Expanding theoretical perspectives on the associations between relationship satisfaction and suicidal ideation

IF 1.8 3区社会学 Q2 FAMILY STUDIES

Family Relations Pub Date : 2026-03-11 Epub Date: 2025-12-25 DOI:10.1111/fare.70115

Preston C. Morgan, Heather A. Love, Garrin Morlan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

We aimed to investigate the theoretical extensions and potential integration of the marital discord model of depression (MDMD) and interpersonal theory of suicide (ITS).

Background

Although there is empirical and theoretical support that enhanced relationship satisfaction buffers depressive symptoms (i.e., MDMD), it remains unknown whether this association also applies to suicidal ideation. Prominent theories for depression (i.e., MDMD) and suicide (i.e., ITS) have yet to examine the distinction between suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms as they relate to relationship satisfaction.

Method

Using a sample of 200 adults in romantic relationships, we conducted multiple group moderated path analyses. We tested whether theoretical concepts from both theories predicted depressive symptoms and differed by group (depressed only and suicidal ideation). Data were online and cross-sectional.

Results

Results revealed that enhanced relationship satisfaction was surprisingly associated with higher depressive symptoms for the group with suicidal ideation—extending MDMD to suicidal ideation. Furthermore, theoretical concepts from ITS were associated with depressive symptoms in the depressed only group—extending ITS to depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

General findings support theoretical extensions for each theory but did not support theoretical integration. We encourage future research to replicate these findings and further explore romantic relationships and suicidal ideation.

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拓展关系满意度与自杀意念之间关系的理论视角

目的探讨婚姻不和谐抑郁症模型（MDMD）与人际自杀理论（ITS）的理论延伸与整合。虽然有经验和理论支持，增强的关系满意度缓冲抑郁症状（即MDMD），它仍然不清楚这种关联是否也适用于自杀意念。抑郁症（如MDMD）和自杀（如ITS）的主要理论尚未研究自杀意念和抑郁症状之间的区别，因为它们与关系满意度有关。方法以200名处于恋爱关系中的成年人为样本，进行多组调节路径分析。我们测试了这两种理论的理论概念是否能预测抑郁症状，并且各组之间存在差异（仅抑郁和自杀意念）。数据是在线和横断面的。结果结果显示，在有自杀意念的人群中，关系满意度的提高与抑郁症状的增加惊人地相关——MDMD延伸到自杀意念。此外，来自ITS的理论概念与仅抑郁组的抑郁症状相关-将ITS扩展到抑郁症状。结论总体研究结果支持各理论的理论延伸，但不支持理论整合。我们鼓励未来的研究重复这些发现，并进一步探索浪漫关系和自杀意念。

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

Family Relations Multiple-

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

13.60%

发文量

164

期刊介绍： A premier, applied journal of family studies, Family Relations is mandatory reading for family scholars and all professionals who work with families, including: family practitioners, educators, marriage and family therapists, researchers, and social policy specialists. The journal"s content emphasizes family research with implications for intervention, education, and public policy, always publishing original, innovative and interdisciplinary works with specific recommendations for practice.