{"title":"Spousal Loss, Depressive Symptoms, and Religious Involvement: Immediate Impact and Trajectories in Late Life.","authors":"Xinfang Yu, Jong Hyun Jung, Hyo Jung Lee","doi":"10.1177/01640275251350287","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Using cross-sectional and longitudinal data, we examined the immediate and long-term buffering effects of religious involvement on late-life spousal loss. Using seven waves of data (2006-2018) from the Health and Retirement Study (<i>N</i> = 4714; <i>Obs.</i> = 18,212), we conducted ordinary least squares regression and growth curve analyses. Recent spousal loss was strongly associated with increased depressive symptoms, which gradually decreased over time. Religious involvement buffered the association between a recent loss and depressive symptoms. However, no buffering effect was observed for the changes in depressive symptoms over time. Religious involvement significantly mitigated the immediate effects of spousal loss on depressive symptoms. However, its long-term buffering effects on changes in depressive symptoms are limited. Future studies should consider alternative coping resources that may protect individuals against the negative effects of the loss of a spouse and facilitate the maintenance of mental health over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":47983,"journal":{"name":"Research on Aging","volume":" ","pages":"1640275251350287"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Research on Aging","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275251350287","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GERONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Using cross-sectional and longitudinal data, we examined the immediate and long-term buffering effects of religious involvement on late-life spousal loss. Using seven waves of data (2006-2018) from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 4714; Obs. = 18,212), we conducted ordinary least squares regression and growth curve analyses. Recent spousal loss was strongly associated with increased depressive symptoms, which gradually decreased over time. Religious involvement buffered the association between a recent loss and depressive symptoms. However, no buffering effect was observed for the changes in depressive symptoms over time. Religious involvement significantly mitigated the immediate effects of spousal loss on depressive symptoms. However, its long-term buffering effects on changes in depressive symptoms are limited. Future studies should consider alternative coping resources that may protect individuals against the negative effects of the loss of a spouse and facilitate the maintenance of mental health over time.
期刊介绍：
Research on Aging is an interdisciplinary journal designed to reflect the expanding role of research in the field of social gerontology. Research on Aging exists to provide for publication of research in the broad range of disciplines concerned with aging. Scholars from the disciplines of sociology, geriatrics, history, psychology, anthropology, public health, economics, political science, criminal justice, and social work are encouraged to contribute articles to the journal. Emphasis will be on materials of broad scope and cross-disciplinary interest. Assessment of the current state of knowledge is as important as provision of an outlet for new knowledge, so critical and review articles are welcomed. Systematic attention to particular topics will also be featured.
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