Citation
Clouston, Sean A. P.; Lawlor, Andrea; & Verdery, Ashton M. (2014). The Role of Partnership Status on Late-Life Physical Function. Canadian Journal on Aging, 33(4), 413-425. PMCID: PMC4256949Abstract
This study examined the socioeconomic pathways linking partnership status to physical functioning, assessed using objective measures of late life physical functioning, including peak flow and grip strength. Using Wave 4 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we ran multilevel models to examine the relationship between partnership status and physical function in late life, adjusting for social-network characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and health behaviours. We found a robust relationship between partnership status and physical function. Incorporating social-network characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and health behaviours showed independent robust relationships with physical function. Co-variates attenuated the impact of cohabitation, separation, and widowhood on physical function; robust effects were found for singlehood and divorce. Sex-segregated analyses suggest that associations between cohabitation, singlehood, divorce, and widowhood were larger for men than for women. Results suggest that social ties are important to improved physical function.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0714980814000282Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2014Journal Title
Canadian Journal on AgingAuthor(s)
Clouston, Sean A. P.Lawlor, Andrea
Verdery, Ashton M.