Relational processes and mental health outcomes of couples in the context of natural hazards: A systematic review

Natural hazards can have profound and long-term effects on both individual mental health and intimate relationships. Although a growing body of research has examined the psychological consequences of disasters, evidence regarding their impact on romantic relationships and the interplay between relational and mental health outcomes remains limited. This project aims to systematically synthesise the available empirical evidence on the relational and mental health outcomes of natural hazards among adults in romantic relationships. The review is guided by the Vulnerability–Stress–Adaptation Model, which provides a theoretical framework for understanding how enduring vulnerabilities, disaster-related stressors, and adaptive processes influence relationship functioning and individual psychological well-being following natural hazards. The review will identify factors associated with resilience and vulnerability and examine how these processes vary across different natural hazard contexts. Eligible studies will include peer-reviewed quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies published in English between 1 January 2006 and 31 July 2026. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and ERIC. Study selection, data extraction, and methodological quality appraisal will be performed independently by two reviewers following predefined eligibility criteria.