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Husbands’ and Wives’ Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms: Longitudinal Findings from the Cardiovascular Health Study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

When examining older adults’ health behaviors and psychological health, it is important to consider the social context.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine in older adult marriages whether each spouse’s physical activity predicted changes in their own (actor effects) and their partner’s (partner effects) depressive symptoms. Gender differences were also examined.

Method

Each spouse within 1260 married couples (at baseline) in the Cardiovascular Health Study completed self-report measures at wave 1 (1989–1990), wave 3 (1992–1993), and wave 7 (1996–1997). Dyadic path analyses were performed.

Results

Husbands’ physical activity significantly predicted own decreased depressive symptoms (actor effect). For both spouses, own physical activity did not significantly predict the spouse’s depressive symptoms (partner effects). However, husbands’ physical activity and depressive symptoms predicted wives’ physical activity and depressive symptoms (partner effects), respectively. Depressive symptoms did not predict physical activity.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that husbands’ physical activity is particularly influential for older married couples’ psychological health.

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Authors’ Statement of Conflict of Interest and Adherence to Ethical Standards

There are no conflicts of interest relevant to this work. Funding sources include a career development award to Joan Monin from the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (K01 AG042450-01A1) and an award from Yale’s Pepper Center (P30AG021342). This research was also supported by contracts HHSN268201200036C, HHSN268200800007C, N01 HC55222, N01HC85079, N01HC85080, N01HC85081, N01HC85082, N01HC85083, N01HC85086, and grant HL080295 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), with additional contribution from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Additional support was provided by AG023629 from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). A full list of principal CHS investigators and institutions can be found at CHS-NHLBI.org. Support was also provided to Becca Levy from the National Institute on Aging (R01AG023993), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (R01HL089314).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA

    Joan K. Monin Ph.D., Becca Levy Ph.D., Baibing Chen MPH, Margaret Doyle MPH & Trace Kershaw Ph.D.

  2. VA Connecticut Healthcare System; Geriatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Terri Fried M.D.

  3. University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Sarah T. Stahl Ph.D. & Richard Schulz Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Joan K. Monin Ph.D.
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  2. Becca Levy Ph.D.
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  8. Trace Kershaw Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Joan K. Monin Ph.D..

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Monin, J.K., Levy, B., Chen, B. et al. Husbands’ and Wives’ Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms: Longitudinal Findings from the Cardiovascular Health Study. ann. behav. med. 49, 704–714 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-015-9705-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-015-9705-4

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