Equity of Dyadic Coping in Patients with Depression and Their Partners

Introduction: For couples, depression can position diagnosed partners to receive dyadic coping and mates to primarily provide support. We examine whether inequities in dyadic coping covary with depressive symptoms. Methods: Using data from 62 mixed-gender couples with one partner diagnosed with major depression (60% female), we computed differences between provided and received dyadic coping reported by both partners. With Response Surface Analyses we examined the associations with depressive symptoms. Results: In patients, lower equity of dyadic coping was associated with more depressive symptoms, regardless of whether the patient felt underbenefitted or overbenefitted. In partners, dyadic coping was negatively associated with depressive symptoms while equity of dyadic coping showed no significant associations. Patients and partners both reported providing more dyadic coping than they received. Discussion: Inequities in dyadic coping covary with depressive symptoms in patients, beyond main effects of dyadic coping, justifying the inclusion of couples in treatment for depression.