Physical health and depression: A dyadic study of chronic health conditions and depressive symptomatology in older adult couples

Brian J. Ayotte; Frances M. Yang; Richard N. Jones

doi:10.1093/geronb/gbq033

Physical health and depression: A dyadic study of chronic health conditions and depressive symptomatology in older adult couples

Brian J. Ayotte, Frances M. Yang, Richard N. Jones

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined the associations among chronic health conditions, sociodemographic factors, and depressive symptomatology in older married couples. Data from the 2004 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 2,184 couples) were analyzed. Results indicated a reciprocal relationship in depressive symptoms between spouses. Additionally, post hoc analyses indicated that husbands' stroke and high blood pressure were related to increased depressive symptomatology among wives. Beyond the reciprocal relationship, husbands were unaffected by wives' health. These results suggest sex differences underlying psychological distress in the context of physical health among older adults and that older women with husbands who have high levels of depressive symptomatology, high blood pressure, or a history of stroke may be at particular risk of experiencing depressive symptoms.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	438-448
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Volume	65 B
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbq033
State	Published - 2010
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Chronic illness
Depression
Dyadic
Spouses

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Sociology and Political Science
Life-span and Life-course Studies

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10.1093/geronb/gbq033

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Physical health and depression: A dyadic study of chronic health conditions and depressive symptomatology in older adult couples. / Ayotte, Brian J.; Yang, Frances M.; Jones, Richard N.
In: Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol. 65 B, No. 4, 2010, p. 438-448.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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abstract = "This study examined the associations among chronic health conditions, sociodemographic factors, and depressive symptomatology in older married couples. Data from the 2004 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 2,184 couples) were analyzed. Results indicated a reciprocal relationship in depressive symptoms between spouses. Additionally, post hoc analyses indicated that husbands' stroke and high blood pressure were related to increased depressive symptomatology among wives. Beyond the reciprocal relationship, husbands were unaffected by wives' health. These results suggest sex differences underlying psychological distress in the context of physical health among older adults and that older women with husbands who have high levels of depressive symptomatology, high blood pressure, or a history of stroke may be at particular risk of experiencing depressive symptoms.",

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note = "Funding Information: This research was made possible through the National institutes of Health (NiH)/NationalinstituteonAging(NiA)5-T35AG026781,5-T32AG023480 award, NiH/NiA 5 R01 AG025308-02, NiH/NiA 5 R01 AG025308-02 Diversity Supplement, NiH/NiA P60AG008812, Harvard Medical School livingston Fellowship, and the NARSAD Young investigator Award.",

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N1 - Funding Information: This research was made possible through the National institutes of Health (NiH)/NationalinstituteonAging(NiA)5-T35AG026781,5-T32AG023480 award, NiH/NiA 5 R01 AG025308-02, NiH/NiA 5 R01 AG025308-02 Diversity Supplement, NiH/NiA P60AG008812, Harvard Medical School livingston Fellowship, and the NARSAD Young investigator Award.

PY - 2010

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AB - This study examined the associations among chronic health conditions, sociodemographic factors, and depressive symptomatology in older married couples. Data from the 2004 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 2,184 couples) were analyzed. Results indicated a reciprocal relationship in depressive symptoms between spouses. Additionally, post hoc analyses indicated that husbands' stroke and high blood pressure were related to increased depressive symptomatology among wives. Beyond the reciprocal relationship, husbands were unaffected by wives' health. These results suggest sex differences underlying psychological distress in the context of physical health among older adults and that older women with husbands who have high levels of depressive symptomatology, high blood pressure, or a history of stroke may be at particular risk of experiencing depressive symptoms.

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KW - Depression

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Physical health and depression: A dyadic study of chronic health conditions and depressive symptomatology in older adult couples

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