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Confirmation, Disconfirmation, and Communal Coping for Joint Physical Activity in Romantic Dyads
Amanda J Holmstrom1, Elizabeth Dorrance-Hall1, Shelby Wilcox1
1Department of Communication, Michigan State University.
Health Communication
|April 21, 2023
Summary
Romantic partners’ supportive communication, including confirmation, can increase physical activity (PA). Even disconfirming communication showed a surprising link to increased joint PA, mediated by shared activity appraisals.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Health Communication
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a significant public health issue in the United States.
- Communication within romantic relationships can influence health behaviors, including PA.
- Existing research highlights the positive impact of confirming communication and communal coping (CC) on PA, but less is known about disconfirming communication's role.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how shared physical activity appraisals mediate the relationship between romantic partners' communication (confirmation and disconfirmation) and joint PA behavior.
- To investigate potential sex differences in actor and partner effects within these communication-PA relationships.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from 144 partners within 72 heterosexual romantic dyads.
- Participants completed assessments measuring communication behaviors (confirmation, disconfirmation), communal coping, shared PA appraisals, and joint PA.
- Statistical models analyzed mediation pathways and sex differences.
Main Results:
- Shared PA appraisals were crucial mediators in the confirmation model, linking perceived confirmation to increased joint PA.
- Unexpectedly, partner disconfirmation was positively associated with increased joint PA, also mediated by shared appraisals.
- Few significant sex differences were observed, suggesting similar effects for both male and female partners.
Conclusions:
- Shared appraisals of physical activity are key mediators in how romantic partners' communication influences joint PA.
- Both confirming and, surprisingly, disconfirming communication can be linked to higher joint PA, underscoring the role of shared interpretations.
- Findings offer insights for communication strategies aimed at promoting PA in couples.
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