The impact upon marital functioning of contrasting styles in self-silencing, and anger expression between depressed and nondepressed married women and men
Abstract
Depression occurs more frequently and severely for married women than unmarried women, or men regardless of marital status; and in relationships, (3:1 for women:men). The purpose of this study was to determine which constructs of self-silencing and anger impact the marital functioning of depressed and nondepressed women and men. Self-silencing and anger expression appear to be exhibited differently between depressed and nondepressed women and men. Self-silencing may be a predictor of levels of depression in women. Understanding influences of these variables on marital functioning in the context of cohesion, flexibility, and communication could prove to be valuable in treating depressed individuals in marital relationships. A total of 106 married women and men were divided into four groups of participants: depressed men (n=22) and women (n=24) and nondepressed men (n=30) and women (n=30). Participants where married between 5 and 30 years and were in their first marriage. Basic demographics were used for inclusionary purposes. Four instruments assessed depression (CES-D), self-silencing (STSS), anger (STAXI-2), and marital functioning (FACES-IV). Five questions were added to the STSS to determine if attempts to control the relationship could explain discrepancies between men and women on the STSS scale. Overall results for self-silencing indicated that depressed participants self-silenced to a greater degree than nondepressed participants. Depressed women had the highest scores for self-silencing, followed by depressed men. Results for anger expression indicated that depressed participants exhibited greater trait anger than nondepressed participants, and men scored higher than women. Depressed individuals had higher scores for anger expression-out/in. Nondepressed individuals had higher scores for anger control-in/out. Self-silencing mediated the relationship between depression and marital functioning (cohesion, flexibility, communication) for all participants taken as a whole and for depressed women specifically. For all participants, anger expression-out mediated the relationship between depression and flexibility, and anger expression-in between depression and cohesion, flexibility, and communication. The five items added to the STSS measured control within the marital dyad. Nondepressed men scored highest, followed by depressed men, depressed women, and nondepressed women. Further research is needed to continue research on the influence of self-silencing in mediating the relationship between depression and marital functioning.
Recommended Citation
Lise Annette Shirtz,
"The impact upon marital functioning of contrasting styles in self-silencing, and anger expression between depressed and nondepressed married women and men"
(January 1, 2009).
ETD Collection for Wayne State University.
Paper AAI3344932.
http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/dissertations/AAI3344932
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