In sickness and in health: the longitudinal associations between marital dissatisfaction, depression and spousal health

Abstract

The present study explored how spouses’ reports of marital dissatisfaction (independent variable) are associated with depression symptoms (mediator) and physical health (dependent variable) over time. Data were from the Marriage Matters Panel Survey (Nock et al., ). We used autoregressive cross‐lagged models to test temporal connections between variables for newlywed husbands, wives and couples (N=707 couples) at Waves 1, 2 and 3, spanning five years. Results indicated physical health is an important predictor, as are wives’ depression symptoms and husbands’ marital dissatisfaction (all three demonstrate partner effects). However, the effects of health are no longer observed at Time 2. For wives there is a reciprocal relationship between marital dissatisfaction and depression symptoms; for husbands, marital dissatisfaction leads to increased depression. This study provides additional support that marital dissatisfaction, depression and physical health are interrelated across time. Practitioner points Assessment and treatment using a biopsychosocial approach is critical to fully understanding connections between marriage, depression and health for couples Repeated assessment of marital dissatisfaction in couple therapy may be necessary, as effects of dissatisfaction are corrosive over time and predict other areas of wellbeing Attending to and exploring gender differences in couples may be helpful, as links between marital dissatisfaction, depression and health vary for men and women

A new way to measure partner burden in depression: Construction, validation, and sensitivity to change of the partner burden in depression questionnaire

“…A burdened partner might experience difficulties engaging in a positive or constructive interaction with their significant other, possibly reducing relationship quality and adaptive self and emotional coregulation (Rehman et al, 2008). Partner burden or the potential relationship discord that come along with it can reinforce depressive symptoms—a result which was supported in our intervention sample (sample 2) and in previous findings, even over a period of 2 years (Woods et al, 2019). Therefore, the PBD can inform about an important aspect within the interpersonal dynamic of depression.…”

The Capability Approach in Epidemiological Studies

“…However, having a social network per se is not necessarily beneficial in relation to late-life depression. As an example, social relationships may entail emotional, physical or financial abuse (Poole & Rietschlin, 2012;Roh et al, 2016), or marital dissatisfaction (Woods et al, 2019), which may contribute to an elevated risk of depression.…”

Marital Satisfaction and Depression in Older Adults: A Literature Review

“…Older women having less spouse support experienced more significant depressive symptoms than older men (Choi & Ha, 2011). While spouse support is positively associated with marital satisfaction (Cutrona, 1996;Mickelson et al, 2006;Sung & Joo, 2011), marital satisfaction is negatively associated with depression (Khan & Aftab, 2013;Miller et al, 2013;Woods et al, 2019). It is clear that the absence or lower levels of spousal support for older women leads to lower marital satisfaction and more vulnerability to depression than older men.…”