Effect of Commitment on Supportive Dyadic Coping: A Longitudinal Test of Interdependence Theory With German Couples

Unresolved stress reduces the well-being of romantic relationships. Supportive coping helps resolving stress and protects relationship well-being. However, the conditions that promote supportive coping are largely unknown. According to interdependence theory, commitment promotes relationship maintenance behaviors in general. This study investigates whether commitment also promotes supportive coping. Data come from six waves of the German Family Panel, N = 3,057. Fixed-effects models were applied to isolate the effect of commitment on supportive coping from time-constant confounders. Commitment shows a significant positive association with supportive coping. The results provide support for interdependence theory, suggesting that high commitment and feelings of “we-ness” can increase couples’ resilience against the detrimental effects of everyday stress.