Partner commitment, gender, and depressive symptoms for expectant cohabitors

Using the inertia model, we test how personal commitment is associated with depressive symptoms in a sample of coupled male and female cohabitors expecting their first child together in the United States (N = 128 individuals). Using an Actor Partner Interdependence Model, we find, as expected, higher depressive symptoms are reported by women whose male partners are lower on personal commitment. To identify and understand individuals most at risk for depressive symptoms, we discuss the need to study gender in combination with partner commitment in a population of individuals who are increasingly growing in prevalence in the United States.