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Archives of Environmental &... 2021Whether the spouse's employment status would be associated with individual's mental health condition is uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate...
OBJECTIVES
Whether the spouse's employment status would be associated with individual's mental health condition is uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of spouse's employment status on depression.
METHODS
Data included the second to sixth wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA). Depression was measured based on the CES-D10. Spouse's employment status was divided into 4 categories based on their employment changes.
RESULTS
Participants with still unemployed spouse were more likely to have high scores of depression (male: β = 0.32, female: β = 0.42). Participants who are employed and have unemployed spouse have higher depression scores (male: β = 0.45, female: β = 0.77).
CONCLUSION
This study identified the effect of spouse's employment status on depression by gender, and the results were significant. We should consider the possibility of conducting interventions with people who are remained unemployed.
Topics: Aged; Depression; Employment; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Republic of Korea; Spouses; Unemployment
PubMed: 33377434
DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2020.1860876 -
Behavior Therapy May 2022The dual-process model proposes that early and later bereavement involves different types of stressors and adaptation processes (Stroebe & Schut, 1999, 2010). It is thus...
The dual-process model proposes that early and later bereavement involves different types of stressors and adaptation processes (Stroebe & Schut, 1999, 2010). It is thus possible that different factors facilitate adaptation during the early months versus subsequent years following widowhood. Elevated depressive symptoms, though prevalent after widowhood, may indicate problematic adaptation, as they are associated with poor long-term physical and mental health outcomes. We predicted that neutral death acceptance would be associated with less increase in depression during early widowhood (when confronted with loss-oriented stressors), whereas perceived control would predict depressive symptom decline during later widowhood (when adapting to controllable restoration-oriented stressors). Older adults (N = 265) reported on neutral death acceptance, perceived control, and depression before widowhood and on depression 0.5, 1.5, and 4.0 years after the death of their spouse. Bilinear spline growth modeling revealed that, on average, depressive symptoms increased from before to 0.5 years after spouse death and fell from 0.5 to 4.0 years after spouse death. Neutral death acceptance predicted a smaller increase in depression from before to 0.5 years after spouse death, as well as a smaller subsequent decrease in depression from 0.5 to 4.0 years after spouse death. Perceived control predicted a larger decrease in depression from 0.5 to 4.0 years after spouse death. Neutral death acceptance and perceived control had unique associations with resilience and recovery throughout early and later widowhood. These variables may be fruitful targets in interventions for depression throughout the full course of widowhood.
Topics: Aged; Bereavement; Female; Humans; Spouses; Widowhood
PubMed: 35473647
DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2021.11.002 -
The Journal of Pain Oct 2019Patient beliefs and perceptions about the causes and meaning of their chronic pain are related to their psychosocial functioning. Beliefs and perceptions about chronic...
Patient beliefs and perceptions about the causes and meaning of their chronic pain are related to their psychosocial functioning. Beliefs and perceptions about chronic pain held by spouses may also be related to patient functioning. We used a laboratory procedure to evaluate whether spouse beliefs about and perceptions of chronic pain were related to spouse negative responses toward patients with chronic low back pain during a conflictual discussion and to their attributions about patient pain behavior during a subsequent pain-induction task. Patients (n = 71) and their spouses (n = 71) participated in a 10-minute discussion followed by the patient undergoing a 10-minute structured pain behavior task. Findings were that a) spouse perceptions that patient's pain was a mystery were significantly related to greater patient perceived spouse critical/invalidating responses toward the patient during the discussion; and b) spouse perceptions that patient's pain was a mystery were related to internal and negative attributions spouses made while observing patients display pain behaviors during the structured pain behavior task. Inasmuch as both spouse critical/invalidating speech toward patients and negative attributions regarding the cause of patient behavior are related to poor patient functioning, spouse uncertainty about the source and potential legitimacy of their partner's pain may play crucial roles in affecting patient well-being. PERSPECTIVE: Spouse beliefs about and perceptions of patient chronic pain were related to spouse behavior toward patients during a discussion and to attributions explaining patient pain during physical activity. If spouse confusion and doubt about patient pain is related to negative behavior and attributions, then modifying these perceptions may be a fundamental intervention target.
Topics: Adult; Chronic Pain; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Illness Behavior; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Musculoskeletal Pain; Social Perception; Spouses; Uncertainty
PubMed: 30954540
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.04.001 -
The American Journal of Geriatric... Mar 2022The loss of a spouse is a common and natural life event for older adults. Nearly one of four older bereaved spouses experience prolonged grief, impaired function or... (Review)
Review
The loss of a spouse is a common and natural life event for older adults. Nearly one of four older bereaved spouses experience prolonged grief, impaired function or chronic depression. Mechanisms underlying these and other long-term health risks are not well understood. We conducted a scoping literature review to examine the interventions and outcomes that have been studied for late-life spousal bereavement to date. We identified 22 studies of group and individual-level interventions with most studies concerning grief processes within the first year. Nearly all studies evaluated emotional and psychological symptoms of loss and a small number evaluated the restoration of adaptive functioning. Four interventions addressed the treatment of complicated grief or grief with major depressive disorder. Qualitative studies explored themes of spirituality and mindfulness. There were 17 controlled studies, including 13 randomized controlled trials. Findings were eclectic, with evidence supporting mindfulness techniques in a group format for emotional and life satisfaction outcomes; an individual, function-based therapy addressing sleep to improve emotion and function; an individual, writing-based emotional expression therapy for short-term improvement in emotion and function; nortriptyline for the treatment of bereavement-related major depressive disorder; a group-based, complicated grief therapy for this condition; an internet-based CBT intervention for prolonged grief; and pharmacotherapy for cardiovascular changes during bereavement. These findings highlight the small literature of methodologically strong intervention studies addressing spousal bereavement in older adults and the need for greater exploration of relevant biological, social, cognitive and behavioral factors to improve short and long term health outcomes.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Bereavement; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major; Grief; Humans; Spouses
PubMed: 34493416
DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2021.08.002 -
MCN. the American Journal of Maternal...The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of spouses whose wives had peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of spouses whose wives had peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).
DESIGN METHODS
Participants were recruited for this phenomenological study through online sites Facebook and SavetheMommies. Fifteen men from four countries participated through semistructured phone interviews conducted between October 2019 and August 2020. Data were analyzed using a modified version of the constant comparison method.
RESULTS
The overarching theme of spouses' experiences was Living with the 'what ifs' of persistent uncertainty. Four main themes were: Feeling the shock, Facing the challenge, Figuring out a new normal, and Finding meaning. Spouses had to deal with the fear of their wives' heart failure relapse or death, changed marital and parental roles, and unclear expectations of the future.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
PPCM is a rare complication of pregnancy with uncertain implications for the future that can have a profound impact on the woman's spouse and family. Our findings should alert nurses and other health care professionals to the need for emotional, spiritual, and informational support of spouses or partners of women who have PPCM. Nurses should include spouses and partners in care and communication to make sure they are as informed as possible, have their questions and concerns addressed as needed, and receive adequate follow-up support.
Topics: Cardiomyopathies; Female; Humans; Male; Peripartum Period; Pregnancy; Puerperal Disorders; Qualitative Research; Spouses; Uncertainty
PubMed: 35749765
DOI: 10.1097/NMC.0000000000000831 -
Journal of Speech, Language, and... Apr 2022The purpose of this study was to (a) review methods used to assess quality of life (QOL) in caregivers, partners, and spouses of those who have undergone total... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to (a) review methods used to assess quality of life (QOL) in caregivers, partners, and spouses of those who have undergone total laryngectomy (TL); (b) identify patterns in caregiver QOL changes postoperatively; and (c) review previously proposed interventions for caregivers.
METHOD
PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL Complete were searched using the Medical Subject Heading terms , , , and . Two reviewers independently screened and identified records meeting inclusion criteria. This scoping review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
RESULTS
Initial search returned 143 results and 12 met inclusion criteria. Eight studies assessed postoperative QOL changes in categories such as psychological health, physical health, sexuality, and interpersonal relationships. Four studies proposed interventions for caregivers perioperatively. There were no consistently used inventories, and only one intervention was formally tested.
CONCLUSIONS
The literature available on TL caregiver QOL contains inconsistent inventories and study design. There are few interventions available, and it would be beneficial to develop a standardized QOL inventory for this population to better target caregiver needs.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL
https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.19287887.
Topics: Caregivers; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Quality of Life; Spouses
PubMed: 35245083
DOI: 10.1044/2021_JSLHR-21-00404 -
Clinical Psychology Review Aug 2022Extensive literature addresses the correlates of communication behaviors within couples in the specific stressful context of oncology. This literature focused mainly on... (Review)
Review
Extensive literature addresses the correlates of communication behaviors within couples in the specific stressful context of oncology. This literature focused mainly on the concepts of disclosure, concealment, holding back and protective buffering to gain more insight into the potential benefits of open communication on the psychological and relational wellbeing of the patient, the spouse and the dyad. The current systematic review aims to present this literature, summarize research findings and suggest empirical, theoretical and clinical implications. Methods: The search method applied in this review was in line with the PRISMA guidelines. Key words related to couples' communication and oncology were used to identify relevant studies according to title and abstract fields from 1.1.2000 until 31.1.22. Results: Out of 3277 papers, a total of 55 articles were identified as relevant for this review. These quantitative studies used cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. Overall, integrating findings from different studies showed that while avoiding communication is negatively associated with psychological and relational wellbeing, the benefits of disclosure seems to be dependent on different factors including the partner's responsiveness, contextual factors and personal characteristics. The existing literature is limited in providing data regarding the nature of adequate or helpful partner responses, the best timing, and the specific topics that are recommended to be disclosed such as specific fears. Most importantly, it is limited in heterogeneity of constructs of communication that were studied, scales that were used and diverse mediators and moderators that were examined. Accordingly, an effort to reach consensus of definition and assessment of communicative behavior is recommended for future studies, and addressing responsiveness to communicative initiations seems to be important for clinical practice.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Communication; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Neoplasms; Spouses
PubMed: 35700574
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102176 -
Journal of the American Medical... Jul 2021Though many studies have explored differences between spouses and adult children in dementia care, empirical evidence is lacking on racial- and ethnic-minority...
OBJECTIVES
Though many studies have explored differences between spouses and adult children in dementia care, empirical evidence is lacking on racial- and ethnic-minority populations. To fill this research gap, this study examined care tasks, caregiver burden, and depressive symptoms of Chinese spouse and adult-child caregivers in dementia care. Guided by the stress process model, this study asked 3 questions: Do spouse and adult-child caregivers take up different care tasks and experience different levels of caregiver burden and depressive symptoms? Does gender moderate the differences between spouse and adult-child caregivers? Whether care tasks and burden mediate the association between being a spouse/adult-child caregiver and depressive symptoms?
SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS
Data were collected from a questionnaire-based survey of Chinese Americans who provided care for their family members with dementia in New York City. The analytical sample included 126 Chinese spouse or adult-child caregivers.
METHODS
Care tasks was indicated by intensity of 8 types of care tasks. Caregiver burden and depressive symptoms were measured by Zarit's Burden Interview and the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Linear regression, interaction term (spouse/adult-child caregiver by gender), and path analysis were conducted to address the 3 questions.
RESULTS
The results of linear regression show no significant difference in care tasks between the 2 groups, but spouse caregivers had significantly higher levels of caregiver burden and depressive symptoms than adult children. Wives had higher levels of caregiver burden and depressive symptoms than husbands, daughters, and sons. Caregiver burden mediated the association between being a spouse caregiver and higher depressive symptoms, whereas care tasks did not shape such association.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
This study highlighted the emotional stress of Chinese American older adults in providing care for their spouses. The findings indicate the necessity of developing culturally meaningful activities to support Chinese American spouse caregivers.
Topics: Adult Children; Aged; Asian; Caregivers; Dementia; Depression; Humans; Spouses
PubMed: 33453175
DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.12.012 -
Pain Dec 2019Pain catastrophizing has been shown to predict greater pain and less physical function in daily life for chronic pain sufferers, but its effects on close social partners...
Pain catastrophizing has been shown to predict greater pain and less physical function in daily life for chronic pain sufferers, but its effects on close social partners have received much less attention. The overall purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which pain catastrophizing is an interpersonal coping strategy that is maladaptive for patients and their spouses. A total of 144 older knee osteoarthritis patients and their spouses completed baseline interviews and a 22-day diary assessment. Multilevel lagged models indicated that, on days when patients reported greater catastrophizing in the morning, their spouses experienced more negative affect throughout the day. In addition, a higher level of punishing responses from the spouse predicted greater pain catastrophizing the next morning, independent of patient pain and negative affect. Multilevel mediation models showed that patients' morning pain catastrophizing indirectly impacted spouses' negative affect and punishing responses through patients' own greater negative affect throughout the day. There was no evidence that spouses' empathic or solicitous responses either followed or preceded patients' catastrophizing. These findings suggest that cognitive-behavioral interventions that reduce pain catastrophizing should be modified for partnered patients to address dyadic interactions and the spouse's role in pain catastrophizing.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Affect; Aged; Catastrophization; Empathy; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Spouses
PubMed: 31408052
DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001673 -
Addiction (Abingdon, England) May 2023Preclinical and human studies suggest that a social partner's genotype may be associated with addiction-related outcomes. This study measured whether spousal genetic...
AIMS
Preclinical and human studies suggest that a social partner's genotype may be associated with addiction-related outcomes. This study measured whether spousal genetic makeup is associated with risk of developing drug use disorder (DUD) during marriage and whether the risk associated with a spouse's genotype could be disentangled from potentially confounding rearing environmental effects.
DESIGN
Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.
SETTING
Sweden.
PARTICIPANTS
Men and women born between 1960 and 1990 and in opposite-sex first marriages before age 35 (n = 294 748 couples).
MEASUREMENTS
Outcome was DUD diagnosis (inclusive of opioids, sedatives/hypnotics/anxiolytics, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine and other psychostimulants, hallucinogens, other drugs of abuse and combinations thereof) obtained from legal, medical and pharmacy registries. The focal predictor was family genetic risk scores for DUD (FGRS-DUD), which were inferred from diagnoses in first- through fifth-degree relatives and weighted by degree of genetic sharing. FGRS-DUD were calculated separately for each partner in a couple.
FINDINGS
Marriage to a spouse with a high FGRS-DUD was associated with increased risk of developing DUD during marriage, OR = 1.68 (95% CI = 1.50, 1.88) and OR = 1.35 (1.16, 1.56), above and beyond the risk associated with one's own FGRS-DUD. The risk associated with a spouse's FGRS-DUD remained statistically significant after covarying for parental education. As indicated by a series of null interaction effects, there was no evidence that the risk associated with a spouse's FGRS-DUD differed depending on whether the spouse was DUD-affected, probands' probable contact with in-laws and whether the spouse was raised by his/her biological parents or in another home.
CONCLUSIONS
There is relatively robust evidence that a person's risk for developing drug use disorder is associated with the genetic makeup of the person's spouse.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Spouses; Marriage; Substance-Related Disorders; Risk Factors; Educational Status
PubMed: 36494088
DOI: 10.1111/add.16108