Daily anger and sadness undermine relationship satisfaction after a stroke with spousal post-stroke intimacy as a protective factor

Chronic illness represents a salient stress context, introducing sustained uncertainty and regulatory demands for both individuals and their partners. In this context, negative emotions may place excess strain on the relationship. This study examined daily actor and partner associations between morning anger and sadness and same-day relationship satisfaction in post-stroke couples, as well as whether spouse perceived post-stroke intimacy buffered these associations. Eighty-nine couples in which one partner had experienced a stroke completed morning and evening reports of anger, sadness, and relationship satisfaction for up to 14 consecutive days. Post-stroke intimacy was assessed at study exit. Two-level actor-partner interdependence models were estimated. Within-person analyses indicated that both actor and partner anger and sadness were associated with lower same-day relationship satisfaction. Lower intimacy impact buffered the association between partners’ morning sadness and stroke survivors’ satisfaction. Daily relational functioning may represent a pathway through which chronic stress becomes embedded in lived experience.