Social Support Moderates the Impact of Marital Transitions on Depression for Older Adult Women

Given the rapid growth of older Americans and the increased incidence of divorce among this population, it is paramount to identify negative health outcomes following marital transition and investigate the potential protective role of social support. Our study aims to identify relationships between change in depression and marital transitions, test whether social support moderates this association, and to examine variation by gender. The sample included 3,705 participants from the Health and Retirement Study, who reported being married or partnered in 2012. Changes in marital status were measured between 2012 and 2014 (remained married/partnered (reference), divorced/separated, and widowed). Depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression short form (CESD-8). Three types of social support from family, friends, and children were assessed: social support, social strain, and social contact. Autoregressive multiple regression was used to examine the relationship between change in depression, marital transitions, social support, and gender. Widowhood and social strain were independently associated with an increase in CESD-8 scores between 2012 and 2014. Significant interactions between social support and social strain, and separation/divorce were identified, and the relationship between social support, depression, and divorce varied by gender. Change in depression was positively associated with social support for separated/divorced females, but not separated/divorced males. These results indicate that social support may modify the influence of divorce on changes in depression among recently divorced older females. These findings can help mental health service providers more effectively target older adults at the greatest risk of depression after experiencing a marital transition.

Social Support and Social Strain as Predictors of Depressive Symptom Trajectories Following a Marital Transition

We investigated trajectories of depressive symptoms over 10 years following a marital transition (widowed or divorced) using data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 377, mean age = 67.55 years; years 2006-2016). Piecewise growth curve models were estimated to investigate whether social support and strain from one’s spouse, measured prior to transition, predicted depressive symptom trajectories following the transition. Covariates included sex, age, education, race/ethnicity, wealth, and chronic conditions. Overall, trajectories of depressive symptoms after a marital transition were significantly negative, indicating a decrease in depressive symptoms over time. Findings did not differ significantly between participants who were widowed and those who were divorced. Spousal social support was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms and spousal social strain was associated with a decrease in depressive symptoms following a marital transition in separate models: support: b = .250, SE = .062, p <.001; strain: b = -.209, SE = .095, p <.05. However, social strain was not significant when examined jointly with social support. Depressive symptoms declined significantly for low (b = -.370, SE = .100, p <.001) and average levels of social support (b = -.113, SE = .037, p <.01), but not for high levels of spouse social support (b = .143, SE = .109, p = .188). These results suggest those with the highest levels of spousal support prior to the transition, whether divorced or widowed, experienced a more difficult recovery and may be targets for additional mental health support following a marital transition.

The Role of Leisure Activities in the Relationship Between Marital Transition in Later Midlife and Psychological Well-Being Trajectories

This study examined the levels and rates of changes in psychological well-being for middle-aged adults of different statuses or marital transitions. The moderating effects of different leisure activities were also tested. Longitudinal data on 1,270 persons aged 50 to 65 years at baseline from the Taiwan longitudinal study on aging were analyzed. Adults who were stably unmarried or unpartnered reported worse mental health at baseline, but their psychological well-being improved over time. The trajectory of depressive symptoms fluctuated markedly in adults who became widowed during our observation period. Engagement in physical, cognitive, or social activities was significantly associated with participants’ psychological well-being. Participation in religious activities was significantly associated with life satisfaction and decreased depressive symptoms for those undergoing bereavement. Findings from this study suggest that social and physical activities, among the four selected leisure activities, have the greatest association between decreasing depressive symptoms and increasing life satisfaction, respectively. Religious activities, in particular, may improve psychological well-being in bereaved middle-aged and older adults.

The Association between Marital Transitions, Body Mass Index, and Weight: A Review of the Literature

Objective. To examine the association between different marital transitions and changes in body mass index (BMI) and body weight.Methods. A systematic literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles published between January 1990 and December 2011. Longitudinal studies were included if they compared dependent variables, such as BMI or weight, before and after a change in marital status.Results. Twenty articles were included: 4 articles described only transitions into marriage and/or cohabitation, 2 articles described only transitions out of marriage and/or cohabitation, and 14 articles described both. Overall, transitions into marriage were associated with weight gain, whereas transitions out of marriage were associated with weight loss. No major differences were observed between genders or across specific marital transition states.Conclusions. Additional research is warranted to better understand this phenomenon and the impact of marital transitions on obesity and obesity-related behaviors. This paper highlights potential opportunities to incorporate programs, practices, and policies that aim to promote and support healthy weights and lifestyles upon entering or leaving a marriage or cohabiting relationship.

Dietary patterns are associated with weight gain in newlyweds: findings from a cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to characterize the dietary patterns of newlyweds married within one year and to examine the factors associated with weight changes.DesignA cross-sectional study was carried out in 2009.SettingBaoshan District, Shanghai, China.SubjectsA total of 342 pairs of newlyweds were recruited at their first visit. Weight and height were measured and food intake was measured based on an FFQ with forty-nine items. Dietary patterns were identified through factor analysis, and the factors associated with weight changes were determined by multiple regression models.ResultsAverage weight gain of the participants during marital transition was 1·9 kg (2·2 kg for men and 1·6 kg for women). Four major dietary patterns were identified: vegetable pattern, sweets and fats pattern, legume pattern and poultry, beef and mutton pattern. In multivariate analyses, the highest quintile of factor 2 (sweets and fats pattern) was significantly associated with weight gain after marriage in a comparison with the lowest quintile (β= 2·94; 95 % CI 0·75, 5·15;P= 0·01) in men. The highest quintile of factor 4 (poultry, beef and mutton pattern) was inversely associated with weight gain after marriage in a comparison with the lowest quintile (β= −1·21; 95 % CI −2·32, −0·11;P= 0·03).ConclusionsOur results suggest that a pattern rich in sugar, oil and condiments may lead to greater marital weight gain in men; another pattern rich in poultry, beef and mutton may lead to less marital weight gain in both men and women.