Emotion Regulation and Depression in Couples Therapy
Author Information
Author(s): Morgan Preston C., Wittenborn Andrea K., Morlan Garrin L., Snyder Ryan
Primary Institution: Oklahoma State University
Hypothesis
Does emotion regulation difficulties mediate the relationship between relationship satisfaction and changes in depression among couples in therapy?
Conclusion
Emotion regulation difficulties predict depressive symptoms in couples, but do not mediate the relationship between relationship satisfaction and depression trajectories.
Supporting Evidence
- Emotion regulation difficulties were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms for both partners.
- Women’s emotion regulation difficulties were linked to decreasing rates of depressive symptoms over therapy.
- Emotion regulation did not mediate the relationship between relationship satisfaction and depressive symptoms.
Takeaway
When couples go to therapy, how well they manage their emotions can affect their depression, but feeling satisfied in the relationship doesn't necessarily help them manage those emotions.
Methodology
The study used dyadic latent growth models to analyze data from couples in therapy over multiple sessions.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the self-reported nature of the data and the clinical setting.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable due to the clinical sample and high attrition rates.
Participant Demographics
Couples were primarily different-sex, with an average relationship duration of 4.52 years, and included a diverse racial composition.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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