Examining Cognitive Function in Bereaved Older Parents: The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms
2024
Cognitive Function in Bereaved Older Parents
Sample size: 5265
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Rubinstein Stephanie, Zelinski Elizabeth
Primary Institution: University of Southern California
Hypothesis
Being bereaved is significantly associated with worse cognitive scores and this relationship will be mediated by the number of reported depressive symptoms.
Conclusion
Losing a child is associated with poorer cognitive function in older adults, partially explained by depressive symptoms.
Supporting Evidence
- Bereaved individuals exhibited significantly worse cognitive scores (β=-0.20, p<.001).
- Individuals with depressive symptoms exhibited significantly worse cognitive scores (β=-0.15, p<.001).
- Bereaved individuals were significantly more likely to report depressive symptoms (β=0.09, p=.001).
- Depressive symptomology partially mediated the relationship between bereavement and cognitive function, explaining approximately 7% of the variance.
Takeaway
When older parents lose a child, it can make them sad and affect how well they think. This sadness can make the thinking problems even worse.
Methodology
Cluster-adjusted path analysis on repeated cross-sectional data from 1995-2020.
Participant Demographics
Community-dwelling older adults over age 50.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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