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The Paradoxical Impact of Companionship on the Mental Health of Older African American Men.
- Source :
-
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences [J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci] 2018 Jan 11; Vol. 73 (2), pp. 230-239. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Objectives: African Americans comprise 9% of the 46 million U.S. adults over age 65. Two thirds of older African American men (AAM) reside with companions. This study investigated the assumption that frequent contact with companions confers mainly health-related benefits for AAM.<br />Methods: Utilizing secondary data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, the relationship between older AAM's mental health and related conditions (depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances), companion living arrangements, and frequency of contact with the participants for 3,423 older AAM and their 1,161 companions, was examined.<br />Results: The mean age of participants and companions was 74 years and 90% of AAM lived in a private residence. Logistic regression models indicated that an increased risk for anxiety was found when companions lived in (OR = 1.66), called daily (OR = 1.089), or visited daily (OR = 1.079). Finally, AAM had an increased likelihood of nonmedical sleep disturbances when companions lived in (OR = 1.67), called daily (1.105), or visited daily (1.078).<br />Discussion: The frequency of contact with companions may be consequential for select mental health outcomes and associated physiological conditions for older AAM; the timing of contact requires further investigation.<br /> (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Black or African American statistics & numerical data
Aged psychology
Aged, 80 and over
Anxiety epidemiology
Anxiety etiology
Depression epidemiology
Depression etiology
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Mental Health ethnology
Middle Aged
Risk Factors
Sleep Wake Disorders epidemiology
Sleep Wake Disorders etiology
United States epidemiology
Black or African American psychology
Mental Health statistics & numerical data
Spouses psychology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1758-5368
- Volume :
- 73
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28977531
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbx089