Katharina Buczek
Interestingly, the researchers found that the biological stress levels of couples before their interactions could predict their behavior and how they would perceive these interactions.
Another key factor in determining couples’ actions and perceptions was their overall perceived partner responsiveness. This measures how much individuals feel understood, valued, and cared for by their partners.
The study’s lead author, Hayley Fivecoat, initiated this project while she was a graduate student at Binghampton University.
She detailed how this study provided strong evidence that the way we perceive support interactions deeply influences our experience.
According to Fivecoat, the way each partner viewed the interaction was closely linked to their overall impression of the partner’s supportiveness and responsiveness.
It’s possible that these perceptions of a partner’s supportiveness accumulate over time through numerous interactions.
This broader perspective then influences how specific actions, whether positive or negative, are interpreted in any given moment.
“Alternatively, it is possible that different types of support behaviors are needed for different people experiencing different kinds of problems, and so looking at specific behaviors across couples becomes less relevant,” she noted.
“In either case, those who perceived themselves as having a supportive partner in general tended to have the lowest levels of cortisol at baseline and following the interaction.”
So, the researchers argue that gaining a deeper understanding of how couples provide support to each other during stress can offer crucial insights into ways to enhance both relationships and individual well-being.
They suggest that future research should explore various approaches to evaluating supportive behaviors and communication styles.
