노년기 부부의 건강상태가 삶의 만족도에 미치는 영향에서 우울의 매개효과: 자기-상대방 상호의존 매개모형(APIMeM)의 적용

Abstract

This study examined the structural model of health, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction among elderly married couples by applying the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM). The secondary data set was produced based on the original study, the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans conducted by MHW and KIHASA. A total of 2,140 married couples aged above 65 and living in their own homes in Korea were analyzed in terms of reliability test, descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, confirmatory factor analysis, path analysis, and Bootstrapping method, by using SPSS and AMOS programs. The results are as follows. All direct relationships between the major variables were significant. Also, the actor effect and the partner effect of elderly married couples were also significant except for the husband’s indirect partner-partner effect, husband’s indirect partner-actor effect, and wife’s indirect partner-actor effect, confirming the interdependence between elderly married couples. A gender difference was found only in the indirect partner-partner effect out of the six pairs of the actor effect and the partner effect, which shows elderly married couples generally influence each other in a similar way. The interdependence of elderly married couples was most powerful between the relationship of depressive symptoms and life satisfaction, followed by health and life satisfaction, and the smallest between the relationship of health and depressive symptoms. The findings imply the need to consider the influence of not only the individual but also his/her spouse on the life satisfaction of elderly married couples. This study helps academia to understand the interdependence between elderly married couples and can contribute to planning policies and social services for them.