Dyadic Coping as a Moderator for the Relationship between Stress and Health Habits: An Examination of the Bidirectional Influence in Romantic Couples

Abstract

Romantic relationships shape health outcomes. To examine this postulate, it is imperative to examine how couples jointly manage stress and health behaviors. This study explored how dyadic coping moderated the relationship between stress and health behaviors (i.e., diet, exercise, and sleep). In a sample of mostly heterosexual couples (N = 228), participants completed four daily diaries over 2 weeks. We conducted actor–partner interdependence moderation models to evaluate results. Findings showed women's diet, exercise, and sleep patterns were related to their own stress levels. Men's healthy diet influenced their partner's stress. Women's perception of their partner's supportive dyadic coping behaviors moderated women's stress to disruptive sleep and diet relationships. Men's perception of their partner's supportive and negative dyadic coping behaviors moderated their own disruptive sleep to stress relationships. Men's perception of their partner's supportive dyadic coping moderated their partners’ disruptive sleep and diet to stress relationships. Counselors should consider using a supportive couple’s framework when targeting stress and health outcomes in practice.