The Association Between Depressive Symptoms, Relationship Satisfaction, and Self- and Partner-Attributions

<p>Attributions of partners have been examined in the depressive symptom-relationship satisfaction literature, while attributions of self have not been adequately addressed. In the present study, attributions of self and partner were investigated as mediators of the association between depressive symptoms and relationship satisfaction. A student and community sample of 270 adults in heterosexual romantic relationships completed an online survey consisting of depressive symptom, relationship satisfaction, and relationship attribution inventories. Pearson's product-moment correlation and multiple regression analyses were utilized to assess meditational pathways. Depressive symptoms were significantly negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction. Self- and partner-attributions were significantly positively correlated with relationship satisfaction. Self- and partner-attributions did not mediate the relationship between depressive symptoms and relationship satisfaction. Rather, results indicated that depressive symptoms and partner-attributions were significant predictors of relationship satisfaction, but self-attributions were not. Partner-attributions were found to partially mediate the depressive symptom-relationship satisfaction link for the student subsample. Clinical implications, limitations of the present study and considerations for future research are also discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Amy Harrison

Contributors dc:contributor

• Barbara Winstead
• Delanyard Robinson
• Rick Frieden
• Janis Sanchez-Hucles
• Desideria S. Hacker

• Depression
• Depressive symptoms
• Partner-attributions
• Relationship satisfaction
• Self-attributions
• Clinical Psychology
• Social Psychology

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Identifier

9781124663951

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:psychology_etds-1316