1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«Considering the small number of studies which have examined the effect of change in depressive symptoms on marital functioning and given that the majority of these studies targeted newlywed couples, there is a need for more studies on the effect of change among older couples. The main goal of this study was to determine, over an 18-month period, among a representative sample of community-dwelling couples, which of the two variables, psychological distress or marital functioning, predicts the other.» (p. 195-196)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«In line with information from the literature, we formulated the following hypotheses: [1] A lower level of marital functioning among older men and women will lead to a higher level of psychological distress. [2] A higher level of psychological distress among older men and women will lead to a lower level of marital functioning. [3] A change in marital functioning over 18 months among older men and women will lead to a change in the level of psychological distress.[4] A change in the level of psychological distress over 18 months among older men and women will lead to a change in marital functioning.» (p. 196)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«Data came from a prospective study of French-speaking community-dwelling older couples (n = 508) 65 years of age and older living in Quebec.» (p. 196)

Instruments :
- Dyadic Adjustment Scale of Spanier
- Index of Psychological Distress of the Quebec Health Survey

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«We first tested these hypotheses by applying a dyadic data analysis using structural equation modeling. Results for older women supported the marital discord model of depression and the stress generation model […]. However, contrary to previous studies that have found a bidirectional association for men and women, our study did not find these results to apply to older men living in couples. For men, the results only supported the marital discord model of depression, thus revealing a gender difference. […] With regard to the partner effect, the present study observed that the wife’s psychological distress at T2 could be predicted by the husband’s marital functioning at baseline. This result underlines the usefulness of assessing the level of marital functioning of both partners to predict the woman’s level of psychological distress. These findings also reveal the importance of maintaining good marital functioning to prevent psychological distress among older men and women. Furthermore, the partner effect reveals the effect of the husband’s marital functioning on his wife’s level of psychological distress.» (p. 204)