The far reach of personality traits in relationship functioning and COVID-19: Comment on Pietromonaco and Overall (2020)

Abstract

Pietromonaco and Overall (2020) made an important contribution to the relationship literature when adapting Karney and Bradbury (1995) vulnerability-stress-adaptation model to include the COVID-19 pandemic. While the authors discussed ways in which enduring individual vulnerabilities may play a role in harming romantic relationships during the pandemic, only considering individual differences that may have negative implications for relationship functioning could lead to a limited perspective. The current comment discusses how conscientiousness and agreeableness may promote better relationship functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).