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Relationship Difficulty Is Associated With Poorer Mental Health in Later Life
Lea Ellwardt1, Theo G van Tilburg2
1Department of Sociology and Social Psychology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Summary
Difficult relationships in older adults
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Social integration promotes well-being and healthy aging in older adults.
- However, difficult relationships within social networks can negatively impact mental health.
- Understanding this duality is crucial for supporting healthy aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between relationship difficulty in older adults' core networks and mental health outcomes.
- Specifically examining loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
- To explore the impact of these difficult relationships on mental health indicators.
Main Methods:
- Utilized survey data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA).
- Included 892 older adults (mean age 73).
- Employed 2-step estimation with inverse-probability weights for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of relationship difficulty and mental health.
Main Results:
- Relationship difficulty was significantly linked to poorer mental health (loneliness, depression, anxiety) cross-sectionally.
- Lagged effects showed significant associations with depression.
- The weakest lagged effects were observed for anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Difficult relationships in older adults' social networks are associated with adverse mental health outcomes.
- Social integration can be a double-edged sword, with potential negative impacts.
- Research and practice should acknowledge and address the negative aspects of social relationships in older populations.
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