The Role of Different Types of Stress on Relationship Satisfaction: A Dyadic Longitudinal Study

Objective: Robust evidence shows that stress can adversely affect relationship functioning. In this article, we distinguished between three types of stress differing in the extent to which they rely on individual perceptions. Conceptually, our assessment of stressors was least likely to be influenced by individual perceptions, followed by our measure of worry, and finally, by our measure of overall stress. Method: We analyzed responses from 150 couples (n = 300 at Time 1) over six time points (n = 225 at Time 6). Results: All three measures of stress (i.e., stressors, worry, and overall stress) were associated with decreased relationship satisfaction. When we examined actor and partner effects and their interactions simultaneously, actor effects were present, but partner main effects were not significant. For the stress variable that assessed subjective levels of stress across different areas of life, there was significant interaction between partners on this variable, and the results were consistent with a partial contagion effect. Finally, significant interactions between conflict tactics and the two subjective stress measures showed that conflict tactics used by partners moderated the effects of subjective stress on relationship satisfaction. Conclusions: These findings show that associations between stress and relationship functioning are complex and vary depending on how stress is conceptualized and measured. Our findings highlight the potential for greater theoretical integration between dyadic models of stress, specifically the Vulnerability Stress Adaption model and the transactional model of stress.