Spousal Support, Spousal Strain, and Loneliness in Older Mexican Couples

Abstract

Objectives A growing body of research has identified factors related to loneliness among older adults. Fewer have investigated predictors of loneliness within married couples. This analysis investigates how spousal support and strain relate with loneliness within older couples (age 50+), and whether these associations are modified by functional limitation. The study focuses on Mexico, a country experiencing rapid aging occurring alongside historically limited institutional support for older adults, and where traditional gender roles extend to marriage. Methods The analytic sample consisted of 3,584 husband-wife dyads from the 2012 and 2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study. Loneliness was measured using the Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Associations between spousal support, strain, and loneliness were estimated within husband-wife dyads using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Results Experiencing more spousal support was associated with less loneliness, whereas experiencing spousal strain was associated with more loneliness three years later among married adults. The associations between spousal support/strain and loneliness were stronger among husbands with limitations in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) when compared to their counterparts without ADL limitations. Discussion Among married adults, spousal support and strain may be important factors to understand loneliness within marriage. Effects should be interpreted within the context of functional limitation.

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