title: The Impact of Relationship-Specific Support and Strain on Depressive Symptoms Across the Life Course.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study integrates stress process theory into a life course framework to examine how support and strain from particular relationship types (spouse/partner, children, mother, and friends/relatives) influence trajectories of depressive symptoms among different age groups, net of support and strain from other relationship types.
  
  
  METHODS
  Latent growth curve models were used on nationally representative panel data (N = 3,617) from the Americans' Changing Lives survey (1986, 1989, 1994, and 2001/2002).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Net of support and strain from other relationships, support from a spouse was related to fewer depressive symptoms among each age group. Friendships were important for depressive symptoms among younger and older adults, whereas only support/strain from family relationships influenced depressive symptoms among adults in midlife.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings demonstrate the importance of support and strain in multiple types of network members for the mental health of adults across the life course.
authors.affiliation: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA pthomas4@purdue.edu.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: depressive symptoms; life course; mental health; relationship strain; social support