Dataset Information

Number of Children, Partnership Status, and Later-life Depression in Eastern and Western Europe.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To investigate associations between number of children and partnership with depressive symptoms among older Europeans and assess whether associations are greater in Eastern than Western countries. We further analyze whether associations are mediated by provision and receipt of emotional and financial support.

Methods

Using cross-sectional data for five Eastern (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Romania, and Russia) and four Western European countries (Belgium, France, Norway, and Sweden) (n = 15,352), we investigated variation in depressive symptoms using linear regression. We fitted conditional change score models for depressive symptoms using longitudinal data for four countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, and France) (n = 3,978).

Results

Unpartnered women and men had more depressive symptoms than the partnered. In Eastern, but not Western, European countries childlessness and having one compared with two children were associated with more depressive symptoms. Formal tests indicated that partnership and number of children were more strongly associated with depressive symptoms in Eastern than Western Europe.

Discussion

Availability of close family is more strongly associated with older people's depressive symptoms in Eastern than Western Europe. The collapse of previous state supports and greater economic stress in Eastern Europe may mean that having a partner and children has a greater psychological impact than in Western countries.

SUBMITTER: Grundy E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6327656 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Number of Children, Partnership Status, and Later-life Depression in Eastern and Western Europe.

Grundy Emily E van den Broek Thijs T Keenan Katherine K

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 20190101 2

<h4>Objectives</h4>To investigate associations between number of children and partnership with depressive symptoms among older Europeans and assess whether associations are greater in Eastern than Western countries. We further analyze whether associations are mediated by provision and receipt of emotional and financial support.<h4>Methods</h4>Using cross-sectional data for five Eastern (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Romania, and Russia) and four Western European countries (Belgium, France, ...[more]

PMID: 28472400

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Project description:BackgroundAlthough research has found associations between increasing number of children and higher body mass index (BMI), there has been limited research investigating the association with body composition despite abdominal fat being independently associated with cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Most existing research has focussed on women, but investigating the relationship in men can help distinguish biological effects of pregnancy from social pathways related to parenthood.MethodsUsing the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) multiple regression models were applied to test associations between number of children and body composition at age 60-64 years (N = 2229) and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) at ages 60-64 and 69 years (N = 2149).ResultsIn adjusted models, associations were observed between increasing numbers of children and increasing fat-adjusted lean mass index in women (p = 0.06). Among men, those with children had 0.59kg (95% CI: 0.15 to 1.02) greater lean mass index than those without and fat:lean mass ratio was greater in those with 4+ children because of their slightly higher mean fat mass. Weak evidence of a higher android:gynoid mass ratio among mothers (0.03, 95% CI: 0.00,0.06, p = 0.1) was observed with no associations with fat mass index,android or gynoid fat mass. Increasing parity in women was associated with increasing BMI at 60-64 years and, more strongly, with increasing BMI at 69 years. Associations among men were also observed more clearly with BMI at 69 years.ConclusionThere was little evidence of a consistent association between number of children and body composition in early old age. The strongest associations are observed for lean, rather than fat mass, and in men rather than women, suggesting little evidence of biological effects of pregnancy. The results indicate social pathways associated with parenthood are the likely underlying mechanisms, with suggestion of selection into parenthood among men.

Dataset Information

Number of Children, Partnership Status, and Later-life Depression in Eastern and Western Europe.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Publications

Number of Children, Partnership Status, and Later-life Depression in Eastern and Western Europe.

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