In response to recent calls in the literature for a more contextual analysis of
the influence of social support processes (e.g., Rook, 1997; Sarason, Sarason, &
Pierce, 1992), the current study explores the relationships of spousal support,
spousal strain, and well-being among husbands and wives, both within the same day
and across days. In addition, the moderating roles of interpersonal and situational
contexts within which support and strain are provided are examined. One hundred
and sixty-six husbands and wives in stepfamilies were interviewed and then asked to
complete a structured diary twice daily for a week. Participants reported their stress,
supportive and problematic spousal interactions, mood, and dyadic adjustment. A
multi-level hierarchical model was used to estimate average within-person relations
among the daily variables, while at the same time controlling for the influence of
between-person differences in these variables. Lack of daily spousal support and the
presence of spousal strain were both significantly associated with increased negative
affect across the same day, although the magnitude of the effect of spousal strain
was greater. However, these associations were mitigated for participants who
perceived their marriages to be well-adjusted. In addition, daily stressors were
directly associated with increased same day negative affect, however daily stressors
did not interact with support or strain to predict distress. In contrast, the pattern of
the findings for the prediction of negative affect across days was quite different. Of
the daily variables, only spousal support, but not spousal strain or daily hassles, was
a significant direct predictor of negative affect the next morning. Furthermore,
spousal support and spousal strain were found to have a multiplicative association
with negative affect the next day. Specifically, the presence of spousal strain
attenuated the beneficial impact of spousal support on mood. Further, dyadic
adjustment was a direct predictor of decreased negative affect the next day. The
findings from this study suggest an interplay among social support, social strain, and
well-being. In particular, the importance of considering differential influences over
time for support and strain, as well as the moderating roles of proximal and distal
relationship factors, was highlighted.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/11391 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Capreol, Martha Jean |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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