I Feel You, We Can Do This Partner Similarity in Emotional Experience and Dyadic Mastery in Older Couples

We investigated whether similarity between partners in positive and negative affect is associated with the perception that one manages everyday life welt together as a couple (dyadic mastery). To this end, we used data from 99 older couples (mean age = 75 years; mean length of relationship = 45 years) obtained 5 times a day over 7 consecutive days as participants went about their everyday lives. Analyses using actor-partner interdependence models revealed that higher (average and momentary) similarity in negative affect between partners, but not positive affect between partners, was associated with higher levels of dyadic mastery among both men and women. Our results point to the significance of emotional similarity between partners for smooth relationship functioning.