STRESS IN MARITAL INTERACTION AND CHANGE IN DEPRESSION - A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS

The research undertakes a longitudinal analysis of a model of the effe cts of stress in marital interaction on change in depressive symptoms as mediated by unfavorable reflected appraisals, low competency, self- efficacy, and self-esteem. The participants were 98 randomly selected married couples interviewed at two separate points in time. The data s upported the proposed model. Stressors in marital interaction are asso ciated with unfavorable reflected appraisals that have a direct effect on self-efficacy and an indirect effect on self-esteem. These two sel f-assessments have a direct effect on depressive symptoms after contro lling for lagged level of depressive symptoms. A key variable is self- efficacy, which mediates the effect of reflected appraisals on self-es teem and has a direct effect on change in depressive symptoms.