The Impact of Depressive Symptoms on Overidentification of Anger in Couples: A Daily Diary Study

IF 3.4 2区心理学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

Behavior Therapy Pub Date : 2025-01-27 DOI:10.1016/j.beth.2025.01.007

Ramya Ramadurai, Ella S. Sudit, Kathleen C. Gunthert, Nathaniel R. Herr

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Anger is intricately linked to symptoms of depression and has implications for functioning outcomes in romantic couples. There is a lack of research on whether symptoms of depression influence empathic accuracy of anger in couples, as well as whether perceptions of anger impact relationship quality for both partners. Using daily diary data, we examined these outcomes among 79 cohabitating couples (n = 158). Participants completed a baseline survey assessing relationship satisfaction and depression, as well as daily surveys rating their mood, their perception of their partner’s mood, and relationship satisfaction and closeness. Results indicated that partners of individuals with higher depressive symptoms display empathic inaccuracy of anger. They evidenced a bias towards perceiving higher participant anger even when participants themselves report low levels of anger or low overall negative affect. Partner bias towards perceiving their partners as angry predicted poorer ratings of relationship satisfaction and closeness from both partner and participant perspectives. Findings suggest that for couples in which one individual struggles with symptoms of depression, empathic inaccuracy of anger or biased perception of anger may be a mechanism by which interpersonal dysfunction is maintained.

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夫妻抑郁症状对愤怒过度认同的影响：一项每日日记研究

愤怒与抑郁的症状有着错综复杂的联系，并对浪漫夫妻的关系产生影响。关于抑郁症状是否会影响夫妻对愤怒的共情准确性，以及对愤怒的感知是否会影响夫妻双方的关系质量，目前还缺乏研究。使用每日日记数据，我们在79对同居夫妇中检查了这些结果（n = 158）。参与者完成了一项评估关系满意度和抑郁程度的基线调查，以及每日调查，评估他们的情绪、他们对伴侣情绪的看法、关系满意度和亲密程度。结果表明，抑郁症状较重的个体的伴侣表现出愤怒的共情不准确。他们证明，即使参与者自己报告的愤怒程度较低或整体负面影响较低，他们也倾向于感知参与者的愤怒程度较高。从伴侣和参与者的角度来看，伴侣倾向于认为自己的伴侣生气，这预示着他们对关系的满意度和亲密度的评分会较低。研究结果表明，对于一方患有抑郁症状的夫妻来说，愤怒的共情不准确或对愤怒的偏见感知可能是维持人际功能障碍的一种机制。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Behavior Therapy Multiple-

CiteScore

7.40

自引率

2.70%

发文量

113

审稿时长

121 days

期刊介绍： Behavior Therapy is a quarterly international journal devoted to the application of the behavioral and cognitive sciences to the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of psychopathology and related clinical problems. It is intended for mental health professionals and students from all related disciplines who wish to remain current in these areas and provides a vehicle for scientist-practitioners and clinical scientists to report the results of their original empirical research. Although the major emphasis is placed upon empirical research, methodological and theoretical papers as well as evaluative reviews of the literature will also be published. Controlled single-case designs and clinical replication series are welcome.