@article {11779, title = {The Role of Purpose in Life in the Relationship between Widowhood and Cognitive Decline among Older Adults in the U.S.}, journal = {The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry}, volume = {30}, year = {2022}, pages = {383-391}, abstract = {Objectives The objective of this study was to examine the role of purpose in life in the relationship between widowhood and cognitive decline. Methods This study used a sample of 12,856 respondents (20,408 observations) collected from a national panel survey, the 2006-2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), that sampled older adults aged 50 or older. The study estimated growth-curve models with years since spousal death, purpose in life, and interaction between the two to predict cognition using three measures{\textemdash}total cognition, fluid, and crystallized intelligence scores. We also estimated growth-curve models by sex, race/ethnicity, and education. Results While years since spousal death negatively correlated with cognition, purpose in life positively correlated with cognition. Furthermore, purpose in life had a moderating effect on the relationship between years since spousal death and cognition. This effect was found by using total cognition (coef.= 0.0515; z= 2.64; p<0.01) and fluid intelligence scores (coef.= 0.0576; z= 3.23; p<0.05). The same effects were salient among females (coef.= 0.0556; z= 2.19; p<0.05) Whites (coef.= 0.0526; z= 2.52; p<0.05), and older adults with more education (coef.= 0.0635; z= 2.10; p<0.05). Conclusions Higher purpose in life relates to the negative correlations between widowhood and cognition of older adults. Educational programs improving purpose in life are a possible avenue for reducing the adverse effect of widowhood on cognition and warrant future exploration.}, keywords = {Cognitive decline, Purpose in life, Widowhood}, isbn = {1064-7481}, doi = {10.1016/j.jagp.2021.07.010}, author = {Su Hyun Shin and Behrens, Emily A. and Patricia Parmelee and Kim, Giyeon} }