Risk of psychological distress among community-dwelling older adults experiencing spousal loss in Ghana

Abstract

Background: Spousal loss, common in older age, has been linked to negative mental health outcomes and well-being, yet the mechanisms linking spousal loss and mental health are still unclear. Objective: To investigate whether physical activity, social support, and gender modify the psychological distress effects of marital loss among community-dwelling older persons in Ghana. Methods: Data from a 2016/2017 Ageing, Health, Psychological Well-being, and Health-seeking Behavior Study (N = 1,200) were examined. OLS regression models examined associations between spousal loss and psychological distress outcomes and interaction terms. Results: Spousal loss (widowhood and divorce/separation) was associated with psychological distress (measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [KPDS-10]) for the full sample (β =. 798, p