@article {7324,
	title = {Does caring for your spouse harm one{\textquoteright}s health? Evidence from a United States nationally-representative sample of older adults.},
	journal = {Ageing Soc},
	volume = {29},
	year = {2009},
	month = {2009 Feb},
	pages = {277-293},
	publisher = {29},
	abstract = {<p>The purpose of this article is to investigate the relationship between spousal care-giving and declines in functioning and self-rated health among older care-givers. The authors used data from the 2000 and 2002 waves of the United States Health and Retirement Study, a biennial longitudinal survey of a nationally representative cohort of adults aged 50 or more years. Two outcomes were examined, declines in functioning and declines in self-rated health. Care-givers were classified into three groups: no care-giving, less than 14 hours of care-giving per week, and 14 or more hours care-giving per week. To assess declines in functioning, two summary scores were created of limitations in basic and instrumental Activities of Daily Living. To assess declines in self-rated health, we compared responses from 2000 and 2002. In the fully adjusted models, care-giving hours did not have an independent effect on declines in functioning or self-rated health. The relationship between care-giving hours and declines in functioning and self-rated health is probably attributable to socio-demographic characteristics, mainly age. The findings suggest that spousal care-giving does not of itself harm functional health or perceived health among older adult care-givers. Understanding the differential effects of these socio-economic characteristics with care-giving hours on health will be useful in promoting the health of older adult care-givers and treating their disorders.</p>},
	issn = {0144-686X},
	doi = {10.1017/S0144686X08007824},
	author = {Kristi Rahrig Jenkins and Mohammed U Kabeto and Kenneth M. Langa}
}
