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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 -
Social Work in Public Health Feb 2023Aging Chinese people who lose their only child are a newly developed vulnerable group as the result of the one child policy in China. As an integral part of this group,...
Aging Chinese people who lose their only child are a newly developed vulnerable group as the result of the one child policy in China. As an integral part of this group, women who have lost their only child and their spouse are more vulnerable and have their own particularity. This study uses qualitative methods to explore the resilience of women who have lost their only child and their spouse based on the interaction of risk factors and protective factors at individual and environment levels. From the perspective of resilience, this article examines the psychological suffering and the health and social constraints experienced by elderly women who lose their only child and their spouse and who lack appropriate support from the government and society. It analyses how the internal protective factors of the resilience of such women include being hard-working and able to bear hardships, and showing forbearance and a good ability to seek social support, while the external protective factors include care from relatives and the support from multiple social relationships. Women who have lost their only child and their spouse demonstrate many forms of resilience, including traditional positive resilience and recessive resilience, such as complaining and somatization, indicating profound health and social implications that require the development of appropriate policies in China.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged; Only Child; Spouses; East Asian People; Social Support; Interpersonal Relations; China; Resilience, Psychological
PubMed: 35786168
DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2022.2097147 -
Aging & Mental Health Apr 2023Research suggests that the death of a spouse has an adverse effect on a widow(er)'s cognition. However, little research has examined how the marital context before...
Research suggests that the death of a spouse has an adverse effect on a widow(er)'s cognition. However, little research has examined how the marital context before widowhood and gender influence this association. Guided by the social ambivalence and disease (SAD) model, this study examined the associations between spousal loss and cognition , with moderating effects of gender and pre-loss marital quality. We analyzed a national longitudinal data, Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), specifically MIDUS 2 (2004-2005) and MIDUS 3 (2013-2014). The analytic sample consisted of (1) 146 participants who experienced the death of their spouse between MIDUS 2 and MIDUS 3 and (2) 144 age- and gender-matched comparison participants who did not lose their spouse during the period. Adverse influence of widowhood on cognition was more pronounced among bereaved men than bereaved women. Widowed individuals whose relationships with their deceased spouse were ambivalent had poorer cognition than widowed individuals who had aversive relationships with their deceased spouse. Findings suggest that the influence of spousal death on cognitive functioning depends on gender and pre-loss marital quality, emphasizing the importance of considering pre-loss marital relationship and gender dynamics in developing efficient interventions for the widowed.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; United States; Marriage; Cognition; Spouses; Affect; Gender Identity; Widowhood
PubMed: 35696361
DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2084715 -
Alzheimer Disease and Associated...Dyadic enrollment of a participant and study partner is required in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) clinical trials, despite participants being functionally independent....
BACKGROUND
Dyadic enrollment of a participant and study partner is required in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) clinical trials, despite participants being functionally independent. Research examining how the study partner requirement impacts MCI trials remains limited.
METHODS
Using the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study donepezil and vitamin E MCI trial data, we quantified the proportions of enrolled spouse, adult child, and other dyads. We used multinomial regression to identify which baseline participant characteristics (age, sex, race and ethnicity, apolipoprotein E ε4 status, education, residence type) were associated with dyad type.
RESULTS
Among 769 randomized dyads, 73% were spousal, 14% adult child, and 13% other dyads. Adjusting for multiple comparisons, underrepresented racial and ethnic background (eg, comparing Hispanic to non-Hispanic White participants: adult child vs. spouse odds ratio = 5.86; 95% confidence interval: 2.09, 16.5; other vs. spouse odds ratio = 4.95; 95% confidence interval: 1.83, 13.4), female sex, age, nonhouse residence, and apolipoprotein E ε4 noncarriage were each associated with a higher odds of having an adult child, as well as an other, study partner at enrollment.
DISCUSSION
Increasing participation among nonspousal dyads may facilitate more inclusive and representative MCI trial samples.
Topics: Adult Children; Alzheimer Disease; Apolipoprotein E4; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; Cognitive Dysfunction; Donepezil; Female; Humans; Male; Patient Participation; Spouses
PubMed: 35482891
DOI: 10.1097/WAD.0000000000000506 -
Disability and Rehabilitation Oct 2022Adopting and continuing physical activity (PA) is critical for the management of multiple sclerosis (MS). The role that spouses or partners play in the adoption and...
PURPOSE
Adopting and continuing physical activity (PA) is critical for the management of multiple sclerosis (MS). The role that spouses or partners play in the adoption and continuation of PA in women with MS has yet to be explored.
METHODS
Nine women with MS and their respective spouses volunteered for in-depth, semi-structured interviews that lasted approximately an hour. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Spouse interview data were used to contextualize and provide a richer understanding of themes from women with MS.
RESULTS
Three themes were constructed from analysis of the interview data with women with MS: support, motivation to perform PA, and PA prior to MS. Support was most discussed and took the form joining in PA, supporting PA accomplishments or information sharing, assisting with PA, and encouraging separate PA. Motivation to perform PA and prior PA also were impacted by the women's spouses and their behaviors.
CONCLUSIONS
This study points to the importance of support and perception of support by spouses for women with MS. Support was highly valued regardless of the form that it took. Women with MS could benefit from understanding and encouraging the various supporting roles spouses play in the decisions women with MS make to be physically active.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONWomen with MS and their spouses consider physical activity to be beneficial.Women with MS value the support their spouses provide to encourage them to be physically active.Women with MS can perceive support from their spouses in varying ways, including support in initiating physical activity, supporting physical activity accomplishments or information sharing, assisting with physical activity, and encouraging separate physical activity.Physical activity programming for this population should consider ways to incorporate spousal support.
Topics: Exercise; Female; Humans; Marriage; Motivation; Multiple Sclerosis; Spouses
PubMed: 34308724
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1953622 -
BMC Palliative Care Nov 2022In palliative care, caring for spouses suffering from incurable diseases can provoke a range of reactions in informal caregivers that are part of the grieving process,...
BACKGROUND
In palliative care, caring for spouses suffering from incurable diseases can provoke a range of reactions in informal caregivers that are part of the grieving process, as well as other reactions and ways of coping with a current role, which is often challenging. Anticipatory grief occurs before death and is often present in people who face the eventual loss of a loved one or their own death. This study aimed to gain insight into the anticipatory grief of informal caregivers who are providing at-home palliative care for their ill spouse. Our research questions focus on investigating the meanings caregivers ascribe to the experience of providing palliative care and the impending loss of a spouse.
METHODS
A qualitative study was conducted in Zagreb, Croatia, from April to June of 2021. Eight participants took part in the study. Participants in the study were informal caregivers of a spouse suffering from an incurable, terminal disease that receives at-home palliative care. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Transcripts were analyzed by interpretive phenomenological analysis.
RESULTS
The analysis provided several meanings that represent caregivers' experiences and coping strategies. The caregivers bravely face the challenges of "living with an illness" by maintaining optimism, strong cohesion with their partner and a sense of joint destiny. They tend to repress their own personal needs and feelings while carrying the burden of care. Caregivers tend to stay positive and focus on living in the present by taking an active role in providing care for the ill spouse and family.
CONCLUSIONS
Anticipatory grief presents emotional, cognitive, and spiritual challenges to spouse caregivers in palliative care. The contribution of this study was to gain insight into the meaning that caregivers ascribe to the experience and challenges they face while providing everyday care for their ill spouse. Confirming prior results, the experiences are generally similar to all caregivers, pointing to the need for substantial improvement in the quality of the support and help from the healthcare workers and other experts who provide palliative care and support for the patients' family members.
Topics: Humans; Caregivers; Croatia; Grief; Palliative Care; Spouses
PubMed: 36397096
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-022-01093-1 -
PloS One 2022Emergency responders (ERs), often termed First Responders, such as police, fire and paramedic roles are exposed to occupational stressors including high workload, and...
Emergency responders (ERs), often termed First Responders, such as police, fire and paramedic roles are exposed to occupational stressors including high workload, and exposure to trauma from critical incidents, both of which can affect their mental health and wellbeing. Little is known about the impact of the ER occupation on the mental health and wellbeing of their families. The aim of the current study was to investigate what mental health and wellbeing outcomes and experiences have been researched internationally in ER families, and to examine the prevalence and associated risk and protective factors of these outcomes. We conducted a systematic review in accordance with an a priori PROSPERO approved protocol (PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019134974). Forty-three studies were identified for inclusion. The majority of studies used a quantitative, cross-sectional design and were conducted in the United States; just over half assessed police/law enforcement families. Themes of topics investigated included: 1) Spousal/partner mental health and wellbeing; 2) Couple relationships; 3) Child mental health and wellbeing; 4) Family support and coping strategies; and 5) Positive outcomes. The review identified limited evidence regarding the prevalence of mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Family experiences and risk factors described were ER work-stress spillover negatively impacting spousal/partner wellbeing, couple relationships, and domestic violence. Traumatic exposure risk factors included concerns family had for the safety of their ER partner, the negative impact of an ER partners' mental health problem on the couples' communication and on family mental health outcomes. Protective factors included social support; however, a lack of organisational support for families was reported in some studies. Study limitations and future research needs are discussed. Progressing this area of research is important to improve knowledge of baseline needs of ER families to be able to target interventions, improve public health, and support ER's operational effectiveness.
Topics: Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emergency Responders; Humans; Mental Health; Social Support; Spouses
PubMed: 35704626
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269659 -
Anxiety, Stress, and Coping Sep 2022Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging for families, but most research focuses only on the service member. We applied a life course model to...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging for families, but most research focuses only on the service member. We applied a life course model to assess spouse well-being following this important transition.
DESIGN
Prospective, longitudinal survey of service members and their spouses.
METHODS
We captured three spouse well-being domains: psychological health, physical health, and family relationships. We identified differences between families who separated from service and those still affiliated ( = 4,087) and assessed baseline factors associated with spouse well-being after the family separated from service ( = 1,199).
RESULTS
Spouses of service members who had separated from the military (versus those who had not) reported poorer mental health and family relationship quality at baseline and follow-up. After controlling for baseline differences, spouses whose families transitioned experienced a greater increase in PTSD symptoms and a steeper decline in quality of marriage. Spouses of active-duty service members reported greater increases in work-family conflict. Among families who had transitioned, the most consistent predictor of positive outcomes was baseline well-being. Protective factors included having more psychological and social resources and less financial stress.
CONCLUSIONS
Several protective and risk factors identified in the study may inform programming for families transitioning from active duty.
Topics: Humans; Marriage; Mental Health; Military Personnel; Prospective Studies; Spouses
PubMed: 35316104
DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2022.2038788 -
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 -
The Gerontologist Nov 2022Interest in reminiscence activities for older adults has grown in recent years, but the benefits of co-reminiscence are not well-known. Drawing from a narrative identity...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Interest in reminiscence activities for older adults has grown in recent years, but the benefits of co-reminiscence are not well-known. Drawing from a narrative identity framework, this study examined older adult spouses' co-reminiscence about their first encounters. We hypothesized that perceived closeness and support increase when spouses co-reminisce and that greater perceptions of closeness and support after reminiscing relate to lower depressive symptoms and greater marital satisfaction in daily life.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
One hundred and one couples completed questionnaires measuring marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms at home and then participated in a laboratory session in which they co-reminisced about their first encounters. Self-reported perceived support and relationship closeness were obtained before and after reminiscence. t Tests and the Actor Partner Interdependence Model were used to examine hypotheses.
RESULTS
As hypothesized, closeness and perceived support increased from pre- to postreminiscence for husbands and wives. In addition, one's own relationship closeness after reminiscence was positively associated with own marital satisfaction (actor effect). One's perceived support after reminiscence was positively related to spouse's marital satisfaction and negatively associated with their spouse's depressive symptoms (partner effects).
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS
Findings suggest that co-reminiscence about early relationship development can boost feelings of closeness and support for older adults. Benefiting from co-reminiscence in this way also appears to indicate broader relationship and individual well-being. Brief co-reminiscence activities may nurture late-life relational well-being.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Spouses; Personal Satisfaction; Marriage; Emotions; Narration
PubMed: 35429275
DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnac053