Stress and depression predict relationship satisfaction with gender differences

Introduction: Factors associated with marital satisfaction are multiple. Psychological health of both partners have been showed to play a fundamental role. Empirical evidences showed negative association between stress and relationship satisfaction, thus highlighting the need of examining stress as a dyadic phenomenon. Similarly, depression seems to negatively predict marital satisfaction, varying across gender. However, evidences are still lacking. Method: This study aims to explore psychological factors associated with relationship satisfaction of both partners in heterosexual Italian couples. Measures of stress, depression, reported received support from the other partner, relationship satisfaction and sociodemographic information were collected from both partner. Two hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted separately for gender, considering relationship satisfaction as dependent variable. As independent variables were included: duration of the relationship, personal depression, reported received support from the other partner, partner’s stress and depression. Results:122 couples participated in the study (female Mage=26.09±7.25, male Mage=33.08±11.23, 60% engaged, 30% married and 10% cohabiting partners). The mean duration of the relationship was 8.5 ± 10.0 years. Gender differences were significant among stress (t= 3,28, p= 0,001) and reported received support from the other partner (t=-2,10, p=0,038): females reported higher level of stress and less reported received support from the other partner, compared to males. Regression analyses showed that factors predicting relationship satisfaction for men were: relationship duration, their own depression (ps<.001) and female partner’s stress (p=.013, R2=0.29, R2 Change=0.083, p=0.002). For female partners, factors predicting relationship satisfaction were only stress (p=.056) and depression (p<.001) of their male partners (R2=0.20, R2 Change=0.132, p< 0.001). Conclusions: Results indicated that relationship satisfaction may vary according to gender. In fact, relationship duration and males depressive symptoms predicted greater relationship satisfaction, while female partner's stress negatively affected it. Males depressive symptoms predicted greater relationship satisfaction in the female partner, while the male stress negatively impacted it.