Support, strain, and health in older adulthood: A latent profile transition analysis.

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to identify latent subgroups of older adults based on experiences of support and strain in past and present relationships, their stability across years, and their links to health.

Method: We used three waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2006, 2010, and 2014) with a sample of older adults (N = 3,233). Individuals self-reported on support and strain from spouses, children, family members, and friends and on the quality of childhood relationships with parents. Health outcomes were perceived health, depression, and health biomarkers.

Results: Latent profile analysis resulted in three profiles in each wave: "high support low strain" (~82%) reflects high support and low strain across the board; "low support high strain-nuclear family" (~9%) reflects low support and high strain from spouses and children; "mixed support high strain" (~9%) reflects high strain across the board, with average support from spouses and friends and low support from children and family members. Latent transition analysis indicated within-person stability for the "high support low strain" profile across waves, and some lability for the two smaller profiles. Individuals in the "high support low strain" profile reported the best perceived health and lowest depression across waves. Differences between the profiles in health biomarkers were weak. Better childhood relationships with parents were associated with better perceived health and lower depression, but not for those in the "high support low strain" profile.

Conclusions: Subjective well-being, but less consistently health biomarkers, is a function of configured experience of support and strain across various relationship contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).