The Association between Dyadic Stress and Relationship Quality among Couples in Vietnam: The Mediating Role of Compassion

The current study explored the dyadic relationships between dyadic stress, different forms of compassion, and relationship quality in a cross-sectional sample of heterosexual, cisgender couples in Vietnam. Data were collected from December 30, 2024, to February 9, 2025, and out of 435 complete data entries, 99 couples (198 partners) were identified. Data was analyzed using Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediated Model analysis within a Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling framework (BSEM) in Mplus 8.8 (Asparouhov & Muthen, 2023; Muthen, 2010). Multiple path APIMeM models were tested to address the research questions. The main findings were: Dyadic stress was directly and negatively associated with relationship quality in men and women. Self-compassion and others-oriented compassion in men displayed positive and negative associations, respectively, with relationship quality in men and women. Self-compassion in men was a significant mediator on the paths from female dyadic stress to relationship quality in both genders. In other words, higher dyadic stress in women was linked to lower self-compassion in men, which, in turn, correlated with lower relationship quality in male and female partners. Robust fit indexes and model comparison results suggested it was a good-fitting model. The findings indicate the necessity to simultaneously investigate further the role of different forms of compassion in research on stress and intimate relationships. The crux of stress management training in couples therapy is also established. Lastly, it urges more transcultural studies to fully understand the cultural uniqueness of perception and expression of compassion in different cultures and societies.