Associations between perceived stress, positive and negative affect, and emotional needs in couples with and without relationship problems

In this exploratory study of long-term romantic couples, research questions were: how does perceived stress predict positive and negative affect, and how do the latter predict emotional needs? Dutch couples reporting relationship problems after cancer treatment (i.e. clinical couples) were compared with community couples without relationship problems (i.e. non-clinical couples). Ten times a day for seven consecutive days both partners answered questions on affect, stress, and emotional needs. The actor-partner interdependence model was used. Stress differentially predicted positive and negative affect in romantic partners: while actors’ stress predicted their own positive and negative affect, it did not predict affect in their partners. Independent of positive and negative affect, group membership predicted emotional needs in participants: emotional needs were higher in clinical couples. As expected, actors’ negative affect predicted their own level of emotional needs across the board. Actor’s positive affect, however, did not predict their own emotional needs, but specifically in the clinical group it negatively predicted emotional needs in their partners: lower actor’s positive affect came with higher partner’s emotional needs. Moderation effects of group and attachment orientation were found. The limitations on generalizing these findings due to small sample size and its specific characteristics are acknowledged.