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Rationale: Couples-based interventions to facilitate health behavior change and improve disease outcomes are gaining attention from researchers. Dyadic research, however, poses unique methodological challenges that have raised questions about research samples and the generalizability of findings., Objective: The current study examined whether couples in which both partners participated (i.e., complete couples) in a couples' health research study systematically differed from those in which only one partner participated (i.e., incomplete couples)., Methods: Between January 2014 and November 2015, an online survey was advertised on Facebook to people who were both engaged to be married and living in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area. When the first member of a couple completed the survey (initially recruited participant), they provided their partner's email address, which prompted the research staff to invite the second partner to complete the same online survey. Constructs assessed included demographics, health behaviors, general health status, and relationship quality. Participants answered questions about themself and their partner. Approximately one-third of the partners of initially recruited participants also participated. Data from initial participants in complete couples (N = 265) were compared to data from initial participants in incomplete couples (N = 509)., Results: Chi-square tests and independent samples t-tests indicated participants in incomplete couples had significantly lower relationship quality, worse health behaviors, and poorer health status compared to those in complete couples. Reports on partner health behaviors also differed in the same direction between the two groups. Participants in complete couples were more likely to be White, less likely to have children, and had more education than in incomplete couples., Conclusions: Findings suggest that studies requiring both members of a couple may recruit samples that are less diverse with fewer health concerns than research that only requires individual participation if their partner refused participation. Implications and recommendations for future couples-based health research are discussed., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Relationship partners' impacts on health are not fully captured by existing measures. A measure that applies to a prevention context and accounts for both partners' perspectives is needed. This work developed and assessed the psychometric properties of the novel Partner Investment in Health scale (PI-H). A cross-sectional design assessed participants (N = 261) using an online survey. Exploratory factor analyses were used to determine the PI-H factor structure. Items assessed the person's investment in their partner's health and their perception of their partner's investment in their health. A 2 factor structure underlying 24 items on the PI-H scale was supported. Factors represented 1) the respondent's investment and 2) the respondent's perception of their partner's investment. The PI-H significantly correlated with related measures (e.g. relationship satisfaction, dyadic and communal coping; p <.05). A full PI-H scale, two subscales, and a short version of the scale (8 items) are presented. Correlations demonstrated convergent validity and suggested the PI-H is distinct from existing constructs. Theoretical implications and applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]