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Body mass index and depressive symptoms among Chinese older couples: A longitudinal actor–partner interdependence model analysis

Tingshuai Ge, Institute for Population and Development Studies, Xi’an Jiaotong University
Quanbao Jiang, Institute for Population and development Studies, Xi'an Jiaotong University

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the dyadic associations between body mass index (BMI) and depressive symptoms among Chinese older couples. Methods: The current sample consisted of 1710 older married couples aged 60 and older from three waves (2011, 2013, 2015) of the Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey. Results: For the actor effects, one’s earlier BMI and depressive symptoms were positively associated with his/her subsequent BMI and depressive symptoms across three waves; husbands’ earlier BMI negatively predicted their depressive symptoms later, rather than the reverse. Many partner effects were also found, with one’s earlier BMI negatively predicted his/her spouse’s subsequent depressive symptoms, one’s earlier depressive symptoms positively predicted his/her spouse’s subsequent depressive symptoms, and wives’ earlier BMI positively predicted their husbands’ subsequent BMI. Discussion: These findings suggest the unidirectional BMI-to-depressive symptoms association and the complexity within the dyadic associations between BMI and depressive symptoms in Chinese older couples.

Keywords: Health and morbidity, Causal analysis / Causal estimation, Older adults

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  Presented in Session 137. Nutritional Status and its Health and Socioeconomic Effects in Asia