Relationship Beliefs, Attributions, and Partner Behaviors Among Depressed Married Women

Abstract

Existing research documents that marital distress is strongly associated with depression; however, less is known about specific features of relationship functioning that are associated with depression. In the current study, we tested whether marital attributions, dysfunctional relationship beliefs, and partners’ reinforcing and aversive behavior were associated with major depression in married women. Compared to nondepressed wives, depressed wives reported stronger endorsement of several dysfunctional relationship beliefs, even when controlling for relationship distress. Depressed women also reported more dysfunctional relationship attributions and more negative partner behaviors; however, these results were not significant when marital distress was controlled. We also assessed relationship factors in husbands of depressed and nondepressed women. Husbands of depressed wives did not report significantly higher levels of dysfunctional attributions or beliefs. They did report more negative and fewer positive partner behaviors; however, husbands’ marital distress seemed to account for these findings. Results support an integration of cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal models of depression.