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Family Process Dec 2023Insomnia contributes to individual mental and physical health and relationship well-being. Veterans' PTSD symptoms are associated with their own insomnia. However,...
Insomnia contributes to individual mental and physical health and relationship well-being. Veterans' PTSD symptoms are associated with their own insomnia. However, research has not explored whether and how veterans' PTSD symptoms are associated with their partners' insomnia. The present study examined the association between veterans' PTSD symptom severity and veterans' and partners' insomnia. Veterans (n = 192) and their partners (n = 192; total N = 384) completed baseline assessments in a PTSD treatment study for veterans with PTSD and their partners. Path analysis was used to examine the relation between veterans' PTSD symptom severity, as measured by the PTSD symptom checklist-5 (PCL-5) and veterans' and partners' insomnia, as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Veterans' full-scale PCL-5 was positively related to veterans' and partners' insomnia. For veterans, intrusion and arousal symptoms were positively related to their own insomnia severity, while veterans' negative alterations in cognition and mood were associated with partners' insomnia severity. In exploratory analyses, partners' depressive symptoms fully mediated the relation between veterans' negative cognitions and mood and partners' insomnia. PTSD symptoms impact both veterans' and partners' insomnia. However, different PTSD symptom clusters were related to insomnia for each partner, and the link for partners was explained by their own depression symptoms. PTSD, insomnia, and integrated treatments should consider strategies for including partners in treatment to address these interconnected problems.
Topics: Humans; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Spouses; Veterans; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Interpersonal Relations
PubMed: 36347178
DOI: 10.1111/famp.12835 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jun 2024Although several previous studies have reported on the relationship between vision impairment and caregiver mental health, mixed results were obtained, and only one...
BACKGROUND
Although several previous studies have reported on the relationship between vision impairment and caregiver mental health, mixed results were obtained, and only one study reported the association between spousal vision impairment and partner depression. Therefore, our study aimed to examine the association between spousal vision impairment and the partner's depressive symptoms and cognitive decline.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study gathered baseline data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2011. A total of 10,956 couples were included in the study. Vision impairment was assessed by respondents' self-reported distance or near vision. Multivariate logistic and linear regression were conducted to evaluate the association between the spouse's vision impairment and the partner's depressive symptoms and cognitive function.
RESULTS
The prevalence of partners with depressive symptoms was significantly higher among spouses with vision impairment than among those without (43.3 % vs. 32.5 %; P < 0.001), and cognitive function was significantly lower (spousal vision impairment 14.4 ± 4.5 vs. no spousal vision impairment 15.5 ± 4.6; P < 0.001). After fully adjusting for potential confounders, the partner had greater odds of depressive symptoms for spouses with vision impairment than for those without (odds ratio: 1.525; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.387 to 1.677). Furthermore, spousal vision impairment was negatively associated with the partner's cognitive function (β = -0.640; 95 % CI: -0.840 to -0.440). Sensitivity analysis was performed, and consistent results were obtained (all P < 0.05).
LIMITATIONS
Visual function was assessed by self-reporting.
CONCLUSIONS
A spouse's vision impairment is associated with depressive symptoms and cognitive decline in the partner. The findings imply the importance of considering the partner's mental health when managing their spouse's vision impairment.
Topics: Humans; Spouses; Depression; Longitudinal Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cognitive Dysfunction; China
PubMed: 38531494
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.097 -
The Urologic Clinics of North America Aug 2024Penile cancer is a rare cancer, where patients not only need to deal with the anxiety around a cancer diagnosis, but also manage the consequences of treatment on their... (Review)
Review
Penile cancer is a rare cancer, where patients not only need to deal with the anxiety around a cancer diagnosis, but also manage the consequences of treatment on their self-esteem, body image, and intimate relationships. Many find it embarrassing and difficult to talk to family and friends. Due to this, changes in urination and other physical effects of treatment, many will withdraw from social activities too. Patients need psychosocial support and more needs to be done to address this unmet need. Holistic and multidisciplinary approaches in clinic, with access to counseling, may help patients adjust to their new situation.
Topics: Humans; Male; Communication; Penile Neoplasms; Psychosocial Support Systems; Social Interaction; Spouses; Suicide; Recurrence; Counseling
PubMed: 38925735
DOI: 10.1016/j.ucl.2024.03.004 -
General Hospital Psychiatry 2023This study applies the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) to explore the associations between disclosure and concealment with depression and anxiety among...
OBJECTIVE
This study applies the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) to explore the associations between disclosure and concealment with depression and anxiety among patients with cancer and their partners.
METHOD
90 patient-spouse dyads completed the Self-Disclosure Index (SDI), the Self-Concealment Scale (SCS), the Couples Illness Self-Concealment (CISC) questionnaire, and anxiety and depression via the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
RESULTS
Significant actor effects were found for most variables, showing disclosure is negatively and concealment is positively associated with depression and anxiety (β between |0.29| to |0.65|, p ≤ .029). Partner's effect showed a negative association between patients' self-disclosure and their spouses' depression (β = -0.35, p = .043). Patients' anxiety was negatively associated with similarity in all communication variables (β between -0.21 to -0.22, p = .042).
CONCLUSIONS
Dyadic communication is an important correlate of distress among couples coping with cancer. Specifically, concealment behaviors have a positive association with distress, whereas disclosure is related to lower levels of anxiety and depression among both partners. In addition, whereas patients are affected more strongly than their spouses by the dyadic similarity, spouses seem to be more attuned to their partners' behaviors and therefore potentially more related to patients' propensity for sharing.
Topics: Humans; Disclosure; Adaptation, Psychological; Neoplasms; Spouses; Communication; Psychological Distress; Interpersonal Relations
PubMed: 37540941
DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2023.07.005 -
Journal of the American Heart... Dec 2023
Topics: Middle Aged; Humans; United States; Aged; Heterosexuality; Aging; Hypertension; China; England
PubMed: 38054390
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.033064 -
Family Process Dec 2023Reductions in marital relationship quality are pervasive post-cardiac event. It is not yet understood how relationship quality is linked to mental health outcomes in...
Reductions in marital relationship quality are pervasive post-cardiac event. It is not yet understood how relationship quality is linked to mental health outcomes in couples where one member has established cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the interdependence within dyads is seldom measured. This research is required as psychological distress has been independently linked to CVD incidence, morbidity, and mortality. This study assessed associations of relationship quality with depression and anxiety among patients with CVD and their spouses. Participants completed questionnaires measuring four dimensions of relationship quality and mental health. Data were analyzed using an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model with hierarchical moderation analyses. 181 dyads (N = 362 participants) comprised the study sample. Most patients had coronary artery disease (66.3%) and 25.9% were female. Patients reported higher relationship satisfaction and fewer anxiety symptoms than did spouses. Patients and spouses with high dyadic consensus and affectional expression reported fewer mental health symptoms, but only when the other partner also perceived high levels of consensus and affectional expression in the relationship. Patients and spouses with low dyadic cohesion reported worse mental health symptoms (actor effects), but those effects were no longer significant when both the patient and the spouse appraised the relationship as having high levels of dyadic cohesion. Taken together, relationship quality is linked to mental health symptoms in patients with CVD and their spouses. Longitudinal and experimental studies are now warranted to further substantiate the cross-sectional findings of this study.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Spouses; Mental Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Marriage; Cardiovascular Diseases
PubMed: 36404415
DOI: 10.1111/famp.12836 -
Journal of Traumatic Stress Oct 2023Disparities in posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) have been observed among military service members (SMs) and spouses (SPs) compared to their civilian peers, but...
Disparities in posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) have been observed among military service members (SMs) and spouses (SPs) compared to their civilian peers, but exposure to military stressors does not adequately explain observed differences. Using a stress process framework, this study considered the associations between early and recent military and nonmilitary stressors and PTSS among SMs and SPs. We analyzed data from 3,314 SM-SP dyads in the Millennium Cohort and Millennium Cohort Family Studies. Accounting for covariates, multiple linear regression and dominance analyses were employed to consider the effects of SM and SP childhood maltreatment, recent nonmilitary stressors (e.g., financial difficulties), and recent military stressors (e.g., deployment) on their own and their partner's self-reported PTSS. For both SMs and SPs, childhood maltreatment was the strongest predictor of their own PTSS, followed by nonmilitary stressors. Couple crossover dynamics were evident as SP maltreatment and nonmilitary stressors significantly predicted SM PTSS, and SM maltreatment predicted SP PTSS. Maltreatment also multiplied the effects of SM, product term B = 0.92, p = .031, and SP, product term B = 0.75, p = .004, nonmilitary stressors. The findings emphasize the essential role of exposure to early adversity in understanding PTSS among SMs and SPs, as childhood maltreatment strongly predicted PTSS and exacerbated the effects of other stressors on PTSS. Providers should assess for early adversity among both SMs and SPs and consider the provision of services at the couple level given the potential for the transmission of stress within couples.
PubMed: 37467117
DOI: 10.1002/jts.22958 -
Public Health Dec 2023We examined the relationship among living arrangements, activity participation and depression and the mediating effects of activity participation on the relationship... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVES
We examined the relationship among living arrangements, activity participation and depression and the mediating effects of activity participation on the relationship between living arrangements and depression.
STUDY DESIGN
This was a cross-sectional study based on nationally representative data.
METHODS
9647 older adults aged 60 years and over were recruited from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Three-step regression and mediation analysis methods were used.
RESULTS
Compared with older adults living with family members, those living in institutions attended fewer activities and experienced higher depression rates, and those living alone attended more activities and experienced higher depression rates. In the group living with family members, living with a spouse was an important way to increase activity participation and reduce depression. Mediation analysis suggested that activity participation mediated the impact of living arrangements on depression. Attending more activities could alleviate depression for older adults who are living alone, living in institutions and living without a spouse.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest an emphasis on the role of spouses and activity participation during depression interventions among older adults.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Middle Aged; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; East Asian People; Health Status; Residence Characteristics; Social Participation; Social Behavior
PubMed: 37952341
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.10.017 -
Journal of Personality Oct 2023Social anhedonia is associated with disinterest in social interactions and poor relationship functioning, yet little is known about the specific mechanisms underlying...
OBJECTIVE
Social anhedonia is associated with disinterest in social interactions and poor relationship functioning, yet little is known about the specific mechanisms underlying associations between social anhedonia and romantic relationship behaviors and satisfaction. We examined the links between social anhedonia, perceptions of conflict communication patterns, and marital satisfaction.
METHOD
The current research examined the role of social anhedonia on marital quality and functioning longitudinally across a year in a sample of 100 newlywed couples using an actor-partner interdependence framework.
RESULTS
Social anhedonia was negatively associated with own and partner's marital satisfaction. It was also negatively associated with constructive communication and positively associated with destructive communication. Furthermore, cross-sectional mediation analyses showed that communication patterns mediated the social anhedonia-satisfaction link.
CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these findings suggest that social anhedonia is likely to lead to lower marital satisfaction, partly through its effect on communication between partners.
Topics: Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Anhedonia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Marriage; Communication; Personal Satisfaction; Spouses
PubMed: 36477834
DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12798 -
Frontiers in Aging 2023Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of muscle mass and strength, has been associated with increased hospitalization and mortality. Dietary pattern analysis is a whole diet...
Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of muscle mass and strength, has been associated with increased hospitalization and mortality. Dietary pattern analysis is a whole diet approach which in this study was used to investigate the relationship between diet and sarcopenia. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia and explore possible factors associated with it among a large population in Beijing, China. A cross-sectional study with 1,059 participants aged more than 50 years was performed. Sarcopenia was defined based on the guidelines of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. The total score of the MNA-SF questionnaire was used to analyse nutrition status. The baseline demographic information diet structure and eating habits were collected by clinicians trained in questionnaire data collection and anthropometric and bioimpedance measurements. The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 8.8% and increased with age: 5%, 5.8%, 10.3% and 26.2% in the 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80 years groups, respectively. Marital status (with or without a spouse) was not an independent factor associated with sarcopenia adjusted by age and sex. However, nutritional risk or malnutrition, vegetable diet, advanced age and spicy eating habits were risk factors for sarcopenia. Meanwhile, daily fruit, dairy and nut consumption were protective factors against sarcopenia adjusted by age, sex, income status and spouse status. Although further studies are required to explore the association between healthy dietary patterns and the risk of sarcopenia, the present study provides basic data for identifying correlates of sarcopenia in elderly Chinese individual.
PubMed: 37693853
DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1239945