Item – Theses Canada

​
OCLC number
46575183
Link(s) to full text
LAC copy
LAC copy
Author
Jackman Cram, Susan,1955-
Title
Depression in marriage : an investigation of problem-solving behavior and marital cognition.
Degree
Ph. D. -- University of Calgary, 1999
Publisher
Ottawa : National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, [1999]
Description
2 microfiches.
Notes
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
This study was designed to investigate problem-solving behavior and marital cognition as a function of depression and marital distress. In the study, the presence or absence of a depressed wife was crossed with the level of marital satisfaction (distressed or nondistressed) to produce four groups of couples. This design permitted the isolation of effects unique to depression from those that were associated with marital distress. Each couple completed questionnaires assessing marital attributions and perceived efficacy expectations, and then attempted to resolve a problem they had identified in their marriage. The only behavioral characteristic that was unique to depressed couples was the exhibition of depressive behavior by the wife in the problem-solving task. Facilitative and aggressive behaviors differentiated maritally distressed and nondistressed couples, but did not discriminate between depressed and nondepressed couples. Group differences for problem-solution behavior were not found. Maritally distressed couples, as compared to nondistressed couples, made maladaptive causal and responsibility attributions for negative partner behaviors, and reported lower perceived efficacy expectations regarding their ability to solve marital problems. Depressed wives did not differ from the nondepressed in their attributions regarding partner behavior. Maritally nondistressed couples in which the wife was depressed reported lower efficacy expectations than control couples. After controlling for the level of depression and the level of marital satisfaction, wives' and husbands' attributions and efficacy expectations were unrelated to their problem-solving behavior. The study findings are discussed in terms of their implications for future research and theory.
ISBN
0612384764
9780612384767