Changes of the interdependence between spouses caused by the COVID-19 epidemic

Abstract

This study examined the changes in couples’ interdependence owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis included 289 couples who responded to a seven-wave longitudinal survey between February 2017 and October 2020. The results of the spline growth model analysis revealed that relationship satisfaction and approach commitment decreased for both partners before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, wives showed an increasing trend after the COVID-19 pandemic, while husbands did not change. Additionally, avoidance commitment increased in both partners before the COVID-19 pandemic, which further increased after the pandemic. Although this study examined the association between the post-COVID-19 slope, household income, and increased time at home, no association was found between them. Therefore, the results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity for couples to increase their interdependence, regardless of their income or life changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.