Longitudinal Analysis on the Reciprocal Relationship between Depression and Marital Satisfaction among Older Couples

Objective: The present study aimed to clarify the circumstances under which activity restriction (AR) is associated with depressive symptoms among patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and their spouses. Method: A total of 220 older adults with OA and their caregiving spouses participated in the study. The actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) was used to examine the associations between AR stemming from patients’ OA and the depressive symptoms of patients and spouses. The potential moderating role of marital satisfaction also was examined. Results: After accounting for pain severity, health, and life stress of both patients with OA and spouses, higher AR was associated with more depressive symptoms for both patients and spouses. In regard to partner effects, patients whose spouse had higher AR reported more depressive symptoms. In addition, the association of spouses’ and patients’ AR and their own depressive symptoms was moderated by their marital satisfaction. For both patients and spouses, the associations between their own AR and depressive symptoms were weaker for those with higher levels of marital satisfaction compared with those with lower levels of marital satisfaction. Discussion: This pattern of findings highlights the dyadic implications of AR and the vital role of marital satisfaction in the context of chronic illness.

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Assessing the General Health Indicators Predicting Marital Satisfaction in Older Couples

The Journal of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences ◽

10.32598/jqums.24.5.4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 410-421

Author(s):

Zahra Mahdikhani ◽

◽

Mitra Habibollah Pour ◽

Seyedeh Ameneh Motalebi ◽

Ali Reza Salmani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marital Satisfaction ◽

General Health ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cluster Sampling ◽

Satisfaction Scale ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Older Couples

Background: Due to the increasing life expectancy and aging population, attention to general health and marital satisfaction of older people can provide an opportunity to improve their living conditions. Objective: This study aims to assess the general health indicators of older couples to predict their marital satisfaction. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 110 older couples (men and women) living in Qazvin, Iran who were selected using two-stage cluster sampling technique. A demographic form, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMSS) were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis were used for data analysis. Findings: The Mean±SD age of older women and men±SD was 64.15±5.46 years and 67.68±6.93 years, respectively. Their Mean±SD EMSS score was reported 109.72±12.58. Multivariate analysis showed that gender (β=0.169, P=0.050), age (β=0.097, P=0.567), age of marriage (β=0.214, P=0.002), somatic symptoms (β=0.233, P=0.013), anxiety/insomnia (β=0.227, P=0.008), social dysfunction (β=0.326, P<0.001), and depression (β=0.356, P<0.001) could significantly predict marital satisfaction. Conclusion: Different dimensions of general health can affect marital satisfaction of older couples. Therefore, interventions in these domains and the promotion of general health level can lead to increased marital satisfaction and, consequently, quality of life in the elderly.

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