Dyadic empathy and well-being: The mediating role of dyadic coping in couples

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 significantly impacted family well-being, resulting in challenges such as loss of income, job loss, financial difficulties, psychological distress, and domestic violence. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of dyadic coping in the relationship between dyadic empathy and well-being of couples. Method: A dyadic approach was adopted, using the actor–partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) and data collected from 232 heterosexual married couples, where only one partner was employed in the tourism industry. Participants completed online self-reported measures of dyadic empathy, dyadic coping, and well-being from January to May 2021. Path analyses were conducted, and bootstrap tests were used. Our results revealed that the hypothesized model shows a good fit with the data. Results: The APIMeM analysis showed that the actor effect and partner effect of dyadic empathy on well-being were completely mediated through dyadic coping among wives, whereas they were partially mediated among husbands. Conclusions: This study concluded that dyadic coping plays a mediating role in the relationship between dyadic empathy and well-being among couples. Implications: These results suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing dyadic coping could be particularly beneficial for improving the well-being of couples. Tailored approaches may be needed to address the different mediation effects observed between husbands and wives.