title: Husbands' and Wives' Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms: Longitudinal Findings from the Cardiovascular Health Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When examining older adults' health behaviors and psychological health, it is important to consider the social context.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine in older adult marriages whether each spouse's physical activity predicted changes in their own (actor effects) and their partner's (partner effects) depressive symptoms. Gender differences were also examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each spouse within 1260 married couples (at baseline) in the Cardiovascular Health Study completed self-report measures at wave 1 (1989-1990), wave 3 (1992-1993), and wave 7 (1996-1997). Dyadic path analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Husbands' physical activity significantly predicted own decreased depressive symptoms (actor effect). For both spouses, own physical activity did not significantly predict the spouse's depressive symptoms (partner effects). However, husbands' physical activity and depressive symptoms predicted wives' physical activity and depressive symptoms (partner effects), respectively. Depressive symptoms did not predict physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that husbands' physical activity is particularly influential for older married couples' psychological health.
authors: Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA, joan.monin@yale.edu.
authors: Joan K
authors: JK
authors: Monin
authors: Becca
authors: B
authors: Levy
authors: Baibing
authors: B
authors: Chen
authors: Terri
authors: T
authors: Fried
authors: Sarah T
authors: ST
authors: Stahl
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Schulz
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Doyle
authors: Trace
authors: T
authors: Kershaw
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*