Consistent with this year’s conference theme, the papers presented here highlight how sensitive older couples’ experiences are to their often developmentally unique contexts. This symposium, comprised of scholars in the fields of family science, human development, marital and family therapy, and gerontology, emphasizes the importance of conceptualizing adult health and well-being dyadically, as it is clear that the context of marriage is in and of itself one of the most powerful in which older adults are embedded. By acknowledging that the process of growing old together may yield as many health challenges as it does opportunities for couples, we believe that we are better equipped to help couples and families thrive in a manner that is not only more developmentally appropriate, but likely more effective.

Objectives

To evaluate how health interacts with other critical pieces of a couple’s life (e.g., communication, work, finances) to shape their experiences and outcomes.To demonstrate the utility of a dyadic perspective when understanding the challenges and opportunities of couples aging together.To highlight the importance of taking a life course perspective when working with couples to optimize their individual and couple well-being.