Observed support provision in couples: The influence of biological sex and gender identity

Verhofstadt, Lesley; Devoldre, Inge

doi:10.2224/sbp.2012.40.1.175

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Given the extensive literature on gender differences in N and potential mechanisms underlying the protective effect of spousal N, the possibility of gender-specific effects warrants consideration. In comparison with husbands, wives have been shown in previous research to be higher in N, to provide more spousal support, and to engage in more monitoring of their spouses’ health behaviors (Chapman et al, 2007; Umberson, 1992; Verhofstadt & Devoldre, 2012). This suggests that wives may be more responsive to their spouses’ health problems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Spousal neuroticism moderates everyday problem-wellbeing associations in older couples.

Lay¹,

Hoppmann²

2014

Health Psychology

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Spousal neuroticism moderates everyday problem-wellbeing associations in older couples.

Lay¹,

Hoppmann²

2014

Health Psychology

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“…In the current study we therefore assume that the extent to which a spouse possesses stereotypical 'masculine' qualities (such as independence, forcefulness, dominance) or stereotypical 'feminine' qualities (such as affection, sympathy, gentleness) might affect the amount of sex-typed support behaviour s/he exhibits when confronted with a partner in distress. Consistent with this assertion, Verhofstadt and Devoldre (2012) found, in a recently conducted observational study, that wives displayed more effective support provision than their husbands, but this was only so within traditionally stereotyped couples, that is, couples composed of a wife with high levels of stereotypically feminine characteristics and a husband with high levels of stereotypically masculine characteristics. In another relevant study, Reevy and Maslach (2001) reported that so-called feminine qualities better prepared both sexes for seeking and receiving support from others in general.…”

Section: /35mentioning

confidence: 83%

Biological sex and gender role identity as predictors of spousal support provision: a scenario-based study

Verhofstadt

Weytens

2013

Journal of Gender Studies

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The aim of this study was to examine biological sex (male versus female) and gender identity (masculine versus feminine) as predictors of support provision in marriage. Participants were 235 married individuals who completed scenario-based questionnaires designed to measure support provision across a broad range of daily stressors. Our results did not reveal differences between biological males and females in their support provision behaviour. However, a person's support provision was uniquely predicted by his/her gender identity. As compared to feminine individuals, masculine individuals reported providing higher levels of instrumental and unhelpful support for their spouse in distress. Furthermore, feminine individuals reported higher levels of emotional support provision than masculine individuals. This pattern of results appeared to be consistent across stressor type. The present findings contribute to the discussion concerning the origins of the support gap in marriage by revealing that it is not biological sex per se, but people's gender-role socialization that determines their skilfulness as a support provider in intimate relationships.

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“…Importantly, the current sample comprised female support‐providers and male recipients. Findings may not generalize to couples outside of this configuration, such as male support providers or same‐sex couples (e.g., Verhofstadt, & Devoldre, ). Further, the present study covered just 14 days and provided only a brief snapshot of functioning.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting a Spouse With Military Posttraumatic Stress: Daily Associations With Partners’ Affect

Carter

Giff

Campbell

et al. 2019

Journal of Traumatic Stress

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Service members and veterans (SM/Vs) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can receive significant benefits from social support by a spouse or romantic partner. However, little is known about how providing support impacts partners. This study sought to identify (a) how provision of support is associated with partners' daily negative and positive affect and (b) how SM/Vs' PTSD symptom severity might moderate such associations. In a 14-day daily-diary study that assessed 64 couples in which one member was an SM/V with PTSD symptoms, partners reported nightly on whether or not they provided instrumental support and/or emotional support that day as well as their current negative and positive affect. Multilevel modeling showed that the provision of emotional and instrumental support were both significantly related to partners' lower levels of negative affect, f 2 = 0.09, and higher levels of positive affect, f 2 = 0.03, on that same day but not the next day. The positive same-day effects were seen if any support was given, with no additive effects when both types of support were provided. Severity of SM/V PTSD moderated the association between provision of emotional support and lower same-day negative affect such that the association was significant only when PTSD symptoms were more severe. Overall, these findings indicate that support provision to a partner with PTSD is associated with improved affect for the romantic partner providing support. However, given that only same-day affect was associated with support, the findings may also suggest that positive affect increases the provision of support.

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Observed support provision in couples: The influence of biological sex and gender identity

Cited by 10 publications

References 2 publications

Spousal neuroticism moderates everyday problem-wellbeing associations in older couples.

Spousal neuroticism moderates everyday problem-wellbeing associations in older couples.

Biological sex and gender role identity as predictors of spousal support provision: a scenario-based study

Supporting a Spouse With Military Posttraumatic Stress: Daily Associations With Partners’ Affect

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