# Correlation between depression and presence of loving significant other **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 19, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059 "2014-03-19T03:44:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/21 "2014-03-20T00:27:01Z")
I have depressive feelings and live with a self-centered, alcoholic, dismissive jackass who is not mean or abusive, but basically provides nothing but a paycheck. How about that? I think I might be better off single but I’m in it for the money, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisUsernameIsForbidden)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/22 "2014-03-20T01:25:29Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I have depressive feelings and live with a self-centered, alcoholic, dismissive jackass who is not mean or abusive, but basically provides nothing but a paycheck. How about that? I think I might be better off single but I’m in it for the money, I guess. Did the affair make you happier? ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/23 "2014-03-20T01:39:56Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > A lot of people don’t even know they are depressed. > … > If you want to look at correlation, this poll isn’t is the best way to do that. You’d be better off ask people if they feel more depressed when they are with someone versus when they are alone. If people don’t have the wherewithal to know \*whether \*they are depressed or not, how likely do you think it is that they can discern \*how \*depressed they are, and have a good enough recollection to answer accurately? By asking enough people whether they feel depressed _ **now** _, we get a random sample of people in various states. Look, if you don’t like the polling methodology in this poll, feel free to not take part in it. Please don’t hijack this thread any further, and start another thread with the options you feel are best if you want to. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/24 "2014-03-20T01:50:27Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Everyone experiences some degree of depressive feelings at some time in their lives. These feelings may not always add up to full-blown clinical depression, but everyone has felt lonely, sad, fatigued, and anhedonic SOMETIME in their life. This is not how I experience “big-D Depression,” so I infer the OP as meaning “chronic” depression, not caused by specific factors in one’s life . . . a state that lasts for years or decades. But even “full-blown clinical depression” can be short-term or long-term. Anyway, the depression many of us feel is nothing like feeling sad or lonely SOMETIME in one’s life. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/25 "2014-03-20T01:56:48Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > If people don’t have the wherewithal to know \*whether \*they are depressed or not, how likely do you think it is that they can discern \*how \*depressed they are, and have a good enough recollection to answer accurately? > > By asking enough people whether they feel depressed _ **now** _, we get a random sample of people in various states. > > Look, if you don’t like the polling methodology in this poll, feel free to not take part in it. Please don’t hijack this thread any further, and start another thread with the options you feel are best if you want to. Your lack of precise terms, seeming lack of understanding of what depression is, your trying to connect depression to a completely unrelated second variable, and especially your refusal to follow advice from people who could fix these things all conspire to make me depressed. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/26 "2014-03-20T02:06:58Z")
Too late to edit- I am kind of in a relationship at this time. I want to break up. She keeps dragging me back in. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/27 "2014-03-20T02:20:03Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > This is not how I experience “big-D Depression,” so I infer the OP as meaning “chronic” depression, not caused by specific factors in one’s life . . . a state that lasts for years or decades. But even “full-blown clinical depression” can be short-term or long-term. > > Anyway, the depression many of us feel is nothing like feeling sad or lonely SOMETIME in one’s life. Feelings of sadness and loneliness (emptiness) are listed as symptoms of clinical depression. The OP doesn’t define his terms. Everyone has their own definition of what constitutes “depression” or “depressive feelings”. I have experienced chronic depression, major depression, and depressive feelings. ALL of them sucked, just in different ways. Which is even more reason why the poll is overly simplistic. > [@](#): > > Look, if you don’t like the polling methodology in this poll, feel free to not take part in it. Please don’t hijack this thread any further, and start another thread with the options you feel are best if you want to. I hate seeing bad science, even if it’s just recreational. It’s obvious you don’t know what “correlation” means nor how to go about analyzing data. It’s embarrassing. I’d hate for someone to see you play-acting at science and think your “conclusions” are in any way meaningful. And if they aren’t meaningful, what’s the goddamned point? Sorry, as a scientist, I just can’t hold my tongue. But I will bow out since you asked me to. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/28 "2014-03-20T02:48:12Z")
Updated results: ```auto Probability being depressive given loving SO = 18/28 = 64.2% Probability being depressive given no loving SO = 9/11 = 81.8% Probability having loving SO given being depressive = 18/27 = 66.7% Probability having loving SO given not being depressive = 10/12 = 83.3% ``` Still not clear on the direction of the causality, but results are holding up. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/29 "2014-03-20T04:25:10Z")
Would the binomial test be appropriate here? I mostly have avoided it so don’t use it often to know when it’s best. Those 4 ratios in order (1 tailed, 2 tailed): P(18/28) = 0.092, 0.18 ns P(9/11) = 0.033, 0.065 \*/ns P(18/27) = 0.061, 0.122 ns P(10/12) = 0.019, 0.039 \*\* So only one is significantly different (10/12) from 50/50 chance, while another is only significant at 1 tailed (9/11). I’d use caution there before automatically jumping to 1 tailed unless there’s a good reason. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/30 "2014-03-20T04:47:47Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Would the binomial test be appropriate here? I mostly have avoided it so don’t use it often to know when it’s best. > > Those 4 ratios in order (1 tailed, 2 tailed): > P(18/28) = 0.092, 0.18 ns > P(9/11) = 0.033, 0.065 \*/ns > P(18/27) = 0.061, 0.122 ns > P(10/12) = 0.019, 0.039 \*\* > > So only one is significantly different (10/12) from 50/50 chance, while another is only significant at 1 tailed (9/11). I’d use caution there before automatically jumping to 1 tailed unless there’s a good reason. Good idea to introduce some statistical tests. If we get more votes, I’ll see which tests are best applicable in this case. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/31 "2014-03-20T05:05:25Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > A lot of people don’t even know they are depressed. Thank you so much for bringing this up. I’ve had major depressive episodes all through my life (so does my brother, so does my mom, so did her dad). First, if your depression comes on gradually, it is SO incredibly easy to not notice it because each incremental change is really small on its own; when all these increments add up to a really big chunk, you don’t notice it because it feels like it’s just how it is and how it’s always been. But other people - especially people you haven’t seen in awhile - will notice it right away. Second, it’s quite possible to be clinically depressed and not feel intense sadness or despair, which sounds bizarre. Unfortunately, this is why it took me for-freaking-ever to even question if maybe I’m depressed (and it’s not like I haven’t had extended depressive episodes before). I’ve had some sadness but nothing like I felt in past episodes. Instead I’ve all but lost the ability to concentrate on anything, not wanted to do a lot of my hobbies, have become even more of a hermit than usual, and even small irritations can make me SO pissed off that even I’m weirded out by it. But I’m married. My depression didn’t disappear when we exchanged vows. My husband is absolutely amazing and is unbelievably helpful and supportive; I wouldn’t have made the strides I have over the past ~6 months (which is only when it occurred to me that this could be Depression). ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/32 "2014-03-20T05:43:27Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Being in a relationship has nothing to do with depression. Depression is caused by neurochemistry. Well every experience you have is also neurochemical. I think in most cases it’s a combination of being predisposed towards depression _and_ having a specific negative event occur in your life. Being alone is not a specific negative event in itself, but having a relationship end is. I would expect there to be a negative correlation between being in a loving relationship and depression (which is not to say that a loving relationship can either prevent or ameliorate depression). ---
**Author:** ![LiveFree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@LiveFree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveFree)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/33 "2014-03-20T08:27:08Z")
Couldn’t vote. How about : I have depressive feelings, (& loneliness) and live with a significant other. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/34 "2014-03-20T12:35:07Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I hate seeing bad science, even if it’s just recreational. It’s obvious you don’t know what “correlation” means nor how to go about analyzing data. It’s embarrassing. > > I’d hate for someone to see you play-acting at science and think your “conclusions” are in any way meaningful. And if they aren’t meaningful, what’s the goddamned point? > > Sorry, as a scientist, I just can’t hold my tongue. But I will bow out since you asked me to. For what it’s worth, I agree wholeheartedly with your argument, especially in light of further discussion of trying to statistically analyze it. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/35 "2014-03-20T14:11:35Z")
> [@LiveFree](#): > > Couldn’t vote. How about : > > I have depressive feelings, (& loneliness) and live with a significant other. Is your significant other someone whom you love greatly and they love you greatly too? If yes, then vote for the top option in the poll. If no (e.g. if your SO is merely just a roommate at this point) then vote for the second option in the poll. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/36 "2014-03-20T15:48:51Z")
Results so far: ```auto Probability being depressive given loving SO = 21/33 = 63.6% Probability being depressive given no loving SO = 16/19 = 84.2% Probability having loving SO given being depressive = 21/37 = 56.8% Probability having loving SO given not being depressive = 12/15 = 80.0% ``` ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/37 "2014-03-20T16:33:54Z")
Being in a serious, long term relationship makes my depression even worse. Mostly because I have a partner that loves me and wants to help, but can’t. I want to be better for him, but can’t. (As I’ve mentioned, I am in treatment) ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/38 "2014-03-21T20:32:22Z")
Since this thread has wound down, I’ll post the final results, with 58 people voting ```auto Probability being depressive given loving SO = 24/37 = 64.9% Probability being depressive given no loving SO = 17/21 = 81.0% Probability having loving SO given being depressive = 24/41 = 58.5% Probability having loving SO given not being depressive = 13/17 = 76.5% ``` So, this proves conclusively, and scientifically, that there is a causal relationship between having a loving SO and lower rates of depression. Just kidding 😃 The issues are that: [ul] [li]This poll is not scientific, since we did not select the responders in a random fashion[/li][li]The sample size is quite small[/li][li]Even if it is proven that having depressive feelings and having a loving SO are not independent random variables, it’s not clear if there is a causal relationship between these two variables, and which way it goes.[/li][/ul] Nevertheless, the results are intriguing (to me at least), in that there does seem to be a negative correlation between having a loving SO and having depressive feelings. It would be nice if there was a scientific study that investigated this relationship. ---
**Author:** ![ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisUsernameIsForbidden)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/39 "2014-03-21T21:01:57Z")
> [@](#): > > I hate seeing bad science, even if it’s just recreational. It’s obvious you don’t know what “correlation” means nor how to go about analyzing data. It’s embarrassing. > > I’d hate for someone to see you play-acting at science and think your “conclusions” are in any way meaningful. And if they aren’t meaningful, what’s the goddamned point? > > Sorry, as a scientist, I just can’t hold my tongue. But I will bow out since you asked me to. Come on, seriously? Who goes to a message board to do serious science? ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059/40 "2014-03-22T00:33:31Z")
> [@ThisUsernameIsForbidden](#): > > Come on, seriously? Who goes to a message board to do serious science? You must be new here. 😉 I agree with your point for message boards in general, but there is a high concentration of nerds and geeks here (NOT meant pejoratively). It really is an exception to the general rule for things like this. Posters will absolutely do serious science even on absurd questions. Take a look at the “plane on a treadmill” thread. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-depression-and-presence-of-loving-significant-other/684059.md?page=3)