The Paradoxical Impact of Companionship on the Mental Health of Older African American Men

Jamie A Mitchell, Tamara Cadet, Shanna Burke, Ed-Dee Williams and Daniel Alvarez

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2018, vol. 73, issue 2, 230-239

Abstract: ObjectivesAfrican Americans comprise 9% of the 46 million U.S. adults over age 65. Two thirds of older African American men (AAM) reside with companions. This study investigated the assumption that frequent contact with companions confers mainly health-related benefits for AAM.MethodsUtilizing secondary data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, the relationship between older AAM’s mental health and related conditions (depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances), companion living arrangements, and frequency of contact with the participants for 3,423 older AAM and their 1,161 companions, was examined.ResultsThe mean age of participants and companions was 74 years and 90% of AAM lived in a private residence. Logistic regression models indicated that an increased risk for anxiety was found when companions lived in (OR = 1.66), called daily (OR = 1.089), or visited daily (OR = 1.079). Finally, AAM had an increased likelihood of nonmedical sleep disturbances when companions lived in (OR = 1.67), called daily (1.105), or visited daily (1.078).DiscussionThe frequency of contact with companions may be consequential for select mental health outcomes and associated physiological conditions for older AAM; the timing of contact requires further investigation.

Keywords: African American; Caregiving; Disease; Men; Mental Health; Social Determinants of Health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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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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