The Influence of Gender and Dyadic Relationship Quality on Changes in Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

Abstract: Previous research have showed the association between dyadic relationship quality and depression, and the potential moderating influence of gender, mostly in population-based samples and using two time points. Inconsistent results were found with regards to the moderating role of gender, mostly with an effect for women (such that a stronger relationship between dyadic relationship quality and depression is found for women), or no moderating effect. This study investigated the role of gender and dyadic relationship quality in changes in depressive symptoms in a clinical sample, with assessments conducted at four time points. A sample of N = 129 patients with depression was recruited from an outpatient mental healthcare clinic. To test the relationships above, regression analyses and a moderation analysis were performed. The results showed that at baseline and 17 till 26 months after assessment, a negative association was found between dyadic relationship quality and depressive symptoms, but not 4 till 8 months and 11 till 15 months after baseline. The moderating role of gender was found for men at baseline and 11 till 15 months after baseline, which was in contrast with previous studies which mostly found a moderating effect for women. Limitations of the current study, suggestions for future research, and implications for clinical practice were discussed.