How are marital transitions associated with cognitive functioning amid health declines? A gender-specific hybrid panel model analysis using the Health and Retirement Study

Objectives: Marriage is associated with cognitive functioning, but gender differences, particularly in the context of health declines, remain underexplored. This study examines how marital transitions, health status, and gender interact to shape cognitive functioning in older adults. Methods: Using data from Waves 3–13 of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (130,003 person-wave observations), hybrid panel models estimate time-varying and time-constant effects while accounting for unobserved individual heterogeneity. Results: Marital transitions from being married to non-married (i.e., marital disruption) were linked to lower cognitive functioning. Health declines, particularly worsening self-rated health and increasing depressive symptoms, were also related to lower cognitive functioning. The interaction between marital disruption and health status showed that the negative impact of marital disruption on cognitive functioning intensified as self-rated health worsened, whereas depressive symptoms did not significantly moderate this relationship. Gender differences further clarified these patterns: among women, the cognitive disadvantage of marital disruption intensified with worsening self-rated health and depressive symptoms, whereas among men, the association remained largely unaffected by changes in health status. Discussion: Findings highlight the moderating role of health status in the relationship between marital disruption and cognitive functioning, with gender differences in these associations. Cognitive health interventions should be tailored by gender, with a focus on strengthening social networks and providing targeted health-related support to promote cognitive functioning in later life.