Individual Variability and Spousal Influence Across Cognition, Affect, and Physical Activity

Jennifer Margrett	Dan Russell	Warren Franke

Individual Variability and Spousal Influence Across Cognition, Affect, and Physical Activit

Investigators: Jennifer Margrett, PI, HDFS
Dan Russell, Co-PI, HDFS
Warren Franke, Co-PI, Kinesiology

Funding: $4173

Duration: 6 months

Abstract: A body of research demonstrates that close social partners, particularly spouses, directly and indirectly influence one anothers well-being and functioning by impacting choices and behaviors, eliciting physiological responses, and shaping a shared environment. Other research suggests that considerable fluctuation, or variability, in performance across time is a useful indicator of physical and mental functioning particularly in later life. The extant literature is lacking, however, in studies which examine multiple functional domains, link spouses functioning, and incorporate dynamic assessments of functioning. This study employs a dyadic perspective to examine the interdependence of older spouses in three important domains of functioning: cognition, affect, and physical activity.

Additional Information: The study aims to characterize individual and spousal functioning across the domains of cognition, physical activity, and affect, which will help identify individual and couple traits related to resiliency and successful aging. This will allow the researchers to develop typologies of individuals and couples that exhibit different kinds of coping skills and develop alternative intervention plans to enhance adaptation to physical and cognitive age-related changes.