Analysis of Emotional Adaptation Processes in Couples Under Chronic Stress
Keywords:
Emotional adaptation, chronic stress, emotion regulation, couples’ relationships, dyadic resilienceAbstract
This study aimed to conceptualize and integrate the psychological processes of emotional adaptation in couples facing chronic stress in order to develop a comprehensive framework for understanding marital emotional dynamics. This qualitative study was conducted as a theoretical review; data were collected exclusively through a systematic examination of relevant scientific literature, and 15 articles were selected using purposive sampling; thematic analysis with open, axial, and selective coding was employed, supported by NVivo 14 software, and the analytical process continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The results revealed that couples’ emotional adaptation under chronic stress is organized into three main levels: individual emotional reorganization, including emotional awareness, regulation of negative emotions, cognitive reappraisal, and emotional acceptance; interactive emotional regulation within the couple system, encompassing emotional coregulation, constructive emotional communication, mutual emotional support, and emotional trust; and stabilization of emotional adaptation in the relationship context, involving institutionalization of shared coping patterns, strengthening of emotional bonds, enhancement of dyadic resilience, and long-term emotional stability. Emotional adaptation in couples is a dynamic, multilevel process emerging from the continuous interaction of individual and relational resources and plays a critical role in maintaining psychological well-being, marital satisfaction, and relational stability under chronic stress.
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