GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE LINK BETWEEN SPOUSAL HEALTH AND BIOMARKER CHANGE IN MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS

ABSTRACTBackground: Ageism, a form of prejudice in which one relates negatively to people due to their age, exists throughout life. However, no attempt has been made to compare ageist attitudes across the life cycle, from young adulthood to old age. Consequently, the current study examined age and gender differences in ageism throughout adulthood.Methods: 955 Israeli participants (age range: 18–98 years) were divided into three age-groups: young (18–39), middle-aged (40–67), and old (68–98), and were administered the Fraboni Scale of Ageism. Age and gender differences were examined both for the three groups and for subgroups within the older adult cohort.Results: Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that middle-aged participants were significantly more ageist than younger and older groups. Across all age groups, men exhibited more avoidance and stereotypical attitudes toward older adults than women. Among the old age group, participants aged 81–98 held more ageist stereotypes and reported more avoidance of older adults than those aged 68–73. Within the older adult cohort, gender was a significant predictor for ageist attitudes among those aged 68–73 and 81–98, but not for people aged 74–80.Conclusions: Ageism demonstrates a changing pattern across the life span. While gender differences remain stable, ageist attitudes toward growing old as we age ourselves are constantly changing. In order to gain a better understanding of ageism as a general and global phenomenon, we need to consider the role of such attitudes in different stages of life.

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Own health, spousal health and transitions in loneliness among middle-aged and older adults in China

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x21001264 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-27

Author(s):

Ye Luo

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Functional Limitation ◽

Married Women ◽

Baseline Survey ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Social Interventions ◽

Married Men ◽

Spousal Health ◽

Using Data

Abstract This study examines the effects of own and spousal health on transitions in loneliness over time among married middle-aged and older adults in China, and explores the possible gender differences in these effects using data from the three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2015). The sample includes 6,422 men and 6,391 women who were married and aged 45 and older at the baseline survey. Middle-aged and older adults with poorer physical and emotional health statuses are more likely to transition into and less likely to transition out of loneliness in a two-year period. Spouse's emotional health also affects both types of transition in loneliness and spouse's functional limitation affects transition into loneliness through spouse's emotional health. In addition, for married men, their own functional limitation is significantly associated with their transitions into and out of loneliness. For married women, their spouse's functional limitation is significantly associated with their transition into loneliness and this is mainly through its association with spouse's emotional health. Also, for married women, their spouse's emotional health is significantly associated with their transition out of loneliness. Social interventions to reduce feelings of loneliness need to take a couple approach and consider both spouses’ health problems and how they may affect their daily activities and their interactions with each other and with others.

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RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCE, MARITAL SATISFACTION, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF CHINESE MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2301 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S617-S618

Author(s):

Jia Li ◽

Qi Wang

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Marital Satisfaction ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Academic Research ◽

Well Being ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Religious Difference

Abstract Objectives: Religion plays an important role in people’s individual and interpersonal life. Spousal religious difference is a potential risk factor of marital satisfaction, which will further influence people’s psychological well-being. This study aims to explore the associations between spousal religious differences, marital satisfaction, and psychological well-being of Chinese middle-aged and older adults. We also investigated the gender differences in the captioned associations. Method: We adopted a sample of 1285 adults aged 45 and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We conducted descriptive statistics, multiple regression models and a path analysis based on a general structural equation model (GSEM). Results: Spousal religious difference was only associated with wives’ marital satisfaction. Marital satisfaction was associated with depression and life satisfaction for both genders, and wives’ marital satisfaction had a stronger association with life satisfaction than husbands’. Wives’ marital satisfaction mediated the relationship between spousal religious difference and their psychological well-being, including depression and life satisfaction. Discussion: This study calls for more further research on the individual and interpersonal outcomes of religiosity in middle-aged and older adults. Gender differences should be paid attention to in academic research, service provision and clinical settings.

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