"We found that when it comes to the normal ebb and flow of daily emotions, couples aren't picking up on those occasional changes in 'soft negative' emotions like sadness or feeling down," said Chrystyna Kouros, an associate professor at the Southern Methodist University in the US.
Even when a negative mood isn't related to the relationship, it ultimately can be harmful to a couple, said Kouros, lead author on the study published in the journal Family Process.
"It's these missed opportunities to be offering support or talking it out that can compound over time to negatively affect a relationship," said Kouros.
The finding is consistent with other research that has shown that couples tend to assume their partner feels the same way they are feeling, or thinks the same way they do, she said.
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However, when it comes to sadness and loneliness, couples need to be on the look-out for tell-tale signs.
Instead, she advises couples to stop assuming they know what their partner is feeling and communicate more.
"I suggest couples put a little more effort into paying attention to their partner - be more mindful and in the moment when you are with your partner," she said.
Partners should not assume their spouse is a mind-reader, expecting them to pick up on their emotions.
"If there's something you want to talk about, then communicate that. It's a two-way street," she said.
Participants were 51 couples who completed daily diaries about their mood and the mood of their partners for seven consecutive nights.
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