Interpersonal dynamics of vocal fundamental frequency in couples: Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and relationship distress

Abstract

Given the bidirectional association between psychopathology and relationship distress, an in-depth understanding of couples' interaction processes that contribute to psychopathology is needed. This study examined the interpersonal dynamics of vocally-encoded emotional arousal (fundamental frequency, f₀) during couple conversations and their associations with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and relationship distress. Data from eight samples were pooled (N = 404 couples) to examine (a) overall trajectories of f₀ across the interaction and (b) moment-by-moment intraindividual changes in and interpersonal reactivity to partners' f₀. Multilevel growth models and repeated-measures actor-partner interdependence models demonstrated that individuals with more severe depression showed more synchronizing reactivity to their partners' f₀ on a moment-by-moment basis, and their overall baseline level of f₀ was lower. More severe relationship distress was associated with more steeply increasing trajectories of f₀ and with greater synchronizing reactivity to partners' f₀. Relative differences in depressive symptoms between the two members of a couple were associated with interpersonal dynamics of f₀ as well. There were no associations with anxiety symptoms. Thus, depressive symptoms were associated with characteristic interpersonal dynamics of vocally-encoded emotional arousal; yet, most consistent associations emerged for relationship distress, which future studies on individual psychopathology should take into account.