Effect of Daily Stress on Desire for Physical Proximity and Emotional Closeness

The current study explores how fluctuations in proximity seeking and emotional closeness in married couples are associated with stress experiences of daily hassles and with global evaluations of the relationship and personality traits. To document the associations of daily experiences of self-related, relational, and external sources of stress with both partners’ regulation of closeness and distance, perceived marital quality, attachment, and neuroticism, we employed a mixed-method research that included a repeated time sampling approach (a daily diary) and survey instruments. Multivariate multilevel statistical and actor–partner interdependence models revealed that all sources of stress were negatively associated with proximity seeking and dyadic emotional closeness but somewhat varied across men and women. In addition, global assessments of marriage and personal traits related to experiences of daily hassles and to dyadic closeness. Findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical, operational, and practical implications.