The influence of health over time on psychological distress among older couples: the moderating role of marital functioning

Abstract

This study examines the longitudinal links between self-rated health, chronic diseases, marital functioning and psychological distress over an 18-month period among a representative sample of 384 community-dwelling couples. The moderator role of marital functioning on the longitudinal association between physical health measurements and psychological distress will also be explored. Dyadic data analyses with structural equation modelling were performed. The results indicate that the number of chronic diseases and the level of marital functioning predict a significantly higher level of psychological distress for both men and women. Self-rated health significantly predicts psychological distress over time, but only among older women. No partner effects were found in the present study. Results show a significant moderator role for marital functioning on the longitudinal association between self-rated health and psychological distress among older women. This study underlines the importance of marital functioning and health status as predictors of further psychological distress among older couples.

Keywords:

• psychological distress
• marital relationship
• aging
• self-rated health
• number of chronic diseases

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants to Dr Gilles Trudel ([email protected]) as the principal researcher from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (MOP – 81281), Mental Health Axis of Quebec Network for Research on Aging and by Faculty of Human Sciences of Université du Québec à Montréal ([email protected]). Laurence Villeneuve received a doctoral fellowship from “Les Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec” [grant number 20389].

Notes on contributors

Laurence Villeneuve

Laurence Villeneuve, BSc, is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal. This article is part of her thesis which concerns marital functioning, physical health and psychological distress in older couples.

Gilles Trudel

Gilles Trudel, PhD, is a full professor in the Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, and a researcher at the Centre de Recherche Fernand Séguin (Institut en Santé Mentale de Montréal). He has published more than 150 scientific papers, chapters and books.

Luc Dargis

Luc Dargis, MPs (Master of Psychology), is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal. Her PhD research concerns the relation between marital functioning and psychological distress in older people.

Michel Préville

Michel Préville, PhD, is a full professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, and a researcher at the Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Charles LeMoyne.

Richard Boyer

Richard Boyer, PhD, is a full professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, and a researcher at the Centre de Recherche Fernand Séguin (Institut en Santé Mentale de Montréal).

Jean Bégin

Jean Bégin, PhD, is a research officer in the Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal.