Universität zu Köln

Woern, Jonathan, Comijs, Hannie and Aartsen, Marja ORCID: 0000-0003-4246-7621 (2020). Spousal Loss and Change in Cognitive Functioning: An Examination of Temporal Patterns and Gender Differences. J. Gerontol. Ser. B-Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., 75 (1). S. 195 - 207. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. ISSN 1758-5368

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Abstract

Objectives: The study investigates whether the disadvantaged position of men in the adverse consequences of widowhood for health and mortality also exists for changes in cognitive health. Methods: We used data of up to 1,269 men and women aged 65 years and older who participated in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam in 3-yearly assessments between 1992 and 2012 (5,123 person-observations). All were married and without cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination >= 24) at baseline and up to 419 lost their spouse. In fixed effects regression models, the effect of spousal loss on change in four domains of cognitive functioning was estimated independently of age-related cognitive change. Results: For women, a robust temporary decrease was found in the second year after spousal loss in the reasoning domain, but not in global cognitive functioning, processing speed, or memory. No robust effects were found for men. Discussion: Considering that only one cognitive domain was affected and effects were temporary, cognitive functioning seems rather robust to the experience of spousal loss. Despite men having often been reported to be in a disadvantaged position in other health domains, our analyses indicate no such pattern for cognitive functioning.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Woern, Jonathan UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Comijs, Hannie UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Aartsen, Marja UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-4246-7621 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-350811
DOI:	10.1093/geronb/gby104
Journal or Publication Title:	J. Gerontol. Ser. B-Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.
Volume:	75
Number:	1
Page Range:	S. 195 - 207
Date:	2020
Publisher:	OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
Place of Publication:	CARY
ISSN:	1758-5368
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language MINI-MENTAL-STATE; DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS; MARITAL-STATUS; LATE-LIFE; EPISODIC MEMORY; OLDER-ADULTS; BASE-LINE; WIDOWHOOD; DECLINE; STRESS Multiple languages Geriatrics & Gerontology; Gerontology; Psychology; Psychology, Multidisciplinary Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/35081