Control Beliefs and Emotional Aspects of Psychological Frailty Among Couples in Later Life

ObjectivesThis study investigated the associations between control beliefs and the emotional aspects of psychological frailty (i.e., depression, anxiety, and loneliness) among older married couples.MethodsMultivariate Actor-Partner Interdependence Models were used to analyze data from 538 couples aged 65 or older, drawn from the 2022 Health and Retirement Study.ResultsIndividuals' own control beliefs were consistently associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness for both spouses. A partner effect emerged for loneliness, with wives' control beliefs associated with lower levels of loneliness in their husbands, but this was not significant after adjusting for marital support and strain.DiscussionThese findings identify control beliefs as a consistent individual-level protective factor. Interventions to improve emotional well-being in older couples should prioritize strengthening personal control beliefs. Dyadic processes merit further investigation, particularly for outcomes such as loneliness that are closely embedded in the relational context.