Open AccessThe Contribution of Stressful Marital Interactions to Loneliness and Health across Mid-life and Later Adulthood
Author(s) -
Catherine Walker O’Neal,
K. A. S. Wickrama
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of family issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.814
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1552-5481
pISSN - 0192-513X
DOI - 10.1177/0192513x20921927
Subject(s) - loneliness , life course approach , psychology , structural equation modeling , physical health , quality of life (healthcare) , developmental psychology , marital status , mental health , gerontology , social psychology , demography , population , medicine , sociology , psychiatry , statistics , mathematics , psychotherapist
Although past research has noted longitudinal, and sometimes bi-directional, associations between marital interactions, loneliness, and physical health, previous work has not identified long-term associations and differential associations over life-course stages (i.e., mid-life and later adulthood). Utilizing a life-course stress process perspective and a sample of 250 couples in enduring marriages over 17 years (2001-2017), a structural equation model within a dyadic framework assessed the unique influences of stressful marital interactions on loneliness and physical health and the variation in bi-directional influences of loneliness and physical health over time. Marital interactions were relatively stable across life stages, yet marital interactions appear to influence loneliness and physical health. Notable distinctions were evident across life stages (from mid-life to later adulthood and then within later adulthood). Findings are discussed with an emphasis on the implications for health promotion and prevention programs targeting couples' quality of life in later years.