Functional Disability and Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged and Older Couples
A Dyadic Examination of Bidirectional Influences and Temporal Dynamics
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12797705 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Dexia Kong (0000-0002-2512-0143, Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, corresponding author), Xiaomin Li (0000-0003-4488-0356, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China), Yaxin Lan (0000-0002-7625-3843, Shanghai University), Meng Huo (0000-0002-0060-1151, University of California, Davis), Xiaoling Xiang (0000-0002-1233-2577, University of Michigan) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 8982643251355055-8982643251355055 |
| Publication date | 2025-06-26 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Aging and Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1552-6887 • E-ISSN: 0898-2643 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/08982643251355055 |
| PMID | 40568994 |
| OpenAlex | W4411671285 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 43 |
ObjectivesThis study examines the bidirectional influences between functional disability and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older couples, emphasizing the temporal dynamics and co-development of partners' experiences.MethodsLongitudinal data were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (2002-2020), focusing on married couples ( N = 4109 couples). Dyadic cross-lagged panel models and latent trajectory analyses were employed.ResultsFunctional disability had a stronger influence on depressive symptoms than the reverse. Spouses' disability trajectories were synchronized with similar baseline levels and rates of change, but synchrony did not predict depressive symptoms. Husbands' disability disproportionately affected wives' mental health compared to the reverse.ConclusionsThe findings elucidate the directionality underlying the relationship between depressive symptoms and functional limitations. Couples' functional disability development was synchronous. Tailored and targeted disability preventive interventions may have mental health benefits for both partners
Cognition · Depressive symptoms · Developmental psychology · Functional impairment · Health and Retirement Study · Longitudinal study · Mental health · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Aging and Gerontology Research · Clinical Psychology · Health disparities and outcomes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |