Dyadic Cross-Sectional Associations Between Depressive Mood, Relationship Satisfaction, and Common Dyadic Coping

ABSTRACT

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the mediational role of common dyadic coping in the links between depressive mood and relationship satisfaction. We estimated two competing Actor–Partner Mediator Models, in which the dyad is the highest unit of analysis. The first model specified dyadic coping as a mediator in the association between relationship satisfaction and depression, whereas the second model specified dyadic coping as a mediator between depression and relationship satisfaction. Analyzing data from 198 couples, our findings provided a plausible approximation of the second model, representing the interactional model of depression. They showed that common dyadic coping mediates the link between depression and relationship satisfaction for men only.

KEYWORDS:

• APMeM
• depressive mood
• dyadic coping
• mediation
• relationship satisfaction

Notes

Throughout this article, depression and depressive mood are used interchangeably as a dimensional, not as a categorical, construct (Hankin, Fraley, Lahey, & Waldman, 2005). Thus, we are interested in individual differences in depressive mood rather than clinical category such as major depressive disorder.

Hershberger and Marcoulides (2013) wrote “if the data fit the hypothesized model (and its equivalent models) well, one can (a) retain the hypothesized mode, (b) decide to select a particular equivalent model as the best model, or (c) assume a position of agnosticism with respect to which model should be selected” (p. 31).

Cohen’s f² was computed as measure of effect size using the formula R²/1 −R² (Cohen, 1988).