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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit

Published on: September 30, 2020

Spousal interrelations in old age--a mini-review.

Christiane Hoppmann¹, Denis Gerstorf

¹Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. choppmann@psych.ubc.ca

|April 7, 2009

Summary

Spousal relationships in old age impact cognition, well-being, and health. These connections offer developmental opportunities but also increase vulnerability to loss, highlighting the need for careful study.

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Social Psychology
Developmental Psychology

Background:

Spousal interrelations are crucial in later life.
These relationships influence key life domains such as cognition, well-being, and health.

Purpose of the Study:

To review existing findings on spousal interrelations in old age.
To explore theoretical mechanisms and methodological challenges in studying these dynamics.

Main Methods:

Literature review of research on spousal interrelations in aging.
Discussion of theoretical frameworks, including goal-related processes.
Identification of methodological issues in aging research.

Main Results:

Spousal relationships can foster development but also create vulnerability to loss.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit

Published on: September 30, 2020

Individual and spousal goal-related processes may underlie these effects.

Methodological challenges include time-scale analysis and appropriate data tools.

Conclusions:

Aging research can benefit from examining interconnected developmental pathways of spouses.
It is essential to differentiate individual effects from relationship-specific effects.