This article draws on the relational turbulence model to illuminate the dynamics of depression in romantic relationships using a thematic analysis of online discourse. Three content areas of relational uncertainty were apparent: (a) depression uncertainty (questions about physical harm, source of depression, and understanding), (b) self and partner uncertainty (questions about helplessness and identity), and (c) relationship uncertainty (questions about physical intimacy, relationship satisfaction, and the future of the relationship). Three content areas of interference from partners also emerged: (a) daily routines (disruptions to household tasks; finances, work, and school; children and parenting; and family and social life), (b) personal well-being (disruptions to health and safety as well as treatment), and (c) the relationship (disruptions to sexual activity, emotional intimacy, and openness). Relational uncertainty and interference from partners coincided in people's experiences in seven ways. The article concludes by discussing the conceptual, empirical, and pragmatic implications of the findings.

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This study adopts an inductive and dyadic approach to illuminate how depression affects romantic relationships in people's own words. Depressed couples (N ¼ 135) responded to an open-ended item about ways that depression influences their romantic relationship. Content analytic results indicated eight categories of negative effects (emotional toll, romance and sexual intimacy, communication, isolation, lack of energy/motivation, dependence on the relationship, lack of understanding, and uncertainty) and one category of positive effects (enhanced intimacy). Dyadic analyses identified the effects of depression with the most agreement and complementarity within couples. Other findings revealed how people's reports of the effects of depression varied by their own and their partner's depression status. The discussion highlights the theoretical, empirical, and practical implications.

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