Research in other chronic diseases shows that overprotection (e.g. unnecessary help) and protective buffering (e.g. concealing worries) as reported by partners is often related to distress in patients. We studied overprotection and protective buffering in relation to distress in COPD patients, from a dyadic perspective. Methods: 103 couples were approached at a pulmonary rehabilitation center and an outpatient clinic. The analyses were performed using a sample of the 68 couples who consented (to take part in the study). We assessed distress with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 25. Patients' and partners' perceptions of partner support were measured with a questionnaire developed by Buunk et al (1996) . Data were analysed using bivariate correlations and a stepwise regression analysis. Results: Mean age of patients was 63.8 (±9.5) and of partners 62.3 (±9.7). More male patients participated (57.4%) and more patients of the outpatient clinic (55.9%). Patients were quite distressed (M=44.3±11.4). Distress was predicted by patients' perceptions of protective buffering (R2=0.23, p<0.01), partners' report of overprotection (R2=0.10, p<0.01) and differences within a couple in their perception of overprotection (R2=0.08, p<0.01). Conclusions: Overprotection and protective buffering by partners explain a great deal of the variance in COPD patients' distress. Patient and partner perspectives on partner support, as well as disagreement between the couple, all seem to play an independent role in distress of patients.