title: Depressive symptoms in early marriage: predictions from relationship confidence and negative marital interaction.
abstract: The authors proposed a model of depressive symptoms in early marriage in which relationship confidence, defined as perceived couple-level efficacy to manage conflicts and maintain a healthy relationship, mediates the effect of negative marital interactions on depressive symptoms. The model was tested in a sample of 139 couples assessed prior to marriage and 1 year later. As predicted, relationship confidence demonstrated simple negative associations with negative marital interaction and depressive symptoms for all participants. Longitudinal path analyses supported the mediational model for women only. In women but not men, negative marital interaction indirectly had an impact on depressive symptoms through the mediator of relationship confidence. Findings suggest that relationship confidence may be important to understanding links between marital distress and depressive symptoms, especially in women.
authors.affiliation: Judge Baker Children's Center, Harvard Medical School.
authors.forename: Sarah W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Whitton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver.
authors.forename: P Antonio
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Olmos-Gallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver.
authors.forename: Lydia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver.
authors.forename: Galena H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: St Peters
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver.
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Markman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003469:Culture; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care