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Background Multimorbidity is challenging not only for the patient but also for the romantic partner. Strategies for interpersonal emotion regulation like disclosing to the partner are supposed to play a major role in the psychosocial adjustment to multimorbidity. Research has often focused on disease-related disclosure, even though disclosing thoughts and feelings related to mundane, everyday life occurrences might also play a role in coadjustment. The current dyadic study aimed at investigating the association between these two types of interpersonal regulation strategies and adjustment disorder symptoms, following the new ICD 11 criteria in multimorbid patients and their partners. Methods Shortly after being hospitalized due to an acute health crisis, N = 28 multimorbid patients (average age 70 years) and their partners filled in questionnaires on disclosure in the couple, adjustment disorder criteria of the ICD 11 ("preoccupation," "failure to adapt"), and sleep problems. Results Both patients and their partners did show similarly high levels of preoccupation and failure to adapt indicating adjustment problems to the complex health situation. The adjustment symptoms of both partners correlated between r = 0.22 and 0.45. Regression based on Actor-Partner Interdependence-Models revealed that own mundane disclosure was related to less adjustment symptoms in the patients. Beyond that, a partner effect was observed, revealing a negative association between partners' illness-related disclosure and the patients' level of preoccupation. For the partners, mundane disclosure of the partner was associated with less preoccupation, failure to adapt, and reported sleep problems above and beyond own disclosure reports. Furthermore, there was an actor effect of disease-related disclosure on less sleep problems for the partners. Conclusion These results support an interpersonal view on adjustment processes to physical disease. Disclosure as a way of regulating the relationship and emotional responses might play a relevant role here, which seems to be different for patients and their partners. Further research is needed to shed more light on the differential role of disease-related and mundane everyday disclosure for psychosocial adjustment in couples confronted with health challenges.

While language style is considered to be automatic and relatively stable, its plasticity has not yet been studied in translations that require the translator to “step into the shoes of another person.” In the present study, we propose a psychological model of language adaptation in translations. Focusing on an established interindividual difference marker of language style, that is, gender, we examined whether translators assimilate to the original gendered style or implicitly project their own gendered language style. In a preregistered study, we investigated gender differences in language use in TED Talks ( N = 1,647) and their translations ( N = 544) in same- versus opposite-gender speaker/translator dyads. The results showed that translators assimilated to gendered language styles even when in mismatch to their own gender. This challenges predominating views on language style as fixed and fosters a more dynamic view of language style as also being shaped by social context.

This study aims to explore the association between self-reported secondary traumatization and personal growth in a sample of Belarusians rescue workers, focusing on the mediating role of 2 socio-interpersonal processes (disclosure and co-rumination). In a cross-sectional survey, self-reported posttraumatic growth and secondary traumatization were assessed in a sample of 168 rescue workers. Posttraumatic growth was positively linked to the extent of secondary traumatization, likewise disclosure and co-rumination were positively linked to posttraumatic growth. Mediation analyses revealed that the association between secondary traumatization and posttraumatic personal growth was mediated by disclosure and co-rumination. The results thus are in favor of a socio-interpersonal perspective on posttraumatic adjustment.

Objectives Little is known about how attachment processes manifest within older adults in daily life and how these processes are associated with daily psychological adjustment. This study examined the within-person associations between states of attachment security and psychological adjustment. It is expected that this association is mediated by higher levels of satisfied needs in daily life. Methods Microlongitudinal self-report data were collected in a sample of 136 older adults ranged in age from 60 to 90 years (ageM = 70.45 years) across 10 days with daily morning and afternoon measurement occasions. Results Three main findings from multilevel analyses emerged. First, older adults showed significant within-person variation in attachment security, satisfaction of the needs for autonomy and competence, and psychological adjustment over time. Second, attachment security was positively associated with psychological adjustment within individuals. Third, both satisfaction of the needs for autonomy and competence mediated the within-person association between attachment security and psychological adjustment. Discussion The results suggest that attachment security is associated with the experience of autonomy and competence in daily life of older adults which in turn is related with better psychological adjustment.

The association between depressive symptoms and marital distress is well studied. However, less is known regarding the mediating links of this relationship. This study aims at testing the theory-driven hypothesis whether the depression-marital distress link is mediated by lower levels of an important positive couple process: the capitalization of positive experiences by sharing them with the romantic partner. In a longitudinal couple study, N = 211 couples answered online questionnaires on depressive symptoms (CES-D) and positive sharing. Three months later, relationship quality was assessed (DAS-4). Mediation analyses were conducted by using an extended version of the Actor Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). Positive sharing mediated the association between depressive symptoms and relationship quality. Indirect effects were significant within person (mediated actor effects) as well crossing over to the partner (mediated partner effects), which suggests a truly interactive interpersonal process. Positi...

Maladaptive reactions on stressful experiences justifying a diagnosis of adjustment disorder have high prevalence. Little is known about the possible risk for clinically significant maladaptation that results from the social context. The literature on the effects of depression on communication and altered support conditions in couples is suggesting this. Aim of this study was to investigate whether clinically significant depression in the romantic partner is a risk factor for adjustment disorder following a concept of stress-response disorder. Furthermore, from a dimensional point of view a possible positive association between depressive symptoms in the partner and own adjustment symptom was studied. Thereby, own depressive symptoms were controlled for in order to exclude mere depressive contagion and isolate stress-related responses. In an online-couple-study N=294 participants (N=147 couples) reported whether or not they had experienced a stressful event that is still bothering them. N=152 participants reported such an event. N=28 of this group reached the threshold of a possible diagnosis with the screening questionnaire "Adjustment disorder New Module". N=14 romantic partners reported depressive symptoms above the cut-off of the CES-D. The risk for an adjustment disorder is elevated if the female partner reports a clinically significant level of depressive symptoms (OR 7.13). This was only true when female partners were depressed, the depression of male partners did not show any significant associations. Accordingly, dimensionally there is a positive association between depressive symptoms of the female partner and adjustment symptoms of preoccupation (stressor-related repetitive negative thoughts). Depression of the romantic partner seems to be a significant risk factor for maladaptive reactions on a stressful event. This was particularly true for male participants of the study. To sum up, results encourage taking up an interpersonal perspective in research and clinical interventions.

Emotion regulation is important for daily well-being and health. Emotions are regulated through intrapersonal (i.e., regulating one's own emotions) and interpersonal (i.e., regulating emotions in interaction with others) processes. The current study examines the interplay of an unfavorable intrapersonal emotion regulation strategy “thought suppression” with a favorable interpersonal emotion regulation strategy “responsive touch,” in daily life. Both partners of 102 dating heterosexual couples simultaneously completed an electronic diary assessing their mood and how they dealt with their own and their partner's emotions four times a day during one week. Multilevel analysis revealed that thought suppression was associated with more negative mood not only in the suppressor but also in the romantic partner. Conversely, responsive touch was associated with more positive mood in both the receiver and the provider of this touch. Importantly, the negative effect of thought suppression was dampened by simultaneous...

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common reaction to traumatic experiences. We propose a socio-interpersonal model of PTSD that complements existing models of post-traumatic memory processes or neurobiological changes. The model adds an interpersonal perspective to explain responses to traumatic stress. The framework draws from lifespan psychology, cultural psychology and research into close relationships and groups. Additionally, clinical knowledge about PTSD is incorporated. This involves knowledge about shame, guilt, estrangement feelings and protective factors, such as social support and forgiveness. Three levels are proposed at which relevant interpersonal processes can be situated and should be adequately researched. First, the individual level comprises social affective states, such as shame, guilt, anger and feelings of revenge. Second, at the close relationship level, social support, negative exchange (ostracism and blaming the victim), disclosure and empathy are proposed as dyadic processes relevant to PTSD research and treatment. Third, the distant social level represents culture and society, in which the collectivistic nature of trauma, perceived injustice, and social acknowledgement are concepts that predict the response trajectories to traumatic stress. Research by the current authors and others is cited in an effort to promote future investigation based on the current model. Methodological implications, such as multi-level data analyses, and clinical implications, such as the need for couple, community or larger-level societal interventions, are both outlined. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE: The socio-interpersonal model proposes an interpersonal view of the processes that occur in the aftermath of a traumatic experience. At the individual level, the model integrates the social affective phenomena that clinical research identifies in PTSD patients, including shame, guilt, anger, revenge and the urges or reluctance to disclose. At the level of close relationships, there is an emphasis on the role of the individuals' partner, family or social support in the development or maintenance of PTSD and its recovery. At the distant social level, societal and cultural factors, e.g., individualistic versus collectivistic or other human value orientations, are acknowledged as contributing to the severity and course of PTSD. Increasing attention should be given to new approaches of PTSD treatment that refer to an interpersonal view of PTSD, e.g., communication training, PTSD-specific couples' therapy or community programs.

ObjectiveTo review research on close relationships and health in daily life, with a focus on physiological functioning and somatic symptoms, and to present data on the within-person effects of physical intimacy on somatic symptoms in committed couples’ daily life. The empirical study tested whether

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Negative automatische Gedanken stellen nach Beck eine wichtige Ursache für depressive Störungen dar. Fragestellung: Überprüfung der psychometrischen Gütekriterien des deutschen „Fragebogens für negative und positive automatische Gedanken” (FAG) bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Methode: Der Fragebogen wurde an einer unselektierten Stichprobe aus der Allgemeinbevölkerung (n = 952) zwischen 11 und 16 Jahren untersucht. Die Stichprobe wurde in die beiden Gruppen ≤13 Jahre und >13 Jahre aufgeteilt. Ergebnisse: In der Gruppe ≤13 Jahre wurden die Skalen „negative Selbstaussagen” und „positive Selbstaussagen”, in der Gruppe >13 Jahre die Skalen „negative Selbstaussagen”, „Selbstvertrauen” und „Wohlbefinden” faktorenanalytisch extrahiert. Die internen Konsistenzen der FAG-Skalen lagen zwischen .75 und .89. Alle Skalen wiesen signifikante Zusammenhänge mit Depressivität auf und differenzierten zwischen höher und niedriger depressiven Teilnehmern. Schlussfolgerung: Insgesamt bestätigen die Ergebnisse die Reliabilität und Validität des FAG bei Kindern und Jugendlichen.

Abstract. Most research in health psychology is based on retrospective self reports, which are distorted by recall biases and have low ecological validity. To overcome such limitations we developed computer assisted diary approaches to assess health related behaviours in individuals’, couples’ and families’ daily life. The event- and time-sampling-based instruments serve to assess appraisals of the current situation, feelings of physical discomfort, current emotional states, conflict and emotion regulation in daily life. They have proved sufficient reliability and validity in the context of individual, couple and family research with respect to issues like emotion regulation and health. As examples: Regarding symptom reporting curvilinear pattern of frequencies over the day could be identified by parents and adolescents; or psychological well-being is associated with lower variability in basic affect dimensions. In addition, we report on preventive studies to improve parental skills and enhance their empathic competences towards their baby, and towards their partner.

Zusammenfassung. Im Beitrag wird die deutsche Adaptation des Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) vorgestellt. Das LIWC ist ein computergestütztes Textanalyseprogramm mit integriertem Wörterbuch, das von Pennebaker und Kollegen (2001) entwickelt wurde, um Essays aus Experimenten zum expressiven Schreiben zu untersuchen. Es werden zwei Studien zur Güte und Praktikabilität des deutschen LIWC berichtet: (1) An einer Stichprobe zweisprachig vorliegender Texte (N = 122) wird die Äquivalenz der deutschen Übersetzung mit dem Original überprüft. (2) An einer Stichprobe von N = 104 E-Mails wird die Robustheit des Verfahrens gegenüber Schreibfehlern untersucht. Für die meisten LIWC-Kategorien zeigt sich eine gute Äquivalenz. Des Weiteren erweist sich das LIWC als robust gegenüber Schreibfehlern. Diese Befunde sprechen für die Brauchbarkeit des LIWC für die Analyse deutscher Texte. Die beobachtete Robustheit ist von erheblicher praktischer Bedeutung für die Analyse natürlicher geschriebener Sprache aus der computervermittelten Kommunikation.

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Depressive Störungen im Jugendalter sind ein weitverbreitetes Problem mit weitreichenden psychosozialen Folgen. Um beidem vorzubeugen wurde ein kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutisches und ein auf dem Paradigma des Expressiven Schreibens beruhendes universales schulbasiertes Präventionsprogramm entwickelt. Fragestellung: Haben die beiden Präventionsprogramme positive Wirkung auf depressive Symptomatik und Lebenszufriedenheit Jugendlicher? Methode: Es wurde eine randomisierte Kontrollgruppenstudie mit 3-Monats Follow-up an 579 Realschülern und -schülerinnen der 8. Klasse durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: Das kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutische Programm wirkt in Abhängigkeit der Ausgangssymptomatik kurz- bzw. mittelfristig auf die depressive Symptomatik, während das Schreibprogramm unabhängig von der Ausgangssymptomatik kurz- und mittelfristig positiv auf die Lebenszufriedenheit wirkt. Schlussfolgerungen: Trotz Einschränkungen in Bezug auf die Vergleichbarkeit beider Programme liefert die Studie erste wichtige Ergebnisse in Richtung eines Vergleichs unterschiedlicher Interventionen in der Präventionsforschung von Depressionen.

Summary Expressive Writing as a Coping-Tool. A State of the Art Review This article provides a state of the art review on the research on Expressive Writing (EW). In the paradigm originally developed by Pennebaker, participants write about a traumatic experience or a neutral topic on 3‐4 days for 15‐20 minutes. A large number of studies has now documented the positive effects of EW on physical and mental health. It has been shown that in the months after the study, participants who write about a traumatic experience go to the doctor less often, show improved immune function, report fewer symptoms, are less depressed and anxious and have generally a higher well-being as compared to the control group. Three major models have been proposed to explain the effects of EW. The initial studies assumed that a disclosure induced physiological disinhibition was responsible for its effects. Current research focuses on linguistic and cognitive processes according to which EW fosters the development of a coherent narrative about the events that then can be stored more efficiently and be forgotten more easily. According to the most recent model, EW facilitates social processes that enable individuals to approach others more actively and become better integrated into their social network. Other approaches focus on habituation processes as potential mediators. The different models can be integrated in an emotion regulation model. Finally, potentials of the paradigm in the real world are discussed and show how EW can be used for personal, educational and therapeutic purposes. Schlusselworter Expressives Schreiben ⋅ Disclosure ⋅ Trauma · Coping Zusammenfassung Dieser Artikel gibt einen Uberblick uber den aktuellen Stand der Forschung zum Expressiven Schreiben (ES). Bei dem von Pennebaker entwickelten Paradigma schreiben Probanden 3‐4 Tage fur jeweils 15‐20 Minuten uber ein personlich belastendes Erlebnis oder ein oberflachliches Thema. Viele Studien konnten inzwischen die positiven Effekte des ES auf die korperliche und seelische Gesundheit nachweisen. Generell gehen Teilnehmer, die uber traumatische Erfahrungen schreiben, in den Monaten nach der Studie im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe weniger zum Arzt, weisen verbesserte Immunparameter auf, berichten weniger Symptome, sind weniger depressiv und angstlich und fuhlen sich wohler. Zur Erklarung der Wirkungen des ES wurden bisher drei zentrale Modelle postuliert. Ursprunglich wurde davon ausgegangen, dass ES seine Wirkung uber physiologische Disinhibition entfaltet, die durch Disclosure-Prozesse beim Schreiben induziert wird. Mittlerweile stehen eher kognitive und insbesondere linguistische Prozesse im Mittelpunkt des wissenschaftlichen Interesses, nach denen ES das Formen eines koharenten Narrativs zu den Erlebnissen erleichtert, welches dann effizienter gespeichert und leichter vergessen werden kann. Weiterhin werden durch ES angestosene Veranderungen auf sozialer Ebene vermutet, die es der Person ermoglichen, aktiver auf ihre Umwelt zuzugehen und sich besser in ihr soziales Netzwerk zu integrieren. Andere Erklarungsansatze konzentrieren sich auf Habituationsprozesse als mogliche Wirkungsmechanismen bei ES. Die diskutierten Ansatze lassen sich gut im Rahmen eines Modells der Emotionsregulation integrieren. Abschliesend werden die Potenziale des Paradigmas in der Praxis diskutiert. Es werden Moglichkeiten aufgezeigt, wie das ES im personlichen, schulischen und therapeutischen Alltag eingesetzt werden kann.

Experiencing health problems can produce strong emotional responses that may impact psychological well-being and disease outcome. Also emotional states have been found to be associated with the development of disease. Negative emotions have been found to be associated with health complaints. Conversely, positive emotions have been found to be associated with better health. Emotions may affect health indirectly by influencing behaviors known to be associated with health outcomes or through physiological mechanisms such as physiological reactivity and changes in immune functioning. Approaches for helping people deal more effectively with negative emotions and maximize positive ones are discussed.

Background and aims In the past decade, a large body of research has demonstrated that internet-based interventions can have beneficial effects on depression. However, only a few clinical trials have compared internet-based depression therapy with an equivalent face-to-face treatment. The primary aim of this study was to compare treatment outcomes of an internet-based intervention with a face-to-face intervention for depression in a randomized non-inferiority trial. Method A total of 62 participants suffering from depression were randomly assigned to the therapist-supported internet-based intervention group (n=32) and to the face-to-face intervention (n=30). The 8 week interventions were based on cognitive-behavioral therapy principles. Patients in both groups received the same treatment modules in the same chronological order and time-frame. Primary outcome measure was the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II); secondary outcome variables were suicidal ideation, anxiety, hopelessness and automatic thoughts. Results The intention-to-treat analysis yielded no significant between-group difference (online vs. face-to-face group) for any of the pre- to post-treatment measurements. At post-treatment both treatment conditions revealed significant symptom changes compared to before the intervention. Within group effect sizes for depression in the online group (d=1.27) and the face–to-face group (d=1.37) can be considered large. At 3-month follow-up, results in the online group remained stable. In contrast to this, participants in the face-to-face group showed significantly worsened depressive symptoms three months after termination of treatment (t=−2.05, df=19, p Limitations Due to the small sample size, it will be important to evaluate these outcomes in adequately-powered trials. Conclusions This study shows that an internet-based intervention for depression is equally beneficial to regular face-to-face therapy. However, more long term efficacy, indicated by continued symptom reduction three months after treatment, could be only be found for the online group.

Background: Depressive disorders in adolescents are a widespread and increasing problem. Prevention seems a promising and feasible approach. Methods: We designed a cognitive-behavioral school-based universal primary prevention program and followed 347 eighth-grade students participating in a randomized controlled trial for three months. Results: In line with our hypothesis, participants in the prevention program remained on a low level of depressive symptoms, having strong social networks. The control group showed increasing depressive symptoms and a reduced social network. Contrary to our expectations, students low in self-efficacy benefited more from the program than high self-efficient students. Social network did not mediate the relationship between participation in the prevention program and changes in depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Our results show that the prevention program had favorable effects. Further research is needed to explore the impact of self-efficacy on the effects of prevention programs.

Objective Depressive disorders in adolescents are a widespread problem with extensive psychosocial consequences. The authors designed a school-based program to prevent the increase in depressive symptoms. The authors expect the program to reduce dysfunctional automatic thoughts and improve social skills and thus prevent the increase in depressive symptoms. Method The design includes a training group and a nontreatment control group with pre- and post-measurement and 3- and 6-month follow-up. The authors followed up 324 eighth graders in both groups. School classes were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The prevention program, LISA-T, is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy concepts and targets of cognitive and social aspects. It comprises 10 meetings of 1.5 hours in a regular school setting. Results Increases in depressive symptoms in nondepressed adolescents in the training group were prevented over a 6-month period. Furthermore, adolescents with subsyndromal depression in the training group reported fewer symptoms, whereas depressive symptoms within the control group did not change. However, the groups did not differ with regard to social skills, frequency of negative automatic thoughts, and depressive symptoms before the prevention program. Conclusions LISA-T is an effective school-based prevention program for eighth graders with minimal to mild depressive symptoms, but further research is needed.

Background Adult emotion regulation is not only occurring within the person but includes strategies that happen in social interactions and that are framed as co-regulating. The current study investigates the role of the interpersonal emotion regulation strategies of co-reappraisal and co-brooding in couples for adjustment disorder symptoms as the disorder will be outlined in the International Classification of Diseases-11 (ICD-11). Methods Couples registered together in an online questionnaire study reporting whether or not they are adjusting to a major stressor that is psychologically challenging to them. In total, one hundred and forty-six participants (N = 73 male; N = 73 female) reported having experienced a major stressor in the last 12 months and were thus be identified as at risk for adjustment disorder. Those individuals at risk were assessed for adjustment disorder and depressive symptoms; intra- and interpersonal emotion regulation (co-/brooding, co-/reappraisal) were assessed not only in the individual at risk but also in the romantic partner. Results Regression-based dyadic analyses revealed that above and beyond intrapersonal emotion regulation, interpersonal co-brooding and for the female participants also co-reappraisal were significantly associated with symptoms of adjustment disorder and depression, standardized betas varied between .24 and .36, suggesting medium effect sizes. An association with the female partner’s tendency to reappraise with fewer symptoms in the male partner at risk for adjustment disorder could also be observed. Conclusions Co-brooding and co-reappraisal represent emotion regulation strategies that happen in social interaction and seem to play a relevant role in the context of adjustment disorders above and beyond the commonly assessed intrapersonal emotion regulation strategies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40359-016-0159-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.