Spousal salience in an aging rural South African cohort

Abstract

The importance of the spousal relationship within one's social circle—which we refer to as spousal salience —may have important implications for married individuals' outcomes as they age. This study investigates factors that may be associated with spousal salience among a sample of aging adults in rural South Africa. We use data from 591 married women and 974 married men aged 44 or older in Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study in South Africa INDEPTH (HAALSI) to identify social and health factors that may be associated with spousal salience. Approximately one third of men and women did not name their spouse as one of their six most important social contacts (i.e., their spouses were not salient). More frequent receipt of emotional support from spouse or nonspouse contacts was positively associated with spousal salience, as was having more opposite‐sex contacts. For men, more frequent marital conflict was negatively associated with spousal salience, while more frequent interaction with nonspouse contacts and limitations in physical or cognitive function were positively associated with spousal salience. The quantity and quality of nonspousal relationships do not diminish spousal salience. Our gender‐specific findings may be due to differences in response to marital conflict (men may withdraw more than women), access to social networks (men's social connections may be more linked to their spouse), and the likelihood of assuming caregiving roles (women are more likely to take on these roles). Identifying individuals with both weak social connections and low spousal salience may be particularly important for preventing social isolation and promoting well‐being in later life.