Health-Related Social Influence: A Social Ecological Perspective on Tactic Use

Abstract

The present study investigated predictors of health-related social influence tactic use in close relationships. According to the social ecological perspective, predictors were classified as reflecting characteristics of the agent of social influence, characteristics of the target of social influence, characteristics of the agent and target's relationship, and characteristics of the social influence situation. One hundred and nine married couples reported on situations in which each partner was attempting to influence his or her spouse to change a health-related behavior. Using the actor-partner interdependence analysis approach, results revealed only actor effects for characteristics of the agent, primarily partner effects for characteristics of the target, and both actor and partner effects for characteristics of the situation when predicting health-related tactic use. Effects for relationship characteristics only emerged in interactions with respondent sex. These results indicate that social influence in marriage involves reciprocity and interdependence. The importance of examining the dyadic nature of health-related social influence in close relationships is also highlighted.