UNDERSTANDING THE COOCCURRENCE OF MARITAL DISTRESS AND DEPRESSION IN WOMEN

This study investigated factors related to the co-occurrence of marita l distress and depression using a community-based sample of 128 women. Marital distress and depression were assessed at two levels of analys is: the global level and the level of daily marital satisfaction and d ysphoric mood. Low rates of pleasing and high rates of displeasing mar ital exchanges were related to daily dysphoric mood and marital dissat isfaction as well as to global marital distress and depression. Marita l exchanges were also related to both marital distress and depression at both levels of analysis when each disorder was considered separatel y. However, the association between depression and the quality of mari tal exchanges was accounted for by the degrees of marital distress. Th e quality of non-familial social interactions was not related to the c o-occurrence of marital distress and depression. Overall, these findin gs suggest that, in women, the co-occurrence of marital distress and d epression reflects the specific effects of marital exchanges. Dysfunct ional beliefs were found to be common to both global marital distress and depression. Some evidence was found for some specificity in the ma ladaptive beliefs associated with marital distress and depressive symp tomatology. Implications for further research are discussed.