Burns JW, et al. - Researchers aimed at assessing if spouse attributions regarding displays of pain behaviors by their partners with chronic pain may account for subsequent increases in spouse critical/hostile responses toward their partners. Electronic diary measures were completed by people with chronic low back pain (n = 105) and their pain-free spouses (n = 105) five times per day for 14 consecutive days. Results suggested that spouse internal and negative attributions for pain behaviors of their partners with chronic pain may influence subsequent spouse critical/hostile reactions to them. Replacing spouse internal and negative attributions with external, compassionate and accepting explanations was suggested to be useful therapeutic targets for couples coping with chronic pain.