Harmonious Relations: Relational Interdependence Moderates Affective Reactivity to Interpersonal Stressors

Abstract

Negative social interactions have been linked to worse psychological health. However, individuals’ perceptions of negative interactions may depend on relational interdependent self-construal or how much they define the self in terms of their close relationships. The current analysis examined whether the effect of three different stressors on daily mood is moderated by having a relational self-construal. Participants (N = 833) from a national, community-based study reported relational self-construal, the experience of three types of stressors, negative affect, and positive affect on 8 consecutive days. Compared to less relationally interdependent individuals, more relationally interdependent individuals experienced a greater increase in negative affect from the prior day when an interpersonal conflict occurred but a lesser increase in negative affect from the prior day when an interpersonal conflict was avoided. These results suggest that the type of interpersonal stressor determines whether self-construal is a risk factor or protective factor for psychological health.