What’s Love Got To Do With It?: Social Connections, Perceived Health Stressors, and Daily Mood in Married Octogenarians

This study examined day-to-day links among time spent with others, health stressors, and mood in 47 elderly couples over an 8-day period. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed daily links between time spent with others and mood for men. For both men and women, being in a satisfying relationship was associated with stronger positive daily links between spending time with one’s partner and mood. Women reported lower mood on days when they experienced greater pain and physical limitation, and all participants reported lower mood on days when they experienced other health stressors. Marital satisfaction but not time spent with others buffered day-to-day links between perceived health stressors and mood. Findings are consistent with previous research on younger adults suggesting that the extent to which individuals participate in social relationships is directly linked with emotional well-being regardless of stress levels, and that supportive relationships serve as buffers against the effects of stress