American International Journal of Social Science

Marital Satisfaction and Perceived Social Support as Vulnerability Factors to Depression
Farah Khan, Sobia Aftab

Abstract
The present study investigated the predictive association of marital satisfaction with depression and whether perceived social support mediates the relationship of marital satisfaction with depression in married couples. Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS; Schumm, Scanlon, Crow, Green, & Buckler, 1983), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS; Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, & Farley, 1988), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD; Radloff, 1977) were administered on a sample of 100 couples. Linear and Stepwise Regression analyses were applied to analyze the data. The analyses reveal a significant predictive relationship of Marital Satisfaction with Depression (R² = .068, F = 7.196, p <.05) and Perceived Social Support (R² =.221, F = 27.874, p <.05) and of Perceived Social Support with Depression (R² = .231, F = 29.399, p <.05). Moreover, Perceived Social Support significantly mediated the relationship of Marital Satisfaction with Depression (F = 14.682, df = 2, 97, p <.05).

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