Relationship Quality Patterns and Disability in Later Life
2024

Relationship Quality and Disability in Later Life

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Sauerteig-Rolston Madison, Ferraro Kenneth

Primary Institution: Indiana University School of Medicine

Hypothesis

The study examines the gendered relationship between patterns of relationship quality and the onset of disability in later life.

Conclusion

Adverse relationships are linked to an earlier onset of disability in older adults.

Supporting Evidence

  • Older adults in adverse relationships had higher odds of disability than those in high quality relationships.
  • Men in adverse or indifferent relationships had a higher probability of disability than women in similar relationships.
  • Early onset of disability was associated with adverse and ambivalent relationships.

Takeaway

Having bad relationships can make older people get sick faster, while mixed relationships can also be harmful.

Methodology

The study used cross-sectional and longitudinal models with logistic regression and Weibull accelerated failure-time models on data from the Health and Retirement Study.

Participant Demographics

Older adults, with a focus on gender differences.

Statistical Information

P-Value

<0.001

Confidence Interval

1.11-1.44

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.1528

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