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Background: There was strong association between depression and caregiver burden. However, there are few studies about the quality of life and social support in the spouses of depressed patients in China. The aim of the present study was to explore the quality of life and social support perceived by the partners of depressed patients in China. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, fifty-nine participants with a depressed partner according to a DSM-Ⅳ diagnosis of major depressive disorder and fifty-nine married normal controls participated in the study. All participants completed MSPSS and QLESQ. The data collected was analyzed to compare the quality of life and social support between the depressed patients' spouses and married normal controls, and the relationship between social support and the quality of life in the two groups. Results: There were significant differences in the quality of life (p<0.01 ) and perceived social support (p<0.01 ) between the two groups. The spouses of depressed patients, who were younger than fifty years, employed and role as a wife in the family reported better quality of life than those older than fifty years, unemployed and role as a husband. There was positively correlation between the quality of life and social support from friend in the spouses of depressed patients. Conclusions: It is very important to provide the social support with a person with a depressed partner so that improving their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]