Self-rated health, a valid measure of general health, is influenced by family dynamics and depression. In this study, using data from the Family Cohort Study in Primary Care, we investigated whether depressive mood moderated the association between family communication and self-rated health in married couples. Among the 520 couples in the cohort, we cross-sectionally analyzed the responses of 420 couples (840 participants) who provided answers to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Family Communication Scale of the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale-IV, and a self-rated health question. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to evaluate the interactions between depressive mood and family communication on self-rated health. High levels of family communication were associated with better self-rated health (r = -.16, p < .01), and that depressive mood moderated the association between family communication and self-rated health (β = .10, p = .008). Specifically, the association between family communication and self-rated health was significant only when levels of depressive mood were low (β = -.175, p = < .001), and the association was lost when levels of depressive mood were high (β = -.031, p = .446). High levels of depressive mood weakened the positive association between family communication and self-rated health. Our findings highlight the significant influence of depressive symptoms on family dynamics and health among patients in primary care.
Keywords: Family communication; couples; depressive mood; primary care; self-rated health.