Neff’s current research focuses on marital relationships. Despite the strong feelings of love and commitment that characterize newlywed couples, many marriages end in disappointment. To understand this shift, her research aims: (1) to identify the relationship processes associated with positive marital outcomes (e.g., the influence of optimistic biases on marital well-being; the role of social support exchanges between partners) and (2) to understand how and when stressors external to the relationship (e.g., work stress, financial difficulties) hinder couples’ efforts to engage in relationship-promoting behaviors.