The impact of both spousal caregivers’ and care recipients’ health on relationship satisfaction in the Caregiver Health Effects Study

This study examined, with a sample of older adult, caregiving couples, whether each spouse's health was associated with their own and their partner's relationship satisfaction. Dyads (n = 233; age = 64-99 years) in the Caregiver Health Effects Study, ancillary to the Cardiovascular Health Study, reported relationship satisfaction, depressive symptoms, disability, and self-reported health. The cross-sectional Actor-Partner Interdependence Model showed that for both caregivers and care recipients, greater depressive symptoms and lower self-reported health related to lower relationship satisfaction (actor effects). Caregivers had lower relationship satisfaction when they were more disabled (actor effect) and when care recipients were more depressed (partner effect).