Weight-Related Social Control in Couples: Associations With Motives, Constraints, and Health Behaviors

The social control framework and multiple goals perspective were used to investigate couples’ (N = 192) diet- and exercise-related social control communication. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIMs) were used to examine couples’ use of positive and negative social control in association with (a) their specific motives for using social control and (b) constraints against using social control. In line with a multiple goals framework, partners employ different social control strategies as a function of their distinct motives, and couples appear to consider secondary goals when communicating social control in their relationship. Together, these results suggest that individuals are aware of the need to balance their desire for their partners to be physically healthy with their desire to maintain their relationship.