Depressive Symptoms, Transitions to Widowhood, and Informal Support From Adult Children Among Older Women and Men in Japan

• Published in: Research on aging 2016-08, Vol.38 (6), p.619-642
• Main Authors: Tiedt, Andrew D., Saito, Yasuhiko, Crimmins, Eileen M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult Children - statistics & numerical data; Aged; Aging; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Female; Humans; Intergenerational Relations; Japan - epidemiology; Male; Social Support; Widowhood - psychology; Widowhood - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0164-0275; 1552-7573
• DOI: 10.1177/0164027515595442

This study examines the relationships among depressive symptoms, transitions to widowhood, worsening health, and family support in Japan over 10 years. The analyses focus on availability and receipt as the two primary dimensions of intergenerational support relationships. We used growth curve models to analyze data from the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging, finding that (1) becoming widowed correlated with increased depressive symptoms and this relationship was weaker among women than men, (2) continuous widowhood was associated with fewer depressive symptoms over time, (3) transitions to coresidence with sons and daughters among the widowed was correlated with reduced depressive symptoms, (4) self-reported health and difficulty with activities of daily living were predictors of depressive symptoms over time. The findings suggest the importance of new research on household transitions, availability and proximity of family caregivers, and social embeddedness as protections against depressive symptoms.