@article {7421, title = {Individual well-being in middle and older adulthood: do spousal beliefs matter?}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {64}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Sep}, pages = {586-96}, publisher = {64B}, abstract = {

Associations between health, control beliefs, and well-being in later life are frequently conceptualized in terms of the characteristics of individuals. However, spousal interdependencies in psychosocial characteristics are also likely to be relevant for well-being. The present study investigated associations of self-rated health, control, and relationship closeness with life satisfaction and positive and negative affect in a sample of 2,235 spousal dyads. A significant proportion of variance in health, control, closeness, and well-being occurred between dyads. Individuals{\textquoteright} self-rated health, control, and relationship closeness were associated with higher well-being. Spouses{\textquoteright} self-rated health and control beliefs were consistently and positively associated with individuals{\textquoteright} well-being; however, effect sizes were small. Some evidence for individual{\textquoteright}s control beliefs buffering the association between health and well-being emerged, whereas spouses{\textquoteright} perceived control was not a significant moderator of the health-well-being association. Results highlight the importance of couple interdependencies for contextualizing health and well-being in older adulthood.

}, keywords = {Adult, Affect, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Attitude to Health, Culture, Female, Humans, Individuality, Internal-External Control, Male, Marriage, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Spouses}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbp058}, author = {Tim D Windsor and Lindsay H Ryan and Jacqui Smith} }