PERCEPTIONS OF A DATING COUPLE CONFLICT RESOLUTION INTERACTION AND RELATIONSHIP QUALITY AS PREDICTORS OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

This study examines how perceptions of a conflict resolution interaction are related to measures of relationship quality and adjustment in a college student sample. Participants included 152 college students involved in a romantic relationship. All participants completed questionnaires to assess features of their romantic relationship and to measure depression. Couples participated in a recorded conflict resolution discussion, and used a video-recall procedure to assess their subjective perceptions of the interaction. Analyses revealed that depressive symptoms were significantly correlated with both low levels of positivity and high levels of negativity during the interaction and in the relationship generally. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed a