Individual and crossover effects of stress on adjustment in medical student marriages

High-stress individuals may benefit from social support, although their sup port providers may be adversely affected via stress crossover effects. indi vidual and crossover effects of perceived stress within medical student mar riages (n = 30) were investigated. Perceived spousal support was positively associated with individuals' own marital and emotional adjustment, attenua ting stress effects. With regard to crossover effects, medical students' pe rceived stress was significantly associated with their spouses' emotional a djustment. Further; medical students' own emotional adjustment fully mediat ed this crossover effect. Results suggest that the contagion of negative af fect may serve as a key mechanism through which stress crossover effects op erate in marriage.