The research undertakes a longitudinal analysis of a model of the effects of stress in marital interaction on change in depressive symptoms as mediated by unfavorable reflected appraisals, low competency, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. The participants were 98 randomly selected married couples interviewed at two separate points in time. The data supported the proposed model. Stressors in marital interaction are associated with unfavorable reflected appraisals that have a direct effect on self-efficacy and an indirect effect on self-esteem. These two self-assessments have a direct effect on depressive symptoms after controlling for lagged level of depressive symptoms. A key variable is self-efficacy, which mediates the effect of reflected appraisals on self-esteem and has a direct effect on change in depressive symptoms.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abramson, L. Y. , Seligman, M.E.P., & Teasdale, J. D. (1978). Learned helplessness in humans: Critique and reformulation. Abnormal Psychology, 87, 49-74.
2.
Aneshensel, C. S. (1992). Social stress theory and research. Annual Review of Sociology, 18, 15-38.
3.
Avison, W. R. , & Turner, R. J. (1988). Stressful life events and depressive symptoms: Disaggregating the effects of acute stressors and chronic strain. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 29, 253-264.
4.
Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychology Review, 84, 191-215.
5.
Bandura, A. (1989). Human agency in social cognitive theory. American Psychology, 44, 1175-1184.
6.
Brecher, E. (1984). Love, sex and aging. Boston: Little, Brown.
7.
Burke, P. J. (1991). Identity process and social stress. American Sociological Review, 56, 836-849.
8.
Cooley, C. H. (1902). Human nature and its social order. New York: Scribner.
9.
Crohan, S. E. , & Veroff, J. (1989). Dimensions of marital well-being among White and Black newlyweds. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 51, 373-383.
10.
Derogatis, S. R. , Lipman, R. S., Covi, L., & Rickles, K. (1971). Neurotic symptom dimensions. Archives of General Psychiatry, 24, 454-464.
11.
Gecas, V. (1991). The self-concept as a basis for a theory of motivation. In J. A. Howard & P. Callero (Eds.), The self-society dynamic (pp. 171-187). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
12.
Gecas, V. , Seff, M. A., & Ray, M. P. (1988). Injury and depression: The mediating effects of self-concept. Paper presented at the Pacific Sociological Association Meetings, Las Vegas, NV.
13.
Hatfield, E. , Utne, M. K., & Traupman, J. (1979). Equity theory and intimate relationships. In R. L. Burgess & T. L. Huston (Eds.), Social exchange in developing relationships (pp. 99-113). New York: Academic Press.
14.
Joreskog, K. , & Sorbom, D. (1989). Lisrel 7 User's Reference Guide. Mooresville, IN: Scientific Software.
15.
Kernis, M. H. , Cornell, D. P., Sun, C. R., Berry, A. J., & Harlow, T. (1993). There's more to self-esteem than whether it is high or low: The importance of stability of self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 1190-1204.
16.
Kernis, M. H. , Grannemann, B. D., & Barclay, L. C. (1992). Stability of self-esteem: Assessment, correlates, and excuse making. Journal of Personality, 60, 621-644.
17.
Kernis, M. H. , Grannemann, B. D., & Mathis, L. C. (1991). Stability of self-esteem as a moderator of the relation between level of self-esteem and depression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 80-84.
18.
Kessler, R. C. , Price, R. H., & Wortman, C. B. (1985). Social factors in psychopathology: Stress, social support, and coping processes. Annual Review of Psychology, 36, 531-572.
19.
Kiecolt, K. J. (1994). Stress and the decision to change oneself: A theoretical model. Social Psychology Quarterly, 57, 49-63.
20.
Lachman, M. D. (1985). Personal efficacy in middle and old age. In G. H. Elder (Ed.), Life course dynamics (pp. 188-213). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
21.
Lee, G. R. , Netzer, J. K., & Coward, R. T. (1995). Depression among older parents: The role of intergenerational exchange. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 823-833.
22.
Levenson, R. , Cartensen, L., & Gottman, J. (1993). Long term marriage: Age, gender and satisfaction. Psychology and Aging, 8, 301-313.
23.
Liem, R. , & Liem, J. (1978). Social class and mental illness reconsidered: The role of economic stress and social support. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 19, 139-156.
24.
Lorenz, F. O. , Conger, R. D., Montague, R. B., & Wickrama, K.A.S. (1993). Economic conditions, spouse support and psychological distress of rural husbands and wives. Rural Sociology, 58, 267-268.
25.
Mead, G. H. (1934). Mind self and society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
26.
Mirowsky, J. , & Ross, C. E. (1986). Social patterns of distress. Annual Review of Sociology, 12, 23-45.
27.
Mirowsky, J. , & Ross, C. E. (1989). Social causes of psychological distress. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
28.
Nye, I. E. (1976). Role structure and analyses of the family. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
29.
Pearlin, L. I. (1983). Role strains and personal stress. In H. B. Kaplan (Ed.), Psychosocial stress: Trends in theory and research (pp. 1-32). New York: Academic Press.
30.
Pearlin, L. I. (1989). The sociological study of stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 30, 241-256.
31.
Pearlin, L. I. , Lieberman, M. A., Meneghan, E. G., & Mullen, J. T. (1981). The stress process. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 22, 337-356.
32.
Robinson, L. , & Blanton, P. (1993). Marital strengths in enduring marriages. Family Relations, 42, 38-45.
33.
Robson, P. J. (1988). Self-esteem: A psychiatric view. British Journal of Psychiatry, 153, 6-15.
34.
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
35.
Rosenberg, M. (1981). The self-concept: Social product and social force. In M. Rosenberg & R. H. Terner (Eds.), Social psychology, sociological perspective (p. 6). New York: Basic Books.
36.
Ross, C. E. , & Huber, J. (1985). Hardship and depression. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 26, 312-327.
37.
Ross, C. E. , & Mirowsky, J. (1989). Explaining the social patterns of depression: Control and problem solving—or support and talking?Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 30, 206-219.
38.
Schafer, R. B. , & Keith, P. M. (1984). Equity/inequity and the self-concept: An interactionist analysis. Social Psychology Quarterly, 47, 42-49.
39.
Schwalbe, M. L. , & Staples, C. L. (1991). Gender differences in sources of self-esteem. Social Psychology Quarterly, 54, 159-168.
40.
Seeman, M. , Seeman, A. Z., & Budros, A. (1988). Powerlessness, work, and community: A longitudinal study of alienation and alcohol use. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 29, 185-198.
41.
Seligman, M.E.P. (1975). Helplessness: On depression, development, and death. San Francisco: Freeman.
42.
Sherwood, J. J. (1970). Self-actualization and self-identity theory. Personality, 1, 41-63.
43.
Sprecher, S. (1986). The relationship between inequity and emotions in close relationships. Social Psychology Quarterly, 49, 309-321.
44.
Thoits, P. A. (1987). Gender and marital status differences in control and distress: Common stress versus unique stress explanations. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 28, 7-22.
45.
Thoits, P. A. (1991). On merging identity theory and stress research. Social Psychology Quarterly, 54, 101-112.
46.
Treas, J. , & Bengtson, V. (1987). The family in latter years. In M. B. Sussman & J. K. Steinmetz (Eds.), Handbook on marriage and the family (pp. 625-648). New York: Plenum.
47.
Turner, R. J. , & Noh, S. (1988). Physical disability and depression: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 29, 23-37.
48.
Walster (Hatfield), E. , Walster, W. G., & Berscheid, E. (1978). Equity: Theory and research. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
49.
Wheaton, B. (1983). Stress, personal coping resources, and psychiatric symptoms: An investigation of interactive models. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 208-229.
