Dyadic Associations in Well-being in the Last Years of Life
Year: 2017
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Research on terminal decline has generally focused on how the last years of life are being experienced individually. Here, we take a different approach by studying how well-being changes in couples as one partner approaches death. Specifically, we examine how well-being trajectories of the surviving partner are associated with the well-being trajectories of the dying partner. We used annual longitudinal data obtained over 30 years in the German Socio-Economic Panel from 2,156 couples with 20,513 longitudinal observations. Results revealed that late-life well-being trajectories were indeed linked within couples: Yearly well-being fluctuations of the surviving partner were closely associated with yearly well-being fluctuations of the dying partner. The strength of such within-couple links differed between partners and follow-up analyses will target the contributing role of individual and partnership variables. We discuss factors that contribute to within-couple well-being associations and the role of close social relationships in the last years of life.
Source: Innovation in Aging
Authors: G. Hülür, F.J. Infurna, N. Ram, D. Gerstorf
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,977
OpenAlex ID: W2733317555