Non-reciprocity in close social relationships, depressive symptoms, and poor self-rated health

Objectives: Associations of experienced non-reciprocity in close social relationships with health are analyzed in a group of middle-aged employed men and women using depressive symptoms and self-rated health as indicators. Methods: Non-reciprocity is measured by a newly developed questionnaire containing three scales: "partnership", "parent-child", and "non-specific close relationships". Depressive symptoms are assessed by the German version of the CES-D scale and self-rated health by a single widely tested item. The factorial structure of the questionnaire measuring non-reciprocity is analyzed. Subsequently, associations are explored using logistic regression analyses with age, gender, socio-economic status, and social support as control variables. Results: The factorial structure of the questionnaire is confirmed. Significantly elevated odds ratios (OR) of depressive symptoms are observed in people who experience non-reciprocity (partnership OR = 2.97; parent-child OR = 2.70; nonspecific OR = 1.84). Similarly, the risk of poor self-rated health is significantly elevated in these conditions, except for non-specific non-reciprocity. Conclusions: Based on the newly developed measurement consistent associations of non-reciprocity in close social relationships with depressive symptoms and poor self-rated health are documented.