The Dyadic Interplay Between Relationship Satisfaction, Perceived Positive and Negative Social Control, and a Reduction of Sedentary Behavior Time

Maria Siwa; Zofia Szczuka; Anna Banik; Ewa Kulis; Monika Boberska; Dominika Wietrzykowska; Nina Knoll; Anita DeLongis; Bärbel Knäuper; Aleksandra Luszczynska

doi:10.1093/abm/kaac032

The Dyadic Interplay Between Relationship Satisfaction, Perceived Positive and Negative Social Control, and a Reduction of Sedentary Behavior Time

Ann Behav Med. 2023 Feb 4;57(2):165-174. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaac032.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Wroclaw Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Wroclaw, Poland.
² Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
³ Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
⁴ Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
⁵ Melbourne Centre for Behavior Change, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 35849339
DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaac032

Abstract

Background: Both the close relationship processes and health model and the dyadic health influence model posit that beliefs about the relationship (e.g., relationship satisfaction) and influence strategies (e.g., social control) serve as mediators of health behavior change. The evidence for such mediation is limited.

Purpose: This study investigated two competing hypotheses that arise from these models: (1) perceived use of positive and negative social control (attempts to influence the partner's behaviors) predict sedentary behavior (SB) indirectly, via relationship satisfaction; or (2) relationship satisfaction predicts SB indirectly, via positive and negative social control.

Methods: Data from 320 dyads (target persons and their partners, aged 18-90 years), were analyzed using mediation models. SB time was measured with GT3X-BT accelerometers at Time 1 (T1; baseline) and Time 3 (T3; 8 months following baseline). Relationship satisfaction and social control were assessed at T1 and Time 2 (T2; 2 months following baseline).

Results: Higher T1 relationship satisfaction among target persons predicted target persons' reporting of higher T2 negative control from partners, which in turn predicted lower T3 SB time among target persons. Lower T1 relationship satisfaction among partners predicted target persons' reporting of higher T2 perceived negative control from partners, which predicted lower T3 SB time among target persons. On average, both members of the dyad reported moderate-to-high relationship satisfaction and low-to-moderate negative control.

Conclusions: In contrast to very low levels of negative control, its low-to-moderate levels may be related to beneficial behavioral effects (lower SB time) among target persons reporting moderate-to-high relationship satisfaction.

Keywords: Accelerometer; Dyads; Relationship satisfaction; Sedentary behavior; Social control.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Health Behavior*
Humans
Personal Satisfaction
Sedentary Behavior*