There is a well-established bidirectional, negative association between couple satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Yet, a family systems perspective emphasizes the role of the therapist in interrupting this recursive cycle between couple satisfaction and depressive symptoms. The current study utilized longitudinal data to explore the bidirectional associations between depressive symptoms and couple satisfaction, moderated by the therapeutic alliance over the course of therapy. The study included 108 couples participating in couple therapy at a university training clinic. Couples rated their depressive symptoms and couple satisfaction separately before the intake session and at the end of the fourth session, and they also reported their individual therapeutic alliance with the therapist at the end of the second and third sessions. Actor-partner interdependence moderation model analysis revealed several moderation effects. In general, with low therapeutic alliance, couples with higher initial symptoms (such as depressive symptoms and low couple satisfaction) reported more severe symptoms at the fourth session, compared to those who had fewer initial symptoms. The moderating effect of alliance on a couple’s symptoms was found both among individuals, and between partners. Systemic clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

中文翻译：

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夫妻满意度、抑郁症状和治疗联盟：系统视角

夫妻满意度和抑郁症状之间存在公认的双向负相关。然而，家庭系统的观点强调治疗师在中断夫妻满意度和抑郁症状之间的这种循环中的作用。目前的研究利用纵向数据来探索抑郁症状和夫妻满意度之间的双向关联，由治疗联盟在治疗过程中进行调节。该研究包括在大学培训诊所参加夫妻治疗的 108 对夫妇。夫妻在开始前和第四次治疗结束时分别对他们的抑郁症状和夫妻满意度进行评分，并在第二次和第三次治疗结束时报告他们与治疗师的个人治疗联盟。演员-伴侣相互依赖调节模型分析揭示了几种调节效果。一般来说，在治疗联盟低的情况下，与初始症状较少的夫妇相比，初始症状较高（如抑郁症状和夫妻满意度低）的夫妇在第四次治疗时报告的症状更严重。联盟对夫妻症状的调节作用在个体之间和伴侣之间都有发现。讨论了系统的临床意义和对未来研究的建议。联盟对夫妻症状的调节作用在个体之间和伴侣之间都有发现。讨论了系统的临床意义和对未来研究的建议。联盟对夫妻症状的调节作用在个体之间和伴侣之间都有发现。讨论了系统的临床意义和对未来研究的建议。