Dyadic Adjustment and Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

The present study examines adult attachment as a mediator, explaining the association between dyadic adjustment and depressive symptoms. Participants included 188 women and 35 men ( N = 223) with a mean age of 28.9 years ( SD = 9.95 years; range = 18–66 years). Results replicated previous research by demonstrating a significant association between poor relationship adjustment and depressive symptoms. However, the authors extended prior work identifying avoidance as a mediator of the relationship between each Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) subscale (i.e., Satisfaction, Consensus, and Cohesion) and symptoms of depression. On the other hand, attachment anxiety mediated only the relationship between the cohesion subscale of the RDAS and depressive symptoms but was not influential in the association between satisfaction or consensus and symptoms of depression. Implications for the clinical treatment of depression among adults are discussed.