Marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms in China.

Abstract

Although there is substantial evidence that low marital satisfaction is a significant risk factor for depression, little research has examined this relationship in cultures outside of the U.S. and Europe. The validity of the marital discord model of depression in Chinese culture was tested by studying 391 couples living in Beijing and Hangzhou, China. Results of structural equation modeling using an actor-partner interdependence model strategy indicated that husbands' and wives' marital satisfaction was significantly predictive of their own depressive symptoms. In addition, wives' marital satisfaction significantly predicted husbands' depressive symptoms. These results provide evidence that the marital discord model of depression is useful in understanding the role of marital dissatisfaction as a risk factor for depressive symptoms in collectivistic societies, such as China.

Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction associated with Shifts in Dyadic Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in German Couples across Four Years

“…In addition, both men's and women's own effects and their partner's effects findings are consistent with the literature in that these links were found to be significant (Beach et al., ; Gustavson et al., ). Contrastingly, Miller et al., () and Wang et al., () both found only one path where relationship satisfaction predicted their partner's depressive symptoms; whereas our findings found that both men's and women's relationship satisfaction levels predicted their partner's depressive symptoms across time. In short, these findings on the link between relationship satisfaction and depressive symptoms contributes to the literature on trajectories of depression and expands the literature on depression.…”

“…When examining the cross‐lag effects between husbands and wives, their earlier reports of marital satisfaction predicted reports of depressive symptoms in their spouse a year later (Beach et al., ). In other studies, only husband's relationship satisfaction predicted their wives depressive symptoms (Wang, Wang, Li, & Miller, ) and wives relationship satisfaction predicted their husbands depressive symptoms (Miller, Mason, Canlas, Wang, Nelson, & Hart, ). It is important to note that both of these studies were cross‐sectional and only found one significant partner path.…”

Intimate Partner Relationship Distress in the DSM‐5

“…Other studies indicate that problems in intimate relationships are common among individuals seeking mental health services, regardless of whether they report relationship distress as their primary complaint (Lin, Goering, Offord, Campbell, & Boyle, ). Further, the association between problems in intimate relationships and mental health has been observed in many different countries and cultures (e.g., Foran, Hahlweg, Kliem, & O'Leary, ; Greenstein & Davis, ; Hollist, Miller, Falceto, & Fernandes, ; Miller et al., ; Overbeek et al., ).…”

“…and cultures (e.g., Foran, Hahlweg, Kliem, & O'Leary, 2013;Greenstein & Davis, 2006;Hollist, Miller, Falceto, & Fernandes, 2007;Miller et al, 2013;Overbeek et al, 2006).…”

Emotional Expression and Spousal Support as Predictors of Marital Satisfaction: The Case of Turkey

“…Firstly, spousal support helps prevent emotional withdrawal and depression in stressful situations. In their research on the predictive effect of marital satisfaction on subsequent depressive symptoms, Miller et al (2013) concluded that low levels of perceived partner support causes depression. Khan and Aftah (2013) also studied the mediating role of perceived social support between marital satisfaction and depression, and concluded that perceived social support is an important variable, which predicts marital satisfaction and depression.…”