Mealtime Behavior and Depressive Symptoms in Late-Life Marriage

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Depressive symptoms are a significant concern in older adults.
• Marital relationships play a crucial role in the well-being of older individuals.
• Understanding the interplay between daily behaviors and mental health is vital for this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between spouses' mealtime behaviors and their own and their partner's depressive symptoms.
• To examine gender differences in these associations.
• To test marital satisfaction as a mediator in the relationship between mealtime behaviors and depressive symptoms.

Main Methods:

• 101 older married couples participated.
• Data collected via self-report on mealtime behaviors (frequency of meals, snacks, fast-food meals, meals eaten alone), depressive symptoms, and marital satisfaction.
• Actor Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was utilized for analysis.

Main Results:

• A significant actor effect was found for the number of fast-food meals on depressive symptoms.
• A significant partner effect was observed for both the number of fast-food meals and meals eaten alone on depressive symptoms.
• Gender differences emerged, with marital satisfaction mediating specific mealtime behavior effects on depressive symptoms for both husbands and wives.

Conclusions:

• Mealtime behaviors, particularly fast-food consumption and eating alone, are linked to depressive symptoms in older married couples.
• Marital satisfaction significantly mediates these effects, highlighting the dyadic nature of mental health.
• Findings suggest potential targets for dyadic interventions to improve mental health in aging couples.