[Non-reciprocity in close social relationships, depressive symptoms, and poor self-rated health].
OBJECTIVE
Associations of experienced non-reciprocity in close social relationships with health are analyzed in a group of middle-aged employed men and women using depressive symptoms and self-rated health as indicators.


METHODS
Non-reciprocity is measured by a newly developed questionnaire containing three scales: "partnership", "parent-child", and "non-specific close relationships". Depressive symptoms are assessed by the German version of the CES-D scale and self-rated health by a single widely tested item. The factorial structure of the questionnaire measuring non-reciprocity is analyzed. Subsequently, associations are explored using logistic regression analyses with age, gender, socio-economic status, and social support as control variables.


RESULTS
The factorial structure of the questionnaire is confirmed. Significantly elevated odds ratios (OR) of depressive symptoms are observed in people who experience non-reciprocity (partnership OR = 2.97; parent-child OR = 2.70; non-specific OR = 1.84). Similarly, the risk of poor self-rated health is significantly elevated in these conditions, except for non-specific non-reciprocity.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the newly developed measurement consistent associations of non-reciprocity in close social relationships with depressive symptoms and poor self-rated health are documented.
von dem Knesebeck
Olaf
O
Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Universität Düsseldorf. knesebec@uni-duesseldorf.de
Siegrist
Johannes
J
D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires