Depression and Mate Selection During the Transition to Adulthood

There is considerable research demonstrating the link between depression and interpersonal stress. This literature has included support for the phenomenon of stress generation, or the tendency for individuals with depression histories to have higher levels of stress in their lives, particularly interpersonal stressors, even after depression remits. Currently missing from the existing literature, but supported by multiple psychological theories and research on constructs related to depression, is the possibility that individuals prone to depression may self-select into maladaptive romantic partnerships that promote stress and exacerbate depression. The current project sought to explore whether depression portends risk for choosing romantic partners with higher levels of psychopathology or disordered personality traits. This question was explored in two complementary studies. Study 1 utilized a longitudinal, community sample of 252 individuals followed from birth to early adulthood with romantic partners at age 20. Results indicated that individuals with higher levels of depressive symptoms at age 15 had romantic partners by age 20 with higher levels of personality disorder symptoms. Insecure attachment mediated this relationship. Partner personality pathology, in turn, marginally predicted increases in depressive symptoms 2 to 5 years later. Study 2 explored the role of depression in the mate selection process by using a mock online dating laboratory paradigm in which college-aged women rated hypothetical romantic partners based on fabricated dating profiles. Some profiles included antisocial personality disorder traits. Results revealed that current depressive symptoms and major depression history indirectly predicted lower initial interest in "antisocial" profiles via lower self-esteem and lower perceived similarity to these individuals, respectively. However, when participants were later asked to imagine that an "antisocial" individual was interested in dating them, depressive symptoms predicted greater positive change in interest in this individual and a greater likelihood of changing an initial refusal to date this individual to a positive response. Findings from both studies indicate that depression plays a role in the mate selection process and can have detrimental consequences. Future research would benefit from further exploring mediators of the relationship between depression and choosing problematic partners and the role of partner characteristics in the cycle of stress and depression