Marital satisfaction and marital status as a protective factor of depression and anxiety

Abstract

The current study was designed to identify the protective role of marital status and marital satisfaction against depression and anxiety for all genders in a sample of 300 Mexican individuals. The results suggest separated individuals present higher levels of depression and anxiety than their married counterparts. Marital satisfaction was a protective factor against depression for both genders, reporting higher predictive levels in female individuals. The study reported female individuals with low marital satisfaction had higher levels of anxiety than women with high marital satisfaction. These results have clinical implications to palliate anxiety or depressive disorders as potential consequences after couple breakdowns.