Marriage and Depression

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511841262.012

10 - Marriage and Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012

Mark A. Whisman ,

Lauren M. Weinstock and

Natalie Tolejko

Edited by

Corey L. M. Keyes and

Sherryl H. Goodman

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Mark A. Whisman: Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
Lauren M. Weinstock: Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
Natalie Tolejko: Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
Corey L. M. Keyes: Affiliation:
Emory University, Atlanta
Sherryl H. Goodman: Affiliation:
Emory University, Atlanta

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Summary

As has been noted throughout this volume, women are nearly twice as likely as men to experience depression in their lifetime (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1987). Cross-national studies have demonstrated that this is true in both Western and non-Western countries (Weissman et al., 1993). As has been discussed elsewhere (e.g., McGrath, Keita, Strickland, & Russo, 1990; Nolen-Hoeksema, 1987) and throughout the chapters of this volume, there are numerous explanations that have been advanced to account for this gender difference.

This chapter is devoted to evaluating a social explanation for gender differences in depression; namely, that this gender difference could be due, in part, to gender differences in experiences in marriage. It has been shown that the potential exposure to marital distress and other negative relationship outcomes such as divorce is very widespread. For example, it has been estimated that within the United States, 9 out of every 10 Americans marry at least once in their lifetime (Kreider & Fields, 2001), that many people who do not marry will live with a partner in nonmarital familial relationships (Seltzer, 2000), that approximately 16–20% of individuals are dissatisfied with their marriages or cohabiting relationships at any given time (e.g., Hjemboe & Butcher, 1991), and that nearly 50% of recent marriages may end in divorce (Kreider & Fields, 2001).

Type: Chapter
Information: Women and Depression
A Handbook for the Social, Behavioral, and Biomedical Sciences
, pp. 219 - 240

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511841262.012 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2006

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