Individual Well-being in Middle and Older Adulthood: Do Spousal Beliefs Matter?

Tim D. Windsor, Lindsay H. Ryan and Jacqui Smith

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2009, vol. 64B, issue 5, 586-596

Abstract: Associations between health, control beliefs, and well-being in later life are frequently conceptualized in terms of the characteristics of individuals. However, spousal interdependencies in psychosocial characteristics are also likely to be relevant for well-being. The present study investigated associations of self-rated health, control, and relationship closeness with life satisfaction and positive and negative affect in a sample of 2,235 spousal dyads. A significant proportion of variance in health, control, closeness, and well-being occurred between dyads. Individuals' self-rated health, control, and relationship closeness were associated with higher well-being. Spouses' self-rated health and control beliefs were consistently and positively associated with individuals' well-being; however, effect sizes were small. Some evidence for individual's control beliefs buffering the association between health and well-being emerged, whereas spouses' perceived control was not a significant moderator of the health--well-being association. Results highlight the importance of couple interdependencies for contextualizing health and well-being in older adulthood. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.

Date: 2009
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The Journals of Gerontology: Series B is currently edited by Psychological Sciences - S. Duke Han, PhD and Social Sciences - Jessica A Kelley, PhD, FGSA

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