Dyadic coping and discrete emotions during COVID-19: Connecting the communication theory of resilience with relational uncertainty

Abstract

The current study applies the communication theory of resilience (CTR) to assess married individuals’ utilization of resilience communication during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines pathways between communicative resilience processes, relational uncertainty, discrete emotions, and evaluations of dyadic coping. Married individuals ( n = 625) were surveyed during April 21–April 29, 2020 using Qualtrics panels. Structural equation analyses revealed that most of the resilience communication processes impacted evaluations of dyadic coping via three indirect pathways, including (a) relational uncertainty, (b) relational uncertainty → anger, and (c) relational uncertainty → fear. The alternative logic of humor did not impact dyadic coping through these indirect pathways, but instead directly, positively impacted dyadic coping. Theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

Relational uncertainty, interdependence and psychological distress during COVID‐19: A longitudinal study

“…Our findings suggest that, similarly to other Western countries and particularly the United States, these mechanisms seem to play an important role in predicting distress during times of uncertainty and change. They also suggest, however, that whereas prior work from non‐Israeli studies have found associations between all relational uncertainty sources and various of outcomes during COVID‐19 (e.g., Jones & Theiss, 2021 ; Lillie et al., 2021 ), in our Israeli sample each source of relational uncertainty diverged in its association with different facets of distress. A similar trend was found with regard to couple interdependence where, contrary to US‐based studies (Goodboy et al., 2021 ; Jones & Theiss, 2021 ; Knoster et al., 2020 ), only interference from a partner, but not facilitation, corresponded with psychological distress.…”

“…Starting with relational uncertainty, research has pointed at associations between relational uncertainty and relationship qualities, such as intimacy and satisfaction (Theiss & Estlein, 2014 ; Theiss & Solomon, 2008 ), as well as depressive symptoms (Scott & Stafford, 2016 ) and negative emotion (Lillie et al., 2021 ). Within an RTT framework, these associations can be explained by the process where individuals, in the absence of available information, rely on biased cognitive appraisals to interpret interpersonal situations.…”

“…Lillie et al. ( 2021 ) provide support for this assertion highlighting the association between relational uncertainty and negative emotion, such as anger, fear, and guilt during COVID‐19. In terms of interdependence, due to the quarantine, couples who cohabited spent much more time together than usual, making partner's daily influence much more salient.…”

Introduction to the special issue: Relationships in the time of COVID-19

“…Specifically, Goodboy et al (2021) found that college dating relationships were more turbulent and less interdependent during the pandemic compared to how they were recalled pre-pandemic. Further, in Lillie et al (2021), greater use of communicative resilience processes during the first wave of COVID-19 were negatively, directly related to relational uncertainty and negatively related to dyadic coping in married individuals in the U.S.…”

COVID-19 and Romantic Relationships

“…Together, they reduce relational uncertainty, fear and anger, emotions that can decrease the level of dyadic coping. The use of humor was directly and positively related to coping [37].…”