Satisfaction with marriage is affected by the mental health of both spouses, says a study in the October issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

The study of 774 married couples from seven states in the United States found that each spouse's level of anxiety and depression predicted their own marital satisfaction and that of their spouse as well. The more depressed or anxious either spouse was, the more dissatisfied he or she was with the marriage.

Depression had more influence than anxiety on how satisfied both husbands and wives felt about a marriage. The study found when one spouse was depressed, it affected the other spouse's satisfaction with the marriage. That effect wasn't as strong when one spouse suffered from anxiety.

Previous research had found that people who live with a depressed person feel more burdened and upset by that person's depressive symptoms.

"It may be that the scope or magnitude of these burdens are not as great for people living with an anxious person, thereby diminishing the connection between one person's anxiety and his or her partner's satisfaction," researcher Mark A. Whisman, of the University of Colorado, said in a prepared statement.

In addition, a depressed person may have a negative attitude that affects how he or she regards a spouse or a marriage.

The study findings indicate the importance of evaluating both partners' mental health status when there are marital problems, Whisman said.

"Seeking help when trouble starts may prevent further declines in marital functioning and lead to improvements in treatments for married couples where one or both spouses are suffering from depression (and possibly other psychological problems). Dealing with each partners' psychological well-being may help to prevent dissolution of the marriage," he said.

More information on Depression

Reference Source 101
October 11, 2004

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