This study examines the association of perceived neighborhood cohesion (NC) with older adults’ health and the buffering effects of NC against the negative effects of spousal caregiving on health. Data of 3329 community-living older adults living with a spouse in need of care from the Health and Retirement Study were collected at two time-points. Multiple regression analyses were computed for each of the four health outcomes. For men, NC predicted fewer depressive symptoms and better cognition. NC buffered the negative effect of providing activities of daily living (ADL) help to the wife on cognition. For women, NC predicted fewer depressive symptoms and better cognition. NC buffered the negative effect of providing ADL help to the husband on ADL difficulties. The results accentuate the importance of residency location for older adults’ physical and mental health. The health benefits of NC may have more implications for older adults providing spousal care.

本研究考察了感知邻里凝聚力 (NC) 与老年人健康的关联，以及 NC 对配偶照顾对健康的负面影响的缓冲作用。在两个时间点收集了来自健康和退休研究的 3329 名与需要照顾的配偶一起生活的社区老年人的数据。对四种健康结果中的每一种都进行了多元回归分析。对于男性，NC 预测较少的抑郁症状和更好的认知。NC 缓冲了为妻子提供日常生活活动 (ADL) 帮助对认知的负面影响。对于女性，NC 预测较少的抑郁症状和更好的认知。NC 缓冲了在 ADL 困难时为丈夫提供 ADL 帮助的负面影响。结果强调了居住地点对老年人身心健康的重要性。NC 的健康益处可能对提供配偶护理的老年人有更多影响。