Discussing money with the one you love: How financial stress influences couples' financial communication

Abstract

When managing joint finances, couples need to have candid conversations about money. But what happens when one partner is feeling financially stressed? Our research investigates this question, exploring how an individual's perception of their current financial situation impacts their willingness to discuss money with their partner. Across eight studies (N = 8474), we found that when individuals experience high (vs. low) financial stress, they are less likely to communicate with their partner about finances due to greater anticipated conflict. The effect of financial stress on communication is attenuated when individuals do not anticipate conflict. Further, we demonstrate that viewing conflicts as solvable rather than perpetual increases the likelihood of engaging in financial communication with one's partner. These findings have notable implications for both individuals' financial well-being and couples' relationship satisfaction.