A dyadic perspective of expressive suppression: Own or partner suppression weakens relationships

In the current research, we apply a dyadic perspective of expressive suppression (ES) to test whether ES represents a weak link, such that either actors' or partners' ES is sufficient to undermine relationship satisfaction. Our primary aim was to test this weak-link pattern by modeling Actor × Partner ES interactions on relationship satisfaction. To maximize power, we conducted integrative data analyses across four existing dyadic samples (N = 427 couples) that included self-reports of habitual ES and relationship satisfaction. Our second aim was to examine the role of conflict resolution ability as one potential mechanism for the ES weak-link pattern on satisfaction. These integrative data analyses involved two dyadic samples (N = 242 couples) that included self-reports of conflict resolution ability. Significant Actor × Partner ES interactions revealed a weak-link pattern: greater actors' or partners' ES was associated with lower relationship satisfaction. Accordingly, actors' lower ES was associated with higher satisfaction only when partners' ES was also low. This ES weak-link pattern also emerged for conflict resolution ability, which provided evidence that reduced conflict resolution ability is one interpersonal process that contributes to the weak-link pattern on satisfaction. ES likely operates as a weak link because actors' or partners' ES interferes with the coordination, cooperation, and connection needed to manage relationship challenges and sustain healthy relationships. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).