Conflictual Couples: The Impact of Dyadic Adjustment and Depressive Symptoms on Conflict in Incarcerated Couples

• In Event: Health, Reentry, & Families

Abstract

In 2019, the United States state and federal imprisonment rate was 419 per 100,000 residents. Incarcerated individuals are not solely experiencing impacts of involvement in the criminal justice system; therefore, it is important to explore incarcerated romantic relationships. The purpose of this study is to examine if dyadic adjustment is associated with conflict between incarcerated men and their nonincarcerated female romantic partner while controlling for depression. Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling (APIM), our results showed that for both partners, higher levels of dyadic adjustment is associated with less conflict. Additionally, we found that dyadic adjustment is a stronger predictor of conflict for women. Further, increasing incarcerated mens’ dyadic adjustment is linked with decreasing conflicts for both the incarcerated men and their partners. Lastly, we found that mens depressive symptoms had a significant impact on conflict. Clinical implications for incarcerated men and their non-incarcerated female partners are discussed.

Authors

• Eman Tadros, Governors State University

• Alyssa Vlach, Governors State University