Dataset Information

Romantic Relationship Status, Quality, and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Women.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Past research has established a link between romantic relationships and depressive symptoms among adults, including those in later life. There is, however, still a lack of evidence regarding whether romantic relationship status or relationship quality is a better predictor of psychological well-being among middle-aged and older Black adult women.

Methods

The present study draws on data from the Family and Community Health Study, a multisite, longitudinal survey of health and psychosocial experiences of Black families, to examine how relationship status and quality relate to depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Black adult women (N = 571). A series of negative binomial regression models, with 95% confidence intervals and internal moderators, were used to assess the research questions.

Results

Middle-aged and older Black women in married, cohabiting, and dating relationships who reported higher levels of relationship quality had a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms than those who reported lower levels of relationship quality or who did not report being in any romantic relationship when controlling for baseline depressive symptoms. The findings from our study indicate that relationship quality is a better predictor of depressive symptoms than relationship status.

Discussion

Our findings extend the body of literature on the impact of romantic relationships on individual well-being and provide compelling evidence that such relationships, particularly those of high quality, are significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Black women.

SUBMITTER: Hanus SL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9683486 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Romantic Relationship Status, Quality, and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Women.

Hanus Stephanie L SL Simons Leslie G LG Lei Man-Kit MK Cobb Ryon J RJ Simons Ronald L RL

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 20221101 11

<h4>Objectives</h4>Past research has established a link between romantic relationships and depressive symptoms among adults, including those in later life. There is, however, still a lack of evidence regarding whether romantic relationship status or relationship quality is a better predictor of psychological well-being among middle-aged and older Black adult women.<h4>Methods</h4>The present study draws on data from the Family and Community Health Study, a multisite, longitudinal survey of healt ...[more]

PMID: 35091742

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Dataset Information

Romantic Relationship Status, Quality, and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Women.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Publications

Romantic Relationship Status, Quality, and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Women.

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