title: Couple Resilience to Economic Pressure Over Time and Across Generations.
abstract: Research suggests that economic stress disrupts perceived romantic relationship quality; yet less is known regarding the direct influence of economic stress on negative behavioral exchanges between partners over time. Another intriguing question concerns the degree to which effective problem-solving might protect against this hypothesized association. To address these issues, the authors studied two generations of couples who were assessed approximately 13 years apart (Generation 1: N = 367, Generation 2: N = 311). On average and for both generations, economic pressure predicted relative increases in couples' hostile, contemptuous, and angry behaviors; however, couples who were highly effective problem solvers experienced no increases in these behaviors in response to economic pressure. Less effective problem solvers experienced the steepest increases in hostile behaviors in response to economic pressure. Because these predictive pathways were replicated in both generations of couples it appears that these stress and resilience processes unfold over time and across generations.
authors.affiliation: Boise State University.
authors.forename: April S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Masarik
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis.
authors.forename: Monica J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.affiliation: Iowa State University.
authors.forename: Frederick O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis.
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Conger
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis.
authors.forename: Rand D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Conger
keywords: Coping; couples; economic well-being; family stress; intergenerational issues; resiliency