The relationship between marital satisfaction, marital stability, nuclear family triangulation, and childhood depression

This study was to examine the effect of triangulation on depression in children. Clinical samples and nonclinical samples were taken from Utah and Illinois. Families were assessed for marital satisfaction and stability, family triangulation and children 's depression levels by the Marital Adjustment Test, Marital Status Inventory, Nuclear Family Triangulation, and Children's Depression Inventory. Results showed children's depressive symptoms to be most strongly linked to fathers' level of marital satisfaction, marital stability, and perceived family triangulation. Mothers' variables did not affect children 's depressive symptoms.