Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objectives
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic dramatically changed social life, but we know less about whether partnered relationships changed during this time. Because high-quality intimate relationships are key to many older Americans' well-being, we explore whether, how, and for whom the pandemic changed relationship quality among partnered older Americans.Methods
Nationally representative data from 1,642 partnered adults aged 50 and older come from the 2020 National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project COVID-19 Study. Multinomial logistic regression analyses estimate the likelihood of reporting improved, unchanged, or worsened relationship quality since the pandemic began across sociodemographic groups.Results
Two thirds of respondents reported that relationship quality stayed the same during the pandemic, 22.8% reported their relationship quality got better, and 10.5% reported their relationship quality got worse. Although women and the oldest old were less likely to report improved relationship quality, Black respondents were more likely to do so, even after controlling for explanatory variables.Discussion
Resilience describes many partnered older adults' experiences during the first year of the pandemic, suggesting that they were able to protect their partnerships during this public health crisis.
SUBMITTER: Wong JS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9938919 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Wong Jaclyn S JS Zhong Selena S Liu Hui H
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 20230201 2
<h4>Objectives</h4>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic dramatically changed social life, but we know less about whether partnered relationships changed during this time. Because high-quality intimate relationships are key to many older Americans' well-being, we explore whether, how, and for whom the pandemic changed relationship quality among partnered older Americans.<h4>Methods</h4>Nationally representative data from 1,642 partnered adults aged 50 and older come from the 2020 Nati ...[more]