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Beyond destructive conflict: Implications of marital tension for marital well-being.

ABSTRACT: The present study expanded upon existing literature to investigate a broader construct of negativity, marital tension, and its implications for marital well-being across the early years of marriage. Marital tension captures feelings of irritation, resentment, and disappointment surrounding the relationship, and is distinct from conflict and specific conflict strategies. Longitudinal data spanning 16 years from the Early Years of Marriage Study (n = 373 couples) were analyzed using actor-partner interdependence models. Competing hypotheses derived from the enduring dynamics and emergent distress models of marriage were tested using measures of both partners' marital tension in Year 1 of marriage, as well as changes in marital tension from Year 1. Husbands and wives who reported greater marital tension in Year 1 of marriage, or showed increases in tension from Year 1, reported lower marital well-being. The link between respondents' own Year 1 tension and marital well-being was strengthened by their partners' reports of tension, but an amplification effect of both partners' changes in marital tension was observed only among wives. These results persisted even after accounting for the influence of destructive conflict. Findings provide evidence for both models of marriage, indicating that negativity should be assessed more broadly, include both members of the couple, and recognize the critical role of early marital tension as well as increased tension for marital well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

SUBMITTER: Manalel JA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6663571 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Beyond destructive conflict: Implications of marital tension for marital well-being.

Manalel Jasmine A JA Birditt Kira S KS Orbuch Terri L TL Antonucci Toni C TC

Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43) 20190214 5

The present study expanded upon existing literature to investigate a broader construct of negativity, marital tension, and its implications for marital well-being across the early years of marriage. Marital tension captures feelings of irritation, resentment, and disappointment surrounding the relationship, and is distinct from conflict and specific conflict strategies. Longitudinal data spanning 16 years from the Early Years of Marriage Study (n = 373 couples) were analyzed using actor-partner ...[more]

PMID: 30762408

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Project description:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may aggravate workplace conditions that impact health-care workers' mental health. However, it can also place other stresses on workers outside of their work. This study determines the effect of COVID-19 on symptoms of negative and positive mental health and the workforce's experience with various sources of support. Effect modification by demographic variables was also studied. A cross-sectional survey study, conducted between 2 April and 4 May 2020 (two waves), led to a convenience sample of 4509 health-care workers in Flanders (Belgium), including paramedics (40.6%), nurses (33.4%), doctors (13.4%) and management staff (12.2%). About three in four were employed in university and acute hospitals (29.6%), primary care practices (25.7%), residential care centers (21.3%) or care sites for disabled and mental health care. In each of the two waves, participants were asked how frequently (on a scale of 0-10) they experienced positive and negative mental health symptoms during normal circumstances and during last week, referred to as before and during COVID-19, respectively. These symptoms were stress, hypervigilance, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, unable to relax, fear, irregular lifestyle, flashback, difficulty concentrating, feeling unhappy and dejected, failing to recognize their own emotional response, doubting knowledge and skills and feeling uncomfortable within the team. Associations between COVID-19 and mental health symptoms were estimated by cumulative logit models and reported as odds ratios. The needed support was our secondary outcome and was reported as the degree to which health-care workers relied on sources of support and how they experienced them. All symptoms were significantly more pronounced during versus before COVID-19. For hypervigilance, there was a 12-fold odds (odds ratio 12.24, 95% confidence interval 11.11-13.49) during versus before COVID-19. Positive professional symptoms such as the feeling that one can make a difference were less frequently experienced. The association between COVID-19 and mental health was generally strongest for the age group 30-49 years, females, nurses and residential care centers. Health-care workers reported to rely on support from relatives and peers. A considerable proportion, respectively, 18 and 27%, reported the need for professional guidance from psychologists and more support from their leadership. The toll of the crisis has been heavy on health-care workers. Those who carry leadership positions at an organizational or system level should take this opportunity to develop targeted strategies to mitigate key stressors of health-care workers' mental well-being.

Dataset Information

Beyond destructive conflict: Implications of marital tension for marital well-being.

Publications

Beyond destructive conflict: Implications of marital tension for marital well-being.

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