OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the factorial structure of the dyadic stress proliferation process in couples in enduring marriages leading to their psychological distress in later years. BACKGROUND: Stress proliferation during short and long periods of time has been shown to drive complex stress-distress processes during the life course. This research has largely been limited to individual-level stress proliferation with less research demonstrating stress proliferation in the context of enduring relationships. METHODS: Using data from 224 dual-earner couples in long-term marriages, the present study examined the aggregation of individual stress (as defined by role-related stress experiences including provider, work, spousal, and parental roles) into couple-level stress constructs. These couple-level stress constructs were examined as predictors of husbands' and wives' psychological distress over 27 years (1991-2017) independent of individual-level stress. RESULTS: Couple-level socioeconomic and relationship stress was highly stable over time, suggesting that stress within a domain proliferates across the life course. Individual-level psychological distress was significantly associated with couple-level stress constructs at midlife and in later life after controlling for previous distress. CONCLUSION: Evidence suggests that husbands' and wives' psychological distress is significantly affected by couple-level stress processes. Findings have implications for intervention and prevention programs focusing on the well-being of married couples in later life.
OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the factorial structure of the dyadic stress proliferation process in couples in enduring marriages leading to their psychological distress in later years. BACKGROUND: Stress proliferation during short and long periods of time has been shown to drive complex stress-distress processes during the life course. This research has largely been limited to individual-level stress proliferation with less research demonstrating stress proliferation in the context of enduring relationships. METHODS: Using data from 224 dual-earner couples in long-term marriages, the present study examined the aggregation of individual stress (as defined by role-related stress experiences including provider, work, spousal, and parental roles) into couple-level stress constructs. These couple-level stress constructs were examined as predictors of husbands' and wives' psychological distress over 27 years (1991-2017) independent of individual-level stress. RESULTS: Couple-level socioeconomic and relationship stress was highly stable over time, suggesting that stress within a domain proliferates across the life course. Individual-level psychological distress was significantly associated with couple-level stress constructs at midlife and in later life after controlling for previous distress. CONCLUSION: Evidence suggests that husbands' and wives' psychological distress is significantly affected by couple-level stress processes. Findings have implications for intervention and prevention programs focusing on the well-being of married couples in later life.
Entities:
Keywords:
life course; marriage; mental health; stress