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A national longitudinal study of marital quality and cognitive decline among older men and women

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  • Liu, Hui
  • Zhang, Zhenmei
  • Zhang, Yan

Abstract

We provide one of the first national longitudinal studies of the association between trajectories of marital quality and cognitive functioning among older adults, with close attention paid to gender differences. Data were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2006–2016. Marital quality trajectories were assessed at three waves: 2006/2008, 2010/2012, and 2014/2016. Cognitive trajectories were assessed at five waves: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016. The final analytic sample included 7901 respondents age 50 and older (4334 men and 3567 women) who were either married or cohabiting during the study period. Results from parallel linear growth curve models suggest that among older adults, initial positive marital quality was associated with better initial cognition, and initial negative marital quality was associated with worse initial cognition. Results from multiple group analysis further suggest that marital quality was significantly associated with men's cognitive trajectories but not women's. Among men, an increase in positive marital quality was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline, whereas an increase in negative marital quality was associated with a faster rate of cognitive decline. These findings suggest that older men who experience a decline in marital quality may be vulnerable to cognitive decline and that reducing marital strain and improving marital quality may protect men's cognitive health in later life.

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  • Liu, Hui & Zhang, Zhenmei & Zhang, Yan, 2021. "A national longitudinal study of marital quality and cognitive decline among older men and women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:282:y:2021:i:c:s0277953621004834
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114151
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wang, Kun & Marbut, Alexander R. & Suntai, Zainab & Zheng, Dianhan & Chen, Xiayu, 2022. "Patterns in older adults' perceived chronic stressor types and cognitive functioning trajectories: Are perceived chronic stressors always bad?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    2. Xianghe Zhu & Martina Luchetti & Damaris Aschwanden & Amanda A. Sesker & Yannick Stephan & Angelina R. Sutin & Antonio Terracciano, 2023. "Multidimensional Assessment of Subjective Well-being and Risk of Dementia: Findings from the UK Biobank Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 629-650, February.
    3. Haghighi, Paniz & Littler, Emma A.L. & Mauer-Vakil, Dane & Miller, Michaella & Oremus, Mark, 2024. "Exploring the relationship between marital quality and cognitive function: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    4. Cai, Shu & Li, Wei, 2024. "On the origin of cognition: How childhood conditions shape cognitive function in old age," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

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