Problem:
Theory Overview, Origins, and Core Mechanisms
This study draws on Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) Transactional Formulation and Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT) within Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000, 2017). Considered together, these frameworks offer a robust explanation for why the conditions surrounding employment-linked spousal separations are consequential for psychological adjustment. The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping conceptualizes stress as a dynamic process arising from individuals' ongoing evaluations of, and responses to, life events, rather than from events themselves. Through primary appraisal, individuals assess whether a situation is experienced as threatening, harmful, or manageable; through secondary appraisal, they evaluate the resources available to address those demands (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Contemporary scholarship further underscores the central role of appraisal processes in shaping psychological responses to prolonged and uncontrollable stressors (Chen et al., 2022; Chen et al., 2025; Petri-Romão et al., 2025), particularly in employment-linked separations and mobility contexts (Zheng & Yan, 2025).
Self-Determination Theory complements the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping perspective by emphasizing that psychological well-being is supported when basic psychological needs, particularly autonomy, are satisfied and undermined when those needs are frustrated (Ryan et al., 2022; Vansteenkiste et al., 2023; Goodboy et al., 2022). When integrated, these theoretical approaches highlight how cognitive appraisal and perceived autonomy jointly influence emotional responses, coping efforts, and psychological adjustment. This integration is especially relevant for understanding long-distance heterosexual marriages shaped by employment-linked separation, where experiences of choice, constraint, and meaning-making are central to spouses' emotional well-being.
Empirical Rationale for the Framework
Consistent ith these theoretical propositions, a growing body of longitudinal research supports the relevance of these processes within contexts of employment-linked separation. Variations in the conditions under which separations occur, particularly whether transitions are anticipated and voluntary or involuntary and unexpected, are associated with differential patterns of psychological well-being, with voluntary and anticipated separations linked to smaller declines over time (Di Nallo, 2024). From a transactional perspective, such separations differ substantially in how they are appraised. When separations are experienced as involuntary or unexpected, they are more likely to be appraised as threatening, given their potential to disrupt financial security, identity, and future plans while simultaneously limiting perceived control and coping resources. By comparison, anticipated or voluntary separations are more often appraised as manageable challenges, facilitating problem-focused coping strategies such as planning, information seeking, and the mobilization of social support. Systematic evidence further suggests that such adaptive coping strategies buffer the psychological impact of chronic and relational stressors (Chen et al., 2025; Petri-Romão et al., 2025). Empirical work informed by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping and Self-Determination Theory demonstrates that appraisal processes, coping strategies, and perceived autonomy are central predictors of emotional outcomes during periods of employment disruption, family separation, and expatriation (Rai et al., 2023; Ryan et al., 2022; Aegerter et al., 2025). Collectively, this literature provides a strong empirical rationale for integrating these frameworks in the study of prolonged spousal separation. Based on the above information, suggest briefly the specific outcomes that is meant by psychological well-being/adjustment. suggest also what is meant by Emotional well-being/outcomes. Provide recent peer-reviewed references between 2021-2025. Provide in-text citations for these references. Need Assignment Help?