Dyadic perceptions of depression and anxiety in romantic relationships

Bibliographic Data

ID2935929
AuthorsJacqueline E Schnapp (San Diego State University), Danielle N O’neal (San Diego State University), Allison A Vaughn (0000-0001-8454-9284, San Diego State University, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume37
Issue2
Pages432-449
Publication date2020-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0265407519867418
OpenAlexW2585497180
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited33

This study investigated dyadic perceptions of the causes of mental health symptoms within dating couples. We tested the extent to which a participant's beliefs about their romantic partner's attributions about mental health were accurate and/or biased and the extent to which causal attributions about mental health predicted relationship quality. Ninety-four dyads ( N = 188) reported on biological and psychological causes of mental health symptoms and relationship conflict and support. Consistent with hypotheses, the actor-partner interdependence model revealed more bias than accuracy in perceptions of the causes of mental health symptoms. Results also showed more effects of causal attributions on relationship quality for the romantic partner than for the participant with symptoms and more effects of controllable psychological causes on relationship quality relative to uncontrollable psychological or any biological causes. While relationship quality was generally positive, endorsement of most causes of mental health symptoms predicted higher conflict and lower support. These accuracy and bias effects as well as the effects on the romantic partner affirm the importance of studying both members of the romantic relationship because they would have been missed completely if only studying the participant with mental health symptoms. In terms of clinical practice, working with couples whose attributions align might look differently than working with couples who are not so aligned

Anxiety · Attribution · Attribution bias · Depression (economics · Developmental psychology · Mental health · Partner effects · Perception · Psychiatry · Romance · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Psychology · Social Psychology

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