Abstract
Although mental health is a major factor in couple relations, little is known on how depression might be transmitted within couples over long periods of time. This study sought to examine mutual influences of depressive symptoms across 23 years between women with clinical depression and their partners. A longitudinal, observational design employed a sample of 69 mixed-gender couples consisting of women with depression and their partners. Each partner’s depressive symptoms were estimated using cross-lagged path models across 10- and 23-year follow-ups, adjusting for income, education, and changes in couple status. Among women with depression at baseline, more depressive symptoms at 10-year follow-up predicted more depressive symptoms in their partners 13 years later, and those partners’ depressive symptoms at baseline predicted more depressive symptoms 23 years later among women with baseline depression. These findings demonstrate long-term associations between women with depression and their partners over time, highlighting the importance of accounting for couple context in depression assessment and treatment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The dataset generated during the current study is not publicly available. Please contact the corresponding author regarding access to these data.
References
Ames-Sikora, A. M., Donohue, M. R., & Tully, E. C. (2017). Nonlinear associations between co-rumination and both social support and depression symptoms. The Journal of Psychology, 151(6), 597–612. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2017.1372345
Baucom, D. H., Fischer, M. S., Worrell, M., Corrie, S., Belus, J. M., Molyva, E., & Boeding, S. E. (2017). Couple-based intervention for depression: An effectiveness study in the national health service in England. Family Process. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12332
Beck, A. T., Steer, A., & Brown, G. K. (1987). Beck depression inventory. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Bi, X., Moos, R. H., Timko, C., & Cronkite, R. C. (2015). Family conflict and somatic symptoms over 10 years: A growth mixture model analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 78(5), 459–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.01.013
Bodenmann, G., & Randall, A. K. (2013). Close relationships in psychiatric disorders. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 26(5), 464–467. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0b013e3283642de7
Braithwaite, S., & Holt-Lunstad, J. (2017). Romantic relationships and mental health. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 120–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.04.001
Cohen, S., Daniel O’Leary, K., Foran, H. M., & Kliem, S. (2014). Mechanisms of change in brief couple therapy for depression. Behavior Therapy, 45(3), 402–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2014.01.003
Coyne, J. C. (1976). Toward an interactional description of depression. Psychiatry, 39(1), 28–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.1976.11023874
Coyne, J. C. (1999). Thinking interactionally about depression: A radical restatement. In T. Joiner & J. C. Coyne (Eds.), The interactional nature of depression: Advances in interpersonal approaches (pp. 365–392). Washington: American Psychological Association.
Cronkite, R. C., Moos, R. H., Twohey, J., Cohen, C., & Swindle, R. (1998). Life circumstances and personal resources as predictors of the ten-year course of depression. American Journal of Community Psychology; Macon, 26(2), 255–280.
Cross, S. E., & Madson, L. (1997). Models of the self: Self-construals and gender. Psychological Bulletin, 122(1), 5–37. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.122.1.5
Das, A. (2020). “Crossover” in depressive symptoms among older couples: are previous findings artifactual? Journal of Aging and Health, 32(1), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264318800919
Davila, J., Bradbury, T. N., Cohan, C. L., & Tochluk, S. (1997). Marital functioning and depressive symptoms: Evidence for a stress generation model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(4), 849–861. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.73.4.849
Fischer, E. P., Sherman, M. D., McSweeney, J. C., Pyne, J. M., Owen, R. R., & Dixon, L. B. (2015). Perspectives of family and veterans on family programs to support reintegration of returning veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychological Services, 12(3), 187–198. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000033
Fredriksen, E., von Soest, T., Smith, L., & Moe, V. (2019). Depressive symptom contagion in the transition to parenthood: Interparental processes and the role of partner-related attachment. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 128, 397–403. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000429
Goodman, C. R., & Shippy, R. A. (2002). Is it contagious? Affect similarity among spouses. Aging & Mental Health, 6(3), 266–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860220142431
Hammen, C. (1991). Generation of stress in the course of unipolar depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100(4), 555–561. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.100.4.555
Johnson, M. D., Galambos, N. L., Finn, C., Neyer, F. J., & Horne, R. M. (2017). Pathways between self-esteem and depression in couples. Developmental Psychology, 53, 787–799. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000276
Joiner, T. E., & Katz, J. (1999). Contagion of depressive symptoms and mood: Meta-analytic review and explanations from cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal viewpoints. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6(2), 149–164. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.6.2.149
Kendler, K. S., & Gardner, C. O. (2014). Sex differences in the pathways to major depression: A study of opposite-sex twin pairs. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(4), 426–435. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13101375
Knobloch, L. K., & Delaney, A. L. (2012). Themes of relational uncertainty and interference from partners in depression. Health Communication, 27(8), 750–765. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2011.639293
Kouros, C. D., & Cummings, E. M. (2010). Longitudinal associations between husbands’ and wives’ depressive symptoms. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(1), 135–147. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2009.00688.x
Krantz, S. E., & Moos, R. H. (1987). Functioning and life context among spouses of remitted and nonremitted depressed patients. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55(3), 353–360. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.55.3.353
Luhmann, M., Hofmann, W., Eid, M., & Lucas, R. E. (2012). Subjective well-being and adaptation to life events: A meta-analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(3), 592–615. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025948
Merikangas, K. R. (1984). Divorce and assortative mating among depressed patients. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 141(1), 74–76. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.141.1.74
Mojtabai, R., Stuart, E. A., Hwang, I., Eaton, W. W., Sampson, N., & Kessler, R. C. (2017). Long-term effects of mental disorders on marital outcomes in the National Comorbidity Survey ten-year follow-up. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52(10), 1217–1226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1373-1
Moos, R. H. (1992). Stress and Coping theory and evaluation research: An integrated perspective. Evaluation Review, 16(5), 534–553. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193841X9201600505
Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2012). Mplus User’s Guide (Seventh).
Najman, J. M., Khatun, M., Mamun, A., Clavarino, A., Williams, G. M., Scott, J., O’Callaghan, M., Hayatbakhsh, R., & Alati, R. (2014). Does depression experienced by mothers leads to a decline in marital quality: A 21-year longitudinal study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 49(1), 121–132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0749-0
Olsen, J. A., & Kenny, D. A. (2006). Structural equation modeling with interchangeable dyads. Psychological Methods, 11(2), 127–141. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.11.2.127
Revenson, T. A., Marín-Chollom, A. M., Rundle, A. G., Wisnivesky, J., & Neugut, A. I. (2016). Hey Mr. Sandman: Dyadic effects of anxiety, depressive symptoms and sleep among married couples. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 39(2), 225–232. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-015-9693-7
Ross, C. E. (2000). Neighborhood disadvantage and adult depression. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 41(2), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.2307/2676304
Rotermann, M. (2007). Marital breakdown and subsequent depression. Health Reports, 18(2), 33–44.
Siegel, M. J., Bradley, E. H., Gallo, W. T., & Kasl, S. V. (2004). The effect of spousal mental and physical health on husbands’ and wives’ depressive symptoms, among older adults: longitudinal evidence from the health and retirement survey. Journal of Aging and Health, 16(3), 398–425. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264304264208
Spanier, G. B. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and Family, 38(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.2307/350547
Spitzer, R. L., Endicott, J., & Williams, J. B. (1979). Research diagnostic criteria. Archives of General Psychiatry, 36(12), 1381–1383. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1979.01780120111013
Stafford, M., Antonucci, T. C., & Zaninotto, P. (2019). Joint trajectories of spousal social support and depressive symptoms in older age. Journal of Aging and Health, 31(5), 760–782. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264317747077
Thomeer, M. B., Umberson, D., & Pudrovska, T. (2013). Marital processes around depression: A gendered and relational perspective. Society and Mental Health, 3(3), 151–169. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156869313487224
Wang, J. L., Schmitz, N., & Dewa, C. S. (2010). Socioeconomic status and the risk of major depression: The Canadian National Population Health Survey. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 64(5), 447–452. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2009.090910
Whiffen, V. E., Kallos-Lilly, A. V., & MacDonald, B. J. (2001). Depression and attachment in couples. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 25(5), 577–590. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005557515597
Whisman, M. A., Uebelacker, L. A., & Weinstock, L. M. (2004). Psychopathology and marital satisfaction: The importance of evaluating both partners. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(5), 830–838. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.72.5.830
Wong, J. J., Frost, N. D., Timko, C., Heinz, A. J., & Cronkite, R. (2020). Depression and family arguments: Disentangling reciprocal effects for women and men. Family Practice, 37(1), 49–55. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmz048
Zlotnick, C., Kohn, R., Keitner, G., & Della Grotta, S. A. (2000). The relationship between quality of interpersonal relationships and major depressive disorder: Findings from the National Comorbidity Survey. Journal of Affective Disorders, 59(3), 205–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0327(99)00153-6
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Grants AA12718 and AA15685, Eli Lilly, and Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service research funds. Drs. Wong and Frost were supported by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations Advanced Fellowship in Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D). Dr. Wong was also supported by NIH grant K23-DK121771. Dr. Timko was supported by the VA HSR&D Service (RCS 00–001) and Dr. Heinz was supported by a VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Career Development Award.
Funding
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, AA12718, Ruth Cronkite, AA15685,Ruth Cronkite, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases, K23-DK121771, Jessie Wong,U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, RCS 00-001, Christine Timko
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing Interests
The authors report no competing interests.
Ethical Approval
There were no potential conflicts of interest related to this study or manuscript. This research involved human participants, who provided informed consent to participate, and all study procedures were approved by a local institutional review board.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Wong, J.J., Timko, C., Heinz, A.J. et al. Sharing the Blues: Longitudinal Influences of Depression within Couples. Contemp Fam Ther 46, 1–7 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-023-09664-x
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-023-09664-x