Cited by 104Attachment and Relationship DynamicsFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

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Intimate Relationships and Depression: Searching for Causation in the Sea of Association

Whisman, Mark A., Sbarra, David A., Beach, Steven R.H.·2021·Annual Review of Clinical Psychology

DOI 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-103323

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Abstract

This article provides a critical review of existing research on intimate (marriage or marriage-like) relationship distress and risk for depression. Using the meta-framework of research triangulation, we seek to synthesize research evidence across several different methodologies and study designs and to draw the most reliable conclusion regarding a potential causal association between relationship distress and depression. Focusing on existing correlational (i.e., observational), genetically informed, and intervention (i.e., experimental) research on the association between relationship distress and depression, we conclude that the existing body of research evidence supports the claim that relationship distress is a causal risk factor for depression. A secondary aim of the article is to highlight a variety of effective methods that, when viewed from the perspective of triangulation, enhance the pursuit of causal inference, including propensity score matching, target trial emulation, directed acyclic graph approach, and Mendelian randomization.

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Authors: Whisman, M. A., Sbarra, D. A., & Beach, S. R. H.
Affiliations: University of Colorado Boulder (US)
University of Arizona (US)
University of Georgia (US)
ORCID: Whisman, Mark A.
Sbarra, David A.
Beach, Steven R.H.
Venue: Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
Publisher: Annual Reviews
Published: 2021-05-07
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 233-258
ISSN: 1548-5943 (ISSN-L)
1548-5951
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-103323
OpenAlex: W3128410192
Cited by: 104
References: 149
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 4
FWCI: 2.75
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Annual Review of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute on Aging (R01AG059260)
National Cancer Institute (R01CA220254)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords: intimate relationships, relationship distress, depression, causal inference, marriage, causal risk factors, genetic research, intervention research, propensity score matching, target trial emulation, directed acyclic graphs, Mendelian randomization
MeSH terms: Depression, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Marriage, Risk Factors

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Intimate Relationships and Depression: Searching for Causation in the Sea of Association

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