Support provision in marriage: The role of emotional linkage and empathic accuracy.

Abstract

The goal of this investigation was to identify micro-level processes in the support provider that may foster or inhibit the provision of spousal support. Specifically, we focused on how (1) emotional linkage between the support provider and support seeker, and (2) empathic accuracy of the support provider, relate to support provision in marriage. In a laboratory experiment, 30 couples were randomly assigned to one of two conditions (support provider: man vs. woman) of a factorial design. The couples provided questionnaire data and participated in a social support interaction, designed to assess behaviors when offering and soliciting social support. A video-review task was used to assess emotional linkage and empathic accuracy during the support interaction. As expected, a greater matching of the support provider’s emotional responses with the seeker’s responses, as well as more accurate insights into the support seeking spouse’s thoughts and feelings were found to be predictive of more skilful support (i.e., higher levels of emotional and instrumental support, and lower levels of negative types of support).