Spillover and Crossover Effects of Financial Stress in Romantic Dyads: A Daily Diary Study

ABSTRACT Financial stress can strain romantic relations through stress spillover (affecting oneself) and crossover (affecting one's partner). This study investigated how financial stress influences relationship stress and the role of dyadic coping strategies. Eighty‐four unmarried US couples ( N = 168 respondents) completed a one‐time baseline assessment and a 7‐day daily diary reporting financial stress, relationship stress, and perceived dyadic coping. Multilevel modeling showed financial stress significantly predicted both one's own and one's partner's relationship stress at baseline. Emotion‐focused dyadic coping (providing support, reassurance) buffered this association, whereas problem‐focused coping had no buffering effect and may even worsen stress spillover. Daily analyses revealed that financial stress and relationship stress covary over time, especially for couples with high baseline relationship stress. These findings underscore the protective role of emotion‐focused dyadic coping in managing immediate relational strain due to financial stress, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to foster relationship resilience in financially vulnerable couples.