Dr. Williamson and colleague Dr. Neff co-authored a chapter in the Handbook on Couple and Family Relationships about the role of stress in couple relationships. Despite decades of research exploring the interplay between external stressors and relationship functioning: some theoretical perspectives argue that couples’ ability to support one another and manage problems effectively buffers relationship well-being during stressful times, whereas other perspectives suggest that couples’ capacity to engage in these positive relationship behaviors deteriorates under conditions of stress. The chapter provides a brief overview of the empirical evidence supporting each of these perspectives and proposes multiple promising avenues for integrating these two seemingly contradictory views. The practical implications of these differing theoretical perspectives for interventions designed to improve relationship quality are also discussed.
Footer
