On the other hand, one study based on couple data found that although both partners' degree of psychopathology was related to both partners' degree of marital satisfaction, the more important factor for marital satisfaction was one's own degree of psychopathology [ 36].
The current results expand on previous research by testing this association on longitudinal couple data from a large, representative sample.
We found evidence for a selection effect, but there is still a need for research based on couple data in order to make assumptions on the dynamics of mental distress and divorce.
It is based on couple data from a large, population based sample followed for many years.
A study by Ask and colleagues [ 23] based on couple data from HUNT 1 estimated that about 1.2% of all the participating couples were cohabiting whereas the rest were married.
Then data from registers with other longitudinal information on the spouses were linked to the couple data set.
For each couple, data collection was performed on five occasions (seven occasions for one couple).
Finally, data on the community context were linked to the couple data.
However, this explanation is speculative since we do not have individual or couple data on mental stress.
The second set of questions was generated based on participant's pair's (e.g., friend or couple) data.
The second set of question was generated based on participant's pair's (e.g., close friend or couple) data.
