Do Personality Traits Moderate the Effect of Late-Life Spousal Loss on Psychological Distress?

Pai, Manacy; Carr, Deborah

doi:10.1177/0022146510368933

Cited by 56 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Pai and Carr (2010) reported that C lessens the effect of spousal loss on depressive symptoms among adults. Drawing on daily diary data, O'Connor et al (2009) reported that C did not moderate the effects of daily hassles on health-related behaviors, but several facets of C did have significant effects.…”

Section: Avoidance and Neutralization Of Stressorsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Conscientiousness, health, and aging: The Life Course of Personality Model.

Shanahan¹,

Hill²,

Roberts³

et al. 2014

Developmental Psychology

188

171

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The Conscientiousness (C) of the self and significant others influences health by way of mediational chains involving socioeconomic attainment, the avoidance and neutralization of stressors, the promotion of health behaviors and the minimization of risk behaviors, and the management of symptoms and diseases. Yet, meta-analyses reveal that these associations are moderated by factors that are not well understood. We propose the Life Course of Personality Model (LCP Model), which comprises a series of hypotheses that suggest how such mediational chains are subject to 2 sources of contingency. First, the mechanisms by which C translates into health and the avoidance of risk change from early childhood to late adulthood, involving processes that are specific to phases of the life course; also, however, C influences health by way of continuous processes extending over many decades of life. Second, C may be more consequential in some social contexts than in others, and when accompanied by some constellations of personality characteristics than by others. That is, the mediational processes by which C translates into health and the avoidance of disease are likely moderated by timing, social context (including the C of others), and other aspects of the individual's personality. We consider methodological implications of the LCP Model.

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Section: Avoidance and Neutralization Of Stressorsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Conscientiousness, health, and aging: The Life Course of Personality Model.

Shanahan¹,

Hill²,

Roberts³

et al. 2014

Developmental Psychology

188

171

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Given that clinical depression is the exception rather than the norm in the face of late-life spousal loss, researchers seek to identify the psychosocial resources that protect against distress among the recently bereaved. Studies have documented the protective effects of social support (Bisconti, Bergeman, & Boker, 2006), economic resources (van Grootheest, Beekman, Broese van Groenou, & Deeg, 1999), and personal attributes such as personality traits (Pai & Carr, 2010). Researchers also have investigated the extent to which religious beliefs and practices protect against loss-related distress (Becker et al, 2007;Pargament, 1997;Pargament, Smith, Koenig, & Perez, 1998;Sherkat & Reed, 1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Afterlife Beliefs Affect Psychological Adjustment to Late-Life Spousal Loss?

Carr¹,

Sharp²

2013

The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences an

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Objectives. We explore whether beliefs about the existence and nature of an afterlife affect 5 psychological symptoms (anxiety, anger, depression, intrusive thoughts, and yearning) among recently bereaved older spouses.Method. We conduct multivariate regression analyses using data from the Changing Lives of Older Couples (CLOC), a prospective study of spousal loss. The CLOC obtained data from bereaved persons prior to loss and both 6 and 18 months postloss. All analyses are adjusted for health, sociodemographic characteristics, and preloss marital quality.Results. Bleak or uncertain views about the afterlife are associated with multiple aspects of distress postloss. Uncertainty about the existence of an afterlife is associated with elevated intrusive thoughts, a symptom similar to posttraumatic distress. Widowed persons who do not expect to be reunited with loved ones in the afterlife report significantly more depressive symptoms, anger, and intrusive thoughts at both 6 and 18 months postloss.Discussion. Beliefs in an afterlife may be maladaptive for coping with late-life spousal loss, particularly if one is uncertain about its existence or holds a pessimistic view of what the afterlife entails. Our findings are broadly consistent with recent work suggesting that "continuing bonds" with the decedent may not be adaptive for older bereaved spouses.

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“…In the present study the NEO-FFI traits of interest were neuroticism and conscientiousness. Using Cronbach´s coefficient alpha, the internal consistency in the present study was for Neuroticism, α= .81 and Conscientiousness, α= .82 which can be compared to Neuroticism, α= .73 and Conscientiousness, α= .73 in the Changing Lives of Older Couples-study (Pai & Carr, 2010).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 68%

The role of neuroticism and conscientiousness on mortality risk in older adults after child and spouse bereavement

Bratt

Stenström

Rennemark

2015

Aging & Mental Health

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Objective: Bereavement effects on mortality risk were investigated in 1150 randomly selected participants, aged 60-104, in the Swedish National Study of Aging and Care. Method:Cox proportional hazards models, controlling for age, gender, functional ability, the personality traits neuroticism and conscientiousness as well as time since the latest loss were used to predict mortality risk.Results: Having lost a child, spouse or both child and spouse did not predict mortality risk. An indirect link between bereavement and mortality was found showing for each year since loss the mortality risk decreased by about 1%. Neuroticism, but not conscientiousness, was associated with mortality risk, with a small-effect size. Conclusions:The different bereavements did not predict mortality risk while an indirect link was found showing that mortality risk decreased with time.

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Do Personality Traits Moderate the Effect of Late-Life Spousal Loss on Psychological Distress?

Cited by 56 publications

References 48 publications

Conscientiousness, health, and aging: The Life Course of Personality Model.

Conscientiousness, health, and aging: The Life Course of Personality Model.

Do Afterlife Beliefs Affect Psychological Adjustment to Late-Life Spousal Loss?

The role of neuroticism and conscientiousness on mortality risk in older adults after child and spouse bereavement

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