Depressive Symptoms among Former Spousal Caregivers: Comparing Stressors, Resources, and Circumstances of Caregiving Cessation among Older Husbands and Wives

TitleDepressive Symptoms among Former Spousal Caregivers: Comparing Stressors, Resources, and Circumstances of Caregiving Cessation among Older Husbands and Wives
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsPerone, AK, Dunkle, RE, Feld, S, Shen, H-W, Kim, MHee, Pace, GT
JournalJOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK
Volume62
Pagination682-700
Date PublishedAUG 18
Type of ArticleArticle
ISSN Number1540-4048
KeywordsBereavement, Caregiving cessation, gender, spousal caregiving
Abstract

Little research focuses on the mental health of caregivers (CGs) who stop providing care to their community-dwelling spouse. We examine depressive symptoms of former primary CG spouses who stopped caregiving over a two-year follow-up period when the care recipient (CR): (1) no longer has functional problems; (2) continues having functional problems; or (3) dies. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2000-2014), we located 2,370 couples who were both 50+ at baseline and where one partner provided help with ADL and/or IADL limitations but did not do so two years later. OLS regressions stratified by gender indicated that both male and female former spousal CGs whose CR died had significantly more depressive symptoms than those who ceased caregiving when their spouse did or did not still have functional problems. Former wife CGs who were older and whose husbands had more baseline ADLs had fewer follow-up depressive symptoms; wife CGs whose husbands had a nursing home stay had more depressive symptoms. Former husband CGs who had provided longer monthly hours of care had fewer follow-up symptoms. Findings underscore the importance of targeting mental and physical health services to both former caregiving husbands and wives, especially after spousal death.

DOI10.1080/01634372.2019.1647906
Citation Key ISI:000490313400008