Interrelations and moderators of longitudinal links between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms among couples in established relationships.

Abstract

Extending research based on newlywed couples, this study investigated longitudinal associations between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms in a community sample of 296 couples in established relationships (M = 13.25 years, SD = 5.98) with children (M age = 11.05 years, SD = 2.31). Support was found for reciprocal relations between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms in couples with established relationships. Further extending previous work, the study showed that relationship length and hostile marital conflict were significant moderators of these linkages. Husbands in longer term relationships were more vulnerable to depressive symptoms in the context of marital problems compared with husbands in shorter term relationships. At higher levels of marital conflict, the negative relationship between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms was strengthened. Reflecting an unexpected finding, increased conflict buffered spouses from marital dissatisfaction in the context of depressive symptoms.

The role of relational uncertainty in depressive symptoms and relationship quality

“…Other theories explicitly reverse the causal order by predicting that relationship distress causes depression (e.g., Beach et al, 1990). Empirical evidence supports both routes, leading some scholars to conclude that a reciprocal association exists (Davila, 2001;Karney, 2001;Kouros et al, 2008). Unfortunately, our cross-sectional data are not equipped to shed light on questions of temporal precedence or causality.…”

“…In a meta-analysis of 26 studies (N > 6,400 participants), Whisman (2001) documented a negative correlation between depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction for both men (r = -.37, p < .001) and women (r = -.42, p < .001). Other studies reveal longitudinal and reciprocal effects of depressive symptoms and marital distress over time (Fincham, Beach, Harold, & Osborne, 1997;Kouros et al, 2008;Kurdek, 1998). Accordingly, H1 predicts that a person's depressive symptoms are negatively associated with his or her relationship quality.…”

“…Notably, however, the partner effect disappeared when the actor and partner effects of anxiety, hostility, self-consciousness, impulsiveness, and vulnerability were covaried. In another study, Whisman et al (2004) documented both actor and partner effects of depressive symptoms on an actor's satisfaction with the relationship, but actor effects were larger than partner effects (see also Kouros et al, 2008). Therefore, RQ1 asks whether a partner's depressive symptoms are negatively associated with an actor's relationship quality.…”

“…A second question involves interdependence between partners. Few investigations have documented how both members of the dyad experience depressive symptoms and relationship distress (Kouros, Papp, & Cummings, 2008;Whisman, Uebelacker, & Weinstock, 2004), so work is needed to disentangle actor and partner effects (Davila, 2001).…”

Depressive Symptoms, Friend and Partner Relationship Quality, and Posttreatment Abstinence

“…In fact, there is substantial evidence that adults and children with higher levels of depressive symptoms have lower quality relationships characterized by rejection and dissatisfaction (e.g., Gotlib and Lee, 1989;Joiner et al, 1992Joiner et al, , 1993reviewed in Joiner, 2002; see also Chan and Poulin, 2009;Rudolph et al, 2007). There is also an inverse relation between level of depressive symptoms and amount of marital satisfaction (Kouros et al, 2008).…”