Psychological and Physical Health in Widowhood: Does Marital Quality Make a Difference?

ABSTRACT: We investigate how preloss marital quality is associated with changes in psychological distress and physical health among older widow(er)s. Using prospective data with a 2-year follow-up from the Health and Retirement Study, we selected 546 respondents who transitioned into widowhood. Respondents were classified as supportive, ambivalent, aversive, or neutral groups. The supportive and ambivalent group experienced greater increase in depressive symptoms compared to the aversive group, in widowhood. The aversive group showed greater increase in chronic conditions compared to the supportive group. Findings indicated that spousal loss may result in more psychological distress for those with supportive and ambivalent marital relationship. Yet, those with mostly negative accounts of their marri

SUBMITTER: Lee HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10704404 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature