Health, Depressive Symptoms, and Life Satisfaction among Elderly Married Couples: An Application of Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM)

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 67-89
Author(s):  
Hyesoo Kim ◽  
Seongyeon Auh
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Mediation Model

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.

scholarly journals Health-Related Support and Control on Poor Diet in Mixed-Weight, Older Gay Married Couples

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 563-563
Author(s):  
Joshua Novak ◽  
Stephanie Wilson ◽  
Terry Peak ◽  
Julie Gast ◽  
Maya Miyairi-Steel
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Support ◽  
And Control

Abstract The health support and control literature in same sex couples suggests partners take turns (known as health behavior work). However, research has not accounted for mixed-weight (lighter partner (LP) and heavier partner (HP)) status in these relationships nor investigated domain-specific health behavior work (i.e., dietary habits) on outcomes. We examined an actor-partner interdependence mediation model of 224 mixed-weight, older gay married couples (mean age: 52) and controlled for education, relationship satisfaction and length, frequency of eating meals together, and income. Nutrition-specific eating encouragement and discouragement was not associated with poor dietary behaviors for either partner. More frequent couples’ reports of disagreements about nutrition was associated poorer diet for both the HP and LP (through their own higher depressive symptoms). Interestingly, the higher LP’s health support was associated with better LP’s diet (through lower depressive symptoms), and higher HP’s health control was associated with poorer LP’s diet (through lower depressive symptoms).

Keeping up with the Wangs: A cross-sectional multilevel analysis of individual and contextual influences on mental wellbeing and depressive symptoms in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Adele H. Wang ◽  
CMA Haworth ◽  
Qiang Ren
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Marriage Rate ◽  
Contextual Effects ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Population Census ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Average Education

BackgroundIn recent decades, China has experienced dramatic changes to its social and economic environment, which has affected the distribution of wellbeing across its citizens. While several studies have investigated individual level predictors of wellbeing in the Chinese population, less research has been done looking at contextual effects. This cross-sectional study looks at the individual and contextual effects of (regional) education, unemployment and marriage (rate) on individual happiness, life satisfaction and depressive symptomatology. MethodsData were collected from over 29,000 individuals (aged 18 to 110, 51.91% female) in the China Family Panel Studies, and merged with county level census data obtained from the 2010 China Population Census and Statistical Yearbook. To explore contextual effects, we used multilevel models accounting for the hierarchical structure of the data. ResultsWe found that a one-year increase in education was associated with a 0.17% increase in happiness and a 0.16% decrease in depressive symptoms. Unemployed men were 1% less happy, 1% less satisfied with life and reported 0.84% more depressive symptoms than employed men while minimal effects were seen for women. Single, divorced and widowed individuals had worse outcomes than married individuals (ranging from 2.96% to 21% differences). We found interaction effects for education and employment. Less educated individuals had greater happiness and less depressive symptoms in counties with higher average education compared to counterparts in less educated counties. In contrast, more educated individuals were less satisfied with life in more educated counties, an effect that is possibly due to social comparison. Employed individuals had lower life satisfaction in areas of high unemployment, while levels were constant for the unemployed. A 1% increase in county marriage rate was associated with 0.33% and 0.24% increases in happiness and life satisfaction respectively, with no interactions. We speculate that this effect could be due to greater social cohesion in the neighbourhood.ConclusionsOur results show that policies designed to improve employment and marriage rates will be beneficial for all, while interventions to encourage positive social comparison strategies may help to offset the negative effects of increasing neighbourhood average education on the highly educated.

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.

Family Interaction and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Emerging Adults: A Mediation Model of Gratitude

2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412110006
Author(s):  
Kelly Ka Lai Lam ◽  
Wei-Wen Chen
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Family Interaction ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Healthy Family

In this study, we investigated the relations between family interaction, gratitude, and depressive symptoms among Chinese emerging adults. It also investigated gratitude as a mediator in the relation between family interaction and depression. Data were obtained from 321 college students who completed the online questionnaire about the Family Assessment Instrument, Gratitude Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire, and demographic information. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test hypotheses and bootstrapping with 5,000 resamplings (95% confidence interval) was used to confirm the mediation model. Results showed that gratitude partially mediated the relation between family interaction and depression. In other words, students with healthy family interaction, as indicated by perceived better family communication, mutuality, and harmony with family members, tended to report higher general gratitude, and subsequently diminished depressive symptoms. The practical implications were discussed.

scholarly journals Do opposite ends of same factors underlie life satisfaction vs. depressive symptoms among older people?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Pynnönen ◽  
Katja Kokko ◽  
Milla Saajanaho ◽  
Timo Törmäkangas ◽  
Erja Portegijs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Older People ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽  
Financial Situation ◽  
Self Acceptance

Abstract Background Although depressive symptoms are more common among older than younger age groups, life satisfaction tends to remain stable over the life course, possibly because the underlying factors or processes differ. Aim To study whether the factors that increase the likelihood of high life satisfaction also decrease the likelihood of depressive symptoms among older people. Methods The data were a population-based probability sample drawn from community-dwelling people aged 75, 80, and 85 years (n = 1021). Participants’ life satisfaction was measured with the Satisfaction with Life Scale and depressive symptoms with the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Physical performance, perceived financial situation, executive functions, loneliness, self-acceptance, and having interests in one’s life were studied as explanatory variables. The data were analyzed using cross-sectional bivariate linear modeling. Results Better physical performance, not perceiving loneliness, having special interests in one’s life, and higher self-acceptance were associated with higher life satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms. Better financial situation was related only to life satisfaction. Executive functions were not associated with either of the outcomes. Discussion The opposite ends of the same factors underlie positive and negative dimensions of mental well-being. Conclusion Further studies are warranted to better understand how people maintain life satisfaction with aging when many resources may diminish and depressive symptoms become more prevalent.

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