Partner Devaluation is Associated with Depression Symptoms Among Depression–Vulnerable Women with Low Self–Esteem

Abstract

The current study examined associations between self–esteem, romantic partners' negative views (devaluation), and depressive symptoms among women who were high and low in depression vulnerability. Twenty–eight women with a recent history of depression (high depression–vulnerable) and forty–five women with no recent history of depression (low depression–vulnerable), completed the study with their male partners. Women completed measures of depression and self–esteem, and men completed a measure of partner devaluation. Among high depression–vulnerable women, path analysis revealed that partner devaluation interacted with self–esteem such that the combination of low self–esteem and high partner devaluation was associated with high levels of depression. Among the low depression–vulnerable women, only low self–esteem was associated with depressive symptoms.