Stress, Communication, and Marital Quality in Couples

Abstract

The association between daily stress outside and inside of the relationship and marital functioning in the form of communication in conflict situations and marital quality was examined. We hypothesized that relationship stress mediates the association between external stress and marital functioning at the individual level, and that the association between relationship stress and marital quality is partially mediated by communication at the dyadic level. Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence and Common Fate Model, the results of 345 couples supported our hypotheses and revealed that a person's relationship stress is more strongly related with one's own external stress than with the partner's external stress. The findings indicate that both low relationship stress and a high level of positive communication are important in relationships.

Effects of Existential Issues Training on Marital Communication Among Iranian Women

“…This study's findings, with respect to the role of existential issues in marital communication, are also harmonized with those of earlier studies that emphasized that 'meaning of life' is a deciding determinant of matrimonial communication quality (Kalantarkousheh & Hassan, 2010a;Zietlow & Sillars, 1988); that Bowen's 'differentiation of self' positively affects marital communication (Bowen, 1978), wherein acknowledging personal responsibility and commitment to marital decision making yields a high degree of self-differentiation (Gubbins et al, 2010); and that negative anxiety exerts a correspondingly negative impact on marital communication (Kouros & Mark Cummings, 2011;Ledermann et al, 2010). In further application of the awareness of existential issues in enhancing marital communication, the training provided women with information that effectively facilitated an attitudinal change that would turn negative anxiety into its positive equivalent; and an awareness of 'existential time', which would change their perspective towards negative life events and enable them to honor their past time and, consequently, use the past as a means to enable personal growth in the future by using negative life events as a springboard for optimism.…”

Estado emocional de familiares de adultos con degeneración retiniana.

“…The role of the family members depends on such diverse factors as the severity of the visual impairment, the impact of vision loss on everyday living, the existence of other co-morbid health problems and type and level of help given (Bambara et al, 2009a). These factors can cause emotional tension, stress and mood changes (Ledermann, Bodenmann, Rudaz, & Bradbury, 2010;Olsen & Yorgason, 2009;Ostwald, 2009) since a conflict arises between the needs of the caregiver and those of the family member with visual impairment (Bambara et al, 2009a). For these reasons, a greater knowledge of the emotional state of the family members is required in order to detect possible difficulties, give them the help they need and foster the optimum well-being and adaptation of people with visual impairment as well as those they live with.…”

“…In the case of spouses who are the caregivers of their partners with non-visual disabili-anales de psicología, 2013, vol. 29, nº 3 (octubre) ties, their involvement is associated with their own physical, psychological and emotional well-being (Ledermann et al, 2010). They experience more depressive symptoms and greater anxiety than their partners (Franks, Lucas, ParrisStephens, Rook, & Gonzalez, 2010;Strawbridge, Wallhagen, & Shema, 2007) and the stress they feel affects the quality of marital communication and the general quality of the marital relationship (Bowen, MacLehose, & Beaumont, 2011;Ledermann et al, 2010).…”

“…29, nº 3 (octubre) ties, their involvement is associated with their own physical, psychological and emotional well-being (Ledermann et al, 2010). They experience more depressive symptoms and greater anxiety than their partners (Franks, Lucas, ParrisStephens, Rook, & Gonzalez, 2010;Strawbridge, Wallhagen, & Shema, 2007) and the stress they feel affects the quality of marital communication and the general quality of the marital relationship (Bowen, MacLehose, & Beaumont, 2011;Ledermann et al, 2010). In relation to gender differences, Strawbridge et al (2007) concluded that the impact of husbands' vision impairment on wives was greater than the impacts of wives' vision impairment on husbands.…”

“…They should also avoid over-protective attitudes and know what to do, when and how so as not to interfere in their decisions (Cimarolli & Boerner, 2005;López-Justicia & Nieto, 2006;López-Justicia, Fernández-Castillo, Fernández, & Polo, 2011). This requires, on the one hand, encouraging communication between people with RP and their families, due to the importance of interpersonal relationships (Ledermann et al, 2010); and on the other hand, training the family members, strengthening their resources so that they can assume their role, improving their efficiency, reducing their vulnerability and facilitating their adaptation to the progression of the visual impairment of their family members. In order to achieve this objective the identification of family members at risk of suffering emotional problems, such as anxiety and/or depression, related to visual disease becomes a priority.…”