Depression, relational uncertainty linked

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., March 9 (UPI) -- Those with more severe depressive symptoms report more relationship distress, U.S. researchers found.

Twin sisters Leanne Knobloch of the University of Illinois and Lynne Knobloch-Fedders of The Family Institute at Northwestern University said more than three decades of research has shown that people with depression are less satisfied in their romantic relationships.

Relational uncertainty is a term to describe how sure individuals are about their perceptions of involvement in a relationship. It has three sources, the researchers said.

The researchers said self uncertainty is the question people have about their own relationship involvement, such as, "how certain am I about my view of this relationship?" Partner uncertainty involves questions about a partner's relationship involvement, such as, "how certain am I about where my partner wants this to go?"

Finally relationship uncertainty involves questions about the relationship status, such as, "how certain am I about the future of this relationship?"

The study found those with more severe depressive symptoms reported more relationship distress, people experiencing more relational uncertainty were less satisfied with their relationship, and women's depressive symptoms predicted all three sources of their relational uncertainty, which in turn predicted both men's and women's relationship quality.

The study is published in Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.