Affective processes as mediators of links between close relationships and physical health

Abstract

Close relationships are known to predict physical health outcomes. The time has come for a shift toward achieving a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. One promising group of psychological mechanisms is affective processes, such as discrete emotions, emotion regulation, and affect reactivity. In this paper, we discuss the evidence linking relationship functioning with both the positive and negative valences of each affective process, considering the contributions of different types of close relationships across the lifespan, and the evidence for each affective process impacting physical health. We note evidence suggesting that affective processes may also have a causal impact on relationship function. When available, we review literature testing full mediational pathways, from relationship functioning to affective processes to physical health, as the ideal methodology for testing these links. Finally, we identify core themes and propose key future directions for this research.

Perceived Partner Responsiveness, Daily Negative Affect Reactivity, and All-Cause Mortality: A 20-Year Longitudinal Study

“…Wave 1), we show that these links are robust over time. Moreover, the current study is novel in that it links a critically-important relationship construct with a psychological mediator and mortality together in a single prospective investigation, a rare occurrence in longitudinal psychology studies (50–51). Although previous research has found evidence that PA reactivity is sometimes linked to longevity (37), a similar pattern did not emerge in our sample.…”

Individual and dyadic associations among relational self‐expansion potential, affect, and perceived health

“…We propose that relational self‐expansion potential should be associated with better perceived physical health, and that affect should underlie this association. Affective processes have been found to be robust mediating pathways that explain how relationships are linked to health (Farrell, Imami, Stanton, & Slatcher, 2018; Sbarra & Coan, 2018). PA encompasses alert feelings that reflect pleasurable engagement with the environment, whereas NA encompasses distressed feelings that reflect unpleasurable engagement with the environment (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988).…”

Lot-sizing for a product recovery system with quality-dependent recovery channels

“…Wave 1), we show that these links are robust over time. Moreover, the current study is novel in that it links a critically-important relationship construct with a psychological mediator and mortality together in a single prospective investigation, a rare occurrence in longitudinal psychology studies (50)(51). Although previous research has found evidence that PA reactivity is sometimes linked to longevity (37), a similar pattern did not emerge in our sample.…”