Associations between pre-widowhood psychological resilience and subsequent depressive symptom recovery following spousal loss among men and women.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Most older widowed men and women experience elevated depressive symptoms after spousal loss, and many recover to pre-widowhood levels over time. However, not all widows return to pre-loss mental health, and recovery may differ by gender. Pre-widowhood psychological resilience (PR) has been shown to influence these effects. This study evaluates changes in depressive symptoms for older men and women to determine how PR shapes acute and long-term depressive symptom responses to spousal loss.

Research design and methods: Using longitudinal Health and Retirement Study data, we evaluate changes in depressive symptoms from baseline PR pre-widowhood to (1) the first study wave in which individuals report widowhood (acute effects) and (2) the second wave after reporting widowhood (recovery period), for men and for women. We use inverse probability weighted regression models, comparing new widows with their continuously married counterparts.

Results: Both widowed men and women experienced increased depressive symptoms in the acute period following spousal loss regardless of PR level. However, moderate to high levels of PR for men and high PR for women predicted recovery to pre-widowhood depressive symptoms two years later. High PR was also associated with fewer depressive symptoms over time among continuously married men and women.

Discussion and implications: Results suggest interventions that bolster PR preceding spousal loss could enhance likelihood of recovery following widowhood for both men and women and may also provide protective effects regarding overall depressive symptoms among married individuals over time.