Moderators of the association between relationship discord and major depression in a national population-based sample.
Although there is a well-documented association between relationship discord and depression, many individuals experience either discord or depression without experiencing the other. To understand this phenomenon, the authors evaluated moderators of the association between relationship discord and major depression among married or cohabiting individuals in the National Comorbidity Survey (N = 2,538; R. C. Kessler et al., 1994). Potential moderators included demographics, personality characteristics, parental depression, and childhood loss. Only one significant moderator was found: There was a stronger association between discord and depression for married people (vs. cohabiters). Among married individuals only, neuroticism also served as a moderator: Individuals higher in neuroticism showed a stronger association between discord and depression. In general, findings suggest that when a person or family presents with one problem (e.g., relationship discord), it is important to evaluate and potentially treat the other problem (e.g., depression) as well.
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Medical School, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI 02906, USA. lisa_uebelacker@brown.edu
Lisa A
LA
Uebelacker
Mark A
MA
Whisman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology