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Self-silencing mediates the link between marital conflict and depression

University of Ottawa, whiff{at}uottawa.ca

Meredith L. Foot

University of Ottawa

Janice M. Thompson

Simon Fraser University

The Silencing the Self model of depression (Jack, 1991) proposes that women are at risk for depression when they suppress their true thoughts and feelings to avoid conflict. Using a community sample of 115 couples, the present study investigated whether self-silencing mediates the relationship between marital conflict and depressive symptoms. Results indicated that both men and women who perceived their marriages as conflicted tended to hide their anger while pretending to go along with their partner's opinions or wishes which, along with a tendency to judge oneself by external standards, also mediated the relationship between marital conflict and depressive symptoms. The silencing model appears to describe the development of both men's and women's depression in conflicted marriages and may be refined by focusing on how individuals cope with anger in intimate relationships.

Key Words: depression • depressive symptoms • gender differences • marital conflict • marital relations • mediators • silencing the self

References

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Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 24, No. 6, 993-1006 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407507084813


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science 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 Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Whiffen, V. E. Articles by Thompson, J. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?