Objectives We investigated whether spousal caregivers’ greater perception of being appreciated by their partner for their help was associated with caregivers’ better mental health, and whether caregivers’ higher role overload was related to their poorer mental health. We further evaluated whether spousal caregivers’ greater perceived gratitude buffered the association between their role overload and mental health. Method We examined 306 spousal caregivers of older adults with chronic illness or disability, drawn from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study and National Study of Caregiving. We defined mental health as better psychological well-being and less psychological distress (i.e., fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms). Hierarchical regression models were estimated to test hypotheses. Results Greater perceived gratitude was associated with better psychological well-being, and higher role overload was related to poorer psychological well-being and greater psychological distress. In addition, greater perceived gratitude buffered the associations between role overload and anxiety symptoms as well as psychological well-being. Discussion Findings suggest that spousal caregivers’ role overload may be a strong risk factor for their poorer mental health, especially when caregivers feel less appreciated by their partner. Couple-oriented interventions to improve spousal caregivers’ mental health could be aimed at reducing their role overload and enhancing perceived gratitude.

Objectives Although the adverse link between rumination and sleep quality is well established, much of the literature neglects the role of social factors. This study examined the role of older adults’ perceived social support from spouses and from family/friends in modifying the association between trait rumination and sleep quality. Existing hypotheses suggest that social support may play 3 unique roles, each tested within the current study: (H1) support may act as a protective factor that buffers negative effects of rumination on sleep quality, (H2) support may curtail rumination and, in turn, promote sleep quality, and (H3) rumination may erode support and, in turn, undermine sleep quality. Method Data came from 86 partnered older adults in independent-living or retirement communities (Mage = 75.70 years). We utilized 3 waves of interview data collected annually between 2017 and 2019. The first hypothesis was tested using moderation in multilevel models; the second 2 hypotheses were evaluated with prospective associations using multilevel mediation. Results Negative effects of high-trait rumination on time-varying sleep quality were attenuated among those who reported high, stable levels of support from their spouses. Perceived family/friend support did not yield the same protective effect. There was no evidence that support preempted, or was eroded by, rumination. Discussion Perceived spousal support may act as a psychosocial resource that mitigates negative effects of trait rumination on older adults’ sleep quality. Interventions aimed at mitigating maladaptive outcomes of rumination on sleep quality for older adults should consider spousal support as a key target.

Pain catastrophizing has been shown to predict greater pain and less physical function in daily life for chronic pain sufferers, but its effects on close social partners have received much less attention. The overall purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which pain catastrophizing is an interpersonal coping strategy that is maladaptive for patients and their spouses. A total of 144 older knee osteoarthritis patients and their spouses completed baseline interviews and a 22-day diary assessment. Multilevel lagged models indicated that, on days when patients reported greater catastrophizing in the morning, their spouses experienced more negative affect throughout the day. In addition, a higher level of punishing responses from the spouse predicted greater pain catastrophizing the next morning, independent of patient pain and negative affect. Multilevel mediation models showed that patients' morning pain catastrophizing indirectly impacted spouses' negative affect and punishing responses through patients' own greater negative affect throughout the day. There was no evidence that spouses' empathic or solicitous responses either followed or preceded patients' catastrophizing. These findings suggest that cognitive-behavioral interventions that reduce pain catastrophizing should be modified for partnered patients to address dyadic interactions and the spouse's role in pain catastrophizing.

Rumination is a maladaptive coping strategy that gives rise to and sustains stress. Individuals who ruminate more, therefore, tend to sleep more poorly. Studies of rumination and sleep often neglect the role of social context. Social support may buffer the degree to which rumination predicts poorer sleep quality. Further, individuals with more support may ruminate less, resulting in better sleep quality. Finally, rumination may also erode social support, resulting in poorer sleep quality. The current study tested these three hypotheses within a sample of 131 partnered older adults. We examined support from spouses and friends/family separately. Findings indicated that spousal (not family/friend) support buffered the negative association between rumination and sleep quality. Neither type of support predicted rumination; however, rumination predicted lower levels of family/friend (not spousal) support. Thus, spousal support protects older adults’ sleep quality from rumination, and support from their peripheral ties may be more vulnerable to rumination.

Objectives: This study examined whether older patients’ greater daily pain perceived by their spouses was associated with spouses’ higher daily negative affect. We further investigated whether spouses’ lower confidence in patients’ ability to manage pain exacerbated the daily association between perceived patient pain and spouses’ negative affect. Method: We used baseline interviews and a 22-day diary of knee osteoarthritis patients and their spouses ( N = 144 couples). Multilevel models were estimated to test hypotheses. Results: Daily perceived patient pain was not associated with spouses’ daily negative affect. However, spouse confidence significantly moderated the association. Only spouses with lower confidence in patients’ pain management experienced higher negative affect on days when they perceived that patients’ level of pain was higher than usual. Discussion: Findings suggest that spousal caregivers’ lack of confidence in patients’ pain management may be a risk factor for spouses’ affective distress in daily life.