point the researchers administered various inventories to assess the type of childhood care given, romantic attachment styles, and relationship functioning. Depression appears to be the independent variable, because the sample was selected based on desired levels of depression. Once the distinction in levels of depression had been made, childhood care, attachment style, and relationship functioning were assessed in relation to depression. The actual distinction between independent and dependent variables is confusing. There are almost ten variables in this experiment: mild depression, no depression, dating or not dating (101 out of 163 were involved in stable dating relationships that averaged 19.99 months), positive or negative child- rearing, attachment style (fearful, preoccupied, or secure), and relationship functioning (overall satisfaction, quality of interactions with partner, and conflict resolution style). The confusion arises in that the study is assessing the relationships of so many variables. The second study repeated the first except the sample consisted of recovering clinically depressed married women and non-depressed married women. The first hypothesis 1a was confirmed as having a strong correlation between women with negative childhood experiences with their mother and a preoccupied and avoidant attachment style. Hypothesis 1b was confirmed by a strong correlation between childhood experiences and depression. A very strong correlation existed between depression and fearful and preoccupied attachment styles, consistent with the second hypothesis. The researchers found that attachment style had more of an impact than depression, "attachment style was the most consistent predictor of relationship functioning and generally predicted functioning better than depression," consistent with the third hypothesis. The second study consisting of clinically depressed married women, and non-depresse...
