Jennifer Katz

MARITAL THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION: TOWARD A THIRD GENERATION OF THERAPY AND RESEARCH

Two generations of outcome research demonstrate the potential efficacy of marital therapy in the treatment of depression. After reviewing treatment outcome studies on marital therapy for depression, we examine basic research linking aspects of the marital relationship to depressive symptoms. In doing so, we highlight a number of theoretical perspectives and research findings that can inform work with couples in which one spouse is depressed. Finally, we identify potential innovations that may lead to a third generation of marital interventions for depression and several avenues of inquiry for a third generation of outcome research on marital therapy for depression.

Are There Gender Differences in Sustaining Dating Violence? An Examination of Frequency, Severity, and Relationship Satisfaction

One topic of debate within the field of intimate violence involves the equivalence, or lack thereof, of male-perpetrated versus female-perpetrated violence. To inform this debate, we examined potential gender-related differences in the frequency of sustaining violence, the severity of violence sustained, and effects of violence on relationship satisfaction. Data were collected from 2 samples of heterosexual undergraduates in dating relationships. In both studies, men and women experienced violence at comparable frequencies, although men experienced more frequent moderate violence. Rates of severe violence were extremely low for both sexes across studies. In both investigations, only women experienced lower relationship satisfaction as a function of partner violence. In Study 1, relationship status moderated this effect, such that women in serious dating relationships were less satisfied than either women in less serious relationships or than men as a function of partner violence. In Study 2, women were less satisfied with violent relationships than men regardless of relationship status. We contend that gender-sensitive approaches to relationship violence are important to better understand and prevent both male- and female-perpetrated violence. Directions for future research efforts are outlined.

Membership in a Devalued Social Group and Emotional Well-Being: Developing a Model of Personal Self-Esteem, Collective Self-Esteem, and Group Socialization.

We proposed and tested a theoretical model that links membership in a devalued social group to emotional health. People who identify with devalued social groups (e.g., ethnic minorities, gay men/lesbians, bisexuals, women) may be at increased risk for distress via 3 different pathways. First, some members of devalued groups may internalize negative stereotypes about their group, which negatively impact personal self-esteem. Second, being devalued simply on the basis of ones group membership could lead to emotional distress independent of ones own personal self-esteem. Third, some members of devalued groups may be socialized to develop attitudes and behaviors that increase their risk for emotional distress. Data were collected from a sample of White, middle-to-upper-class undergraduate women and men with respect to personal self-esteem, collective self-esteem on the basis of their gender group, attitudes and behaviors associated with female socialization, and emotional distress. Results supported the direct effect of each pathway in predicting concurrent depression and partially supported the prediction of concurrent anxiety. Each pathway fully accounted for womens greater levels of depression relative to mens. Implications for the study of devalued groups are discussed.

Harbingers of Depressotypic Reassurance Seeking: Negative Life Events, Increased Anxiety, and Decreased Self-Esteem

No previous study has examined the initial stages of the depressive interpersonal spiral described by Coyne. The authors’ purpose was to elucidate predictions regarding the formative stages of the spiral and to put them to empirical test in a prospective study of college undergraduates ( N = 177). The authors predicted and found that (a) negative life events predicted increases in anxiety, decreases in self-esteem, and increases in reassurance-seeking; (b) negative life events predicted changes in reassurance seeking via their influence on anxiety and self-esteem; and (c) this mediational role was relatively specific to anxiety and self-esteem and did not apply to depression. Understanding the groundwork of the depressive interpersonal spiral may point to its prevention.

Self-verification and depression among youth psychiatric inpatients.

According to self-verification theory (e.g., W.B. Swann, 1983), people are motivated to preserve stable self-concepts by seeking self-confirming interpersonal responses, even if the responses are negative. In the current study of 72 youth psychiatric inpatients (36 boys; 36 girls; ages 7-17, M = 13.18; SD = 2.59), the authors provide the 1st test of self-verification theory among a youth sample. Participants completed self-report questionnaires on depression, self-esteem, anxiety, negative and positive affect, and interest in negative feedback from others. The authors made chart diagnoses available, and they collected peer rejection ratings. Consistent with hypotheses, the authors found that interest in negative feedback was associated with depression, was predictive of peer rejection (but only within relatively longer peer relationships), was more highly related to cognitive than emotional aspects of depression, and was specifically associated with depression, rather than being generally associated with emotional distress. The authors discuss implications for self-verification theory and for the phenomenology of youth depression.

Psychological Abuse and Depressive Symptoms in Dating Women: Do Different Types of Abuse Have Differential Effects?

The purpose of the current study was to examine potential differential effects of two forms of psychological abuse, emotional/verbal and dominance/isolation, on womens depressive symptoms. It was expected that emotional/verbal abuse would have a direct impact on both concurrent and prospective depressive symptoms among dating women. In contrast, it was expected that the depressogenic effect of dominance/isolation abuse would be moderated by level of perceived interpersonal control. Women who perceived themselves to have high levels of interpersonal control were hypothesized to be less negatively affected by partner dominance/isolation behaviors than their low control counterparts. Although the effects of both types of abuse on concurrent depressive symptoms were relatively weak, more robust longitudinal effects were found. Emotional/ verbal abuse at Time 1 did not predict Time 2 depressive symptoms after controlling for depressive symptoms at Time 1. In contrast, dominance/isolation abuse at Time 1 significantly predicted increases in depressive symptoms over time, and this effect was moderated by level of perceived interpersonal control in the expected direction. Implications for future research and clinical intervention/prevention efforts are discussed.

Individual differences in self-appraisals and responses to dating violence scenarios.

Previous research suggests that certain types of self-appraisals may predispose individuals to be more or less tolerant of relationship violence. The current study investigates two such appraisals, selfesteem and self-attributions, as correlates of women’s responses to hypothetical episodes of relationship violence by their dating partners. Undergraduate women involved in dating relationships (N = 145) reported global selfesteem, attributions for hypothetical partner aggression, and probable responses to the aggression. Results showed that selfesteem and self-attributions emerged as correlates of intentions to forgive violence, whereas only self-attributions emerged as a correlate of intentions to dissolve the relationship. The association between self-attributions and intentions to exit a violent relationship was fully mediated by intentions to forgive the partner. Because self-appraisals may inform prevention programs for women who may experience relationship violence, clinical implications are discussed.

Self-enhancement versus self-verification: Does spousal support always help?

The current study replicates and extends previous work on self-enhancement and self-verification processes in marriage. A community sample of married individuals (N = 265) completed a self-esteem scale, perceived spousal support scale, and various measures of marital adjustment. Consistent with self-enhancement theory, higher levels of self-esteem support were related to higher levels of marital quality and stability across all indices for both men and women. Consistent with self-verification theory, greater discrepancies between self-esteem and perceived partner self-esteem support were related to lower levels of marital satisfaction among wives, and lower levels of satisfaction and intimacy among husbands. Consistent with the combined operation of self-enhancement and self-verification, greater partner self-esteem support was associated with increases in marital quality only up to the point that it verified self-esteem. It is concluded that self-enhancement and self-verification strivings may operate independently of each other within the marital context. Both theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Perceived verbal conflict behaviors associated with physical aggression and sexual coercion in dating relationships: a gender-sensitive analysis.

We studied perceived partner verbal behaviors associated with participants’ use of dating aggression. Men’s reports of their partners’ demanding, controlling, and psychologically abusive behaviors during conflicts were expected to predict men’s perpetration against partners. In contrast, women’s reports of their partners’ withdrawal were expected to predict women’s perpetration. Data were collected from heterosexual undergraduates (N = 223) in exclusive dating relationships. Participants’ reports of partner demands and partner psychological abuse were associated with participants’ use of physical aggression and sexual coercion. Reports of partner withdrawal and partner controlling behaviors were associated with participants’ sexual coercion only. Significant moderating effects of gender emerged. As expected, partner demands, controlling behaviors, and psychological abuse were associated with physical aggression and sexual coercion in men, but not women. Partner withdrawal was associated with sexual coercion in both women and men. We conclude that gender-sensitive approaches are necessary to understand and prevent verbal conflict patterns associated with physical aggression and sexual coercion in intimate relationships.

Personality features differentiate late adolescent females and males with chronic bulimic symptoms

OBJECTIVE The authors examined gender differences in bulimia-related personality variables among late adolescents with chronic bulimic symptoms. METHOD Ninety-seven females and 14 males were included in the study. They participated in surveys in 1982, and again in 1992, and at each session reported elevated bulimic symptoms. Each respondent completed subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory (Bulimia, Drive for Thinness, Perfectionism, and Interpersonal Distrust). RESULTS Even compared to males with similar levels of chronic bulimic symptoms, females with chronic bulimic symptoms reported more drive for thinness; compared to females with chronic bulimic symptoms, males with chronic bulimic symptoms reported more perfectionism and interpersonal distrust. DISCUSSION Late adolescent males and females with chronic bulimic symptoms can be distinguished on the basis of personality features. These findings have implications for theory, as well as for clinical assessment and therapeutics.