Positive Dyadic Coping Research Articles

Dyadic Coping in Aging: Linking Self-Perceptions of Aging to Depression

Negative self-perceptions of aging have been linked to poorer health and quality of life and predict significantly depressive symptomatology. The support provided by the partner may have an impact on the effects of self-perceptions of aging on depressive symptoms; a close relationship can go along with additional stress or resources and benefits. The present study analyzes the relationship between negative self-stereotypes and depressive symptomatology, considering positive and negative dyadic coping (DC) as moderator variables in this association. Method: Participants were 365 individuals (convenience sample) 40 years or older (M = 60.86) involved in a partner relationship. Participants completed a questionnaire that included the following variables: negative self-perceptions of aging, positive DC (e.g., “My partner shows empathy and understanding to me”), negative DC (e.g., “When I am stressed, my partner tends to withdraw”), and depressive symptomatology. Two moderation models were tested by linear regression. Results: The effect of negative self-perceptions of aging on depressive symptoms was moderated by positive and negative DC only in women. The effect of negative self-perceptions of aging appears to be smaller among those women with higher levels of positive DC and lower levels of negative DC. Conclusions: Positive DC might buffer the association between negative self-perceptions of aging and depressive symptoms. Negative DC might amplify this association, as it is associated with lower well-being among women who express negative self-perceptions of aging. Implications: Training couples in strategies for providing supportive dyadic coping may be a resource to buffer the negative effect of negative self-perceptions of aging on well-being.

Associations between dyadic coping, marital satisfaction, and prenatal depression symptoms among couples with gestational diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT Aims/Background Coping with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) presents significant challenges for pregnant women and their partners, which may result in elevated prenatal depression symptoms. However, research has predominantly centred on pregnant women with GDM, with little involvement of their partners. To understand their dyadic interactions, it is imperative to involve GDM couples in the study. This study aims to examine the interplay between dyadic coping and prenatal depression symptoms among GDM couples and to explore the possible mediating role of marital satisfaction. Design/Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China. A total of 400 couples completed the Dyadic Coping Inventory, Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and sociodemographic data sheet. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was utilised for dyadic data analysis. Results Overall, 13.0% of pregnant women with GDM and 8.3% of partners experienced elevated prenatal depression symptoms. Dyadic coping was directly or indirectly related to their own and partners’ prenatal depression symptoms in GDM couples, with marital satisfaction acting as a mediator. Specifically, positive dyadic coping was associated with lower prenatal depression symptoms, while negative dyadic coping exhibited an opposite relationship. Conclusion The prevalence of elevated prenatal depression symptoms was high in GDM couples. It is important to view pregnant women with GDM and their partners as a dyad of a transactional system in prenatal clinical care. Couple-centred interventions targeting to enhance positive dyadic coping and mitigate negative dyadic coping might be beneficial to prevent and alleviate prenatal depression symptoms.

The Couples Coping Enhancement Training – Sexual Minority Stress (CCET-SMS) Relationship Education Program: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Evidence of Effectiveness

Individuals with diverse and traditionally underrepresented sexual orientations – those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) – experience compounded stress due to their marginalized identity in a heteronormative society. Such stressors, which include but are not limited to discrimination and internalized heterosexism, increase risks for various affective disorders and negatively impact relationship functioning. Empirically supported relationship education programs, including the Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET), have been found efficacious in increasing psychological and relationship well-being; however, the original CCET and related education programs do not specifically target how couples can identify, communicate, and cope with sexual minority stressors. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary evidence of effectiveness of the Couples Coping Enhancement Training – Sexual Minority Stress (CCET-SMS) relationship education program. Results from nine couples showed trends in decreased reports of sexual minority stress and general distress, and significant increases in reports of positive dyadic coping and relationship satisfaction. Additional results based on the program feasibility and acceptability along with limitations and suggestions for future directions are presented.

Parenting stress, dyadic coping and endocrine markers of stress and resilience in foster and biological mothers.

Foster parents have been shown to report higher levels of parenting stress but also more dyadic coping (DC) behaviors in their partnership than biological parents, which might be an important protective factor that helps them cope with daily stressors. Here, we examined how parenting stress and DC are related in foster and biological parents and whether these are reflected in long-term alterations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity. A total of 79 foster mothers and 131 biological mothers participated in a longitudinal study. At the initial assessment, children were aged 2-7 years and lived for an average of 18 months in their current foster family. Mothers' cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentrations and their cortisol/DHEA ratios were assessed in scalp hair twice with approximately 11 months in between, while their perceived parenting stress and DC were measured by self-report questionnaires. Results showed no significant differences between foster mothers and biological mothers in cortisol, DHEA and cortisol/DHEA concentrations. While more DC was longitudinally related to lower levels of parenting stress across both study groups, no significant associations were found to endocrine markers. Thus, these findings indicate that increased parenting stress levels were not, or not strongly, reflected in HPA axis alterations as assessed in hair. Our findings thus add evidence for non-significant associations between self-reported perceived stress and chronic HPA axis markers. Future studies may explore whether early interventions, including those aimed at promoting and maintaining positive DC, are beneficial in preventing the development of stress-related illnesses in foster parents.

Parent-adolescent family resilience and psychological adjustment in chronically ill adolescents: An actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

This study explored the relationships between family resilience, dyadic coping and psychological adjustment among adolescents with chronic illnesses and their parents. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was used to validate the mediating role of dyadic coping in the relationship between family resilience and psychological adjustment. This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 318 parent-adolescents dyads were recruited from three paediatric hospitals in Wenzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai city, China, between June 2022 and August 2023. The parents had a mean age of 41.62 years, and the adolescents had a mean age of 12.66 years. Participants independently completed a self-report questionnaire assessed family resilience, dyadic coping and psychological adjustment. Data analysis was conducted using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. The findings suggest that in the actor effects, family resilience directly influenced psychological adjustment, and family resilience is related to psychological adjustment through positive dyadic coping. In the partner effect, parents' family resilience influenced adolescents' psychological adjustment through the parents' positive dyadic coping. Similarly, adolescents' family resilience influenced parents' psychological adjustment through both parents' positive dyadic coping and adolescents' negative dyadic coping. Additionally, there was a partner effect between parents' family resilience and adolescents' psychological adjustment. This study demonstrated the importance of developing effective dyadic interventions based on family resilience or positive dyadic coping strategies to improve the mental health of adolescents with chronic illnesses and their parents. The mediating role of dyadic coping in the relationship between family resilience and psychological adjustment among adolescents with chronic illnesses and their parents was demonstrated. Future psychosocial interventions should focus on increasing parents' positive dyadic coping strategies and improving adolescents' negative dyadic coping strategies. No patient or public contribution.

Coping equally: Equity of dyadic coping and depressive symptoms among adolescent couples.

Many adolescents are in their first romantic relationship; at the same time, depressive symptoms generally increase during this developmental stage. In adults, equity of support in romantic relationships is associated with less depressive symptoms-especially in female partners, who are generally on "the losing side" of support transactions with male partners. This study examines whether equity of dyadic coping is associated with depressive symptoms in adolescent mixed-gender couples. We disentangle equity of positive and negative dyadic coping, as differential effects might arise. Self-report data on dyadic coping and depressive symptoms were gathered from 124 mixed-gender couples aged between 16 and 21 years living in Switzerland between 2011 and 2013. Equity of dyadic coping was quantified by calculating the difference between received dyadic coping and provided dyadic coping for each partner separately. These difference scores and the overall level of dyadic coping were used to predict depressive symptoms in both partners using an Actor-Partner-Interdependence Model. For female adolescents, we found the expected curvilinear association between equity of negative dyadic coping behaviors and depressive symptoms (actor effect). Additionally, the female perception of equity of positive dyadic coping was correlated with less depressive symptoms in male partners (partner effect). For male adolescents, receiving more positive dyadic coping than they provided was associated with more depressive symptoms (actor effect). In female partners, results resembled those in adult mixed-gender couples. In male partners, results changed depending on the direction of inequity-possibly due to gender role development.

Relationship between family resilience and dyadic coping in colorectal cancer patients and their spouses, based on the actor-partner interdependence model

PurposeTo explore the relationship between dyadic coping and family resistance in colorectal cancer patients and their spouses. Methods178 pairs of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses hospitalized in a three tertiary hospital in Changsha were selected from July 2021 to March 2022. The Family Resilience Assessment Scale and the Dyadic Coping Inventory were used to investigate, which relationship was analyzed by APIM. ResultsThe total score of patients' dyadic coping was 121.51 ± 16.8, and spouses' score was 123.72 ± 16.6. The total score of family resilience was 176.42 ± 16.0, and spouses' score was 182.72 ± 17.03. There was a significant positive relationship between dyadic coping and family resistance of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses (r > 0.7, P < 0.001). The positive dyadic coping of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses had a positive effect on their own and their spouses’ family resilience and the effect was the same. The negative dyadic coping of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses had a negative impact on their own family resilience, and the overall model showed a subject pattern. ConclusionsThe level of family resilience of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses was affected by the level of dyadic coping. Medical workers should regard patients and their spouses as a whole and formulate mutually supportive coping strategies with family as the center, so as to increase positive coping behavior and enhance their family's ability to cope with cancer.

Relationships between body image, dyadic coping and post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients: a cross-sectional study.

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer triggers not only a negative psychological response for the patient, but also a positive psychological outcome. Positive dyadic coping, as a form of coping for mental health outcomes, can maintain or reestablish internal stability between the patient and his or her spouse, resulting in positive physical and psychological changes. However, there is a paucity of research on body image, dyadic coping, and post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship and pathways between body image, dyadic coping, and post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to November 2023 at a tertiary care hospital in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China. This study was conducted among 154 breast cancer patients treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, all of whom completed demographic and clinical information questionnaires, Body image self-rating questionnaire for breast cancer (BISQ-BC), Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) and Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). A Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between body image, dyadic coping, and post-traumatic growth. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the path relationships among the three and to explore the mediating role of dyadic coping. The level of body image was negatively correlated with post-traumatic growth (r = -0.462, p < 0.01); and the level of body image was negatively correlated with dyadic coping (r = -0.308, p < 0.01). And dyadic coping was positively associated with post-traumatic growth (r = 0.464, p < 0.01). The structural equation modeling results supported the mediation model with the following model fit indices, chi-square to degrees of freedom ratio (χ2/df = 2.05), goodness of fit index (GFI = 0.93), comparative fit index (CFI = 0.99), canonical fit index (NFI = 0.93), incremental fit index (IFI = 0.99), non-canonical fit index (TLI = 0.99) and the root mean square of the difference in approximation error (RMSEA = 0.03). Body image and dyadic coping directly affected post-traumatic growth (β = -0.33, p < 0.05; β = 0.43, p < 0.05). And body image indirectly influenced post-traumatic growth through dyadic coping (β = -0.17, p < 0.05). Interconnections between body image, dyadic coping, and post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients. A preliminary validation of the mediating role of dyadic coping between body image and post-traumatic growth, body image can have an impact on dyadic coping, which in turn can have an impact on post-traumatic growth. Whereby higher levels of dyadic coping in patients may also be associated with higher levels of post-traumatic growth, whereas body image disturbance may impede levels of post-traumatic growth.

Recognizing and Appreciating the Partner's Support Protects Relationship Satisfaction during Cardiac Illness.

This study aimed to examine whether dyadic coping (DC) is associated with relationship satisfaction (RS) among couples facing cardiac diseases. Furthermore, the moderating role of both partners' anxiety and depression was tested. One hundred cardiac patients (81.5% men) and their partners (81.5% women) completed a self-report questionnaire during hospitalization. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) and moderation analyses were used to assess the above associations. Results showed that positive DC was significantly related to higher levels of RS, and negative DC was related to lower levels of RS. Furthermore, patient and partner psychological distress significantly moderated the link between DC and RS: patient-perceived positive DC was associated with higher partner RS when partner depression was high; partner-perceived positive DC was associated with higher patient RS when patient anxiety was low; patient-perceived negative DC has associated with lower patient RS when patient anxiety and depression were high. This study showed that positive DC is associated with a more satisfying relationship and identified under what conditions of cardiac-related distress this can happen. Furthermore, this study underlined the importance of examining DC in addition to the individual coping skills as a process pertaining to personal well-being and couple's outcomes.

Harmonious Husband and Wife Relationship:

A harmonious marriage is associated with spousal satisfaction. However, in Indonesia, the divorce rate increases every year. Maintaining a harmonious family takes effort from the spouses and is discussed using stimulus, value and role theories, as internal factors. The external factor is dyadic coping, which is the ability of couples to cope with pressure together and is discussed using the systematic transactional model-STM. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of dyadic coping on the achievement of harmonious relationships in husbands and wives. Method: non-experimental quantitative with cross sectional technique. Sample characteristics are heterosexual couples who have been married for at least 1 year, aged over 20 years, as many as 150 couples or 300 participants. Relationship satisfaction measurement tool, The Perceived Relationship Quality Components Inventory (PRQC), Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient = 0.978, while Dyadic Coping is measured by Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient = 0.911. Data processing using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), LISREL 8.80 programme, the measurement model shows all items are valid and the structural model shows a fit and significant model. The results showed the similarity of husbands and wives handling pressure, using positive dyadic coping. The difference between husbands and wives on the perception of harmonious relationship satisfaction is the aspect of love and intimacy. With these findings, it is expected to be used by counsellors, family psychologists and others to guide couples to be harmonious

Associations between dyadic communication and dyadic coping of patients with cervical cancer and their spouses: a study utilizing the actor-partner interdependence model.

There is a growing focus on exploring dyadic interactions and outcomes between couples undergoing cervical cancer (CC). The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to figure out how dyadic communication influences both CC patients' and spouses' coping abilities. A sample of 286 CC dyads completed questionnaires assessing dyadic communication and dyadic coping. The actor-partner interdependence model was used to analyze the interaction effect between the dyads. Dyadic communication among cervical cancer (CC) patients has a predictive effect on their own negative dyadic coping (β = - 0.141, P = 0.034) and on their spouses' delegated dyadic coping (β = 0.133, P = 0.044). In contrast, dyadic communication among CC spouses is negatively associated with their own supportive dyadic coping (β = - 0.237, P < 0.001), delegated dyadic coping (β = - 0.156, P = 0.018), common dyadic coping (β = - 0.148, P = 0.026) and also with CC patients' supportive dyadic coping (β = - 0.153, P = 0.022). Dyadic communication between CC patients and their spouses affect their own and each other's dyadic coping. Exploring interventions focused on the CC couples' communication strategies to enhance their positive dyadic coping should be considered.

P90: The indirect role of supportive dyadic coping in the association between self- perceptions of aging and depression

Objective:it has been shown that having negative-self perceptions of aging significantly predicts depressive symptomatology. Although the partner relationship may have an impact on the effects of perception of aging on distress, the number of studies assessing the effect of partner on negative self-perception of aging and mental health is limited. The stress of one partner may elicit dyadic coping (DC) responses in the other partner. The stress of one partner may elicit dyadic coping responses in the other partner. Depending on whether the responses are positive (supportive) or negative (hostile)a close relationship can go along with additional stress or resources and benefits. The present study analyzes the relationship between negative self-stereotypes and depressive symptomatology, considering the partner’s dyadic coping as a moderator variable in this association.Method:Participants were 365 individuals (59.3% women) 40 years or older (M= 60.86, SD=10.66) involved in a marital/partner relationship. Participants completed a questionnaire that included the variables: negative self-perception of aging, positive DC (e.g., “My partner shows empathy and understanding to me”), negative DC (e.g., “When I am stressed, my partner tends to withdraw”), and depressive symptomatology. Two moderation models were tested by linear regression: the first considered positive DC and the second negative DC as a moderator in the relationship between negative self-perception of aging and depressive symptoms.Results:The effect of negative self-perceptions of aging on depressive symptoms was smaller among those who perceived higher levels of positive DC and lower levels of negative DC by their partners than among those perceiving lower positive DC and higher negative DC. The influence of supportive dyadic coping was higher when the levels of negative self-perception of aging were higher. Gender was a determinant factor in the moderation.Conclusions:Positive DC mitigates the negative effects of negative self-perception of aging on wellbeing (by the mechanism of moderation), while negative DC amplifies this association and goes along with lower well-being in persons who report negative self-perceptions of aging. Training couples in supportive dyadic coping may be a resource to buffer the negative effect of negative self-perceptions of aging on well-being.

Sexual growth and destiny beliefs: Longitudinal associations with dyadic coping among couples seeking medically assisted reproduction.

Medically assisted reproduction is a vulnerable time for couples' sexual health. Believing that sexual challenges can be worked through (i.e., sexual growth beliefs) or that these challenges indicate incompatibility (i.e., sexual destiny beliefs) may be related to dyadic coping-the strategies couples use to cope-with the physical and psychological stressors of medically assisted reproduction. In the current study we aimed to examine the longitudinal associations between typical (i.e., average) levels of sexual growth and destiny beliefs and positive and negative facets of dyadic coping and how greater than typical levels of these constructs predicted each other across time. Couples (n = 219) seeking medically assisted reproduction were recruited for an online longitudinal, dyadic study. Couples completed online measures of sexual growth and destiny beliefs and positive and negative dyadic coping at baseline, 6-and 12-months. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models demonstrated that at the within-person level, reporting higher sexual growth beliefs at baseline, relative to their average across time points, was associated with lower negative dyadic coping at 6 months. Higher negative dyadic coping at 6 months, relative to their average, was linked to lower sexual growth beliefs at 12-months. When individuals reported higher sexual destiny beliefs at 6-months, relative to their average, they and their partners reported higher negative dyadic coping at 12 -months. At the between-person level, higher overall levels of sexual destiny beliefs were related to higher overall levels of negative dyadic coping. No associations with positive dyadic coping were identified. Couples may benefit from identifying and reducing unhelpful beliefs about sex and negative dyadic coping. Strengths of this study include our large, inclusive sample, engagement of community partners, and novel analytical approach to assess change over time. However, following couples in 6-month increments and not using questionnaires specific to medically assisted reproduction may have limited our ability to detect nuanced changes that couples experience during this time. Lower sexual growth and higher sexual destiny beliefs may promote couples' engagement in less adaptive coping behaviors as they seek medically assisted reproduction.

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.

STRONGER TOGETHER”: HOW MARRIED COUPLE STRATEGY TO WORK TOGETHER BRINGS IMPACT TO THE SATISFACTION OF RELATIONSHIP

The purpose of this research is to find the influence of dyadic coping on the relationship satisfaction of married couples. The research method that's been used for this research is quantitative non-experiment with non-probability sampling technique with 150 married couples as respondents or 300 respondents in total. The theory that’s been used for this research is the relationship satisfaction, in a definition is an evaluation of interpersonal towards a feeling of positivity one of the partners in a romantic relationship And also the dyadic coping theory which is defined as a strategy that couples did together as teamwork to deal with or cope with stressful life events. Based on the result of the research, had been found a conclusion that any individual whether they’re from the husbands or wives group of respondents, both of the group tend to practice positive dyadic coping more rather than negative dyadic coping. The research also shows that both of the husbands and wives group of respondents tend to practice emotionally focused coping on their dyadic coping strategy. Whereas on the husband’s group, their relationship satisfaction is much higher if there’s a lot of intimacy in their marriage. And for the wives group, the relationship satisfaction will increase if the marriage is filled with love. The interesting part that’s been discovered from this research is that both of the group whether from the husbands and wives who practice negative dyadic coping or the group of husbands and wives who practice positive dyadic coping, the husband’s sides are the sides who always have higher relationship satisfaction compared to the wives sides.

Never forsake-The positive experiences of dyadic coping among patients with acute leukemia and their spouses: A qualitative study.

This study aimed to explore the positive experiences of dyadic coping between patients with acute leukemia and their spouses in China, and to highlight the target factors that could promote coping and adaptation. A qualitative descriptive study was employed. This study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in China from September 2021 to February 2022. A purposive sampling method was used to select participants, and 17 patients diagnosed with acute leukemia and their spouses were interviewed. Qualitative data were analyzed using the content analysis method. This study followed the COREQ checklist. This study's data were categorized into five themes and twelve subthemes: (1) adapting to a new role-couples used role adjustments to adapt; (2) commitment to companionship-patients benefit from spousal commitment in word or in deed; (3) active communication-allows couples to get to know each other better; (4) white lies-shield partner from negative information; (5) seeking external support-outside of couple cohesion. In sum, positive dyadic coping experiences between couples follow the marital commitment of "never forsake." This study contributes new knowledge to the understanding of the dyadic coping experiences of patients with acute leukemia and their spouses within the Chinese social-cultural context and contributes to cross-cultural comparisons. The results can be used to design and implement couple-based intervention programs to support couples by enhancing their mutual support to cope with and adjust to acute leukemia effectively.

Romantic Relationships during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic and the resultant lockdown had been harsh on many people especially those in romantic relationships. There was increase in psychological issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, alcoholism, and problematic eating behaviors which resulted in conflicts and breakdown in relationships. Aim and Objectives: The present cross-sectional exploratory study investigated how individuals in romantic dating relationships have coped during the times of COVID-19. The objectives were to examine the stressors faced by romantic dating couples during the pandemic, the differences among them with respect to dyadic coping, conflict, and resolution strategies employed. Materials and Methods: A total of 232 individuals (males = 104, females = 128) were assessed on a semi-structured Stressor Checklist, the Dyadic Coping Inventory, and Romantic Partner Conflict Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, ANOVA, and Tukey's honestly significant difference were calculated. Results: 45% of participants reported growing closer to their partners during the pandemic; others reported strained relationships or break-ups. Distance, difficulty in in-person meetings, reduced communication emerged as the most reported stressors among participants. Dyadic coping was found to be significantly better in the closer group than in the strained group or the break-up group (t = −1.89,P&lt; 0.05). Stress communication by partner was found to be significantly better in closer couples (t = −2.38,P&lt; 0.01). With respect to conflict resolution, significant differences were found among the three groups on compromise (r = 0.459,P&lt; 0.01) avoidance (r = 0.224,P&lt; 0.01), interactional reactivity (r= −0.446,P&lt; 0.01), domination (r = −0.223,P&lt; 0.01), and submission (r = −0.491,P&lt; 0.01). No difference was found among the groups on separation (r = −0.07; NS). Conclusion: Individuals who found themselves in strained relationships or breakups during COVID-19 attributed negative outcome in relationship to factors internal to the relationship. Individuals with positive relationship outcomes engaged in positive dyadic coping; conflict resolution strategies employed by them were positive. The limitations, mental health implications and suggestions for further research have been discussed.

Partners' internal stress and well‐being: The role of dyadic coping and problem resolution

AbstractCouples' experiences of daily stress can be detrimental for partners' individual and relational well‐being, specifically their identity as a couple, their relational satisfaction, and their life satisfaction. Grounded in the Systemic Transactional Model, this study aimed at analyzing factors that may safeguard partners and their relationship from detrimental effects of internal stress (i.e., stress that originates inside the relationship). We examined the buffering effect of partners' positive dyadic coping and internal problem resolution. Daily diary data were collected across 7 days from 82 heterosexual couples. Multilevel dyadic analyses showed that internal stress was negatively associated with partners' individual and relational well‐being. Positive dyadic coping moderated the association between partners' internal stress and couple satisfaction for both partners, but not life satisfaction and couple identity. Moreover, for partners who reported a resolution to the internal problem, the negative associations of internal stress with life satisfaction, couple satisfaction, and couple identity were significantly lower than for those who did not resolve the internal problem. This study confirms the negative role of internal stress on well‐being, shows the associations between internal stress and couple identity, and highlights the protective role of dyadic coping and internal problem resolution in couples' daily lives.

A Multimethod Examination of Stress and Support among Sexual Minority Couples

Little is known about how sexual minority couples cope with experiences of discrimination related to sexual orientation, and whether such processes are different from the management of general life stressors. Using self-report and observational methods, we investigated differences in couple support processes by stressor type. A sample of 84 sexual minority couples ( M age = 25.4 years, SD = 4.0) completed self-report measures and two video-recorded discussions (one sexual orientation-related discrimination stressor and one general life stressor not related to sexual orientation) that were coded for observed dyadic coping and social support behavior. In self-report models, more frequent stressors experienced by either partner, regardless of type, were related to more negative dyadic coping behavior and more positive partner social support provision. Discrimination stressors were uniquely related to less positive evaluations of dyadic coping behavior, but this result did not hold when accounting for covariates and could have been confounded by age. In observed models, we found no differences in positive dyadic coping or positive social support behavior across stressor discussions, but we found significantly less negative dyadic coping behavior during discrimination stressor discussions. Future work should examine how adaptive support processes may influence relationship functioning.

The Moderating Role of Dyadic Coping in the Link Between Parenting Stress and Couple Relationship Quality in Parents of Children with ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders in childhood and adolescence. The child’s ADHD symptoms are associated with increased stress levels for parents. Previous research has shown that parenting stress has a negative impact on parental relationship quality, but those negative effects can be mitigated through the couple’s positive dyadic coping. However, these associations have not yet been studied for parents of children with ADHD. Therefore, this cross-sectional online study was aiming at investigating whether dyadic coping moderates the link between parenting stress and couple relationship quality in parents of children with ADHD in comparison to parents of children without ADHD. Data from 446 parents of children aged 6 to 16 years (clinical group: n = 265 parents of children with ADHD; control group: n = 181 parents of children without ADHD) were analyzed separately for both groups using moderation analyses. Results showed that negative dyadic coping significantly moderated the association between parenting stress and relationship quality in parents of children with ADHD, such that the link was positive, when negative dyadic coping was low. No comparable results were found in the control group. With respect to positive dyadic coping, there were no moderation effects in either group. The findings indicate that stress in parents of children with ADHD may have a favorable effect on the couple relationship if negative dyadic coping is minimized. Therefore, reducing negative dyadic coping could have a beneficial effect on the parents’ relationship quality and ultimately on the overall family climate.