Having a Good Time Together: The Role of Companionship in Older Couples’ Everyday Life

📖 Top 20% JournalApr 25, 2022Gerontology

How Companionship Affects Daily Life in Older Couples

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Abstract

Couples with higher average reported lower overall negative affect and higher overall closeness.

Higher average companionship is associated with increased positive affect.
During moments of elevated companionship, partners experience greater emotional positivity and closeness.
When female partners report higher companionship than male partners, they also experience less negative affect and greater positive affect.
The findings highlight a consistent connection between companionship and in older couples.

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INTRODUCTION: (i.e., enjoyable shared activities) is associated with higher emotional and . However, the role of companionship for and relationship satisfaction in older couples' everyday life is not well understood. This article studies time-varying associations of companionship with emotional and relational well-being as older couples engage in their everyday life.

METHODS: Participants provided three data points a day over 7 days using electronic surveys that were simultaneously completed by both partners. A total of 118 older heterosexual couples reported momentary companionship, positive and negative affect, and closeness. Data were analyzed using an intensive longitudinal dyadic score model.

RESULTS: Couples with higher average companionship showed lower overall negative affect, more overall positive affect, and higher overall closeness. During moments of elevated momentary companionship, partners reported more positive affect, less negative affect, and higher closeness. Regarding between-couple partner differences, i.e., when the female partner's momentary companionship was higher on average than the male partner's momentary companionship, the female partner also showed less negative affect, more positive affect, and higher closeness than the male partner. During moments in which the female partner's momentary companionship was higher than the male partner's momentary companionship, the female partner showed less negative affect, more positive affect, and higher closeness than the male partner.

DISCUSSION: Older couples show a consistent link between companionship and emotional well-being and closeness in everyday life emphasizing the importance of studying companionship in close relationships.

Key numbers

−0.50

Lower Negative Affect

Partner averages of negative affect related to .

0.63

Higher Positive Affect

Partner averages of positive affect associated with .

0.89

Increased Closeness

Partner averages of closeness related to .

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Abstract

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