Dyadic associations between cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms among older adult spouses over time in the Mexican Health and Aging Study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMarriage has important influences on cognitive and mental health. Although studies are increasingly showing interpersonal effects of cognition and depression in couples in the United States, there is a need to replicate these findings in other countries. The present study examined the bidirectional associations between older adult spouses’ cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms over time in the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) using an actor partner interdependence model.MethodData was from the MHAS, a national study of adults aged 50 and older residing in Mexico. The current study focuses on three interviews conducted in 2012, 2015 and 2018. We identified, 1,800 individuals (age 65 and over), consisting of 905 couples who had direct interviews in 2012 and at least one follow‐up direct interview in 2015 or 2018. Of these, 1,774 (98.6%:) had a direct interview in 2015, and 1389 (77.2%) completed the 2018 assessment. Cognitive functioning was measured with the MHAS Cognitive Battery. Depressive symptoms were measured with a 9‐item, modified Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for the Mexican population. Covariates included socio‐demographics, physical functioning, comorbidities, and smoking status.ResultStructural equation models testing longitudinal actor partner interdependence effects revealed a person’s own cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms predicted their own follow‐up cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms, respectively (see Table 1). Second, one’s own depressive symptoms was associated with more depressive symptoms in the spouse. Third, a person’s own cognitive functioning predicted their own depressive symptoms, and one’s own depressive symptoms predicted their own cognitive functioning across time. There were no significant interpersonal effects for cognitive functioning.ConclusionThese findings partially replicate previous research in older adult couples in the United States and highlight dyadic influences on mental health. However, in contrast to our prior research the current study found no association between spouses’ cognitive functioning. This difference highlights the importance of replicating studies of predictors of cognitive functioning across cultures. Future research is also needed to elucidate cultural mechanisms for interpersonal associations.