The Implications of Being “In it Together”: Relationship Satisfaction and Joint Health Behaviors Predict Better Health and Stronger Concordance Between Partners

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie J Wilson ◽  
Joshua R Novak
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Health Satisfaction ◽  
Joint Health ◽  
Couples Health

Abstract Background Extensive evidence shows that satisfying marriages boost physical health and longevity. A separate literature reveals strong concordance in couples’ health, but the relationship processes that contribute to health concordance remain poorly understood. Purpose The current study examined whether relationship satisfaction and joint health behaviors—the extent to which couples eat, sleep, and exercise together—are associated simultaneously with better health and greater health similarity between partners. Methods Heterogeneous variance multilevel models were applied to data from 234 married couples (Mage = 46, Range = 20–84) reporting on their relationship satisfaction, joint health behaviors, and four health indicators—health satisfaction, depressive symptoms, comorbidities, and medication use. Results More satisfied couples engaged in more joint health behaviors than less satisfied counterparts. When joint health behaviors and relationship satisfaction were examined as separate fixed effects, both predicted greater health satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms. More joint health behaviors were also associated with less medication use. When both were modeled together, only relationship satisfaction predicted depressive symptoms. By contrast, in random effects, joint health behaviors predicted greater similarity in health satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and comorbidities. Relationship satisfaction only predicted more similar depressive symptoms. Conclusions Although more satisfied couples engaged in more joint health behaviors. relationship satisfaction and joint health behaviors uniquely predicted couples’ health quality and concordance, suggesting that distinct mechanisms may drive better health and stronger health resemblance.

scholarly journals Couples' Joint Health Behaviors Predict Better Health and Stronger Resemblance Between Partners

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 583-583
Author(s):  
Stephanie Wilson ◽  
Joshua Novak
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Healthy Behaviors ◽  
Health Satisfaction ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Medical Visits ◽  
Joint Health

Abstract Satisfying marriages pose benefits and possible risks to health. Indeed, high-quality relationships boost emotional resources and encourage healthy behaviors. However, stress and its adverse health effects also spread more easily in close relationships. To examine the relevance of joint health behaviors for health indicators and partners’ health similarity, 227 couples age 23-84 reported their frequency of co-sleeping, exercising together, and sharing meals; relationship satisfaction; health satisfaction; recent medical visits; and health problems. Happier couples shared more joint health behaviors than unhappier counterparts. In turn, joint health behaviors predicted greater health satisfaction and more similar rates of health problems between partners. In particular, exercising together predicted greater health satisfaction, fewer health problems, and greater health similarity. Controlling for diet, sedentariness, and sleep, findings revealed that joint health behaviors—a characteristic of happy relationships—are linked to not only better health and greater health satisfaction, but also greater health similarity between partners.

Hearing Impairment and Mental Health Among Married Couples

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica S West
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Fixed Effects Regression

Abstract Objectives 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 (a) the association between own hearing impairment and spouses’ depressive symptoms, and (b) whether this association varies by the gender of the spouse. Method 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). Results Wives’ fair or poor hearing is significantly associated with an increase in husbands’ depressive symptoms, net of controls. However, husbands’ fair or poor hearing is not associated with an increase in wives’ depressive symptoms. Discussion 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.

scholarly journals Marital power and depressive symptoms among older Mexican adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 2520-2540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph L. Saenz ◽  
Sunshine Rote
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Power Distribution ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Seemingly Unrelated Regression ◽  
Marital Power ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Equal Distribution ◽  
Mexican Adults

AbstractAn extensive body of research documents marital status differences in health among older adults. However, few studies have investigated the heterogeneity in depressive symptomatology among older married adults living in developing countries. Our study investigates the interplay of gender and marital power dynamics for mental health among older Mexican adults. Our sample includes older married couples in the 2015 Wave of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (N = 3,621 dyads). We use seemingly unrelated regression to model the association between self-reported distributions of decision-making power within marriages and depressive symptoms for husbands and wives. For approximately 41 per cent of couples, the husband and wife both reported an equal distribution of power in the marriage. Compared to those who reported an equal power distribution, husbands and wives who reported an imbalance of power (having more power or less power than their spouse) reported more depressive symptoms. Levels of depressive symptoms were higher in marriages characterised by power inequality. The relationship between equality in power and depressive symptoms is not explained by health-care needs or living arrangements. Marital quality is an important factor for understanding depressive symptoms among older Mexican adults.

Empathy in context: Socioeconomic status as a moderator of the link between empathic accuracy and well-being in married couples

2021 ◽  
pp. 026540752199075
Author(s):  
Emily F. Hittner ◽  
Claudia M. Haase
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Marital Satisfaction ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Marital Conflict ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Empathic Accuracy ◽  
Low Levels

The present laboratory-based study investigated socioeconomic status (SES) as a moderator of the association between empathic accuracy and well-being among married couples from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Empathic accuracy was measured using a performance-based measure of empathic accuracy for one’s spouse’s negative emotions during a marital conflict conversation. Aspects of well-being included well-being (i.e., positive affect, life satisfaction), ill-being (i.e., negative affect, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms), and marital satisfaction. SES was measured using a composite score of income and education. Findings showed that SES moderated associations between empathic accuracy and well-being. Empathic accuracy was beneficial (for well-being and ill-being) or not harmful (for marital satisfaction) at low levels of SES. In contrast, empathic accuracy was not beneficial (for well-being and ill-being) or harmful (for marital satisfaction) at high levels of SES. Results were robust (controlled for age, gender, and race). Findings are discussed in light of interdependence vs. independence in low- vs. high-SES contexts and highlight the importance of socioeconomic context in determining whether empathic accuracy benefits well-being or not.

The Impact of Personality Disorders on Longitudinal Change in Relationship Satisfaction in Long-Term Married Couples

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan C. South ◽  
Michael J. Boudreaux ◽  
Thomas F. Oltmanns
Keyword(s):  
Marital Satisfaction ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Personality Disorders ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Longitudinal Change ◽  
The Impact

Personality disorders (PDs) are significantly, negatively related to marital satisfaction. We examine how maladaptive personality is related to change in marital satisfaction over time utilizing data from the St. Louis Personality and Aging Network (SPAN), a longitudinal, community-based study of personality and health in older adults. Participants were assessed at baseline for PD (self-report, informant-report, and structured interview); self- and spouse-reported relationship satisfaction assessed at baseline and five follow-ups was analyzed with latent growth curve modeling. Higher levels of PD at baseline were associated with lower self and spouse relationship satisfaction at baseline. On average, satisfaction did not change significantly over the study period, but there was significant individual variability. Higher levels of schizoid PD were protective of declines in partner's perception of satisfaction. Findings suggest that partners in long-term married unions may have adapted to the presence of their own or their spouse's level of personality pathology.

Depressive symptoms and adolescent eating and health behaviors: a multifaceted view in a population-based sample

2004 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 865-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayne A Fulkerson ◽  
Nancy E Sherwood ◽  
Cheryl L Perry ◽  
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer ◽  
Mary Story
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Population Based

scholarly journals 660 Chronotype Associations with Insomnia, Depressive Symptoms, and Changes in Sleep and Health Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A258-A258
Author(s):  
Megan Petrov ◽  
Matthew Buman ◽  
Dana Epstein ◽  
Shawn Youngstedt ◽  
Nicole Hoffmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Time In Bed ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Introduction Evening chronotype (i.e., night owl preference) is associated with worse insomnia and depressive symptoms, and poorer health behaviors. The aim of this study was to examine the association between chronotype and these symptoms and health behaviors during COVID-19 pandemic quarantine. Methods An online survey, distributed internationally via social media from 5/21/2020–7/1/2020, asked adults to report sociodemographic/economic information, changes in sleep (midpoint, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, time-in-bed), and health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary screen time, and outdoor light exposure patterns) from prior to during the pandemic, chronotype preference (definitely morning [DM], rather more morning [RM], rather more evening [RE], or definitely evening [DE]), and complete the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D-10). Multinomial logistic regression and ANCOVA models, adjusting for age and sex, examined associations of chronotype with COVID-19 pandemic related impacts on sleep, depressive symptoms, and health behaviors. Results A subsample of 579 participants (M age: 39y, range: 18–80; 73.6% female), currently under quarantine and neither pregnant nor performing shift work, represented each chronotype evenly (~25%). Participants delayed their sleep midpoint by 72.0min (SD=111.5) during the pandemic. DE chronotypes had a greater delay than morning types (M±SD DE: 91.0±9.0 vs. RM: 55.9±9.2 & DM: 66.1±9.3; p=0.046) with no significant change in other sleep patterns relative to other chronotypes. However, DE and RE chronotypes had greater odds of reporting that their new sleep/wake schedule was still not consistent with their “body clock” preference relative to morning types (Χ2[15]=54.8, p<0.001), reported greater ISI (F[3,503]=5.3, p=.001) and CES-D-10 scores (F[3,492]=7.9, p<.001), and had greater odds for increased or consistently moderate-to-high sedentary screen time (Χ2[12]=22.7, p=0.03) and decreased physical activity (Χ2[12]=22.5, p=0.03) than DM chronotype. There was no significant difference in change in outdoor light exposure by chronotype (Χ2[12]=12.1, p=0.43). Conclusion In an international online sample of adults under COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, evening chronotypes, despite taking the opportunity to delay sleep to match biological clock preference, reported their sleep/wake schedules were still inconsistent with personal preference, and reported greater insomnia and depressive symptoms, and odds of engaging in poorer health behaviors than morning chronotypes. Support (if any):

Spillover and Crossover Effects of Work-Family Conflict among Married and Cohabiting Couples

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deniz Yucel ◽  
Beth A. Latshaw
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Family Conflict ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Work Family Conflict ◽  
Crossover Effects ◽  
Cohabiting Couples ◽  
Work Family

The present study uses Wave 8 of the German Family Panel to test the spillover and crossover effects of work-family conflict on job satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and mental health for individuals (actor effects) as well as their spouses/partners (partner effects) in dual-earning couples. We further contribute by assessing whether the results vary by gender and union type. Results suggest that among married couples, for job satisfaction, there are no gender differences in actor effects (but gender differences in partner effects), and actor and partner effects remain distinct. For relationship satisfaction, there are no gender differences in actor or partner effects, but both effects remain distinct. For mental health, however, there are gender differences in actor effects (but not in partner effects), and both effects remain distinct. Among cohabitors, there are no differences in actor effects by gender, and adding in partner effects does not significantly improve the models predicting all three outcomes. Some results also suggest differences in relationship dynamics between married and cohabiting couples.

scholarly journals Exploring Age and Gender Differences in Narcissism and Perfectionism and Their Mental-Health Correlates

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-36
Author(s):  
Éva Kállay ◽  
Alexandra Rebeca Mihoc
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Age And Gender Differences ◽  
Environmental Mastery ◽  
And Gender

"The changes occurring in modern society can significantly influence individuals’ well-being, mental health and even personality traits such as narcissism and perfectionism. Since studies investigating age and gender differences in narcissism and perfectionism have produced mixed results, and the number of studies conducted in Romanian population is scarce, the main aims of this study were to investigate possible age and gender differences in narcissism, perfectionism and several mental-health indicators in a sample of healthy participants, as well as specific association patterns between these variables within each group of participants. Our sample included 465 millennials and 149 participants over 35 years of age. The results indicate that millennials reported significantly lower levels of narcissism and self-oriented perfectionism than the older generations, higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. Female millennials reported lower levels of narcissistic traits and higher levels of socially-prescribed perfectionism, depressive symptoms, personal growth, and positive relations with others than male participants. Older females indicated significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms and loneliness than male participants. Regarding association patterns, in the group of millennial women narcissism was positively correlated with self-oriented, socially-prescribed perfectionism and subjective well-being, and negatively with loneliness, environmental mastery and purpose in life. In millennial males, we found significant positive correlations only between narcissism and subjective well-being and environmental mastery. Our findings may have important implications for the literature regarding millennials and can contribute to the interventions and prevention programs designed to improve their well-being. Keywords: millennials, narcissism, perfectionism, mental health indicators, age and gender differences "

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document