Retrospectively appraised life changes since the German reunification and health: gender-differentiated indirect associations via psychosocial resources

Résumé fourni par la source

BACKGROUND: The German reunification (1989/1990) was a period of rapid socio-structural transformation, with heterogeneous consequences for work, finances, and personal life in East Germany. Drawing on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study examined whether retrospectively appraised changes since the reunification are associated with later-life health and whether psychosocial resources show gender-specific indirect associations. METHODS: Data came from a 2022 cross-sectional survey of 1,295 adults who lived in East Germany before and after reunification and were aged 16-64 in 1990. Multi-group structural equation models (men / women) estimated associations between perceived occupational, financial, and personal changes and current depressive symptoms and self-rated health status, including indirect associations via resilience, optimism, low pessimism, and social support. RESULTS: Perceived deteriorations were more consistently associated with poorer health than improvements with better health, especially for personal change. Occupational deterioration showed more consistent associations with poorer health and resources, particularly among men, whereas financial improvements were positively linked to resources among women. Personal deterioration was associated with lower resources and more depressive symptoms in both genders. Indirect association patterns varied by domain, gender, and outcome; pessimism showed the most consistent associations, particularly for depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Findings were consistent with COR theory in that retrospectively appraised deteriorations were more consistently associated with poorer current health than improvements were with better health. The cross-sectional and retrospective design limits causal interpretation, but the findings point to gender- and domain-specific resource-related association patterns after major social change.

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