Spousal similarity in coping and depressive symptoms over 10 years.

Abstract

Following a baseline sample of 184 married couples over 10 years, the present study develops a broadened conceptualization of linkages in spouses' functioning by examining similarity in coping as well as in depressive symptoms. Consistent with hypotheses, results demonstrated (a) similarity in depressive symptoms within couples across 10 years, (b) similarity in coping within couples over 10 years, and (c) the role of coping similarity in strengthening depressive similarity between spouses. Spousal similarity in coping was evident for a composite measure of percent approach coping as well as for component measures of approach and avoidance coping. The role of coping similarity in strengthening depressive symptom similarity was observed for percent approach coping and for avoidance coping. These findings support social contextual models of psychological adjustment that emphasize the importance of dynamic interdependencies between individuals in close relationships.

What to do when feeling bored?

“…This has certainly proven to be the case in the context of coping with stress in which avoidance strategies have been connected to further stress and depressive symptoms (Holahan et al, 2005;Holahan et al, 2007). Research is particularly needed on the effectiveness of different types of strategies for coping with boredom because it seems that in reality students usually cope with boredom by using avoidance oriented cognitions or behaviors (Goetz, Frenzel, & Pekrun, 2007).…”

“…In order to study how students cope with boredom and develop an appropriate categorization system, we borrowed from the existing research on coping with stress. One of the most researched conceptualizations of coping with stress was forwarded by Holahan, Moos, and Schaefer (1996) and focuses on approach versus avoidance and cognitive versus behavioral coping strategies (see also Davis, DiStefano, & Schutz, 2008;Holahan, Moos, Holahan, Brennan, & Schutte, 2005;Holahan et al, 2007;Moos & Holahan, 2003). According to this conceptualization four categories of coping strategies classified by two dimensions are identified.…”

Subjective Well-Being Dynamics in Couples from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging

“…Cross-sectional studies typically support these notions, for example by reporting that depressive symptoms in one spouse relate to depressive symptoms in the other, even after controlling for health and sociodemographic covariates [9,[16][17][18][19][20] . Transmission of SWB has also been observed in the day-to-day flow of affect between midlife spouses [21] , with a gender-specific pattern. In particular, at midlife, wives are often more responsive to their husbands' negative emotional states than vice versa [15,22] .…”

Relational Competence Theory

“…Furthermore, identity's relational foundations should be based on experimental evidence rather than on idealism or a simple similar-dissimilar dichotomy. This dichotomy has dominated and still dominates the relevant literature (most of the vast literature on intimate relationships to date, including Acitelli, Kenny, & Hall, 2001, Holahan et al, 2007, and Montoya, Horton, & Kirchner, 2008, has been reviewed in previous publications: L 'Abate, 1976'Abate, , 1994a'Abate, , 1994b'Abate, , 1997b'Abate, , 2005L'Abate & Cusinato, 2007;L'Abate & De Giacomo, 2003).…”

“…Thus far, the relevant literature in relationship science and family psychology still apparently conceptualizes a dimension of likeness or resemblance in a dichotomous fashion, that is, similarity versus dissimilarity (Acitelli et al, 2001;Baxter & West, 2003;Deal, Halverson, & Wampler, 1999;Holahan et al, 2007;Jenkins, Dunn, o'Connor, Rasbash, & Behnke, 2005;Montoya et al, 2008;Morgan, Carder, & Neal, 1997;Morry, 2005Morry, , 2007.…”