The incremental importance of low-level physically aggressive behavior in predicting later depressive symptoms was examined in a community sample of intact first-time marriages with children. For wives, physically aggressive behavior predicted later depressive symptoms. No similar effect was found for husbands. In addition, husbands’ psychological aggression moderated the effect of their own physically aggressive behavior on wives’ later depressive symptoms. Wives’ psychological aggression did not moderate the effect of their own physically aggressive behavior on husbands’ later depression. Results suggest that marital models should incorporate the role of physical aggression in accounting for wives’ depressive symptoms and allow for the possibility of gender asymmetry in effects.

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