Relationship of widowhood with pulse pressure, fasting blood glucose, and mental health in older adults: a propensity matching score analysis
BackgroundTransitioning from marriage to widowhood presents inevitable and significant challenges for many older adults. This study explored the impact of widowhood on a range of mental health outcomes, including pulse pressure and fasting blood glucose levels, among older adults in nursing homes.Me...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1257133/full |
| _version_ | 1797649617757667328 |
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| author | Yi Zhang Xiangfan Chen Yimei Sun Sujuan Feng Fang Wang Haiyan Gu Hanyu Jia Quanxing Zhang Wenbin Ding Hongjian Lu Jidong Zhang |
| author_facet | Yi Zhang Xiangfan Chen Yimei Sun Sujuan Feng Fang Wang Haiyan Gu Hanyu Jia Quanxing Zhang Wenbin Ding Hongjian Lu Jidong Zhang |
| author_sort | Yi Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundTransitioning from marriage to widowhood presents inevitable and significant challenges for many older adults. This study explored the impact of widowhood on a range of mental health outcomes, including pulse pressure and fasting blood glucose levels, among older adults in nursing homes.MethodsThis cross-sectional study utilized cluster random sampling to recruit participants, with data analyzed from 388 older Chinese adults. Psychosocial traits were assessed using the Perceived Social Support from Family scale (PSS-Fa) for family support, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) for anxiety symptoms, and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to control for confounding factors. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between widowhood, mental health outcomes, pulse pressure, and fasting blood glucose levels.ResultsAfter applying PSM, the sample size was refined to 268 (N = 134 for both married and widowed groups) from the initial 388, excluding 120 unmatched cases. Widowed older adults were found to have notably lower family support (β = −0.81, p = 0.002), increased depressive symptoms (β = 1.04, p = 0.043), elevated pulse pressure (β = 8.90, p < 0.001), and higher fasting blood glucose levels (β = 3.22, p = 0.027). These associations exhibited greater beta values compared to pre-matching analysis.ConclusionOur findings revealed that widowed participants had reduced family support, an increased risk of depressive symptoms, heightened pulse pressure, and elevated fasting blood glucose in comparison to their married counterparts. Interventions focusing on social support, mental health, and cardiovascular well-being could be advantageous for this at-risk group. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:48:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-486979b5325442fea04297e9df9e627d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:48:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-486979b5325442fea04297e9df9e627d2023-10-26T05:10:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-10-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.12571331257133Relationship of widowhood with pulse pressure, fasting blood glucose, and mental health in older adults: a propensity matching score analysisYi Zhang0Xiangfan Chen1Yimei Sun2Sujuan Feng3Fang Wang4Haiyan Gu5Hanyu Jia6Quanxing Zhang7Wenbin Ding8Hongjian Lu9Jidong Zhang10Department of Science and Education, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, ChinaDepartment of Biobank, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, ChinaFinance Department, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, ChinaBlood Dialysis Room of Nantong First People’s Hospital, Nantong, ChinaDepartment of Science and Education, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, ChinaNursing Department of Nantong First People’s Hospital, Nantong, ChinaDepartment of Science and Education, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, ChinaDepartment of Science and Education, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, ChinaThe President's Office, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, ChinaDepartment of Science and Education, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, ChinaDepartment of Science and Education, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, ChinaBackgroundTransitioning from marriage to widowhood presents inevitable and significant challenges for many older adults. This study explored the impact of widowhood on a range of mental health outcomes, including pulse pressure and fasting blood glucose levels, among older adults in nursing homes.MethodsThis cross-sectional study utilized cluster random sampling to recruit participants, with data analyzed from 388 older Chinese adults. Psychosocial traits were assessed using the Perceived Social Support from Family scale (PSS-Fa) for family support, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) for anxiety symptoms, and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to control for confounding factors. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between widowhood, mental health outcomes, pulse pressure, and fasting blood glucose levels.ResultsAfter applying PSM, the sample size was refined to 268 (N = 134 for both married and widowed groups) from the initial 388, excluding 120 unmatched cases. Widowed older adults were found to have notably lower family support (β = −0.81, p = 0.002), increased depressive symptoms (β = 1.04, p = 0.043), elevated pulse pressure (β = 8.90, p < 0.001), and higher fasting blood glucose levels (β = 3.22, p = 0.027). These associations exhibited greater beta values compared to pre-matching analysis.ConclusionOur findings revealed that widowed participants had reduced family support, an increased risk of depressive symptoms, heightened pulse pressure, and elevated fasting blood glucose in comparison to their married counterparts. Interventions focusing on social support, mental health, and cardiovascular well-being could be advantageous for this at-risk group.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1257133/fullolder adultswidowhoodpulse pressurefasting blood glucosemental health |
| spellingShingle | Yi Zhang Xiangfan Chen Yimei Sun Sujuan Feng Fang Wang Haiyan Gu Hanyu Jia Quanxing Zhang Wenbin Ding Hongjian Lu Jidong Zhang Relationship of widowhood with pulse pressure, fasting blood glucose, and mental health in older adults: a propensity matching score analysis Frontiers in Public Health older adults widowhood pulse pressure fasting blood glucose mental health |
| title | Relationship of widowhood with pulse pressure, fasting blood glucose, and mental health in older adults: a propensity matching score analysis |
| title_full | Relationship of widowhood with pulse pressure, fasting blood glucose, and mental health in older adults: a propensity matching score analysis |
| title_fullStr | Relationship of widowhood with pulse pressure, fasting blood glucose, and mental health in older adults: a propensity matching score analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationship of widowhood with pulse pressure, fasting blood glucose, and mental health in older adults: a propensity matching score analysis |
| title_short | Relationship of widowhood with pulse pressure, fasting blood glucose, and mental health in older adults: a propensity matching score analysis |
| title_sort | relationship of widowhood with pulse pressure fasting blood glucose and mental health in older adults a propensity matching score analysis |
| topic | older adults widowhood pulse pressure fasting blood glucose mental health |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1257133/full |
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