Understanding the Impact of Romantic Relationship Satisfaction on Depression in Women Veterans

Depression is a prevalent and impactful mental health issue worldwide, with a particularly high incidence among women. Previous research has established a positive association between romantic relationship satisfaction and depression in women. However, little attention has been given to the mental health of women veterans, a growing population within the United States military, leading to significant gaps in understanding their unique experiences. This nonexperimental retrospective study was conducted to examine how initial romantic relationship satisfaction predicted the reduction of depression symptoms following psychotherapy. Additionally, it explored how minority status among women veterans influenced post-treatment depression outcomes. Using archival data, between 2022 and 2024, from three outpatient mental health clinics in different regions of Texas (N=652), outcome data from women veterans in partnered relationships with depression were analyzed using a multiple linear regression model. Results of this study contradicted previous understandings of the association between romantic relationship satisfaction and depression. Findings also revealed that minority women tend to experience less improvement for depression after treatment, compared to White women veterans. The implications of these findings for counseling, counselor education, and supervision are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.