Predicting Dyadic Adjustment Using Multimodal Couple Data: Psychological Symptoms, Communication Quality, Sexual Intimacy, and Perceived Support
Keywords:
Dyadic Adjustment, Psychological Symptoms, Communication Quality, Sexual Intimacy, Perceived Support, Couples, Structural Equation Modeling, Relationship Satisfaction, Multimodal Prediction, Couple PsychologyAbstract
The present study aimed to predict dyadic adjustment among couples using a multimodal framework incorporating psychological symptoms, communication quality, sexual intimacy, and perceived support. This cross-sectional predictive study was conducted among 624 individuals representing 312 couples residing in Mexico. Participants were recruited through community organizations, healthcare settings, counseling centers, and online platforms. Data were collected using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), Communication Patterns Questionnaire–Short Form (CPQ-SF), Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships Scale (PAIR), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analyses, hierarchical multiple regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were performed using SPSS 29 and AMOS 29. Model fit was evaluated using χ²/df, CFI, TLI, GFI, SRMR, and RMSEA indices. Correlation analyses indicated that dyadic adjustment was negatively associated with psychological symptoms (r = -.58, p < .001) and positively associated with communication quality (r = .74, p < .001), sexual intimacy (r = .68, p < .001), and perceived support (r = .61, p < .001). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that psychological symptoms (β = -.24, p < .001), communication quality (β = .43, p < .001), sexual intimacy (β = .29, p < .001), and perceived support (β = .18, p < .001) significantly predicted dyadic adjustment, collectively explaining 70.9% of the variance (R² = .709, p < .001). Structural equation modeling demonstrated excellent model fit (χ²/df = 2.20, CFI = .967, TLI = .961, GFI = .948, SRMR = .039, RMSEA = .044). Standardized path coefficients confirmed significant direct effects of psychological symptoms (β = -.27, p < .001), communication quality (β = .46, p < .001), sexual intimacy (β = .31, p < .001), and perceived support (β = .20, p < .001) on dyadic adjustment. The final model explained 73.4% of the variance in dyadic adjustment. The findings demonstrate that dyadic adjustment is a multidimensional relational outcome shaped by psychological, communicative, sexual, and social factors. Communication quality emerged as the strongest predictor of relationship functioning, followed by sexual intimacy, psychological symptoms, and perceived support. These results support systemic and dyadic perspectives of relationship functioning and suggest that interventions targeting communication skills, emotional well-being, intimacy enhancement, and support mobilization may substantially improve couple adjustment and relational resilience.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Estefania Villarreal-Garza , Airton Knaul (Author); Maria Cecilia González
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