Martire LM, et al. - Researchers sought to determine the extent to which pain catastrophizing is an interpersonal coping strategy that is maladaptive for patients and their spouses. They performed baseline interviews and a 22-day diary assessment among a total of 144 older knee osteoarthritis patients and their spouses. Multilevel lagged models showed that, on days when patients reported greater catastrophizing in the morning, more negative affect throughout the day remained among spouses. Further, independent of patient pain and negative affect, greater pain catastrophizing the next morning is predicted with a higher level of punishing responses from the spouse. Findings here infer that cognitive-behavioral interventions that decrease pain catastrophizing should be adjusted for partnered patients to address dyadic interactions and the spouse's role in pain catastrophizing.