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Csajbók Z, Fořt J, Jonason PK, Havlíček J, Binter J, Štěrbová Z. Mechanisms creating homogamy in depressiveness in couples: A longitudinal study from Czechia. Sci Rep 2025; 15:9143. [PMID: 40097516 PMCID: PMC11914466 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-93065-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2025] [Indexed: 03/19/2025] Open
Abstract
Couples often resemble each other in characteristics like depression, but the reasons for this homogamy (i.e., similarity) remain unclear. We investigated two potential mechanisms: preference for a self-similar partner and convergence (i.e., increasing similarity) over time. In a nationally representative sample of 2,793 Czech individuals who we surveyed three times in one year, we examined self-reports of participants', their ideal partners', and their actual partners' "pessimism and depressiveness". Participants preferred partners less depressive than themselves, yet their actual partners were more depressive than desired. Those who ended their relationships showed a greater ideal-versus-actual partner discrepancy than those who stayed together. In stable relationships, individuals adjusted their ideal preferences to align more closely with their actual partners over time. We identified four relationship classes with latent class growth modeling based on self and partner evaluations: both non-depressive, both depressive, self depressive and partner non-depressive, and self non-depressive and partner depressive. Romantic relationships were most stable when both partners were non-depressive and most likely to dissolve when both were depressive. While we failed to detect convergence overall, we found it within heterogamous (i.e., dissimilar) classes. Overall, our findings suggest that homogamy and heterogamy in depressiveness are complexly associated with relationship maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsófia Csajbók
- Department of Psychology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Pátkova 5, 182 00, Prague 8, Czech Republic.
| | - Jakub Fořt
- Department of Psychology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Pátkova 5, 182 00, Prague 8, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Peter K Jonason
- Psychology Research Institute, University of Economics and Human Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Binter
- Department of Regional Development and Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, University of Jan Evangelista Purkyně, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Štěrbová
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Csajbók Z, Štěrbová Z, Jonason PK, Jelínková L, Binter J, Havlíček J. Observed Aspects of Mate Value and Sociosexuality Account for Mate Preferences: Data from a Large, Representative Study from Czechia. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2025; 54:309-322. [PMID: 39433715 PMCID: PMC11782345 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-024-03010-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 09/07/2024] [Indexed: 10/23/2024]
Abstract
While there is substantial research on what people want in their romantic and sexual partners, much of this work focuses on WEIRD, youthful samples, fails to consider the role of undesirable characteristics (i.e., things people do not want in partners) at all, or in conjunction with desirable characteristics (i.e., things people do want in partners), and may be overly reliant on psychometric approaches to pivotal variables in mating psychology like mate value and sociosexuality. In a nationally representative (online) sample of 2280 people from Czechia (aged between 18 and 50 years old), we examined linear and quadratic age, education, and self-perceived mate value (desirability) effects on the desired levels in mate choice of eight undesirable and seven desirable characteristics in men and women in relation to ostensible metrics of mate value. Self-perceived mate value alone explained little variance (men 1%, women 2%), while all mate value and mating strategy indicators together explained little variance of mate preferences and aversions (men 3%, women 5%). Desirable characteristics were better explained by mate value than undesirable ones. Our results are in line with evolutionary predictions suggesting that women are more demanding. Also, more qualities to offer correlate with more expectations in a partner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsófia Csajbók
- Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Zuzana Štěrbová
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Peter K Jonason
- Psychology Research Institute, University of Economics and Human Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lucie Jelínková
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Binter
- Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, University of Jan Evangelista Purkyně, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Song C, Yao L, Chen H, Song Y, Liu L. Prevalence and factors influencing depression among empty nesters in China: A meta-analysis. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:333. [PMID: 37254062 PMCID: PMC10228112 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04064-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Empty nesters are older people who live alone or an older couple without children to care for them. In China, empty nesters make up a significant community and are more likely to experience emotional issues, particularly depression. This study investigated the prevalence of depression and the factors influencing depression among Chinese home-bound empty nesters using meta-analysis. METHODS Based on previous studies, we used search terms relating to empty nesters and depression in English and Chinese. Databases, including China Journal Full Text Database (CNKI), Wanfang, Wipu, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and UptoDate, were searched in April 2022, for relevant articles. Details including names of authors, year of publication, region of investigation, study type, sample size, depression detection scale, depression detection rate, and influencing factors were captured. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed based on the I2 index, and data analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software. RESULTS A total of ten research articles involving 5337 Chinese empty nesters were evaluated in the present meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of depression among empty nesters in China was 43%. The prevalence of depression among urban empty nesters was 38% (95% CI: 0.24,0.52), and 36% (95% CI: 0.18,0.55) among rural empty nesters. Many factors, including female, income, marital status, chronic illness, relationship with children, and social support were linked to depression among urban empty nesters. CONCLUSION The prevalence of depression among empty nesters was 43%. Therefore, based on the factors influencing depression, government departments can intervene early to improve the mental health of empty nesters. LIMITATIONS The meta-analysis only included cross-sectional studies. Therefore, there is a need for more future original studies investigating depression among empty nesters in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caini Song
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Hunan Province, China
| | - Libo Yao
- Minimally Invasive Surgery Center of The First Hospital of Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Huisu Chen
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Hunan Province, China
| | - Ying Song
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Hunan Province, China
| | - Lihua Liu
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Hunan Province, China.
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Gan H, Li M, Wang X, Yang Q, Tang Y, Wang B, Liu K, Zhu P, Shao S, Tao F. Low and mismatched socioeconomic status between newlyweds increased their risk of depressive symptoms: A multi-center study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1038061. [PMID: 36704747 PMCID: PMC9871563 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1038061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While there is evidence that low socioeconomic status (SES) increases susceptibility to depression, few studies have focused on the effect of marital SES matching on depression. This study aimed to explore the impact of SES indicator matching on depressive symptoms in newlyweds and clarify the interaction of depressive symptoms between couples. METHODS We assessed the depressive symptoms of newlyweds (N = 28, 179 couples) using a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines were used to explore the association between SES indicator matching and depressive symptoms and the interaction of depressive symptoms in newlyweds, respectively. RESULTS Compared with newlyweds with both high-level SES, the newlyweds with both low-level SES, male higher SES, or female higher SES had an increased risk of depressive symptoms in husbands (OR = 1.31; 1.22; 1.30), wives (OR = 1.30; 1.36; 1.32), and couples (OR = 1.48; 1.56; 1.57) (all P < 0.05). In addition, as the level of depression in one partner increases, the risk of depression in the other partner also increases. CONCLUSION Mismatched SES and low-level SES between couples have adverse effects on depressive symptoms in newlyweds, with depressive symptoms having a positive association between newlyweds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Gan
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Mengdie Li
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaorui Wang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qianhui Yang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Baolin Wang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Kaiyong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Zhu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Shanshan Shao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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