Does living with a spouse affect the mental health of the elderly? Influences of loneliness and perceived problems

• Main Author: Soh, Lin Ken
• Other Authors: Joyce Pang Shu Min
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/70599
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Research on living arrangements has found that living alone contributes negatively to elderly mental health. However, existing research on the effects of living with a spouse on elderly mental health has been scant, offers inconclusive results, and did not consider other key variables that might significantly influence this relationship. The current research examined the pathways by which spousal living arrangements could influence elderly mental health. Specifically, Study 1 investigated if perceived problems moderates the relationship between spousal living arrangements and mental health, while Study 2 first assessed the mediational role of loneliness on the relationship between spousal living arrangements and mental health, and then tested two moderated mediation models in which perceived problems moderate the mediation model. Study 1 involved 135 participants aged 60 years and above (M = 70.96; SD = 6.16), while Study 2 involved 122 participants aged 65 years and above (M = 74.85; SD = 6.91). After controlling for potential confounds, results showed (1) a simple moderation effect of perceived problems on the relationship between spousal living arrangements and mental health, (2) a simple mediation effect of loneliness on the relationship between spousal living arrangements and mental health, and (3) a moderation effect of perceived problems on the relationship between loneliness and mental health in a moderated mediation model. These findings inform potential interventions for elderly mental health. Specifically, interventions could focus on reducing loneliness and problems faced by the elderly, especially those with nonspousal living arrangements, in order to protect elderly mental health. Keywords: Living arrangements with spouse, loneliness, perceived problems, elderly mental health