Factors mitigate the effect of widowhood's mental health impact: A longitudinal test from individual, familial, and social perspectives

This study investigates the longitudinal relationship between widowhood and depression and examines the interaction effects of health asymmetry, the number of children, and urban-rural differences from individual, familial, and social perspectives. A sample of 9,563 individuals for the four rounds period (from 2011 to 2018) is obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Results demonstrate that (a) the depression associated with widowhood is expected to revert to prewidowhood level after 3 years, (b) the relationship between widowhood and depression is stronger for older adults who are health pessimists compared to those who are health optimists, (c) the relationship between widowhood and depression is stronger for older adults with fewer children compared to those with more children, and (d) the relationship between widowhood and depression is stronger for older adults living in rural areas than those living in urban areas. These findings are essential for policymakers and practitioners working with widowed older adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).PMID:38546565 | DOI:10.1037/ort0000745
Source: The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research