This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (10) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Whiffen, V. E. Articles by Aube, J. A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Personality, Interpersonal Context and Depression in Couples

University of Ottawawhiff{at}uottawa.ca

Jennifer A. Aube

University of Rochester

The present study had two goals: first, to determine whether neediness and self-criticism are associated with distinct marital environments and, second, to evaluate two pathways by which marital environments may be related to personality and depressive symptoms. Personality vulnerability may be more strongly associated with depressive symptoms when the spouse’s behavior matches the vulnerability (i.e. a needy person’s spouse is emotionally distant). Alternatively, spousal behavior may elevate levels of neediness or self-criticism, which then increases depressive symptoms. We tested these alternatives in a sample of 64 couples recruited from the community. Among men, neediness was associated with depressive symptoms only if the marriage lacked intimacy. Self-criticism in both sexes and neediness in women were linked to the interpersonal context in a different manner: self-critics tended to have partners who have many complaints about them, and needy women tended to have partners who report low levels of marital intimacy. These results demonstrate that, to some extent, an individual’s self-criticism or neediness may be a realistic response to a distressing inter-personal context.

Key Words: couples • depression • personality

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 16, No. 3, 369-383 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407599163005


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. E. Whiffen, M. L. Foot, and J. M. Thompson Self-silencing mediates the link between marital conflict and depression Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, December 1, 2007; 24(6): 993 - 1006. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. E. Oliver and V. E. Whiffen Perceptions of Parents and Partners and Men's Depressive Symptoms Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, October 1, 2003; 20(5): 621 - 635. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. M. Thompson, V. E. Whiffen, and J. A. Aube Does Self-Silencing Link Perceptions of Care from Parents and Partners with Depressive Symptoms? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, August 1, 2001; 18(4): 503 - 516. [Abstract] [PDF]