Partner Dyadic Coping Research Articles

Dyadic coping and sexual well‐being in couples seeking assisted reproductive technology

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined whether perceptions of the partner's dyadic coping (DC) and of how partners cope together (common DC) are associated with sexual well‐being in couples seeking assisted reproductive technology.BackgroundAlthough infertility has been associated with significant sexual concerns, little is known about the relational processes underlying couples' sexual well‐being.MethodA sample of 232 couples with medical infertility completed questionnaires assessing DC and sexual well‐being (infertility‐related sexual concerns, distress, and satisfaction).ResultsIndividuals who perceived that their partner engaged in higher negative DC reported lower sexual well‐being (actor effects). Men who perceived that their partner engaged in higher positive DC reported higher sexual satisfaction, whereas women reported greater infertility‐related sexual concerns (actor effects). Perceptions of higher common DC were associated with higher sexual well‐being for men and women (actor effects). Women whose partners reported perceptions of higher common DC also reported fewer infertility‐related sexual concerns (partner effect). Analyses adjusted for relationship satisfaction.ConclusionThese findings highlight the need for future longitudinal research to gain a better understanding of the associations between dyadic factors and infertile couples' sexual well‐being.ImplicationsThese results suggest that the interpersonal context surrounding infertile couples' sexual well‐being should be routinely discussed and could be facilitated by promoting greater common DC.

Associations of perceived and common dyadic coping with self-care in older couples with cardiovascular disease: A dyadic analysis

BackgroundDyadic engagement of patients and caregivers in self-care is essential for management of heart disease. However, little is known how dyadic coping at individual and partner levels is associated with self-care in couples living with cardiovascular disease. ObjectiveThis study examined whether dyadic coping at self, partner, and common levels was associated with patients’ engagement in self-care and spouses’ contribution to self-care in older couples living with cardiovascular disease. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 288 older patients and spouses were recruited from outpatient heart clinics in Qazvin, north of Iran. Data were collected using the Dyadic Coping Inventory, the Self-care of Coronary Heart Disease Inventory, and the Caregiver's Contribution to Self-care of Coronary Heart Disease. Dyadic data were analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence model. ResultsThe results showed that patients’ engagement in self-care maintenance was associated with partner dyadic coping in patients, self and common dyadic coping in spouses. Patients’ engagement in self-care monitoring was only associated with self dyadic coping in spouses. Dyadic analysis also showed that self-care confidence in patients was only associated with by partner dyadic coping in spouses. ConclusionsThis study revealed that self-care was associated with dyadic coping employed by each member of the dyad at self, partner and common levels. Findings of this study suggest that perceived and provided levels of dyadic coping can be employed for maintaining or restoring self-management in older couples living with cardiovascular disease.

Couples’ co-regulation dynamics as a function of perceived partner dyadic coping

ABSTRACT Background and objectives Perceptions of partners' dyadic coping (DC) behaviors are associated with lower stress and higher relationship well-being. Albeit well-documented, these associations have predominately relied on cross-sectional data, overlooking temporal associations during conversations of mutual stress. Based on the systemic transactional model of DC (Bodenmann, 2005), we hypothesized that co-regulatory dynamics would be displayed for couples who generally perceive high positive DC, whereas co-dysregulatory dynamics would be displayed for couples who generally perceive high negative DC. Design and methods Using video-prompted second-by-second recall of stress experience from 42 different-gender romantic couples, this study examined whether couples’ co-regulation dynamics were moderated by perceived partner DC behaviors, measured at baseline. Results On average, partners’ stress ratings were coupled; females tended to coregulate males’ stress and both partners’ stress dampened over time. Perceived negative DC moderated the coregulation of stress, suggesting that females unidirectionally coregulated males’ stress when (1) negative DC was low in both partners and (2) when females reported lower negative DC than males. However, coregulation did not occur when (1) negative DC was high in both partners and (2) females reported higher negative DC than males. Conclusions Implications for utilizing methods sensitive to temporal interpersonal emotion dynamics are presented.

Examining the Role of Dyadic Coping on the Marital Adjustment of Couples Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

A couple is considered to be infertile if unable to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. An extended body of literature supports that infertility and infertility treatments contribute to emotional, social, sexual, and relational issues that can have a negative impact on each partner's well-being and on the couple relationship. Recent findings suggest that a dyadic approach should be used when working with couples coping with these stressors. However, most research to date has focused on the association between infertility and individual's psychological outcomes, rather than on the experience of infertility-related stress and coping from a relational perspective. Consequently, assuming that infertility is a dyadic stressor and that the ability of the partners to cope with this experience is the result of both individual and relational coping strategies, this study aimed to investigate dyadic coping and marital adjustment among couples at the beginning of an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatment. A sample of 167 heterosexual couples (N = 334) undergoing ART treatment at the fertility clinic of a large hospital in Milan from January to December 2017 was recruited. Each participant completed self-reported questionnaires examining marital adjustment (Dyadic Adjustment Scale) and dyadic coping (Dyadic Coping Questionnaire). Demographics and clinical variables were also collected. Data were analyzed using the Actor Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), testing the effect of each partner's dyadic coping style on their own and their partner's marital adjustment. Results revealed that both women and partners' scores on positive dyadic coping styles (common, emotion-focused, problem-focused, and delegated dyadic coping) contributed to higher marital adjustment. This result suggests that couples unable to engage in this type of reciprocal supportive behaviors and those unsatisfied with their coping efforts may be more vulnerable while undergoing ART treatments. Furthermore, findings highlighted some gender differences for stress communication and negative dyadic coping suggesting the presence of specific dynamics within couples facing an ART treatment. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

"What Makes Us Strong?": Dyadic Coping in Italian Prospective Adoptive Couples.

Becoming an adoptive parent is a particularly stressful transition, given the additional challenges couples have to face. Dyadic coping, an under-investigated dimension in the adoption literature, may play a relevant role for prospective adoptive couples’ ability to better cope with the adoptive process. The general aim of the present study was to investigate the association between dyadic coping and relationship functioning, in terms of relationship satisfaction and couple generativity, among prospective adoptive couples. Participants were 103 prospective adoptive couples pursuing international adoption in Italy. Couples were asked to fill in a self-report questionnaire. Results of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model showed that prospective adoptive partners reported high levels of positive and common dyadic coping and low levels of negative dyadic coping – suggesting partners’ ability to successfully cope together with a common stressor – a high level of relationship satisfaction, and an average level of couple generativity. Moreover, analyses showed significant actor effects of one’s own perception of the partner’s dyadic coping (positive, negative, and common) on one’s own relationship satisfaction and on couple generativity for both wives and husbands. With regard to partner effects, we found that both partners’ perceptions of the other’s dyadic coping responses (positive, negative, and common) were associated with the other’s relationship satisfaction, with the only exception of wives’ perceptions of common dyadic coping, which were not associated with their husbands’ relationship satisfaction. As for couple generativity, the only significant partner effect referred to negative dyadic coping responses for both wives and husbands.

Associations Between Sexual Orientation Discrimination and Depression Among Same-Sex Couples: Moderating Effects of Dyadic Coping

ABSTRACTDrawing from minority stress theory and the systemic–transactional model, we examined whether perceptions of partner's dyadic coping behavior moderated the association between sexual orientation discrimination stress and symptoms of depression among individuals in a same-sex relationship. Data from 95 same-sex couples revealed that, overall, sexual orientation discrimination stress was positively associated with depressive symptoms; however, perceived partner emotion-focused supportive dyadic coping weakened this association. Specifically, higher sexual orientation discrimination stress was associated with greater depressive symptoms only for individuals perceiving low partner emotion-focused supportive dyadic coping. Implications for researchers and clinicians are presented.