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Exploring the Role of Relationship Dynamics and Chronic Illness in Psychological Outcomes Among Cohabiting Couples During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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Title: Exploring the Role of Relationship Dynamics and Chronic Illness in Psychological Outcomes Among Cohabiting Couples During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Authors: Lacomba-Trejo, Laura1 laura.lacomba@uv.es, Portugal, Alda2,3, Diniz-Vieira, Ana4, Randall, Ashley K.5, Relvas, Ana Paula2,3
Source: Actas Espanolas de Psiquiatria. 2025, Vol. 53 Issue 5, p947-958. 12p.
Subjects: COVID-19, MENTAL health, UNMARRIED couples, ANXIETY, PSYCHOSOCIAL factors, INTERPERSONAL relations, CHRONIC diseases, COPING Strategies Questionnaire
Geographic Terms: PORTUGAL
Abstract: Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated mental health difficulties among couples. Factors such as chronic physical illness, perceived threat of COVID-19, dyadic coping, and relationship quality may influence levels of psychological distress, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. This study aimed to examine how these individual and relational variables are associated with psychological outcomes in cohabiting couples during the first national lockdown in Portugal. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted with a sample of 956 individuals (83.9% women), aged 18 to 81 years (M = 40.76, SD = 10.42), living with a romantic partner for at least one year. Participants completed validated self-report instruments: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales - 21 Items (DASS-21) to assess anxiety, depression, and stress; the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) to evaluate COVID-19 threat perception; the Perceived Relationship Quality Component – Short Version (PRQC-SV) to assess relationship quality; and the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) to measure dyadic coping. Hierarchical linear regression and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) were used to examine associations between variables. The study received prior approval from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra. Results: The regression models accounted from between 17% to 21% of the variances of the dependent variables. In the case of the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) models, the models explained between 11% and 85% of the cases. Hierarchical regression models (HRMs) showed that COVID-19 threat perception and relationship quality were significantly associated with mental health outcomes. In QCA models, low threat perception and high relationship quality and coping skills correlated with lower psychological distress. Conclusions: Chronic illness was not significantly associated with psychological distress when compared to COVID-19 threat perception, relationship quality, and dyadic coping. These insights are vital for managing mental health of couples during crises. By underscoring the importance of threat perception, relationship quality, and coping for psychological well-being management during health crises, this study offers valuable insights for supporting couples through periods of adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Actas Espanolas de Psiquiatria is the property of Maria Lopez-Ibor and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Actas+Espanolas+de+Psiquiatria%22">Actas Espanolas de Psiquiatria</searchLink>. 2025, Vol. 53 Issue 5, p947-958. 12p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22MENTAL+health%22">MENTAL health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22UNMARRIED+couples%22">UNMARRIED couples</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22ANXIETY%22">ANXIETY</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22PSYCHOSOCIAL+factors%22">PSYCHOSOCIAL factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22INTERPERSONAL+relations%22">INTERPERSONAL relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22CHRONIC+diseases%22">CHRONIC diseases</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COPING+Strategies+Questionnaire%22">COPING Strategies Questionnaire</searchLink>
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  Data: Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated mental health difficulties among couples. Factors such as chronic physical illness, perceived threat of COVID-19, dyadic coping, and relationship quality may influence levels of psychological distress, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. This study aimed to examine how these individual and relational variables are associated with psychological outcomes in cohabiting couples during the first national lockdown in Portugal. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted with a sample of 956 individuals (83.9% women), aged 18 to 81 years (M = 40.76, SD = 10.42), living with a romantic partner for at least one year. Participants completed validated self-report instruments: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales - 21 Items (DASS-21) to assess anxiety, depression, and stress; the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) to evaluate COVID-19 threat perception; the Perceived Relationship Quality Component – Short Version (PRQC-SV) to assess relationship quality; and the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) to measure dyadic coping. Hierarchical linear regression and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) were used to examine associations between variables. The study received prior approval from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra. Results: The regression models accounted from between 17% to 21% of the variances of the dependent variables. In the case of the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) models, the models explained between 11% and 85% of the cases. Hierarchical regression models (HRMs) showed that COVID-19 threat perception and relationship quality were significantly associated with mental health outcomes. In QCA models, low threat perception and high relationship quality and coping skills correlated with lower psychological distress. Conclusions: Chronic illness was not significantly associated with psychological distress when compared to COVID-19 threat perception, relationship quality, and dyadic coping. These insights are vital for managing mental health of couples during crises. By underscoring the importance of threat perception, relationship quality, and coping for psychological well-being management during health crises, this study offers valuable insights for supporting couples through periods of adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Actas Espanolas de Psiquiatria is the property of Maria Lopez-Ibor and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.62641/aep.v53i5.1945
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
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      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: MENTAL health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: UNMARRIED couples
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: ANXIETY
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      – SubjectFull: PSYCHOSOCIAL factors
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      – SubjectFull: INTERPERSONAL relations
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      – SubjectFull: CHRONIC diseases
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      – SubjectFull: COPING Strategies Questionnaire
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: PORTUGAL
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      – TitleFull: Exploring the Role of Relationship Dynamics and Chronic Illness in Psychological Outcomes Among Cohabiting Couples During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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              M: 09
              Text: 2025
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              Y: 2025
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