Reciprocal effects of depressive symptoms and life satisfaction among Chinese older married couples from 2010 to 2014: evidence from the China Family Panel Studies

Abstract

Objectives: Depressive symptoms and life satisfaction are closely related among the older adults. However, investigation of the dyadic influence of depressive symptoms and life satisfaction among Chinese older married couples is limited. The current study aimed to investigate the reciprocal effects of life satisfaction and depressive symptoms longitudinally among a sample of Chinese older married couples.Method: The current sample consisted of 1,877 older married couples from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Depressive symptoms and life satisfaction were measured at the 2010 baseline and the 2014 assessment. Age, income, education, physical health, and length of marriage measured at baseline were included as the controlled variables. Data was analyzed with the longitudinal actor-partner interdependence models.Results: One’s life satisfaction and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with his/her own life satisfaction and depressive symptoms longitudinally. In addition, higher levels of wives’ depressive symptoms in 2010 were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of life satisfaction among their husbands in 2014. Higher levels of husbands’ life satisfaction in 2010 were associated with higher levels of wives’ life satisfaction in 2014.Conclusion: The current study found both actor and partner effects in the long-term association between depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Among these older married couples, husbands were the ‘receivers’ of their wives’ depressive symptoms and the ‘senders’ of life satisfaction. Practitioners aiming to promote the well-beings of older married adults need to consider the dyadic influences given the significant partner effects found in the current study.