Linking Work Control to Depressive Symptoms Through Intrapersonal and Marital Processes

Abstract

Using latent growth curve modeling and data from a sample of 308 middle-aged husbands and wives over a 3-year period, this study examines the influence of work control experiences on marital processes, specifically focusing on changes in conflict management behaviors, perceived spousal support, and depressive symptoms, and the connection between these attributes over time. Consistent with human ecological and work socialization perspectives, our findings suggest that adults’ positive experiences at work serve as a resource for developing personal and interpersonal skills that transfer to behaviors exhibited in their marriages and this process consequently contributes to individual depressive symptoms. Husbands’ and wives’ positive work experience such as control over work increases their use of positive conflict management behaviors and spousal support through personal control, which in turn decreases their depressive symptoms over time.