A developmental–contextual model of couple synchrony across adulthood and old age.

Abstract

Most theoretical models on social dynamics governing development and health across adulthood and old age rely on a “single-unit” approach. We put forth a developmental–contextual model (CoSynch) that utilizes the concept of synchrony (interdependent fluctuations in physiological states and health behaviors) as a novel way to conceptualize social developmental dynamics. Using the sample case of romantic partners, this model aims for an innovative integration of available findings addressing everyday microsocial dynamics in dyads that contribute to overall partner concordance in health trajectories. Specifically, the model builds on 5 propositions to integrate existing empirical findings and infuse future research. Proposition P1: Synchrony is shaped by closeness and shared contexts; P2: Synchrony in physiology and health behaviors follows a u-shaped curve with younger and older adult couples showing greater synchrony than middle-aged couples, but with greater diversification of synchrony in very old age; P3: Couple synchrony is profoundly shaped by life events; P4: Synchrony is correlated with pertinent individual and dyad characteristics; P5: Effects of everyday couple synchrony accumulate over time, thereby carrying significant implications for the health of all involved parties. We also point to open questions and suggest future directions for applying the model that are going to advance knowledge on the social and health dynamics underlying adult development and aging.

Couples’ We-Ness and Separateness During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown: A Longitudinal Perspective

“…This reasoning is in line with findings on dyadic coping (e.g., Bodenmann, 2005) and couple synchrony (see Pauly et al, 2021). According to Bodenmann's Systemic-Transactional Model of Dyadic Coping (Bodenmann, 2005), when partners deal with a stressor affecting them both directly and simultaneously, such as in the COVID-19 pandemic, the source of stress is defined as common, and dyadic stress is observed.…”

“…Our data thus seem to suggest that being faced with the strict short-time lockdown -as an acute stressor-initially brought most couples together, whereas the chronic stress exposure (i.e., one-year pandemic) began to break them apart. This reasoning is in line with findings on dyadic coping (e.g., Bodenmann, 2005) and couple synchrony (see Pauly et al, 2021). According to Bodenmann's Systemic-Transactional Model of Dyadic Coping (Bodenmann, 2005), when partners deal with a stressor affecting them both directly and simultaneously, such as in the COVID-19 pandemic, the source of stress is defined as common, and dyadic stress is observed.…”

“…Consequently, the long-term absence of contact with the large community during the lockdown could lead the couples’ feeling of interdependence to decrease. Third, a chronic stress may undermine dyadic coping and couple synchrony, affecting a couple's sense of we-ness (Pauly et al, 2021; Tian et al, 2021). Finally, the decrease in we-ness affected the positive couple interactions and not the negative ones and, as observed in our preliminary results, there were higher levels of we-ness in positive interactions than in negative ones.…”

“…The Developmental-Contextual Coping Model (Berg & Upchurch, 2007) showed, however, that dyadic coping may be challenged by the duration of the stressful event, potentially resulting in a decrease in feelings of we-ness within the couple. Studies on couple synchrony indicated that life events experienced by partners around the same time (e.g., the pandemic) challenge the couple as an interconnected system and have the potential to increase couple synchrony (e.g., physiological indicators), which might in turn foster partners’ feeling of we-ness (Pauly et al, 2021). On the contrary, chronic stress (as during the one-year lockdown) poses a particular challenge to couple synchrony that can ultimately carry a cost when it is overstrained (Saxbe et al, 2020).…”

Physical Intimacy in Older Couples’ Everyday Lives: Its Frequency and Links With Affect and Salivary Cortisol

“…Prior research has reported that moments of physical and emotional closeness between partners are associated with greater cortisol synchrony ( Pauly, Gerstorf, et al, 2021 ). Thus, future research could build on these findings by not only investigating whether cortisol levels are lower following moments of intimacy in daily life, but also whether cortisol and affect levels of both partners synchronize after such interactions.…”