Associations Between Perceived Support in Older Adult Marriages and Dyadic Covariations in Momentary Affect and Aches

This study shows that social support within marriage was associated with reduced overall levels of negative affect (NA) but unrelated to positive affect (PA). Interestingly, high spousal support was both associated with reduced overall NA means but also with an increased covariation in NA between partners. No similar covariations were observed for aches and PA. Discussion: Spousal support may be a double-edged sword; it is associated with reduced overall NA, but it may also lead to more permeable boundaries between spouses that seem to be specific to NA.
Source: Journals of Gerontology: Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tags: Brief Report Source Type: research