Claudia Recksiedler1, Boris Cheval2,3, Stefan Sieber2, Dan Orsholits2, Robert S Stawski4, Stéphane Cullati2,5. 1. Department of Social Monitoring and Methodology, German Youth Institute, Munich, Germany. 2. Swiss NCCR "LIVES - Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives", University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 4. School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA. 5. Population Health Laboratory, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
Abstract
Objectives: Widowhood and adverse childhood socioeconomic circumstances (CSC) have both been linked to increased levels of depressive symptoms in old age. Beyond their independent impact on depressive symptoms, experiencing adverse CSC may also trigger a cascade of cumulative adversity and secondary stressors across the life course that shapes how individuals weather stressful life events later on.Method: We examine whether exposure to adverse CSC moderates the relationship between later-life widowhood and depressive symptoms using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2004-2017). Results: Mixed-effects models revealed that both widowhood and adverse CSC were associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms among men and women. Associations between widowhood and depressive symptoms, however, were not moderated by CSC for both genders. Conclusion: Persisting differences in the levels of mental health in response to later-life widowhood did not further widen in the presence of disparities experienced early in the life course. This may reflect the life-altering impact of this age-normative, yet stressful life event across the social strata.
Objectives: Widowhood and adverse childhood socioeconomic circumstances (CSC) have both been linked to increased levels of depressive symptoms in old age. Beyond their independent impact on depressive symptoms, experiencing adverse CSC may also trigger a cascade of cumulative adversity and secondary stressors across the life course that shapes how individuals weather stressful life events later on.Method: We examine whether exposure to adverse CSC moderates the relationship between later-life widowhood and depressive symptoms using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2004-2017). Results: Mixed-effects models revealed that both widowhood and adverse CSC were associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms among men and women. Associations between widowhood and depressive symptoms, however, were not moderated by CSC for both genders. Conclusion: Persisting differences in the levels of mental health in response to later-life widowhood did not further widen in the presence of disparities experienced early in the life course. This may reflect the life-altering impact of this age-normative, yet stressful life event across the social strata.
Entities:
Keywords:
Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE); Survey of Health; bereavement; early life; life course; mental health
Authors: Stefan Sieber; Boris Cheval; Dan Orsholits; Bernadette W A van der Linden; Idris Guessous; Rainer Gabriel; Matthias Kliegel; Martina von Arx; Michelle Kelly-Irving; Marja J Aartsen; Matthieu P Boisgontier; Delphine Courvoisier; Claudine Burton-Jeangros; Stéphane Cullati Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2020-06-02 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Martina von Arx; Boris Cheval; Stefan Sieber; Dan Orsholits; Eric Widmer; Matthias Kliegel; Idris Guessous; Michelle Kelly-Irving; Delphine S Courvoisier; Matthieu P Boisgontier; Stéphane Cullati Journal: SSM Popul Health Date: 2019-06-17