Depressive symptoms and attribute type moderate effects of partner feedback among college couples

Previous findings on the effects of partner feedback (about the self) have been mixed, potentially due to moderating roles of individuals' prior well-being and the type of attributes appraised. This experimental study of 118 college-student couples examined whether depressive symptoms moderated responses to partner feedback that was either enhancing or verifying of either social (communion-related) or personal (agency-related) attributes. Results showed that individuals with fewer depressive symptoms reported higher relationship quality after receiving partner feedback (particularly when it was enhancing) on their personal (vs. social) attributes. Conversely, individuals with more depressive symptoms reported higher relationship quality after receiving social partner feedback (particularly when it was enhancing). Thus, individuals' prior well-being and communion-related versus agency-related attributes should be considered in studies of interpersonal feedback.