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Cited by 260Attachment and Relationship DynamicsHealth disparities and outcomesFamily Dynamics and Relationships

Prospective associations between marital discord and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults

Whisman, Mark A., Uebelacker, Lisa A.·2009·Psychology and Aging
DOI 10.1037/a0014759
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Abstract

Data from both spouses in a population-based sample of middle-aged and older adults (N = 1,869 couples) were used to evaluate the 2-year prospective association between marital discord and depressive symptoms. Nested path analyses indicated that (a) baseline marital discord predicted one's own depressive symptoms at follow-up, (b) baseline depressive symptoms predicted one's own marital discord at follow-up, (c) baseline depressive symptoms predicted partners' marital discord at follow-up, and (d) there were no gender differences in the magnitudes of the pathways between one's own baseline depressive symptoms and one's own marital discord at follow-up or between one's own baseline marital discord and one's own depressive symptoms at follow-up. These results suggest a bidirectional longitudinal association between marital discord and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0014759

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37 of 37 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Marital dissatisfaction and discord are strongly related to depressive symptoms, with an average correlation of about r = .4 across studies and very similar patterns for men and women; the association is bidirectional, but marital discord predicts later depressive symptoms more strongly than the reverse; clinical depression has significant adverse effects on marital functioning.

    “It has long been known that marital dissatisfaction and discord are strongly related to depressive symptoms (e.g.,35, 36), with an average correlation between marital dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms of approximately r = .4 across studies and very similar patterns for men and women.37 Longitudinal studies show that the association is bidirectional,38, 39 but with a stronger time-lagged”

    From The Costs of Depression (2012) · cites this paper as [38]

  • Meta-analytic evidence indicates that the risk of suicidal behaviour in persons with depression is significantly associated with previous suicide attempt, severe depression, anxiety, hopelessness, family history of psychiatric disorder, comorbid substance abuse disorder, personality disorder, and sleep disorders, particularly nightmares and insomnia.

    “Meta-analytic evidence 209 indicates that the risk of suicidal behaviour in persons with depression is significantly associated with previous suicide attempt, severe depression, anxiety, hopelessness, family history of psychiatric disorder, comorbid substance abuse disorder, personality disorder, 210 and sleep disorders, particularly nightmares and insomnia. 211”

    From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [210]

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Related

Authors
Whisman, M. A., & Uebelacker, L. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Colorado Boulder (US)
  • Brown University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychology and Aging
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2009
Volume
24
Issue
1
Pages
184-189
ISSN
  • 0882-7974 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1498
DOI
10.1037/a0014759
OpenAlex
W1987008817
Cited by
260
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 15
FWCI
16.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychology and Aging (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Keywords
marital conflict, depressive symptoms, middle-aged adults, older adults, couples, bidirectional relationship, marital relationships, gender differences
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Aged, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Personality Inventory, Prospective Studies, Psychometrics, Sex Factors, Family Conflict

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