Investigating the relation between shared stressors and marital satisfaction: The moderating effects of dyadic coping and communication

Abstract

This study examined the role that communication and coping skills play in moderating the relation between shared stressors and marital satisfaction in a community sample of 119 married, heterosexual couples in Italy. Hierarchical regression models examined communication and coping skills as potential moderators of the association between two indicators of shared relationship stressors (sexual dissatisfaction and dissatisfaction with children) and overall relationship satisfaction. Findings showed there was a significant interaction effect of communication skills and sexual dissatisfaction on relationship satisfaction for both husbands and wives. There was also a significant interaction effect of coping skills and sexual dissatisfaction on relationship satisfaction for wives. For both husbands and wives, there were no significant interaction effects of communication skills nor dyadic coping and dissatisfaction with children on relationship satisfaction. Implications of these findings for prevention and intervention strategies for relationship distress and for further research are discussed.

Keywords:

• shared stressors
• couple relationship
• communication
• dyadic coping