Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Later-Life Trajectories of Cognitive Functioning among Married and Widowed Older Men and Women of Mexican Origin

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Research on marital status-gender differences in later-life trajectories of cognitive functioning is scarce. Drawing on seven waves of data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly, this research uses growth curve models to examine later-life dynamics of cognitive functioning among married and widowed older men and women of Mexican descent (aged 65+; N = 3329). The findings demonstrate that the widowed, regardless of gender, had lower initial levels of cognition but a less steep cognitive decline across waves, compared to married men. Age and socioeconomic resources accounted for these marital status differences in levels and rates of change in cognitive functioning completely among widowed men and partially among widowed women. Moreover, net of all the factors, married women had a slower cognitive decline than married men. This study also shows that health and social integration might shape cognitive functioning among older adults of Mexican descent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aartsen, M. J., van Tilburg, T., Smith, C. H. M., Comijs, H. C., & Knipscheer, K. C. P. M. (2005). Does widowhood affect memory performance of older people? Psychological Medicine, 35, 217–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, B., Aranda, M. P., Kemp, B., & Takagi, K. (2002). Ethnic and gender differences in distress among Anglo American, African American, Japanese American, and Mexican American spousal caregivers of persons with dementia. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 8, 279–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angel, J. L., Douglas, N., & Angel, R. J. (2003). Gender, widowhood, and long-term care in the older Mexican American population. Journal of Women & Aging, 15, 89–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arber, S. (2004). Gender, marital status, and ageing: Linking material, health, and social resources. Journal of Aging Studies, 18, 91–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atti, A. R., Forlani, C., De Ronchi, D., Palmer, K., Casadio, P., Dalmonte, E., & Fratiglioni, L. (2010). Cognitive impairment after age 60: Clinical and social correlates in the “Faenza Project”. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 21, 1325–1334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benn, E. K. T., Fox, A., Fei, K., Roberts, E., & Boden-Albala, B. (2015). Moving towards a more comprehensive investigation of racial/ethnic differences in cognitive disability among US adults. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 17, 1105–1113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bordone, V., & Weber, D. (2012). Number of children and cognitive abilities in later life. Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, 10, 95–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brenowitz, W. D., Kukull, W. A., Beresford, S. A. A., Monsell, S. E., & Williams, E. C. (2014). Social relationships and risk of incident mild cognitive impairment in U.S. Alzheimer’s disease centers. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 28, 253–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiriboga, D. A., Black, S. A., Aranda, M., & Markides, K. (2002). Stress and depressive symptoms among Mexican American elders. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 57B, P559–P568.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chodosh, J., Miller-Martinez, D., Aneshensel, C. S., Wight, R. G., & Karlamangla, A. S. (2010). Depressive symptoms, chronic diseases, and physical disabilities as predictors of cognitive functioning trajectories in older Americans. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 58, 2350–2357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comijs, H. C., van den Kommer, T. N., Minnaar, R. W. M., Penninx, B. W. J. H., & Deeg, D. J. H. (2011). Accumulated and differential effects of life events on cognitive decline in older persons: Depending on depression, baseline cognition, or ApoE ɛ4 status? The Journals of Gerontology. Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 66B(S1), i111–i120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corsentino, E., Collins, N., Sachs-Ericsson, N., & Blazer, D. (2009). Religious attendance reduces cognitive decline among older women with high levels of depressive symptoms. The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 64, 1283–1289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Díaz-Venegas, C., Downer, B., Langa, K. M., & Wong, R. (2016). Racial and ethnic differences in cognitive function among older adults in the USA. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 31, 1004–1012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng, L., Ng, X.-T., Yap, P., Li, J., Lee, T.-S., Håkansson, K., Kua, E.-H., & Ng, T.-P. (2014). Marital status and cognitive impairment among community-dwelling Chinese older adults: The role of gender and social engagement. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra, 4, 375–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folstein, M., Folstein, S., & McHugh, P. (1975). Mini-mental state: A practical method for grading the state of patients for the clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12, 189–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foong, H. F., Hamid, T. A., Ibrahim, R., Haron, S. A., & Shahar, S. (2018). Predicting cognitive function of the Malaysian elderly: A structural equation modelling approach. Aging & Mental Health, 22, 109–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fratiglioni, L., Wang, H.-X., Ericsson, K., Maytan, M., & Winblad, B. (2000). Influence of social network on occurrence of dementia. Lancet, 355, 1315–1319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, M. A., Downer, B., Chiu, C.-T., Saenz, J. L., Rote, S., & Wong, R. (2017). Racial/ethnic and nativity differences in cognitive life expectancies among older adults in the United States. The Gerontologist, Advance Access Publication September, 16, 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzales, A. M. (2007). Determinants of parent-child coresidence among older Mexican parents: The salience of cultural values. Sociological Perspectives, 50, 561–577.

    Google Scholar 

  • González, H., Ceballos, M., Tarraf, W., West, B., Bowen, M., & Vega, W. (2009). The health of older Mexican Americans in the long run. American Journal of Public Health, 99, 1879–1885.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, H. A., Horn, K. P., Rasmussen, K. M., Hoffman, J. M., & Smith, K. R. (2017). Is cancer protective for subsequent Alzheimer’s disease risk? Evidence from the Utah population database. Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 72, 1032–1043.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harada, C. N., Natelson Love, M. C., & Triebel, K. (2013). Normal cognitive aging. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 29, 737–752.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayward, M. D., Hummer, R. A., Chiu, C.-T., González-González, C., & Wong, R. (2014). Does the Hispanic paradox in U.S. adult mortality extend to disability? Population Research and Policy Review, 33, 81–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helmer, C., Damon, D., Letenneur, L., Fabrigoule, C., Barberger-Gateau, P., Lafont, S., Fuhrer, R., Antonucci, T., Commenges, D., Orgogozo, J. M., & Dartigues, J. F. (1999). Marital status and risk of Alzheimer's disease: A French population-based cohort study. Neurology, 53, 1953–1958.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera, A. P., Lee, J., Palos, G., & Torres-vigil, I. (2008). Cultural influences in the patterns of long-term care use among Mexican American family caregivers. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 27, 141–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howrey, B. T., Raji, M. A., Masel, M. M., & Peek, M. K. (2015). Stability in cognitive function over 18 years: Prevalence and predictors among older Mexican Americans. Current Alzheimer Research, 12, 614–621.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlamangla, A. S., Miller-Martinez, D., Aneshensel, C. S., Seeman, T. E., Wight, R. G., & Chodosh, J. (2009). Trajectories of cognitive function in late life in the United States: Demographic and socioeconomic predictors. American Journal of Epidemiology, 170, 331–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khondoker, M., Rafnsson, S. B., Morris, S., Orrell, M., & Steptoe, A. (2017). Positive and negative experiences of social support and risk of dementia in later life: An investigation using the English longitudinal study of ageing. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 58, 99–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langa, K. M., Llewellyn, D. J., Lang, I. A., Weir, D. R., Wallace, R. B., Kabeto, M. U., & Huppert, F. A. (2009). Cognitive health among older adults in the United States and in England. BMC Geriatrics, 9, 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-9-23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao, J., & Scholes, S. (2017). Association of social support and cognitive aging modified by sex and relationship type: A prospective investigation in the English longitudinal study of ageing. American Journal of Epidemiology, 186, 787–795.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markides, K. S., Stroup-Benham, C. A., Goodwin, J. S., Perkowski, L. C., Lichtenstein, M., & Ray, L. A. (1996). The effect of medical conditions on the functional limitations of Mexican-American elderly. Annals of Epidemiology, 6, 386–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, F., Marioni, R., & Brayne, C. (2012). Examining the influence of gender, education, social class and birth cohort on MMSE tracking over time: A population-based prospective cohort study. BMC Geriatrics, 12, 45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzuco, S., Meggiolaro, S., Ongaro, F., & Toffolutti, V. (2017). Living arrangement and cognitive decline among older people in Europe. Ageing & Society, 37, 1111–1133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mielke, M. M., Rosenberg, P. B., Tschanz, J., Cook, L., Corcoran, C., Hayden, K. M., Norton, M., Rabins, P. V., Green, R. C., Welsh-Bohmer, K. A., Breitner, J. C. S., Munger, R., & Lyketsos, C. G. (2007). Vascular factors predict rate of progression in Alzheimer disease. Neurology, 69, 1850–1858.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moon, Y., Lee, H., NamGung, O.-K., & Han, S.-H. (2016). Which stratum of urban elderly is most vulnerable for dementia? Journal of Korean Medical Science, 31, 1635–1640.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mungas, D., Marshall, S. C., Weldon, M., Haan, M., & Reed, B. R. (1996). Age and education correction of mini-mental state examination for English- and Spanish-speaking elderly. Neurology, 46, 700–706.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, H. T., Black, S. A., Ray, L. A., Espino, D. V., & Markides, K. S. (2002). Predictors of decline in MMSE scores among older Mexican Americans. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 57A, M181–M185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortman, J. M., Velkoff, V. A., & Hogan, H. (2014). An aging nation: The older population in the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p25-1140.pdf. Accessed 15 August 2018.

  • Poey, J. L., Burr, J. A., & Roberts, J. S. (2017). Social connectedness, perceived isolation, and dementia: Does the social environment moderate the relationship between genetic risk and cognitive well-being? The Gerontologist, 57, 1031–1040.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES–D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez, N., Mira, C. B., Paez, N. D., & Myers, H. F. (2007). Exploring the complexities of familism and acculturation: Central constructs for people of Mexican origin. American Journal of Community Psychology, 39, 61–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohlfsen, L. S., & Kronenfeld, J. J. (2014). Gender differences in functional health: Latent curve analysis assessing differential exposure. Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 69, 590–602.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seeman, T. E., Lusignolo, T. M., Albert, M., & Berkman, L. (2001). Social relationships, social support, and patterns of cognitive aging in healthy, high-functioning older adults: MacArthur studies of successful aging. Health Psychology, 20, 243–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheffield, K. M., & Peek, M. K. (2009). Neighborhood context and cognitive decline in older Mexican Americans: Results from the Hispanic established populations for epidemiologic studies of the elderly. American Journal of Epidemiology, 169, 1092–1101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, J. D., & Willett, J. B. (2003). Applied longitudinal data analysis: Modeling change and event occurrence. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Socal, M. P., & Trujillo, A. J. (2018). Links between chronic illness and late-life cognition: Evidence from four Latin American countries. Journal of Aging and Health, 30, 262–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommerlad, A., Ruegger, J., Singh-Manoux, A., Lewis, G., & Livingston, G. (2017). Marriage and risk of dementia: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 89, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2017-316274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stott, D. J. (2006). Cognitive decline in ageing. Asian Journal of Gerontology & Geriatrics, 1, 21–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundström, A., Westerlund, O., & Kotyrlo, E. (2016). Marital status and risk of dementia: A nationwide population-based prospective study from Sweden. BMJ Open, 6, e008565. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilvis, R. S., Kähönen-Väre, M. H., Jolkkonen, J., Valvanne, J., Pitkala, K. H., & Strandberg, T. E. (2004). Predictors of cognitive decline and mortality of aged people over a 10-year period. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 59, 268–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Gelder, B. M., Tijhuis, M., Kalmijn, S., Giampaoli, S., Nissinen, A., & Kromhout, D. (2006). Marital status and living situation during a 5-year period are associated with a subsequent 10-year cognitive decline in older men: The FINE study. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 61B, P213-P219.

  • Vidarsdottir, H., Fang, F., Chang, M., Aspelund, T., Fall, K., Jonsdottir, M. K., Jonsson, P. V., Cotch, M. F., Harris, T. B., Launer, L. J., Gudnason, V., & Valdimarsdottir, U. (2014). Spousal loss and cognitive function in later life: A 25-year follow-up in the AGES-Reykjavik study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 179, 674–683.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Houston, 489 Philip G. Hoffman Hall, Houston, TX, 77204-3012, USA

    Maria A. Monserud

Authors
  1. Maria A. Monserud
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria A. Monserud.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Monserud, M.A. Later-Life Trajectories of Cognitive Functioning among Married and Widowed Older Men and Women of Mexican Origin. J Cross Cult Gerontol 34, 307–324 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-019-09380-w

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-019-09380-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation