Depressive Symptoms and Relational Uncertainty as Predictors of Reassurance-Seeking and Negative Feedback-Seeking in Conversation

Integrative interpersonal theory implies that relational uncertainty may play a role in the reassurance-seeking and negative feedback-seeking behavior of people with depressive symptoms. We sought to extend the theory by (a) documenting how individuals with depressive symptoms communicate under conditions of relational uncertainty, (b) evaluating actor and partner effects, and (c) utilizing observational measures of reassurance-seeking and negative feedback-seeking. Sixty-nine romantic couples engaged in 50 minutes of conversation rated by independent judges. Multilevel modeling results indicated that the depressive symptoms of actors and partners were the primary predictor of an actor\u27s reassurance-seeking, but an actor\u27s relational uncertainty was the primary predictor of an actor\u27s negative feedback-seeking. The findings illuminate the interplay among depressive symptoms, relational uncertainty, and communication