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- Title
A study on the association between family emotional bonds and depressive symptoms among Chinese older couples: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study.
- Authors
Zhang, Xue; Dai, Jing; Chen, Yu; Yang, Yunjuan; Yang, Liuyang; Li, Wei
- Abstract
Numerous studies have acknowledged the link between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms, yet a comprehensive family-centric perspective remains unexplored. This investigation delves into the influences of marital satisfaction on depressive symptoms among elderly pairs, considering both individual and cross-spousal impacts, while highlighting the intermediary role of the parent-child relationship. Employing data from 2909 Chinese pairs aged 60 and above in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we utilized the Actor-Partner-Interdependence-Model (APIM). This model examined emotional ties within families and their associations with depressive indicators on individual and spousal levels. Our APIM analysis revealed a positive correlation between depressive symptoms in husbands and wives and their respective levels of marital satisfaction. Notably, wives' marital satisfaction significantly predicted depressive symptoms in husbands. The parent-child bond emerged as a mediator, linking marital satisfaction to depressive symptoms for both genders. Specifically, wives' perception of the parent-child relationship mediated the link between their marital satisfaction and husbands' depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were linked to personal marital satisfaction, and the parent-child relationship served as a mediator for both partners. Importantly, the marital satisfaction of wives and the parent-child relationship significantly impacted the depressive symptoms of both spouses, particularly predicting depressive tendencies among husbands. Therefore, interventions aimed at the mental well-being of aging spouses should adopt a comprehensive family-centric approach, with a specific focus on aging females.
- Subjects
MARITAL satisfaction; MENTAL depression; MARRIED people; SATISFACTION; PARENT-child relationships; LONGITUDINAL method; MENTAL health
- Publication
Current Psychology, 2024, Vol 43, Issue 23, p20324
- ISSN
1046-1310
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s12144-024-05807-x