Relationships In Later Life Research Articles

The Paradox of Aging-Related Fears: Fear of Loneliness in Old Age as a Motivator for Loneliness Preventive Activities

Introduction: Aging is often seen as a challenging process, prompting individuals to form emotional reactions in response to the perceived challenges associated with growing older, manifested as aging-related fears. The present study focuses on the fear of loneliness in old age, a significant concern considering the socioemotional importance of close relationships in later life. Drawing from proactive coping theory, the study explores the association between fear of loneliness and aging preparation. This research aimed to investigate whether the fear of loneliness motivates individuals to engage in activities aimed at preventing loneliness in old age. For exploratory purposes, we consider both linear and nonlinear effects at the interindividual level, as well as the intraindividual-level differences between fear levels and behavioral outcomes. In addition, we also investigate the moderating role of trait neuroticism in these associations. Methods: Data from the “Ageing as Future (AAF)” project in Germany (N = 1,183) spanning from 2012 to 2023 were utilized. A multilevel model considered both intra- and interindividual variations, incorporating time-varying variables and covariates. Results: Linear mixed model analysis revealed that increased fear of loneliness corresponded to heightened engagement in preventive activities linearly, while a quadratic term indicated an inverted U-shaped relationship. The inclusion of occasion-specific deviation scores showed that individuals were more inclined to engage in preventive activities when experiencing heightened fear of loneliness than usual. This impact of deviation in fear perception was particularly evident among those with high levels of trait neuroticism. Conclusion: The study reveals that fear of loneliness in old age is associated with proactive engagement in preventive activities, with those prone to higher levels of fear or worry being particularly affected. These results emphasize the importance of a moderate level of fear in driving action without succumbing to excessive pessimism or unrealistic optimism. The findings contribute to understanding the motivational role of aging-related fears and hold implications for gerontological practices, emphasizing the need for a balanced fear perception in addressing potential negative impacts of aging. Future research could explore moderators and long-term consequences of motivational aging-related fears.

CONTACT FREQUENCY WITH CHILDREN FOLLOWING RELOCATION LATER IN LIFE: DO CONTACT MODES AND PROXIMITY TO A CHILD MATTER?

Abstract Contact with children is an important source of support for older adults. It is not clear if relocation and proximity to a child affect in-person communication as well as telephone, email, and social media contact between older parents and children. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2014-2018: N=3,332) we examined changes in communication frequencies between parents who either stayed or relocated in the last 4 years and potentially changed their close proximity to a child. We found differential effects of relocation on contact frequency depending on contact modes and proximity. Regarding in-person contact, unadjusted and adjusted linear regressions revealed older adults were less likely to meet up with their children regardless of the distance moved when a child was not nearby. In contrast to stayers, movers with proximity to a child were more likely to meet up with their children (adj. β=0.50, p ≤0.001). We found the same trend for telephone and email contact frequency. Movers with proximity to a child were more likely to have telephone (adj. β=0.17,p=0.034) and email contact (adj. β=0.33, p=0.023). Unlike other types of contact modes, social media contact frequency was not influenced by relocation or child proximity. While older adults tend to constrict their relationships, this trend is not applicable to every older adult. In the social convey model, situational characteristics (e.g., relocation) is considered, and heterogeneity in social relations in later life can be explained.

CHILDLESSNESS AND LONELINESS IN LATER LIFE? THE MODERATING ROLE OF REASONS FOR CHILDLESSNESS

Abstract Having children is a significant life event that causes major changes in social networks. Despite the fact that percentages of childlessness are on the rise worldwide, the connection between childlessness and loneliness in old age is still underresearched. Additionally, the scientific literature frequently draws a line between childlessness that is voluntary and involuntary, while a considerably gray area of reasons for childlessness is present between these two extremes of the continuum. The hypothesis of this study is that there is a moderating effect of reasons for childlessness on the link between childlessness (i.e., having children or not) and loneliness. A cross-sectional survey was created for this, containing questions on topics like social relationships, childlessness, and reasons for childlessness, as well as several validated measurement instruments, such as the De Jong Gierveld 11-item Loneliness Scale and the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. A total of 500 older adults, at least 60 years old, participated in this study, with half of them being childless. The findings describe 1) the degree of social, emotional, and overall loneliness among older adults with and without children; 2) the reasons of childlessness among older adults; 3) the relationship between childlessness and current loneliness; and 4) whether the relationship between childlessness and loneliness is moderated by the reasons for childlessness. This study increases understanding of various aspects of loneliness among older persons in relation to childlessness, as well as the accompanying changes in the dynamics of social relations in later life.

DYADIC HEALTH SCIENCE IN GERONTOLOGY: RECENT ADVANCES AND INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES

Abstract Close others impact health in profound ways, and many of the critical pathways can only be understood by examining the dynamics that emerge between two people. This symposium will present new theoretical and methodological advances in dyadic health science, and invite discussion of differing perspectives on the scope of dyadic research. Dr. Wilson will overview the essential components of rigorous dyadic health research and explain the range of approaches used to define dyadic research, setting the stage for the cutting-edge work described in the subsequent presentations. Drs. Novak and Yorgason will discuss the importance of matching research questions with dyadic data and how to best model congruence/similarity, difference scores, accuracy or bias, and idealization between partners. Dr. Pauly will describe a recently proposed developmental-contextual model of couple synchrony, and present findings from research using a smartwatch and smartphone system (DyMand) that captures dyadic interactions. Dr. Polenick will present findings from research examining effects of incongruent and discordant health conditions within older couples on depressive symptoms. Dr. Christine Proulx, an internationally recognized scholar of close relationships in late life, will offer perspective on these advances and critical future directions for the field. This is a Dyadic Research on Health and Illness Across the Adult Lifespan Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

Dimensions of the diet-exercise relationship in later life: A qualitative study

ObjectiveDiet and physical activity are two lifestyle behaviours that are critical for healthy ageing. The aim of this study was to explore how older adults negotiate dietary and physical activity decisions to identify areas of intersection between these two behaviours and inform health promotion interventions targeting both diet and exercise. MethodsThis exploratory study utilised a novel data collection approach that involved lay interviewers recruiting their peers to (i) participate in two interviews over a period of six months and (ii) make notes on their thoughts relating to diet and physical activity. Participants were 75 adults aged 60+ years in Western Australia (n = 64 females). ResultsThree primary themes were identified: (i) the importance but difficulty of achieving energy balance; (ii) issues relating to managing food intake before, during, and after physical activity; and (iii) reciprocal opportunities for eating and physical activity. ConclusionsDiet and physical activity are linked in complex ways, highlighting the need for multi-factorial interventions. Implications for public healthWhen developing communications strategies designed to encourage older people to both improve their diets and increase their physical activity, consideration could be given to leveraging existing perceived alignments between healthy eating and being active.

From attitudes to social networks: National gender-role attitudes and gender differences in late-life social relationships

Studies often find gender differences in social networks in later life, but are these findings universal, or do they differ in various cultural contexts? To address this research gap, the current study examines the association between gender differences in social relationships and country-level gender-role attitudes. We combined data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) of individuals aged 50 years and older with country-level data on gender-role attitudes from the European Values Survey (EVS) for 15 European countries. We estimated a series of multivariate hierarchical regression models that predicted the size of the personal social network, its emotional closeness, and the proportion of the spouse, children, and friends in the network. The results indicated gender differences in social network characteristics. Women reported larger social networks and were more likely to have larger proportions of children and friends but smaller proportions of the spouse in their social networks. The magnitude of gender differences was associated with country-level gender-role attitudes. In countries with more egalitarian gender-role attitudes, women had larger networks with a larger proportion of friends compared to men. In countries with more traditional gender-role attitudes, women had larger proportions of their children and spouse in their social networks and had emotionally closer networks. Our findings suggest that the societal context and opportunity structures for social interactions play an important role in shaping the structure of women’s and men’s social relationships in later life.

Enduring Bonds: Duration and Contact in Close Relationships in Late Life.

Older adults maintain ties to long-duration social partners, some with whom have regular contact and some with whom have little contact. We asked whether these ties with little contact still offer a sense of connection and security, and buffer the effects of interpersonal stress in daily life. Helping older adults foster these ties may improve their mental health. Participants (n = 313) aged 65+ completed a baseline interview reporting duration and contact frequency of their closest ties. Then, participants completed ecological momentary assessments every 3 hr for 5-6 days, reporting their social encounters and mood. We classified ties according to duration (10+ years = long vs shorter duration) and frequency of contact (at least once a month = active vs dormant). Throughout the day, participants were more likely to have stressful encounters with long-duration active ties. Encounters with active ties were associated with more positive mood (regardless of duration) and encounters with long-duration dormant ties with more negative mood. Having more active ties buffered effects of interpersonal stress on mood, but more long-duration dormant ties exacerbated these effects. Supporting social integration theory, ties with frequent contact were associated with positive mood. Surprisingly, long-duration ties with infrequent contact exacerbated effects of interpersonal stress on mood. Older adults who lack contact with long-duration social partners may be more sensitive to interpersonal stress. Future interventions might focus on phone or electronic media to increase contact with long-duration social partners.

The Implications of Child Trafficking on Society, A Case Study of Westland Sub-County Kenya

This paper uses data collected for an MA Thesis on the implications of child trafficking on society, a case study of Westland Sub-County, Kenya. The study has been motivated by increased cases of child trafficking in Kenya, especially within Kitsuru, though with little research activity in this area. The study was guided by the following research objectives; to determine the prevalence of child trafficking cases, to establish factors responsible for child trafficking to examine the effects of child trafficking on victims and finally to assess impact of child trafficking in Westland-Sub-County, Kenya. This study was grounded by Bronfenbrenner’s (1994) Ecological Systems Theory. The study used mixed method design and a purposive sampling design model. The main method of data collection was the interview. In addition, FGDs were used to collect data from the victim respondents. The sample size comprised of 50 respondents that included; DCI Officers, Employees from; HAART Kenya, Kabete Remand Home, Children Department and Parents of Trafficked children. Data was coded and analyzed using NVIVO software, computer software for managing qualitative and quantitative data. The first objective established prevalence average, of about 11 children that are trafficked every month in Westland’s Sub County. The study further established frequent information tips of 10s of children being clandestinely trafficked outside the country though without arrests, indication a possibility of very intricate web of organized informers for child traffickers. The second objective established the factors responsible for child trafficking in Westland Sub-County, Kenya. These included; high demand for women in sex trafficking (60%), economic hardship (90%), demand for cheap domestic and agricultural labour (80%) poverty(100%), and demand from human organ harvesting sector(50%).In all this the underlying factor is the temptation of poverty. The third objective established the effects of child trafficking on Victims in Westland Sub-County, Kenya from both the perspectives of adult respondents and from the victim respondents. These include; Low self-esteem and self-worth, inability to trust and build meaningful relationships in later life, substance misuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder all rated at 90%, fear, anger and hostility, sexualized behaviour, pseudo maturity and self-harm all rated at 80 percent. The fourth objective established the impact of child trafficking in Westland’s Sub-County, Kenya; educational impacts, economic impacts, health impacts, societal impacts and national security impacts that are likely to ground the country’s economy, trap families and communities into cycles of poverty amongst other impacts. Amongst other major recommendations, the government should first treat as a national disaster and hand it as such.

Exploring religious/spiritual pathways between practical wisdom and depression: Testing the importance of the divine relationship in later life

ABSTRACT The last several decades have witnessed the topic of wisdom gaining momentum in the field of positive psychology. In this study, we focus on the potentially important role of religion/spirituality, specifically beliefs about God, as a mediating mechanism underlying the relationship between practical wisdom and depression among older adults. Drawing on a nationally representative sample of older adults from the 2013 wave of the Religion, Aging, and Health Survey (n = 1,497), our results show that practical wisdom is associated with lower depressive symptoms. We also document that three God-related constructs, God-mediated control, trust in God, and gratitude towards God each partially explained the relationship between wisdom and well-being. Taken together, Christian conceptions of God as a personal, divine being, the ultimate attachment figure who is an unconditional source of love and support for believers, may be a target of older adults who have cultivated practical wisdom.

The Effects of Parental Conflicts and Divorce Towards Self-efficacy in Romantic Relationships of Young Adults Male

Parental conflict and divorce trends have been increasing over the years and hinder parents from nurturing their children, particularly fathers. Fathers are more likely to disengage in parenting after a divorce. This may affect children in their romantic relationships in later life. This study aimed to examine the effects of parental conflict and divorce and father parenting practices towards self-efficacy in romantic relationships of young adults male. The study applied quantitative methods with correlational, comparative, and regression analysis. 62 male and single young adults whose parents were divorced before the age of 18 were involved and chosen with purposive sampling. The data was collected by using the children's perception of interparental conflict scale (α=0.92), parental acceptance-rejection questionnaire (α=0.86), and self-efficacy in romantic relationship scale (α=0.89). The results revealed that there is a partial correlation between parental conflict intensity and relationship anxiety and other aspects related to the self-efficacy of young male adults. Paired t-test illustrated differences in self-efficacy in romantic relationships based on individual characteristics and father parenting practices (negative). Regression analysis also demonstrated a significant effect of father parenting practices, both positive and negative, towards self-efficacy in romantic relationships. In conclusion, the efficacy of romantic relationships in early adulthood from divorced families is influenced by negative paternal parenting.

Older Refugee Perspectives on Death, Remembrance, and Burial: The East Timorese in Indonesia

AbstractBased on extensive ethnographic research, this article examines the perspectives and practices related to death, remembrance, and burial among older East Timorese people who have resettled in Indonesia. The study reveals how their heightened awareness of mortality shapes their experiences of forced migration and intergenerational relations in later life, providing new insights into the challenges faced by displaced communities in various socio-cultural contexts. Through a nuanced analysis of translocal practices related to death, the article shows how older refugees navigate competing familial and cultural expectations while grappling with the legacies of the Indonesian occupation. The article also highlights the ongoing processes of dealing with the past and aspirations for the future, as older East Timorese contemplate their future burial places. By exploring the intertwinements of ageing and death in a forced migration context, this study sheds light on how ‘belonging’ emerges as a significant issue and the importance of intergenerational relationships in such contexts.

Social relationships in later life: Does marital status matter?

Previous research has suggested that unmarried persons may be disadvantaged in personal networks and social support. However, little is known about whether the quantity and quality of social relationships differ by marital status among older Americans. Using data from the 2006 and 2008 psychosocial questionnaires of the Health and Retirement Study, we examined the quantity and frequency of contact of three types of social relationships (i.e., friends, children, and family members) as well as the quality of these ties across six marital status groups (i.e., first married, remarried, cohabiting, divorced/separated, widowed, and never married). Our analytic sample included 13,087 respondents aged 51 and above. Multiple linear regression was used for the analysis. Our results show significant differences in social relationships by marital status. In terms of relationships with friends, compared to first-married persons, all the unmarried groups (except the cohabitors) had more frequent contact with their friends and reported greater support as well as greater strain from their friends, controlling for demographic covariates. Remarried persons and cohabitors were largely similar to their first-married counterparts except that both had fewer friends they felt close to, and the cohabitors also reported greater strain with their friends. In terms of relationships with children, all the unmarried groups except for widowed persons had fewer children they felt close to. All the unmarried groups were also disadvantaged in contact frequency and perceived social support from their children. Remarried persons were significantly disadvantaged compared to first-married persons in contact frequency and relationship quality with their children. These associations were largely robust when health and socioeconomic conditions were controlled for. In terms of relationships with family members, there were only a few significant differences across marital status groups. Our findings show the crucial role of marital status in shaping social relationships in later life.

The impact of adolescent work on parent–child relationships: A multi-generational approach among hospitality family businesses

Business-owning parents face the decision of whether to involve their own children in the family business. Employing family members for little or no wages is widely documented in the hospitality and tourism industries, though children’s role in such businesses is often missing from the literature. This article seeks to address this gap by exploring parental motives for involving children in the family business and the impact of such decisions on parent–child relationships in later life. The article adopts a multi-generational approach, comparing both parent’s and children’s accounts of adolescent work performed at the family business. The research findings are based on semi-structured interviews with nineteen individuals across five restaurant-owning families. The article concludes that parental motives for adolescent work are a composition of convenience, economic gain and an attempt to educate the next generation. We further argue that adolescent work serves as an ‘imprinting’ mechanism and demonstrate that children perceive their family business involvement to be a purely economic endeavour when their parents neglect to practise imprinting. The research findings indicate that when this happens, offspring recall their adolescent work experience negatively and it is detrimental to parent–child relationships. The originality of the article stems from the research findings which are based on interviews among adults who recalled their past experiences of adolescent work, thus allowing the longer lasting impact of adolescent work on parent–child relationships to be explored, whereas previous work adopting a similar focus has been conducted among adolescents.

‘Ways of being’ in the domestic garden for people living with dementia: doing, sensing and playing

Abstract Domestic gardens represent a site for enacting embodied identity and social relationships in later life, and negotiating tensions between continuity and change. In the context of dementia, domestic gardens have significant implications for ‘living well’ at home, and for wider discussions around embodiment, relational selfhood and agency. Yet previous studies exploring dementia and gardens have predominantly focused on care home or community contexts. In light of this, the paper explores the role of domestic gardens in the everyday lives of people living with dementia and their households, using qualitative, creative methods. This includes filmed walking interviews and garden tours, diaries and sketch methods, involving repeat visits with six households in England. Findings are organised thematically in relation to different ‘ways of being’ in the garden: working in and doing the garden; being in and sensing; and playing, empowerment and agency. These different ‘ways of being’ are situated within relationships with household members, neighbours and non-human actors, including pets, wildlife and the materiality of the garden. Garden practices illustrate continuity, situated within embodied biographies and habitus. However, identities, practices and gardens are also subject to ongoing readjustment and reconstruction. The conclusion discusses implications for extending literature on gardens and later life, describing how social and material relationships in domestic gardens are renegotiated in the context of dementia, while highlighting opportunities for ‘play’, active sensing and agency. We also explore contributions to understandings of dementia, home and place, and implications for garden design and care practice.

Neighborhood conditions and social network turnover among older adults

Increasing research highlights heterogeneity in patterns of social network change, with growing evidence that these patterns are shaped in part by social structure. The role of social and structural neighborhood conditions in the addition and loss of kin and non-kin network members, however, has not been fully considered. In this paper, we argue that the residential neighborhood context can either facilitate or prevent the turnover of core network relationships in later life – a period of the life course characterized by heightened reliance on network ties and vulnerability to neighborhood conditions. Using longitudinal data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project linked with data from the American Community Survey, we find that higher levels of neighborhood concentrated disadvantage are associated with the loss of older adults’ kin and non-kin network members over time. Higher levels of perceived neighborhood social interaction, however, are associated with higher rates of adding non-kin network members and lower rates of adding kin network members over time. We suggest that neighborhood conditions, including older adults’ perceptions of neighborhood social life, represent an underexplored influence on kin and non-kin social network dynamics, which could have implications for access to social resources later in the life course.

Posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide, and unintended overdose death in later life: A national cohort study of veterans aged 50 and older.

Although studies have shown posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with risk of suicide, the relationship in later life, especially for overdose death, remains unclear. Thus, the aim of the current study was to determine associations between PTSD, suicide, and unintended overdose death in mid- to late-life. A nationwide cohort study integrating Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) data, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data, and national cause-specific mortality data. Participants were US veterans aged ≥50 years with PTSD diagnoses at baseline (2012-2013) and were propensity-matched 1:1 with patients without PTSD based on sociodemographics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and neuropsychiatric disorders (N=951,018). Information on suicide attempts and unintended death by overdose through December 31, 2017 was provided by the VA's National Suicide Prevention Applications Network (non-fatal attempts) and Mortality Data Repository (death). Veterans with PTSD (N=475,509) had increased risk of suicide attempt (Hazard Ratio [HR], 1.59; 95% CI, 1.54-1.65; p < 0.001), non-fatal attempt (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.67-1.81; p < 0.001), drug overdose death overall (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.22-1.42; p < 0.001), and suicide overdose death (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.15-1.80; p=0.002), even after adjusting for sociodemographics, Charlson comorbidity index, and neuropsychiatric disorders. We found increased risk for overdose death by narcotics (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.15-1.46; p < 0.001), antiepileptic/sedative-hypnotics (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.02-1.62; p=0.032), and for other/unspecified drugs (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.20-1.51; p < 0.001), the last category indicative of polydrug. Results remained robust when examined for unintentional, suicide, and undetermined intent for cause-specific death by other/unspecified drugs. PTSD persists throughout mid- to late-life with considerable increased risk for non-fatal suicide attempts and suicide overdose death. These findings suggest the importance of drug-monitoring in preventing late-life suicide.

THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF RESILIENCE ON SHRINKAGE OF FRIENDSHIP IN LATER LIFE

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the protective effect of trait resilience, a positive personality characteristic that enhances individual adaptation to life events and adversity, in the face of declining social relationships in later life. Social relations have a significant effect on our development and well-being throughout life. However, it is known that a decline in physical, cognitive, and mental functioning makes it difficult to maintain active participation in society and leads to shrinking social networks in later life. Therefore, it is important to identify protective factors that enable people to maintain positive social relations when functioning in daily life declines in old age. We analyzed longitudinal survey data from a representative sample of older Japanese adults aged 74 to 86 years (N=1064). The interaction effect of resilience in the relationship between functions (physical, cognitive, and mental) and relationships with friends (social support exchange and companionship) was examined using multi-group Structured Equation Modeling (SEM). Respondents were divided into upper quartile and lower quartile groups according to their Resilience Scale (RS-14) scores. The results showed significant group differences for the effect of cognitive function on friendship. The positive correlation between cognitive functioning and friendship was stronger among respondents with low resilience. For high resilience participants, cognitive functioning was not associated with friendship. The results suggest that resilient older adults cope well with poor cognitive health and maintain positive social relationships in very late life.

Social and Emotional Loneliness: Their Relationship to Multiple Domains of Cognition in Later Life.

Despite the fact that the literature suggests loneliness to undermine cognitive functioning in later life, no work has simultaneously examined the relationships between these constructs taking a multidimensional approach to the assessment of each. The present study explored relationships among social and emotional loneliness and both general crystallized (Gc) and general fluid (Gf) ability, as well as to several indices of everyday intellectual functioning in later life. Sequential regression analyses suggested that neither social nor emotional loneliness predicted Gc. However, only when eliminating health as a covariate was more social loneliness associated with lower scores for Gf. Surprisingly, more emotional loneliness was associated with higher scores for Gf. More social loneliness also predicted more everyday cognitive failures and with less positive lifestyle attitudes. These findings support a view of loneliness-cognition relationships in later life that reflects the multidimensional nature of each construct.

Understanding perspectives of older adults on the role of technology in the wider context of their social relationships

AbstractTechnological interventions are increasingly popular methods of targeting and preventing loneliness in older adults. Research has identified various factors that influence the willingness and propensity of older adults to integrate technology into their social lives and the ways in which this may enhance their social connectedness. Given prevalence rates and negative outcomes associated with loneliness for this population, further research is warranted to clarify the mechanisms through which technological interventions may decrease loneliness. This study aimed to better understand the perspectives of older adults on the role of technology in their social relationships in later life. Four focus groups were conducted with 27 older adults, aged 65–80 years. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis, and results were validated via written participant feedback. Participants reported technology as one of many tools used to maintain their social relationships. Their choice to use technology for social interaction was influenced by their estimation of effort required, likely quality of the interaction, and the privacy and security provided. These factors were the same as those that influenced decisions to use other methods (e.g. face-to-face meetings). Based on the results, we recommend that loneliness interventions should be technology-agnostic and multifaceted, providing a wide range of tools that recognise the technological competencies of older adults and supporting different interaction types to meet the preferences of the individual.

The Mediation Effects of Depressive Symptoms on the Association between Social Activity Participation and Marital Satisfaction among Couples in Later Life: Using APIMeM Modeling

This study aimed at examining the mediation effects of depressive symptoms on the association between social activity participation and marital satisfaction among couples in later life. The study included 1,196 married couples aged 65 or above who participated in the 7th Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging in 2018. The study variables were husbands’ and wives’ social activity participation, marital satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. Covariates were individual age, education level, subjective health, couples’ household income, and number of children. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) and bootstrapping techniques were used to test the significance of the mediating impacts of depressive symptoms based on the dyadic data structure. The results showed that for both husbands and wives, active participation in social activities had significant effects on increasing marital satisfaction through lowering depressive symptoms. However, only the participation of husbands in social activities was positively associated with their own marital satisfaction by reducing their own and their partner’s depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that the active social participation of individuals salient for promoting the quality of marital relationships in later life, particularly for preventing their own and their spouse’s depressive symptoms.