Changes in Relationship Quality in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations with Pandemic Stressors and Couple Communication

Little is known about how positive relationship quality (PRQ) and negative relationship quality (NRQ) changed in the context of romantic relationships during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adults in relationships (N = 359) completed self-report measures between April and August of 2020. Participants experienced early increases in both PRQ and NRQ, followed by uniform decline in PRQ but a more variable trajectory of NRQ across couples. Higher NRQ was generally associated with greater pandemic impacts and greater fear of COVID (this latter association weakened over time). Supportive COVID-related communication was associated with higher PRQ and lower NRQ.