Financial strain, dyadic coping and couples’ well-being: a dyadic mediation study in Greek couples

Abstract

Background: Financial strain typically has a severe impact on couple’s functioning and the well-being of its members. In this study, we examined the indirect relation of financial strain to partners’ relationship satisfaction and psychological distress, using dyadic coping as a mediator, in a sample of Greek couples. Methods: One hundred and eighteen couples participated in a cross-sectional study. Perceived material loss in the past and perceived threat of loss in the future were used as financial strain indices. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) was employed to test for the mediation hypotheses. Findings: The complete mediation (i.e., only indirect) effects models showed an unsatisfactory fit to the data and were rejected. The partial mediation APIMeM, revealed several statistically significant direct and indirect (actor and partner) effects of the financial strain indices. The results provided more support to the hypothesized mediated impact of financial strain on partners’ relationship satisfaction than on psychological distress. Discussion: The findings underline the importance of dyadic coping for couple’s adaptation to financial strain. They also point to the need to examine responses to stress at an interpersonal/dyadic level.