@article {1102, title = {Spousal suffering and partner{\textquoteright}s depression and cardiovascular disease: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Am J Geriatr Psychiatry}, volume = {17}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Mar}, pages = {246-54}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of suffering in a spouse on prevalent and incident psychiatric (depression) and physical morbidity (cardiovascular disease [CVD]) in their partner, controlling for known risk factors for depression and CVD.

DESIGN: Descriptive longitudinal study.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,330 older married couples enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a large epidemiologic study of the elderly.

MEASUREMENTS: Predictor variables were physical, psychological, and existential/spiritual indicators of suffering. Primary outcomes were prevalent and incident depression and CVD.

RESULTS: Controlling for known risk factors for depression, the authors found a dose-response relationship between suffering in a spouse and concurrent depression in their partner as well as a relationship between suffering and the partner{\textquoteright}s future risk for depression. With respect to CVD, and controlling for subclinical CVD at baseline, husbands whose wives reported high levels of suffering also had higher rates of prevalent CVD, but there were no significant associations between wives suffering and husbands incident CVD. There were no associations between husbands{\textquoteright} suffering and wives{\textquoteright} prevalent or incident CVD.

CONCLUSION: Exposure to spousal suffering is an independent and unique source of distress in married couples that contributes to psychiatric and physical morbidity. More attention should be paid to the interpersonal effects of suffering in married couples and to its role in contributing to morbidity.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases, Caregivers, Depression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Logistic Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Spouses, Stress, Psychological, Surveys and Questionnaires}, issn = {1545-7214}, doi = {10.1097/JGP.0b013e318198775b}, author = {Schulz, Richard and Beach, Scott R and Hebert, Randy S and Martire, Lynn M and Monin, Joan K and Tompkins, Connie A and Albert, Steven M} } @article {6696, title = {Husbands{\textquoteright} and Wives{\textquoteright} Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms: Longitudinal Findings from the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Ann Behav Med}, volume = {49}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Oct}, pages = {704-14}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: When examining older adults{\textquoteright} health behaviors and psychological health, it is important to consider the social context.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine in older adult marriages whether each spouse{\textquoteright}s physical activity predicted changes in their own (actor effects) and their partner{\textquoteright}s (partner effects) depressive symptoms. Gender differences were also examined.

METHOD: Each spouse within 1260 married couples (at baseline) in the Cardiovascular Health Study completed self-report measures at wave 1 (1989-1990), wave 3 (1992-1993), and wave 7 (1996-1997). Dyadic path analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Husbands{\textquoteright} physical activity significantly predicted own decreased depressive symptoms (actor effect). For both spouses, own physical activity did not significantly predict the spouse{\textquoteright}s depressive symptoms (partner effects). However, husbands{\textquoteright} physical activity and depressive symptoms predicted wives{\textquoteright} physical activity and depressive symptoms (partner effects), respectively. Depressive symptoms did not predict physical activity.

CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that husbands{\textquoteright} physical activity is particularly influential for older married couples{\textquoteright} psychological health.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cardiovascular System, Depression, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Motor Activity, Sex Characteristics, Spouses}, issn = {1532-4796}, doi = {10.1007/s12160-015-9705-4}, author = {Monin, Joan K and Levy, Becca and Chen, Baibing and Fried, Terri and Stahl, Sarah T and Schulz, Richard and Doyle, Margaret and Kershaw, Trace} }