Abstract
The present study examined the relationship between marital love and marital depression in a longitudinal study. Three hundred twenty-five (325) married couples participated in mail questionnaire surveys. Partners independently gave answers to questions regarding marital love and marital depression at two points in time. Results showed that the weaker the love between them, the more depressed each partner was, and the wife's love toward husband at Time 1 was associated with marital depression of the two at Time 2. Also, husband-wife relationships were classified into four categories: love each other, wife loves more, husband loves more, and little love, and the levels of marital depression examined. Results indicated that how much the wife loved her husband had an influence on the level of marital depression of the two. Implications of the present study were discussed from the viewpoint of husband and wife roles in the marital life.
