Spousal Loss and Change in Cognitive Functioning: An Examination of Temporal Patterns and Gender Differences
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Accepted version
View/ Open
Date
2018-09-14Metadata
Show full item recordCollections
Original version
Wörn J, Comijs H, Aartsen M. Spousal Loss and Change in Cognitive Functioning: An Examination of Temporal Patterns and Gender Differences. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences . 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gby104Abstract
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 three-yearly assessments between 1992 and
2012 (5,123 person-observations). All were married and without cognitive impairment (MMSE
≥ 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.