and Dikla Segel-Karpas and Benson, Jacquelyn J.} } @article {11301, title = {Married or Partnered Adults{\textquoteright} Self-Perceptions of Aging in Later Life: The Context of Gender}, journal = {Innovation in Aging}, volume = {4}, year = {2020}, pages = {620-621}, abstract = {Marriage or other types of partnerships are consequential for health in later life, but its association to self-perceptions of aging remains a relatively unexplored area of research. This study used three waves of panel data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 4,315) to examine how changes in the health status and relationship quality over time contribute to self-perceptions of aging for married/partnered men and women. Multilevel models showed that women demonstrated more positive self-perceptions of aging than men, but there was no gender difference in how self-perceptions of aging became more negative over time. The findings on the main and moderating effects of health and relationship quality give evidence that changes across time, as well as average differences in individual characteristics, may affect self-perceptions of married/partnered men and women differently. The context in which gender shapes key aspects of life contributes to self-perceptions of aging in later life.}, keywords = {Couples, gender, self-perceptions of aging}, isbn = {2399-5300}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2112}, author = {Kim, Yijung and Kim, Kyungmin and Shevaun Neupert and Boerner, Kathrin} } @article {11064, title = {Optimism, pessimism, and health biomarkers in older couples.}, journal = {British Journal of Health Psychology}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 Sep 10}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Studies have demonstrated the importance of optimism in predicting perceived general health. However, the handful of studies focusing on cardiovascular biomarkers show inconsistent effects. Additionally, no study examined whether spousal levels of optimism and pessimism affect an individual{\textquoteright}s biological markers of cardiovascular health. Thus, our objectives were to examine whether partners{\textquoteright} optimism and pessimism affect individual biological markers, differentiating between between-dyad associations and within-dyad predictive processes.

METHODS: Three waves of the Health and Retirement Study collected in 2006, 2010, and 2014 were used to test actor and partner effects of optimism and pessimism on C-reactive protein (CRP) and high-density lipoprotein. Multilevel longitudinal actor-partner models were used to examine the contribution of a partner{\textquoteright}s optimism and pessimism to each biomarker, adjusting for respondent{\textquoteright}s age, sex, depression, body mass index, daily activity levels, and a summary score of respondent{\textquoteright}s doctor-diagnosed chronic conditions.

RESULTS: Partners{\textquoteright} pessimism and optimism levels were moderately associated. Results for within-person effects were all non-significant, both within and across waves. Associations at the between-person level were also non-significant, with the exception of a positive association between husbands{\textquoteright} pessimism and their own CRP, and husbands{\textquoteright} optimism and their wives{\textquoteright} CRP.

CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that optimism and pessimism may not play a pertinent role in within variability of biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases and have a minor role in predicting to between-person variability of biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases.

}, keywords = {Biomarkers, Couples, health, Older Adults, Optimism, pessimism}, issn = {2044-8287}, doi = {10.1111/bjhp.12466}, author = {Arbel, Reout and Dikla Segel-Karpas and William J. Chopik} } @article {11246, title = {PATTERNS OF FRIENDSHIP SUPPORT AND STRAIN OVER TIME AMONG MARRIED OLDER ADULTS: THE ROLE OF DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIAL, AND WELL-BEING FACTORS}, journal = {Research in Human Development}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The present study examines older adult married couples? friendship support and strain trajectories. Friendship is essential across the life course. However, most studies examining friendship within the context of long-term marriages have not examined how friendship quality develops over time and have not treated the dyad as the unit of analysis. Growth mixture modeling and 3,608 married couples across three waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were used. Support and strain trajectories were assessed separately and spouses were assessed together in each analysis. Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) were used to examine whether well-being and demographic factors distinguished classes. Three classes of friendship support trajectories and two classes of friendship strain trajectories were identified. The support classes were characterized by husbands? friendship support stability, with the Spouses? High, Stable Support serving as the optimal support trajectory class. The strain classes were characterized by relatively low levels of strain, with the Spouses? Low, Decreasing Strain class serving as the optimal strain trajectory class. Both support and strain trajectories were distinguished by demographic, social, and well-being factors. The results provide evidence for the gendered nature of friendship support and strain patterns, and contributes to knowledge regarding factors associated with distinct longitudinal friendship patterns among married older adults. The findings also have implications for programmatic efforts and interventions aimed to strengthen friendships.}, keywords = {Couples, friendship, Marriage, strain, support}, isbn = {1542-7609}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2020.1852048}, author = {Ashley E. Ermer and Kanter, Jeremy B.} } @article {11441, title = {Asset Allocation of Two-Person Households under Different Longevity Expectations}, journal = {Journal of Consumer Affairs}, volume = {53}, year = {2019}, pages = {1234-1254}, abstract = {This study examines asset allocations of near-elderly couples when spouses have different longevity expectations. Since the risk-adjusted return on equities increases with investment horizon, a spouse who expects longer retirement period has an incentive to hold riskier portfolio. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we show that portfolio riskiness increases with the subjective survival probability of the decision-making spouse. As predicted by the bargaining model, portfolio outcomes are uncorrelated with the horizon of the spouse who has less bargaining power. Results also show that the extent expected horizon is incorporated into asset allocation depends on the decider{\textquoteright}s gender. The share of equities depends on the husband{\textquoteright}s expected horizon when he leads decision making but not on the wife{\textquoteright}s horizon when she has more power. These findings contradict the prediction that wife-led households may hold more equities than do husband-led households because of their longer lifespan.}, keywords = {asset allocations, Couples, longevity expectations}, isbn = {0022-0078}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.12225}, author = {Tae-Young Pak and Patryk D. Babiarz} } @article {9489, title = {Depression Associated With Transitions Into and Out of Spousal Caregiving}, journal = {The International Journal of Aging and Human Development}, volume = {88}, year = {2019}, type = {Journal}, abstract = {This study investigates depressive symptoms among spousal caregivers in three groups: those who become caregivers, those who continue care, and those who exit caregiving, compared with those who remain non-caregivers. We also examine depressive symptoms among widowed caregivers by length of bereavement. We use four waves of the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012), for a total of 43,262 observations. Findings show elevated levels of depressive symptoms for new caregivers, continuing caregivers, and exit caregivers. Among exit caregivers, symptoms were elevated when measured in the first 15 months after the spouse{\textquoteright}s death but declined thereafter. These findings add to the evidence that spousal caregiving carries a risk for depression, and symptoms are likely to peak near the end of the caregiving episode. These results underscore the need to provide support to newly widowed individuals.}, keywords = {Caregiving, Couples, Depressive symptoms, Transitions}, issn = {0091-4150}, doi = {10.1177/0091415018754310}, url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0091415018754310}, author = {Jay S Kaufman and Lee, Yeonjung and Vaughon, Wendy and Unuigbe, Aig and William T Gallo} } @article {10401, title = {Going It Alone: Advance Directive Discordance in Older Married Couples}, journal = {Journal of Applied Gerontology}, year = {2019}, note = {doi: 10.1177/0733464819884439}, month = {2019/10/28}, abstract = {Contrary to expectations of joint decision-making, a substantial minority of older married couples report only one spouse possessing an advance directive. Using Health and Retirement Study data, the authors examined advance directive discordance among heterosexual married couples in which at least one spouse had completed an advance directive. It was predicted that spouses who differed in age, self-rated health, or race/ethnicity would be more apt to adopt individualistic as opposed to relational motivational stances, resulting in higher odds of nonmatching advance directive status. Heterogamy did not account for discordance, but couples in which one or both spouses attended some college were more likely to report advance directive concordance. In contrast, couples in which one or both spouses were non-White were more likely to display advance directive discordance. Study results raise concerns about the effectiveness and reach of advance care planning promotion efforts among low-education and non-White older married adults.}, keywords = {Advance directives, Couples}, isbn = {0733-4648}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464819884439}, author = {Catheryn S Koss and Jensen, Donna} } @article {10390, title = {Relationships between negative exchanges and depressive symptoms in older couples: The moderating roles of care and gender}, journal = {Journal of Social and Personal Relationships}, year = {2019}, note = {doi: 10.1177/0265407519879504}, month = {2019/10/13}, abstract = {Marital relationships have a significant impact on older adults? well-being. However, when contending with spousal illness or disability, negative exchanges may be particularly detrimental. This study examines the extent to which negative spousal exchanges have more impact on caregiving versus non-caregiving couples. Using dyadic analyses, this investigation compares three different groups consisting of (a) couples who did not provide or receive care, (b) couples in which husbands received care from their wives, and (c) couples in which wives received care from their husbands. We tested for gender differences in the effect of negative exchanges on depressive symptoms among caregivers and care recipients. Based on the 2012 and 2014 Health and Retirement Study, the sample consisted of 3,530 couples in which at least one of the spouses was aged 51 or over. Structural equation modeling was used to test the moderating effects of care and gender. Sociodemographic characteristics were included as control variables. Results indicated that there were significant differences in the magnitude of the path between negative exchanges and depressive symptoms across the subgroups. Among husbands, there was a stronger relationship between negative exchanges and depressive symptoms for care-receiving husbands than for caregiving husbands or husbands in non-caregiving relationships. Among wives, however, there was no significant difference in the path from negative exchanges with spouses to depressive symptoms across care status. We also found gender differences in the effect of negative exchanges on depressive symptoms among caregivers, but not among care recipients. Findings suggest that care status and gender of caregivers and care recipients have significant effects on the association between negative interactions within couples and mental health outcomes.}, keywords = {care, Couples, depression, gender, Relationships}, isbn = {0265-4075}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407519879504}, author = {Kwak, Minyoung and Ingersoll-Dayton, Berit} } @article {10110, title = {Spousal caregivers are caregiving alone in the last years of life}, journal = {Health Affairs}, volume = {38}, year = {2019}, pages = {964-972}, abstract = {Caregiving in the last years of life is associated with increased depression and negative health outcomes for surviving spouses, many of whom are themselves in poor health. Yet it is unclear how often spouses are caregiving alone, how they differ from supported spouses, and whether lack of support affects postbereavement outcomes. We hypothesized that spouses who were solo caregivers{\textemdash}that is, the only caregivers (paid or unpaid) who provided assistance with a spouse{\textquoteright}s self-care or household activities{\textemdash}would experience more depression after bereavement than supported spouses would. Using information from the Health and Retirement Study, we found that 55 percent of the spouses of community-dwelling married people with disability were solo caregivers. Solo caregiving was even common among people who cared for spouses with dementia and those with adult children living close by. Bereavement outcomes did not differ between solo and supported caregiving spouses. Caregiving spouses are often isolated and may benefit from greater support, particularly during the final years before bereavement. While some state and federal policy proposals aim to systematically recognize and assess caregivers, further innovations in care delivery and reimbursement are needed to adequately support seriously ill older adults and their caregivers. Ultimately, the focus of serious illness care must be expanded from the patient to the family unit.}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Caregiving, Community-dwelling, Couples}, issn = {0278-2715}, doi = {10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00087}, url = {http://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00087}, author = {Katherine A Ornstein and Jennifer L. Wolff and Bollens-Lund, Evan and Rahman, Omari-Khalid and Amy Kelley} } @article {10.1093/geronb/gbz151, title = {Transpersonal genetic effects among older U.S. couples: A longitudinal study}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Series B}, year = {2019}, note = {gbz151}, month = {11}, abstract = {Emerging social genetics research suggests one{\textquoteright}s genes may influence not just one{\textquoteright}s own outcomes but those of close social alters. Health implications, particularly in late life, remain underexplored. Using combined genetic and survey data, this study examined such transpersonal genetic associations among older U.S. couples.Data were from married or cohabiting couples in the 2006-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, nationally representative of U.S. adults over 50. Measures included a polygenic score for educational attainment, and self rated health. Analysis was through parallel process latent growth models.Women{\textquoteright}s as well as men{\textquoteright}s genetic scores for education had transpersonal linkages with their partner{\textquoteright}s health. Such associations were solely with life course variations and not late life change in outcomes. Moreover, they were indirect, mediated by educational attainment itself. Evidence also emerged for individual-level genetic effects mediated by the partner{\textquoteright}s education.In addition to the subject-specific linkages emphasized in extant genetics literature, relational contexts involve multiple transpersonal genetic associations. These appear to have consequences for a partner{\textquoteright}s as well as one{\textquoteright}s own health. Life course theory indicates that a person is never not embedded in such contexts, suggesting that these patterns may be widespread. Research is needed on their implications for the life course as well as gene-environment correlation literatures.}, keywords = {Couples, genes, Genetics}, issn = {1079-5014}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbz151}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbz151}, author = {Aniruddha Das} } @article {9463, title = {Couples{\textquoteright} Alcohol Use in Middle and Later Life: Stability and Mutual Influence.}, journal = {Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs}, volume = {79}, year = {2018}, pages = {111-118}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Wives and husbands may influence one another{\textquoteright}s alcohol use, but little is known about within-couple patterns of alcohol consumption over time during midlife and later life. Drawing from a nationally representative U.S. sample of middle-aged and older married couples, we examined individual stability and partner influence in alcohol use across a 16-year period.

METHOD: The analytic sample comprised 1,257 married couples age 40 and older who completed nine waves of the Health and Retirement Study (1996-2012). Dyadic multilevel models were estimated to simultaneously examine the stability of one{\textquoteright}s own alcohol use (number of drinks per occasion and per week) over time as well as whether partner drinking predicted subsequent alcohol use within couples. Models controlled for marital duration.

RESULTS: Wives{\textquoteright} and husbands{\textquoteright} own prior alcohol use positively predicted alcohol use across waves, demonstrating individual stability in drinking patterns. Partners{\textquoteright} alcohol use also positively predicted wives{\textquoteright} and husbands{\textquoteright} subsequent alcohol use, revealing partner influence in drinking patterns. Both stability and influence effects were stronger for husbands than for wives.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of stability and mutual influence in long-term patterns of alcohol use within mid- and late-life married couples. Findings highlight the interdependence between spouses and indicate that partners{\textquoteright} drinking should be considered when examining men{\textquoteright}s and women{\textquoteright}s alcohol use over time.

}, keywords = {Alcohol Consumption, Couples, Women and Minorities}, issn = {1938-4114}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2018.79.111}, url = {10.15288/jsad.2018.79.111}, author = {Courtney A Polenick and Kira S. Birditt and Frederic C. Blow} } @article {9408, title = {Dyadic Effects of Depressive Symptoms on Medical Morbidity in Middle-Aged and Older Couples.}, journal = {Health Psychology}, volume = {37}, year = {2018}, pages = {28-36}, keywords = {Couples, Depressive symptoms, Disease}, issn = {0278-6133}, doi = {10.1037/hea0000573}, url = {http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/hea0000573http://psycnet.apa.org/psycarticles/2017-52080-001.pdf}, author = {Courtney A Polenick and Brenna N Renn and Kira S. Birditt} } @article {9504, title = {An examination of dyadic changes in optimism and physical health over time.}, journal = {Health Psychology}, volume = {37}, year = {2018}, pages = {42-50}, abstract = {Objective: Having a partner high in optimism is associated with better health in older adults. However, partners, just like individuals, are not static entities and likely change considerably over time. The current study examined whether changes in one person{\textquoteright}s optimism was associated with corresponding changes in his or her partner{\textquoteright}s health over a 4-year period. Method: We employed a sample of 2,758 heterosexual couples (5,516 individuals; M-age = 65.81, SD = 9.00), married an average of 36.06 years. Median level of education was at least a high school education (13.0\% had less than a high school education; 56.1\% had a high school education; 30.9\% had at least some college education). Both couple members filled out measures of optimism and health twice over a 4-year period. Results: Having a partner high in optimism at baseline was associated with increases in an actor{\textquoteright}s optimism 4 years later, r = .08, p < .001. Baseline self-rated health and chronic illness of actors and their partners were mostly unrelated to changes in optimism. However, actor (rs > .05) and partner (rs > .03) changes in optimism were associated with changes in self-rated health and chronic illnesses over time. There was also some evidence for an interaction effect (rs > .03), such that the worst outcomes were experienced among couples in which both members decreased in optimism. Conclusion: This is the first study to examine how changes in psychological characteristics are associated with changes in health within and across romantic partners. Possible mechanisms are discussed.}, keywords = {Couples, Longitudinal data, Mortality, Optimism, Psychosocial}, issn = {0278-6133}, doi = {10.1037/hea0000549}, url = {http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/hea0000549http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/hea/37/1/42.pdf}, author = {William J. Chopik and Eric S Kim} } @article {9490, title = {For a Better Marriage, Act Like a Single Person}, journal = {The New York Times}, volume = {02/11/2018}, year = {2018}, month = {02/11/2018}, pages = {SR6}, chapter = {SR}, address = {New York City}, keywords = {Couples, Interviews, News}, url = {https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/opinion/sunday/for-a-better-marriage-act-like-a-single-person.html?action=click\&pgtype=Homepage\&clickSource=story-heading\&module=opinion-c-col-left-region\®ion=opinion-c-col-left-region\&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region}, author = {Coontz, Stephanie} } @article {9486, title = {Household Time Use Among Older Couples: Evidence and Implications for Labor Supply Parameters}, number = {Working Paper No. 24263}, year = {2018}, month = {01/2018}, institution = {National Bureau of Economic Research}, address = {Cambridge, MA}, abstract = {Using the Consumption Activities Mail Survey (CAMS) module in the HRS we document how time allocations change for individuals within a household when one or more members transitions from full time work to not working. Our basic finding is that the ratio of home production to leisure time is approximately constant for both family members. We then build a model of household labor supply to understand the implications of this finding for preferences and the home production function. We conclude that this fact suggests a relatively large elasticity of substitution between the leisure of the two members. For commonly used preference specifications, this also implies a large (i.e., greater than one) intertemporal elasticity of substitution for leisure.}, keywords = {Couples, Employment and Labor Force, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction, Transitions}, doi = {10.3386/w24263}, url = {http://www.nber.org/papers/w24263.pdf}, author = {Rogerson, Richard and Wallenius, Johanna} } @article {9419, title = {How Are Money Worries Affecting Middle-Aged, Young-Old, and Old{\textendash}Old People{\textquoteright}s Perceived Couple Relationship?}, journal = {Journal of Family and Economic Issues}, volume = {39}, year = {2018}, month = {03/2018}, pages = {34-48}, abstract = {While the association between financial strain and couple interaction has been well-established in the literature on economic stress, little research has investigated the association among middle-aged and older populations. The present study examined the relationships between financial strain and couple functioning of middle-aged, young-old, and old{\textendash}old people using the 2010 Health and Retirement Study. Findings show that subjective financial strain was positively associated with partner undermining and negatively with partner support, controlling for the effects of objective financial situations among middle-aged, young-old, and old{\textendash}old couples. There were gender and age differences in the interaction effects of financial strain and financial control on couple functioning. For middle-aged men, financial control may have different associations with couple behaviors depending on the level of financial strain. When the level of financial strain is high, the positive effect of financial control disappears and the effect changes even in a negative way. Findings provide suggestions for practitioners and researchers.}, keywords = {Age differences, Anxiety, Couples, Depressive symptoms, Financial security, Gender Differences}, issn = {1058-0476}, doi = {10.1007/s10834-017-9547-2}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10834-017-9547-2http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10834-017-9547-2.pdfhttp://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10834-017-9547-2.pdfhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10834-017-9547-2/fulltext.html}, author = {Park, Woochul} } @article {9478, title = {Leaving Before The Party Ends: The widowhood effect, and the small hopes and major tragedies that shape us}, journal = {The Ottawa Citizen}, number = {D4}, year = {2018}, month = {1/13/2018}, chapter = {D}, address = {Ottawa}, keywords = {Adversity, Couples, News, Widowhood}, url = {http://ottawacitizen.com/health/seniors/deachman-the-widowhood-effect-or-knowing-when-to-leave-the-party}, author = {Deachman, Bruce} } @article {9468, title = {A National Portrait of Stepfamilies in Later Life.}, journal = {Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences \& Social Sciences}, volume = {73}, year = {2018}, pages = {1043-1054}, abstract = {

Objectives: Scholars have documented increases in the prevalence and complexity of stepfamilies earlier in the life course, but no one has systematically investigated U.S. stepfamily structure in later life. Guided by a family systems approach, we described the prevalence and composition of later-life stepfamilies.

Method: The analysis was based on 6,250 married and cohabiting couples participating in the 2012 Health and Retirement Study. We identified the prevalence of later-life stepfamilies, decomposed stepfamily structures, and compared the sociodemographic characteristics and relationship quality of the couples in stepfamilies with those in married families (with only joint children and no stepchildren), paying attention to differences between married and cohabiting stepfamilies.

Results: Roughly 40\% of middle-aged and older couples with children were in stepfamilies. Of all stepfamilies, 86\% were married couples and 14\% were cohabiting couples. Cohabiting stepfamilies more often included children from both partners{\textquoteright} previous relationships, but couples in married stepfamilies more often had joint children. Cohabiting stepfamilies appeared to be the most socially and economically disadvantaged, followed by married stepfamilies, and lastly married families. Despite these compositional differences, partner relationship quality was largely similar across married families, married stepfamilies, and cohabiting stepfamilies.

Discussion: This study underscores the high prevalence and complexity of later-life stepfamilies and foregrounds the urgency of additional research on this topic.

}, keywords = {Cohabitation, Couples, Stepchildren}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbx150}, author = {Lin, I-Fen and Susan L. Brown and Cassandra Jean Cupka and Deborah Carr} } @article {9978, title = {A new model for interdependent durations}, journal = {Quantitative Economics}, volume = {9}, year = {2018}, pages = {1299-1333}, abstract = {This paper introduces a bivariate version of the generalized accelerated failure time model. It allows for simultaneity in the econometric sense that the two realized outcomes depend structurally on each other. Another feature of the proposed model is that it will generate equal durations with positive probability. Our approach takes a stylized economic model that leads to a univariate generalized accelerated failure time model as a starting point. In this model, agents decide when to transition from an initial state to a new one, and the covariates influence the difference in the utility flow in the two states. We introduce simultaneity by allowing the utility flow to depend on the status of the other person. The econometric model is then completed by assuming that the observed outcome is the Nash bargaining solution in that simple economic model. The advantage of this approach is that it includes independent realizations from the generalized accelerated failure time model as a special case, and deviations from this special case can be given an economic interpretation. We established identification under assumptions that are similar to those in the literature on nonparametric estimation of duration models. We illustrate the model by studying the joint retirement decisions in married couples using the Health and Retirement Study. In that example, it seems reasonable to allow for the possibility that each partner{\textquoteright}s optimal retirement time depends on the retirement time of the spouse. Moreover, the data suggest that the wife and the husband retire at the same time for a nonnegligible fraction of couples. The main empirical finding is that the simultaneity is economically important. In our preferred specification, the indirect utility associated with being retired increases by approximately 5\% when one{\textquoteright}s spouse retires.}, keywords = {Couples, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, issn = {1759-7323}, doi = {10.3982/QE439}, url = {http://qeconomics.org/ojs/index.php/qe/article/view/622}, author = {Bo E. Honor{\'e} and {\'A}ureo de Paula} } @article {9503, title = {The Power of Working Longer}, number = {WP 24226}, year = {2018}, month = {01/2018}, institution = {National Bureau of Economic Research}, address = {Cambridge, MA}, abstract = {This paper compares the relative strengths of working longer vs. saving more in terms of increasing a household{\textquoteright}s affordable, sustainable standard of living in retirement. Both stylized households and actual households from the Health and Retirement Study are examined. We assume that workers commence Social Security benefits when they retire. The basic result is that delaying retirement by 3-6 months has the same impact on the retirement standard of living as saving an additional one-percentage point of labor earnings for 30 years. The relative power of saving more is even lower if the decision to increase saving is made later in the work life. For instance, increasing retirement saving by one percentage point ten years before retirement has the same impact on the sustainable retirement standard of living as working a single month longer. The calculations of the relative power of working longer and saving more are done for a wide range of realized rates of returns on saving, for households with different income levels, and for singles as well as married couples. The results are quite invariant to these circumstances.}, keywords = {Couples, Decision making, Employment and Labor Force, Retirement and Labor Force, Savings}, issn = {08982937}, doi = {10.3386/w24226}, url = {http://www.nber.org/papers/w24226.pdf}, author = {Bronshtein, Gila and Jason S Scott and John B. Shoven and Sita Nataraj Slavov} } @article {9942, title = {Spousal concordance in telomere length: New evidence from older adults in the US.}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {13}, year = {2018}, month = {2018}, pages = {e0202388}, abstract = {Telomere length (TL) has been associated with a range of aging outcomes as well as mortality. Recent research has shown both high heritability (~70\%) of TL as well as moderate spousal similarity (r~0.3) using European datasets. This paper explores the level of spousal concordance in telomere length in the Health and Retirement Study, a national sample of adults in the US. The results show that the spousal correlations are lower (r~0.11). Regression-based associations in TL in the US are low (beta~0.08) and also vary by the number of times respondents have been married, where spouses married a single time have higher associations in TL (beta~.12) than spouses married more once (beta~0.03). I also find variation in spousal TL association levels based on husband{\textquoteright}s education level. These findings suggest the possibility of both assortative mating patterns related to telomere length as well as likelihood of shared environmental factors that cause TL similarity in people who are socially connected.}, keywords = {Biomarkers, Couples, Marriage, Telomeres}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0202388}, author = {Jason M. Fletcher} } @article {9430, title = {Work-Hour Trajectories and Depressive Symptoms Among Midlife and Older Married Couples}, journal = {Work, Aging and Retirement}, volume = {4}, year = {2018}, pages = {108-122}, abstract = {Life course theories highlight the importance of understanding psychological health of aging individuals in context. Work and marriage are influential contexts in later life that are increasingly relevant because both spouses of many households work and individuals are delaying retirement. Although there is extensive literature on predictors of depressive symptoms, incorporating life course histories of work and social contexts has been a critical omission in the aging and health field. This study identifies couples{\textquoteright} work trajectories as a function of husband{\textquoteright}s and wife{\textquoteright}s weekly work hours and examines the link between couple work-hour trajectory membership and individual depressive symptoms. Data are from 1,641 married couples who participated in the 1998{\textendash}2012 waves (ages 51{\textendash}89) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Findings revealed 6 distinct subgroups of work-hour trajectories among couples and that membership in these subgroups was associated with depressive symptoms. Retiring husbands with wives who continued to work and wives who worked minimally throughout the years (regardless of whether their husbands worked or retired) reported more depressive symptoms than other subgroups. These results suggest that work trajectories themselves, beyond current health status, may carry differential psychological health risk. Moreover, several sociodemographic and life course factors in 1998 were significant predictors of trajectory membership. These findings provide insight into midlife factors that may influence work trajectories (and the potential health risk) through to older adulthood. They suggest that a life course examination of work and social contexts is needed for a greater understanding of individual and couple health development.}, keywords = {Couples, Depressive symptoms, Employment and Labor Force}, issn = {2054-4642}, doi = {10.1093/workar/wax028}, url = {http://academic.oup.com/workar/article/4/1/108/4762667http://academic.oup.com/workar/article-pdf/4/1/108/23002634/wax028.pdf}, author = {Wylie H Wan and Toni C Antonucci and Kira S. Birditt and Jacqui Smith and Gwenith G Fisher} } @article {9417, title = {Cohort Differences in Joint Retirement: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study}, journal = {Journal of Labor Research}, volume = {38}, year = {2017}, pages = {475-495}, abstract = {The dramatic rise and sustained participation of recent cohorts of women in the labor force has coincided with their increased attachment to the labor market. In this paper we use twelve waves of the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2014) and investigate how married couples belonging to more recent birth cohorts compare with their predecessors in terms of coordinating their retirement decisions. Using a multinomial logit model we estimate the labor force dynamics of dual-earner married couples and find that couples with wives belonging to more recent birth cohorts are less likely to jointly exit the labor force. Further, this declining cohort trend in joint retirement can only partially be explained by commonly observed socio-economic, employment, and health related factors that affect retirement decisions, suggesting an important role for cohort changes in preferences and social norms such as preference for work and attitudes toward gender roles.}, keywords = {Couples, Gender Differences, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction, Women and Minorities}, issn = {0195-3613}, doi = {10.1007/s12122-017-9258-3}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12122-017-9258-3http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12122-017-9258-3.pdfhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12122-017-9258-3/fulltext.htmlhttp://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12122-017-9258-3.pdf}, author = {Bhatt, Vipul} } @article {8861, title = {Late Career Job Loss and Retirement Behavior of Couples}, journal = {Research on Aging}, volume = {39}, year = {2017}, month = {Jan-01-2017}, pages = {7 - 28}, abstract = {This article argues that wealth uncertainty influences when couples choose to retire. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, I show that wives delay retirement when their husbands retire following a job loss. This effect is stronger when husbands are the primary earners, and couples are relatively poorer. This provides evidence of intra-household insurance that mitigates the impact of an unexpected earnings shock. I find that wives tend to delay retirement only until they become eligible for social security. This suggests that social security benefits can relax households{\textquoteright} budget constraints and allow wives to join their husbands in retirement}, keywords = {Couples, Employment and Labor Force, Job loss, Marriage, Older Adults, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, issn = {0164-0275}, doi = {10.1177/0164027516656136}, url = {http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0164027516656136}, author = {Lee, Ajin} } @mastersthesis {8732, title = {Essays on the well-being of an aging population}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2016}, pages = {151}, school = {City University of New York}, type = {Dissertation}, address = {New York City}, abstract = {This dissertation consists of three essays that examine health and labor issues among the middle aged and elderly. Chapter 1. A Delayed Retirement Policy and Male Labor Supply: Evidence from the Entire Dutch Population: This chapter examines the labor supply effects of a national delayed retirement policy introduced in the Netherlands in 2009. The policy offers a reduction in taxes on labor income for each year after the age of 62 in which a person worked. I estimate the average effect of the policy on male labor supply as well as its responsiveness to the size of the incentive. Comparing differentially affected birth cohorts suggests that labor force participation increased by about 3.8 to 5.5 percentage points in the three years after introduction for cohorts that were eligible before the normal retirement age. I also find that a higher bonus induces a greater increase in participation and in the number of hours supplied by those working. Chapter 2. Joint Delayed Retirement of Couples: In this chapter, I study the effect of husbands{\textquoteright} labor force participation on the participation decision of their wives. I exploit the fact that the introduction of the delayed retirement policy studied in chapter one provides a natural experiment allowing me to estimate the Local Average Treatment Effect (LATE) of husbands working on the probability that their wives work, for couples in which the husband was induced by the policy to remain in the labor force. I also study both the average effect of the policy on wives who were not eligible themselves, as well as the spillover effect of the policy through their husbands{\textquoteright} response to the policy. My results suggest that wives are 30 percentage points more likely to work if their husbands work among couples that were affected by the policy and I find a treatment effect on the labor force participation of wives associated with the policy of about 1.5-2 percentage points. Chapter 3. The Effect of Divorce on Health in Middle and Older Ages with Sanders D. Korenman: Both the prevalence and incidence of divorce at older ages have doubled since 1990. We use Health and Retirement Study data to describe associations between divorce and health in middle and later life, using models that follow individuals and couples through divorce (i.e., individual and couple fixed effects). Divorce in middle and older ages is associated with adverse physical health changes for women but not men, and greater mental health declines for women than men. Following individuals over time, women who divorce experience deteriorations in self-reported health and mental health, including depression. Following couples over time, divorce is associated with deterioration in self-reported health for wives but not their husbands. After divorce, a woman is more likely than her ex-husband to be diagnosed with mental health conditions. Differences in self-reported health associated with divorce appear linked to changes in mental rather than physical health.}, keywords = {Aging, Couples, Depressive symptoms, Divorce, Health Conditions and Status, Marriage, Older Adults}, isbn = {9781339746227}, url = {http://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1798833000?accountid=14667}, author = {Alice Zulkarnain} }