Conditional Process Structural Equation Modeling of Couple Relationship Quality Based on Economic Pressure, Psychological Distress, Hostile Couple Interaction, and Family Resilience

Mateo Salazar; Christopher Lee

Authors

Mateo Salazar Department of Developmental Psychology, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1892-9278
Christopher Lee Department of Child Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada Corresponding Author https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9227-9853

Keywords:

Economic pressure, Psychological distress, Hostile couple interaction, Family resilience, Couple relationship quality

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to test a conditional process structural equation model of couple relationship quality based on economic pressure, psychological distress, and hostile couple interaction, with family resilience as a moderating protective factor among partnered adults in Canada.

Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional correlational design was used. The sample consisted of 428 married or cohabiting adults residing in Canada who were recruited through community networks, online advertisements, workplace mailing lists, and social media. Participants completed measures of economic pressure, psychological distress, hostile couple interaction, family resilience, and couple relationship quality. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and conditional process structural equation modeling in SPSS 30 and Mplus 8.11. Model fit was evaluated using CFI, TLI, RMSEA, and SRMR. Direct, indirect, sequential mediation, moderation, and conditional indirect effects were estimated, with 5,000 bias-corrected bootstrap samples used to determine the significance of indirect effects.

Findings: Economic pressure significantly predicted greater psychological distress (β = .47, p < .001), greater hostile couple interaction (β = .21, p < .001), and lower couple relationship quality (β = -.12, p = .014). Psychological distress predicted greater hostile interaction (β = .39, p < .001) and lower relationship quality (β = -.18, p < .001), while hostile interaction negatively predicted relationship quality (β = -.46, p < .001). The sequential indirect effect of economic pressure on relationship quality through psychological distress and hostile interaction was significant (β = -.084, 95% CI [-.132, -.049]). Family resilience positively predicted relationship quality (β = .35, p < .001) and significantly moderated the economic pressure–distress pathway (β = -.14, p = .004) and the hostile interaction–relationship quality pathway (β = .16, p = .001). The index of moderated mediation was significant (estimate = .041, 95% CI [.016, .074]).

Conclusion: Economic pressure was associated with poorer couple relationship quality through interconnected psychological and interpersonal mechanisms, whereas family resilience attenuated key adverse pathways and reduced the magnitude of the sequential indirect effect.

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