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Background: Supporting early mother-infant relationships to ensure infants' future health has been recommended. The aim of this study was to investigate whether video feedback using the Marte Meo method promotes a healthy early relationship between infants and vulnerable first-time mothers. Video feedback or usual care was delivered by health visitors during home visits in Danish municipalities.Methods: This quasi-experimental study included pre- and post-tests of 278 vulnerable families. Mothers were allocated to an intervention group (n = 69), a comparison group (n = 209) and an exactly matched video subsample from the comparison group (n = 63). Data consisted of self-reported questionnaires and video recordings of mother-infant interactions. Outcomes were mother-infant dyadic synchrony (CARE-Index), maternal confidence (KPCS), parental stress (PSS), maternal mood (EPDS) and infant socialemotional behaviours (ASQ:SE). The data were analysed using descriptive and linear multiple regression analysis.Results: The levels of dyadic synchrony in the intervention group had significantly improved (p < 0.001) at follow-up with a mean score of 9.51 (95%CI;8.93-10.09) compared with 7.62 (95%CI;7.03-8.21). The intervention group also showed a higher level of maternal sensitivity with a mean score of 9.55 (95%CI;8.96-10.14) compared with 7.83 (95%CI;7.19-8.46) in the matched video subsample (p < 0.001). With respect to infant cooperation, similar improvements were found with a mean score of 9.43 (95% CI;8.88-9.99) in the intervention group compared with 7.73 (95%CI;7.13-8.33) in the matched video subsample from the comparison group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, mothers in the intervention group reported significantly lower levels of parental stress with a mean score of 32.04 (95%CI;30.13-33.94) compared with 35.29 (95%CI;34.07-36.52) in the comparison group (p = 0.03), as well as higher levels of maternal confidence with a mean score of 41.10 (95%CI;40.22-41.98) compared with 40.10 (95%CI;39.65-40.56) in the comparison group (p = 0.04). No significant differences were found in EPDS and ASQ:SE.Conclusion: The findings support the assumption that video feedback using the Marte Meo method early after birth may strengthen the relationship between infants and vulnerable firsttime mothers as well as improve maternal psychosocial functioning. Further research applying random assignment is needed to strengthen these conclusions; further research is also needed to assess any long term effects of the video feedback intervention using the Marte Meo method.Trial Registration: This study was registered on 24 January 2013 in ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier: NCT01799447 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association between relationship adjustment and discrepant alcohol use among lesbian women and their same-sex intimate partners after controlling for verbal and physical aggression. Lesbian women ( N = 819) who were members of online marketing research panels completed an online survey in which they reported both their own and same-sex intimate partner's alcohol use, their relationship adjustment, and their own and their partner's physical aggression and psychological aggression (i.e., verbal aggression and dominance/isolation). Partners' alcohol use was moderately correlated. Discrepancy in alcohol use was associated with poorer relationship adjustment after controlling for psychological aggression and physical aggression. Results are discussed in terms of the similarity and differences with previous literature primarily focused on heterosexual couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context--Lung transplant recipients are encouraged to perform self-management behaviors to maximize health outcomes; however, performance is often less than ideal. Goal orientation is known to influence achievement of academic goals, but the influence of goal orientation on performance of self-management is unknown. Objectives--To identify characteristics at transplant that are predictive of higher goal orientation and examine relationships between Goal Orientation Index (GOI) subscores (Acting, Planning, Reflecting), self-management behaviors (adhering, self-monitoring, and communicating critical changes), and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at 1 year after transplant. Design--A descriptive, secondary analysis of data from 33 lung transplant recipients who were assessed at transplant and followed for 1 year as part of a clinical trial. GOI subscores were dichotomized at the median to categorize recipients with high and low goal orientation. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of higher GOI subscores. Correlations between higher GOI subscores, self-management, and HRQOL were examined. Results--Lung transplant recipients reported relatively high mean GOI subscores (Acting, Planning, and Reflecting) and the 3 subscores were correlated (r=0.31-0.86). Self-care agency was the only significant predictor (P=.04) of higher GOI (Reflecting). Lung transplant recipients with higher Planning and Reflecting subscores were more likely to adhere (r = 0.36 and 0.46, respectively). Recipients with higher GOI subscores reported significantly better mental HRQOL (r = 0.42-0.36). Recipients with higher GOI Planning or Acting subscores reported significantly less anxiety (r = -0.39-0.46) and fewer depressive symptoms (r = -0.40-0.43). Conclusion--Assessing goal orientation may offer a novel approach for promoting adherence and HRQOL after lung transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To investigate the causal associations between family relationships, family functioning, social circumstances and health outcomes in young children with cystic fibrosis. Background The anticipated health gains for patients with cystic fibrosis, promised by early diagnosis through newborn screening, have yet to be fully realized, despite advances in cystic fibrosis health care with aggressive management in multidisciplinary clinics and the development of specific medications. Adverse psychosocial functioning may underpin the current lack of progress as it is well recognized that compromised early parent-child attachment relationship experiences and adverse social circumstances have negative impacts on lifelong health status and health resource use, even in healthy children. Design A cross-sectional (initial) and longitudinal (progressive), multicentre study of children aged 3 months-6 years with cystic fibrosis, who have been diagnosed by newborn screening. Methods Questionnaire and observational measures of parent psychosocial functioning, parenting and parent-child attachment and social markers; and including clinical outcomes of regular health surveillance with clinical, lung imaging (computerized tomography) and bronchoalveolar lavage for airway microbiology and inflammation. Conclusion This will be the first study to investigate the causal effect of psychosocial functioning, parenting and attachment on physical health outcome measures in children with cystic fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess the associations between secondary traumatization (ST) and perception of husbands’ posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and marital adjustment among wives of former prisoners of war (POWs). Wives of Israeli ex-POWs and wives of a matched control group of combat veterans were assessed using self-report measures. Ex-POWs’ wives reported higher levels of ST and perception of their husband's PTSS and lower levels of marital adjustment compared with veterans’ wives. Both attachment avoidance and family boundaries were associated with marital adjustment. In addition, family boundaries moderated the relationship between wives’ attachment anxiety and marital adjustment. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study assessed how couples interdependently influence the relationship between family-of-origin triangulation and marital satisfaction across sub-samples in Stage III and Stage IV of the family life cycle. The total sample consisted of 569 couples between 24 and 49 years of age in Beijing, China. The analyses were performed in two sub-samples using the actor-partner interdependence model, a dyadic analysis technique. We found that couples in Stage III reported higher family-of-origin triangulation and less satisfaction and cohesion than couples in Stage IV. Furthermore, couples who lived with their parents or in-laws reported less affectional expression than those who lived on their own. The family-of-origin triangulation of both husbands and wives predicted marital satisfaction in the two sub-samples. Husband marital satisfaction was predicted by wife family-of-origin triangulation in the two sub-samples, whereas wife marital satisfaction was predicted by her own family-of-origin triangulation only in family Stage III. Moreover, model comparisons demonstrated that husband marital satisfaction was predicted equally by his own and his wife's family-of-origin triangulation in the sub-sample of couples in Stage III. In addition, individual marital satisfaction was equally predicted by his/her own and his/her spouse's family-of-origin triangulation in the sub-sample of couples in Stage IV. Family therapists should pay closer attention to intergenerational relationships in China, particularly in couples with young children, and should adopt culturally adapted family intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxytocin appears to be centrally involved in socioemotional functioning, and is hypothesized to be relevant to the severe disruption in close relationships characteristic of borderline personality pathology. We examined whether a polymorphism of the oxytocin receptor gene ( OXTR rs53576) interacts with quality of family functioning to predict borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptomatology in a sample of youth at age 20. A total of 385 youth from a longitudinal study of offspring of depressed or nondepressed mothers who were well characterized with respect to their family conditions and BPD symptomatology provided DNA for genotyping. Analyses revealed a significant moderation of the link between early family quality and later BPD symptoms by OXTR rs53576, and the pattern was consistent with differential susceptibility (plasticity). Whereas A-allele carriers had high levels of BPD symptoms under negative family conditions and low levels under positive conditions, GG homozygotes had average levels of BPD symptoms regardless of their family quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Motivating people with chronic pain to engage in therapy can be difficult, especially when individuals have not experienced adequate pain management. Therefore, it may be useful for clinicians to use a motivational assessment as a part of treatment to help patients achieve immediate benefits. Additionally, because the social context impacts chronic illness, the significant other should be included in the assessment. This article describes a motivational assessment that was developed for people with chronic pain and their partners. Intervention. The motivational assessment begins with gathering information from questionnaires that each partner completes, conducting a semistructured interview about the couples' relationship and pain history, and observing the couples converse about pain coping. Next, tailored feedback is provided to each couple regarding their strengths and weaknesses with suggestions for how to improve their relationship and pain coping skills. This tailored feedback engages the couple in this conversation by adhering to the principles of motivational interviewing. Case Example. A case example of a couple who completed this motivational assessment is described. This assessment resulted in immediate improvements in marital satisfaction, pain severity, and mood for the couple. Conclusions. This article provides a guide to clinicians for using a motivational assessment to help patients with a chronic illness achieve immediate benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:This is a cross-sectional study.Objectives:The objective of this study was to examine the associations among the quality of couple relationship, perceived social support and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).Setting:The study was conducted in Italy.Methods:Forty-three persons with SCI were administered questionnaires for the evaluation of relationship quality (Dyadic Adjustment Scale), perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) and HRQoL (Short Form 36).Results:Many significant correlations between the scores of relationship quality and social support were detected. Relationship quality also correlated with relevant measures of HRQoL, such as Mental Health and Vitality. No correlation between spousal support and HRQoL was found, whereas friends' support correlated with Physical Role Functioning.Conclusions:Data suggest that the perception of social support is strictly related to relationship quality and that marital satisfaction might be related to relevant aspects of HRQoL more likely than social support itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hold Me Tight: Conversations for Connection (HMT; Johnson, 2008) is a newly developed research-based program to enhance relationship satisfaction. The preliminary study describes the effectiveness of this intervention as it pertains to college student couples. The study included 28 self-selected college participants (14 couples) who were pretested to determine level of relationship distress (DAS), trust between partners (RTS), and symptoms of depression (BDI-II) prior to completing the 8-week education program. Pre- and post-changes were examined for statistical and clinical significance. Results indicated that there was a statistically significant change over time on all measures and that the DAS showed a greater degree of change for the women. The DAS showed significant clinical change for the majority of female and half of male participants. The RTS showed relatively little change that could not be due to random variability. Two of three women and three of four men with mild or worse depression symptoms at pretest showed clinically meaningful improvement on the BDI-II. Student debriefing sessions provided positive feedback regarding group content and structure. Implications for relationship education as it pertains to college couples are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examined the mediating impact of couples’ attachment behaviors on the relationship between family-of-origin experiences and marital communication quality. The couple data for this study were collected from the Relationship Evaluation (RELATE) database (seewww.relate-institute.org). An Actor Partner Interdependence Model using structural equation modeling was used to evaluate 261 marriage relationships. Results indicated that the relationships between family-of-origin experiences and communication quality are significantly related, with more family-of-origin problems associated with poorer positive communication skills. When attachment behaviors (accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement) were added to the model, it significantly mediated the relationship. Implications for clinicians treating couples who present with communication problems are discussed, as are directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Past research has supported the utility of the Double ABCX model of family adaptation for parents raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). What remains unclear is the impact of family-related variables on outcomes in both mothers and fathers within the same family. We explored the potential predictors of maternal and paternal stress and family quality of life in an Australian sample of 196 parents of children with ASD aged 3-16 years. Using a cross-sectional design, parents completed questionnaires assessing factors within the Double ABCX model attributed to family adaptation. Findings provide further evidence of the negative impact of child externalising behaviours and highlight the importance of family sense of coherence on positive parental outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost nothing is known about the family and individual adjustment of military mothers who have deployed to the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan (Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn; OIF, OEF, OND), constituting a gap in psychologists' knowledge about how best to help this population. We report baseline data on maternal, child, parenting, and couple adjustment for mothers in 181 families in which a parent deployed to OIF/OEF/OND. Among this sample, 34 mothers had deployed at least once, and 147 mothers had experienced the deployment of a male spouse/partner. Mothers completed self-report questionnaires assessing past-year adverse life events, war experiences (for deployed mothers only), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms, difficulties in emotion regulation, parenting, couple adjustment, and child functioning. Mothers who had deployed reported greater distress than nondeployed mothers (higher scores on measures of PTSD and depression symptoms), and slightly more past year adverse events. A moderate number of war experiences (combat and postbattle aftermath events) were reported, consistent with previous studies of women in current and prior conflicts. However, no differences were found between the two groups on measures of couple adjustment, parenting, or child functioning. Results are discussed in terms of the dearth of knowledge about deployed mothers, and implications for psychologists serving military families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the link between new mothers' attachment orientation and the perceived cost of sole responsibility in housework and child care. Background: The transition to motherhood can be very stressful, and according to the Vulnerability Stress Adaptation Model (VSA model), the way it affects the couple relationship is likely to depend on interacting factors from different domains of risk (e.g. individual and couple level). We expected interactions to appear between domains of attachment and labour division. The hypothesis was that sole responsibility in child care and housework would predict lower relationship satisfaction, particularly among mothers who were high on attachment insecurity. Methods: Data from self-report measures of adult attachment, child care, housework and relationship satisfaction were collected from 255 first-time mothers at six months postpartum. Results: Sole responsibility in child care predicted lower relationship satisfaction, particularly among mothers who were high on attachment avoidance. This interaction effect was significant but small. Among main effects, higher levels of either attachment anxiety or avoidance were linked with lower relationship satisfaction and lower levels of sole responsibility in childcare was linked with higher relationship satisfaction. Conclusion: These findings provide new data on the how risk factors from separate domains combine, and implications are discussed in terms of applying the VSA model when developing preventive interventions for new mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To prospectively examine the impact of parental mental health (PTSD, depression and anxiety), the couple’s relationship quality and the infant temperament on the parent–baby bond in first-time mothers and fathers.Background:Evidence suggests that poor parental mental health, difficult infant temperament and/or lower quality of the couple’s relationship may impede the parent–baby bond. However, little research has included both parents or followed these measures across time.Methods:75 women and 66 men completed questionnaire measures during pregnancy, 3 and 15 months postpartum, assessing mental health symptoms, the parent–baby bond, the couple’s relationship and infant characteristics. The response rates at different time-points were 90%, 77% and 70%.Results:The parent–baby bond was associated with parental mental health, the couple’s relationship and infant characteristics. The most important predictors of the parent–baby bond three months postpartum for both men and women were the couple’s relationship during pregnancy and their baby’s temperament at three months. At 15 months postpartum, after accounting for the parent–baby bond at 3 months, only concurrent infant temperament remained a significant predictor for women. However, men’s bond with their baby at 15 months was predicted by their relationship with their partner in pregnancy and concurrent affective symptoms. Few significant gender differences were found, apart from women reporting more mental health symptoms than men.Conclusion:This study highlights the significance of the couple’s relationship in pregnancy and the infant’s temperament on the development of the parent–baby bond. Future research is needed to examine this in larger more representative samples. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims: We aim to examine the relationship between child behavioural problems and several parental factors, particularly parental behaviours as reported by both mothers and fathers in a sample of preschool children in Sweden. Methods: Participants were mothers and fathers of 504 3- to 5-year-olds that were recruited through preschools. They completed a set of questionnaires including the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory, Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, Parenting Scale, Parent Problem Checklist, Dyadic Adjustment Scale and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Results: Correlational analyses showed that parent-reported child behaviour problems were positively associated with ineffective parenting practices and interparental conflicts and negatively related to parental competence. Regression analyses showed that, for both mothers and fathers, higher levels of parental over-reactivity and interparental conflict over child-rearing issues and lower levels of parental satisfaction were the most salient factors in predicting their reports of disruptive child behaviour. Conclusions: This study revealed that Swedish parents’ perceptions of their parenting is related to their ratings of child behaviour problems which therefore implies that parent training programs can be useful in addressing behavioural problems in Swedish children. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although a majority of premarital education occurs in religious contexts, research in this area is limited. The current authors studied the religious service delivery model of premarital education among 1244 married Orthodox Jews. Results indicate that education focusing on the religious approach and practices regarding the sexual relationship is significantly associated with greater marital quality. The findings also suggest a need for increased premarital education related to communication and conflict resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective:To determine how far self and mutual attachment ratings within couples predict postpartum depressive symptomatology.Method:At 20 weeks prepartum (T1) 163 women completed depression, attachment and dyadic adjustment measures. At T1 partners completed the same attachment measure (the Relationship Questionnaire, RQ), completed by women and partners as self-ratings, and also as each believed the other would complete it. At 3 months postpartum (T2) the women again completed the depression measure.Results:Including only those women for whom there were data at T1 and T2, and from the partner at T1, as bivariate correlations women’s depression at T2 was predicted by higher T1 depression, lower dyadic adjustment, lower self-rated RQ-derived ‘model of self’ (MOS) and ‘model of other’ (MOO), and the woman believing that her partner would rate his MOS lower. How the partner rated his own attachment models did not predict the woman’s T2 depression. In a hierarchical regression, T2 depression was predicted by higher T1 depression, the woman’s lower self-rated MOS, and the absolute discrepancy in ratings of her MOS.Conclusions:Both a woman’s self-rated MOS, and discrepancies with how her partner believes she would rate her MOS, uniquely improved the prediction of postpartum depression. The findings suggest that an aspect of partner understanding may contribute to a woman’s adjustment postpartum. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: This paper reports the findings of two studies that examined factors predicting infertility distress in male partners within couples with an infertility diagnosis and where the couple was receiving fertility treatment. Design: A cross-sectional design was implemented using a questionnaire battery (The questionnaire battery comprised an inventory of four different standardised questionnaires compiled together into one booklet) compiled from earlier theory-building qualitative research conducted by the authors. Methods: Infertility related distress was examined in relation to a number of psychosocial variables including relationship dynamics, self-esteem, current mental health and attitudes towards idealised masculinity. The questionnaire battery was completed by 167 men undergoing or consulting for fertility treatment. Participants were recruited through Irish fertility clinics (Study 1, n = 111) and through an online survey (Study 2, n = 55). Results: Regression analyses identified four variables that predicted variance in infertility distress in both studies: 'Attitude towards idealised masculinity', 'Mental health', 'Relationship satisfaction' and 'Self-esteem'. This finding was found to be robust having controlled for age, time since diagnosis, number of attempts at treatment and diagnostic category (male factor, female factor or mixed factor infertility). Conclusion: Recommendations for fertility clinics and mental health professionals should be made in relation to managing infertility distress and supporting couples during fertility treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on attachment theory, this study developed a theory-based model of heterosexual relationship functioning that examined both proximal and distal factors and both actor and partner effects. A particular focus was on the underexplored issue of double-mediated effects between attachment orientation and relationship satisfaction. Data were collected from a community sample of 95 cohabiting and married couples with a mean age of 39.30 years. Participants completed measures of attachment, commitment, provision of partner support, trust, intimacy, destructive conflict management, and relationship satisfaction. The hypothesized model was largely supported. The association between attachment orientation and relationship satisfaction was mediated through a series of actor and partner variables. No gender differences were found across actor paths; however, differences were found in partner effects for men and women. The model has important implications for relationship researchers and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

McFall's (, ) Social Information Processing (SIP) model outlines different stages in cognitive processing and decision-making that may be deficient in men who engage in interpersonal violence (IPV). A decision-making task was developed to assess the utility of abusive and nonabusive behaviors among 32 men who engage in mild IPV, 32 maritally distressed men, and 32 nondistressed men. Because anger impacts appraisal and decision-making (e.g., Lerner and Tiedens in Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 19, 115-137, ), all participants were randomly assigned to an anger induction or neutral induction condition. As hypothesized, the perceived utility for abusive behavior was greater for angry abusive men and the perceived utility of control appeared to significantly contribute to this difference. Specific deficits in the IPV group were found, supporting a SIP model of IPV, aiding in understanding the function of violent behavior. Despite study limitations, these findings have implications for enhancing specific skill training components of treatment for abusive men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the associations between fear of extradyadic involvement (a subtype of romantic jealousy defined as the experience of anxiety, suspicion, worry, and mistrust about a partner engaging in EDI) with relationship, intrapersonal, partner, and contextual variables. A cross-sectional design was conducted and multiple regression was used to examine the associations between the identified predictors and fear of EDI using a sample of adult participants (N = 306) recruited from online resources. The overall regression model was statistically significant and the results indicated that anxious attachment, negative communication, opportunity, and partner alcohol use were predictive of fear of EDI. Implications for relationship education programs, couple therapists, and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two studies examined the relationship between maternal attitudes and symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. In the first study, a measure of maternal attitudes, the Attitudes Toward Motherhood Scale (AToM), was developed and validated in a sample of first-time mothers. The AToM was found to have good internal reliability and convergent validity with cognitive biases and an existing measure of maternal attitudes. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses determined that the measure comprises three correlated factors: beliefs about others' judgments, beliefs about maternal responsibility, and maternal role idealization. In the second study, we used the AToM to assess the relationship between maternal attitudes and other psychological variables. The factor structure of the measure was confirmed. Maternal attitudes predicted symptoms of depression and anxiety, and these attitudes had incremental predictive validity over general cognitive biases and interpersonal risk factors. Overall, the results of these studies suggest that maternal attitudes are related to psychological distress among first-time mothers during the transition to parenthood and may provide a useful means of identifying women who may benefit from intervention during the perinatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal–fetal attachment (MFA) is considered to be related to the quality of subsequent maternal care of the infant and maternal health behaviour during pregnancy. Objective: The aims of the present study were to investigate the internal structure of a questionnaire used for assessing MFA, the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), and to address the role of gestational age, couple adjustment and depressive symptomatology on MFA, on a sample of women from suburban areas. Method: A cross-sectional study using self-report questionnaires was conducted to address these two aims on 130 women attending prenatal care services. Results: A five-factor solution emerged for the PAI questionnaire. MFA levels were comparable to those found in previous studies using PAI, whereas depressive symptoms were higher than those reported in previous studies with normative pregnant women. Couple adjustment and gestational age significantly increased MFA. Among the MFA dimensions, Affect and Interaction were mainly affected by gestational age; Maternal–fetal differentiation was associated with gestational age and couple adjustment. Depressive symptoms were associated with an increase in Fantasy and Sensitivity factor scores.Conclusion: Prenatal attachment increased as gestational age advanced and as mothers perceived greater levels of couple adjustment, which promoted MFA strength, positive affect and MFA interaction and differentiation. The internal structure of PAI and its association with specific correlates are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the Transgression-related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory in marital relationships within a Chinese context (C-TRIM) in Hong Kong. It mentions the acquisition of data from married people who filled in a self-administered questionnaire. It also notes its representation of negative forgiveness.

Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) struggle to maintain improved functional ability and reduced pain levels. Health education emphasizing self-efficacy helps individuals to adjust with the disease outcome and progression. As a basis to develop comprehensive evidence-based patient education programs, the aim of the study was to examine the role of marriage as a predictor of pain and functional self-efficacy among individuals with RA. Review of the regression analysis did not provide support for the relationships between marital quality and self-efficacy. Relationships were not observed between marital quality, length of marriage, and self-efficacy as predicted by the first hypothesis. Additional regression analysis examination found that marital quality, length of marriage, pain, and health assessment together reported significant variance in self-efficacy. However, only health assessment significantly predicted self-efficacy. Other nonexamined variables could have influenced the independent marital quality effects. Future longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes can further validate the current findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study primarily assesses uninsured, low-income patients (n=125) in a primary care practice. Despite the knowledge that family relationships affect the management and outcomes of chronic illness, the rates of relational discord among primary care patients are unknown. Findings reveal that 54% of patients met criteria for problematic family functioning, while 40% of those in a romantic relationship reported relationship distress. In addition, 67% reported depression, 32% reported clinical levels of anxiety, and 33% at-risk alcohol use. Researchers used latent class analysis to explore characteristics of the sample, which revealed four classes. Comparisons with prior research with similar populations are made and implications for behavioral health providers working within primary care are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the associations among depression, relationship quality, and demand/withdraw and demand/submit behavior in couples' conflict interactions. Two 10-min conflict interactions were coded for each couple (N = 97) using Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB; Benjamin, 1979a, 1987, 2000a). Depression was assessed categorically (via the presence of depressive disorders) and dimensionally (via symptom reports). Results revealed that relationship quality was negatively associated with demanding behavior, as well as receiving submissive or withdrawing behavior from one's partner. Relationship quality was positively associated with withdrawal. Demanding behavior was positively associated with women's depression symptoms but negatively associated with men's depression symptoms. Sequential analysis revealed couples' behavior was highly stable across time. Initiation of demand/withdraw and demand/submit sequences were negatively associated with partners' relationship adjustment. Female demand/male withdraw was positively associated with men's depression diagnosis. Results underscore the importance of sequential analysis when investigating associations among depression, relationship quality, and couples' interpersonal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Enuresis nocturna ( EN) is a chronic medical disorder that may cause a parent to question their parenting ability and contribute to an inability to perform the parental role. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of EN on the relationship between parents, and the effect of mood changes in the couples on the children. Methods Forty children with EN (group 1) were enrolled in the study, and 44 consecutive healthy children (group 2) were randomly selected from the same school. The clinical diagnosis for the patient group was based on a careful history. Spielberg's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory ( STAI), Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI), and Dyadic Adjustment Scale ( DAS) were applied to all parents, and the answers were recorded. Results STAI scores differed between the mothers in the two groups in terms of trait anxiety, while significant differences between the fathers in terms of both state and trait anxiety were observed. The BDI scores were similar between the two groups. The scores of dyadic consensus were lower in the mothers, while the affectional expression scores were lower in the EN study group fathers compared with controls. The total DAS scores were significantly lower in the parents of the children with EN. Conclusion The parents of children with EN seem to experience increased levels of anxiety. Their desire to continue the marital relationship, the overall quality of their marital relationship and their comfort as a family may also be negatively affected by having a child with EN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study explored how family characteristics (i.e., family cohesiveness and marital adjustment) and child characteristics (i.e., temperament) assessed when the child was 13 months old predicted child behavior with mothers and fathers at 36 months. Mother–father–child interaction was observed to assess family cohesiveness at 13 months. Mothers and fathers also completed questionnaires assessing their perceptions of marital adjustment and their child’s temperament at 13 months. Based on dyadic parent–child interactions at 36 months, under-controlled behavior and positive engagement were examined as outcome variables. Results indicated that observed family cohesiveness predicted positive engagement with both parents. Moreover, in families with high cohesiveness at 13 months, child behavior was significantly consistent across mother–child and father–child interactions, whereas in families with low cohesiveness, consistency of child behavior was not observed. Results also revealed that fathers’ perceptions of marital adjustment directly predicted child behavior with fathers, while the combination of low family cohesiveness/low marital adjustment and difficult temperament predicted child behavior with mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study explored connections between initiator tendency (the propensity to initiate relationship discussions with spouses), value placed on supportive communication, and partner satisfaction. We predicted that supportive communication values would moderate the association between initiator tendency and partner satisfaction. Participants (60 married couples) completed measures tapping initiator style, value placed on supportive communication, and marital satisfaction. As predicted, the association between husband initiator tendency and wife marital satisfaction increased as a function of the value husbands placed on supportive communication. The association between wife initiator tendency and husband satisfaction, though positive, was not moderated by wives’ communication values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mothers of children with autism report higher levels of depression than mothers of children with other developmental disabilities. We explored the relations between child characteristics of diagnostic severity and problem behaviors, parenting stress, relationship quality, and depressive symptoms in 70 mothers of young children with autism. We hypothesized that relationship quality and parenting stress would relate to maternal depression beyond contributions of child characteristics. Multiple regression analysis revealed a main effect of parenting stress above and beyond child problem behaviors and autism severity. A significant interaction emerged, with relationship quality buffering the effect of parenting stress on depression. Results suggest that the relation between child problem behaviors and maternal depression should be considered in conjunction with other measures of marriage and family stress. Relationship quality and parenting stress may also represent important factors to be explicitly considered within intervention paradigms for young children with autism spectrum disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Previous literature has associated narcissism with interpersonal difficulties. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the impact of narcissism within romantic dyads. The current study extended the literature by examining relations between narcissism and conflict behaviors in both members of a romantic dyad. Participants in the study were 190 college-student couples, who completed questionnaire measures of their narcissism, conflict within their relationship, and a behavioral measure of aggression toward their partners. The results indicated a tendency towards homogamy for narcissism. A person's narcissism was related to their use of aggression and the partner's use of aggression. Several interactions between male and female narcissism were observed. For total NPI scores, the combination of high male and female narcissism was related to greater aggression. Grandiose Exhibitionism was only related to aggressive behavior when partner Grandiose Exhibitionism was lower; when partner Grandiose Exhibitionism was higher, aggressive behavior was generally higher regardless of a person's own Grandiose Exhibitionism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to understand the experiences of a subset of military couples regarding the effects of war deployment on couple functioning. The authors used the core “couple functioning” variables included in the Couple Adaptation to Traumatic Stress Model as sensitizing concepts to guide the qualitative analysis process. Participant interviews (n = 15 couples, 30 total participants) were divided into subgroups according to high and low trauma symptom and relationship satisfaction scale scores. Five primary themes were identified in the results: communication, conflict management, roles, support/nurturance, and posttraumatic growth. Overall, highly satisfied couples and those with the lowest levels of traumatic stress symptoms reported more positive relationship functioning in the identified areas, while couples reporting higher traumatic stress symptoms and lower relationship satisfaction indicated varied or inconsistent qualitative results. Clinical and research implications for military couples also are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT), the completion of a blamer-softening event has been related to deeper emotional experiencing and relationship repair. However, the characteristics of those who are able to complete this event are unknown. The authors examined emotion regulation at intake in relation to key change processes in EFT. Results indicated that emotional control and emotional self-awareness, two emotion regulation strategies, at intake did not predict in-session emotional experiencing or the completion of a blamer-softening event. Results also indicated that gender was a significant predictor of emotional experiencing in the best session. Results attest to the efficacy and generalizability of EFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). The answers of 456 Spaniards (228 couples, 45 of which were satisfied with their relationship) were factor analysed through a confirmatory factorial analysis. It was found that a tetra factorial model, similar to the one proposed by the author in his original study, fitted significantly better than a Hierarchic or monofactorial model. The internal consistency (Cronbach's?) of the first order factors ranged between .60 and .84. Gender-separated analysis determined that the goodness of fit was equally good both in men and women and also between harmony and conflict sample. Cut-off scores for each dimension of the questionnaire were established. The results of this study are similar, as far as cut-off scores and internal consistency are concerned, to those of Spanier's original study and adaptation studies of the questionnaire in other countries. Its use can be recommended with populations of ill adjusted couples, both in the initial assessment phase, and as a measure of their evolution, after therapeutic interventions, and to establish possible comparisons with couples in conflict from other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With marital breakdown and discord relatively common, we examined whether family structure and the quality of marital relationship have a long-term impact on offspring’s psychopathology in early adulthood. This study aimed to examine the association of family structure and marital discord in the family with a wide range of offspring’s mental health and problem behaviours at 21 years. Data were from the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy, a population based birth cohort study, which commenced in Brisbane, Australia in 1981. Mothers and children were followed up at birth, 6 months and 5, 14 and 21 years after the initial interview. Marital status and marital quality were assessed at the 14 year follow-up. Young Adult Self-Report sub-scales of mental health and problem behaviours were measured at the 21-year follow-up. Type of family structure and the quality of marital relationship (at the 14-year follow-up) predicted offspring’s psychopathology at 21 years. When a selected group of confounding factors were included in the multivariate analyses, children who lived with a step-father, un-partnered mother, or in families where parents had conflict in marital relationship reported higher symptoms of psychopathology at 21 years. The association between marital problems and young adult psychopathology does not appear to be confounded by a wide range of confounding variables. Further research is needed to explore the mechanism of these associations to develop preventive programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military deployment affects thousands of families each year, yet little is known about its impact on nondeployed spouses ( NDSs) and romantic relationships. This report examines two factors-attachment security and a communal orientation with respect to the deployment-that may be crucial to successful dyadic adjustment by the NDS. Thirty-seven female NDSs reported on their relationship satisfaction before and during their partner's deployment, and 20 also did so 2 weeks following their partner's return. Participants provided a stream-of-consciousness speech sample regarding their relationship during the deployment; linguistic coding of sample transcripts provided measures of each participant's (a) narrative coherence, hypothesized to reflect attachment security with respect to their deployed spouse; and (b) frequency of first person plural pronoun use ( we- talk), hypothesized to reflect a communal orientation to coping. More frequent first person plural pronounuse- we- talk- was uniquely associated with higher relationship satisfaction during the deployment, and greater narrative coherence was uniquely associated with higher relationship satisfaction during postdeployment. Discussion centers on the value of relationship security and communal orientations in predicting how couples cope with deployment and other types of relationship stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationship education programs have been shown as an effective way to increase relationship functioning. There is less known about how process factors, such as alliance with the leader or group dynamics, affect outcomes in these interventions. We examined group cohesion and alliance with the leader in a relationship education program tailored for individuals. Specifically, we examined whether participants' ratings (n = 126) of the group cohesion and alliance with the leader were associated with changes in relationship adjustment, relationship confidence, and communication quality from pre- to postintervention. The results demonstrated that participants' perceptions of the cohesion among the members in their relationship education group, but not the leader-participant alliance, made a significant contribution to the changes in participants' relationship functioning. These results suggest that the group dynamics among the members in the group are important ingredients in relationship education. Implications for relationship programs are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationship quality and partner dynamics provide important insights into understanding sexual behavior within HIV sero-positive and sero-discordant couples. Individuals in long-term partnerships may be vulnerable to HIV/sexually transmitted infections (STI) within their relationships due to misperceptions of their partners risk behaviors and potential concurrent (e.g., extramarital, nonprimary) sexual partnerships. This study sought to examine relationship quality among HIV sero-positive and sero-discordant couples in Zambia, and its association with safer sex behavior. This study utilized data drawn from an ongoing translational study, The Partnership II Project – a couples-based sexual risk reduction intervention in Lusaka, Zambia. Couples (n=240) were assessed on demographics, relationship quality, and sexual risk behavior. Overall, couples perceiving their relationships more positively engaged in less risky sexual behavior (i.e., more condom use (b=0.011,t=3.14,p=0.002) and fewer partners (χ2=11.4,p=0.003). Within the dyad, condom use was “actor driven,” indicating that the association between relationship quality and condom use did not depend on the partner's evaluation of the relationship. Safer sex behavior was positively influenced by communication about condoms. Results support the paradigm shift from prevention strategies with HIV-positive and at-risk individuals to concentrated efforts addressing male–female dyads, and suggest that interventions to address the role of couples' relationship quality, a modifiable target for decreasing sexual risk behavior, are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emerging consensus argues for the importance of spousal support in our understanding of how relationships succeed or fail. This report covers two studies that examined support seeking, support provision and support perception in distressed married couples. In Study 1 a total of seventy distressed and seventy non-distressed couples participated in a survey study; in Study 2 twenty distressed and twenty non-distressed couples participated in an observational study. Global self-reports were used in both studies to assess spouses' support behaviour and perceived support. These measures were supplemented in Study 2 with measures of observed support behaviour and interaction-based perceived support as assessed during specific support interactions. Our self-report and observational measures consistently indicated that distressed marital couples display lower levels of positive support-seeking and emotional or instrumental support provision than non-distressed couples. We also found evidence for higher levels of negative support-seeking and provision behaviour in distressed couples, as compared to non-distressed couples. Distressed spouses also reported lower levels of global and interaction-based perceived support than non-distressed spouses. Practitioner points Assess and evaluate the different support behaviour in couples, Explain the interactional support behaviour cycle, Increase support skills within the couple, Detect and block negative support behaviour [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how the revealing of underlying vulnerable emotion relates to session and final outcome in the context of emotion-focused therapy for couples. Segments of videotaped therapy sessions were rated on a measure of underlying vulnerable emotional expression for twenty-five couples. Results indicated that partners rated sessions in which underlying vulnerable emotion was expressed significantly more positively than control sessions on a measure of session outcome. Moreover, from pre to post, couples who were found to have expressed underlying vulnerable emotion at least once improved significantly more on a measure of trust, and marginally significantly more on a measure of unfinished business, than couples who were not found to have expressed underlying vulnerable emotion. Recommendations for treatment are provided in light of the findings. Practitioner points It is recommended that couple therapists help partners to access and express underlying vulnerable emotion, because this appears to be associated with better session and final outcomes., When an underlying vulnerable emotion begins to emerge, it is recommended that the therapist maintain the focus on this emotion and help to facilitate its full expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the effect of paternal mental health problems, particularly on young children, is based predominantly on clinical levels of depression. Furthermore, potential mediators such as marital discord have often been overlooked. This longitudinal community study assessed the association between paternal mental health symptoms in a community sample ( N = 705) assessed at 3 months postnatally (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and 36 months (General Health Questionnaire) and children's socio-emotional and behavioural problems at 51 months (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) as reported by mother, father and teacher. Controlling for socioeconomic status and maternal mental health symptoms at 3 and 36 months, paternal postnatal depressive symptoms predicted more father-reported child problems at 51 months but, in contrast to previous findings, not mother-reported problems. Paternal mental health symptoms at 36 months predicted both maternal and paternal reports of child problems at 51 months controlling for both paternal and maternal postnatal symptoms. Paternal mental health symptoms at 3 and 36 months were not significant predictors of teacher-reported child problems. Postnatal marital discord and paternal mental health problems at 36 months both mediated the relationship between paternal postnatal symptoms and later child emotional and behavioural problems. Child gender did not moderate the relationship. Implications for interventions are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined trajectories of relationship satisfaction for couples (n = 99) who had recently experienced the birth of an infant, and further examined the roles of parent gender, personality, depression, and first-time parent status in initial levels of relationship satisfaction and change over time. Expectant parents reported their personalities during the third trimester of pregnancy, and relationship satisfaction and depression during the third trimester and at 3.5 and 13 months postpartum. Hierarchical Linear Modeling analyses indicated that individuals who were initially more satisfied in their relationships were those whose partners were low in negative emotionality. In addition, first-time fathers had higher initial relationship satisfaction than non-first-time fathers, but experienced fathers had higher initial relationship satisfaction when their partners had greater agency. Declines in relationship satisfaction were more pronounced for mothers and those with higher levels of depressive symptoms across the transition. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recent studies have shown that the presence of a caring relational partner can attenuate neural responses to threat. Here we report reanalyzed data from Coan, Schaefer, and Davidson (2006), investigating the role of relational mutuality in the neural response to threat. Mutuality reflects the degree to which couple members show mutual interest in the sharing of internal feelings, thoughts, aspirations, and joys - a vital form of responsiveness in attachment relationships. We predicted that wives who were high (versus low) in perceived mutuality, and who attended the study session with their husbands, would show reduced neural threat reactivity in response to mild electric shocks. We also explored whether this effect would depend on physical contact (hand-holding). As predicted, we observed that higher mutuality scores corresponded with decreased neural threat responding in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and supplementary motor cortex. These effects were independent of hand-holding condition. These findings suggest that higher perceived mutuality corresponds with decreased self-regulatory effort and attenuated preparatory motor activity in response to threat cues, even in the absence of direct physical contact with social resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on a series of 141 couple therapy cases, the main goal of the present study was to determine whether romantic attachment, pre-treatment relationship distress and therapeutic mandates (i.e., reduction of couple distress or ambivalence resolution) are prognostic indicators of early termination. Couples completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Spanier ) and the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire (Brennan et al. ) at intake, whereas therapists filled in the Classification of Therapeutic Mandates (Poitras-Wright and St-Père ) after the 4th session. Results showed that an ambivalence resolution mandate, elevated couple distress and higher levels of attachment anxiety were associated with early termination. The implications of these findings to further understand early termination in couple therapy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Using data from the Australian First-Time Fathers Study, this article investigates the relationship between a father’s antenatal attachment to his foetus and his subsequent attachment to his infant at 6 and 12 months postnatally.Method:204 first-time expectant fathers were assessed, and subsequently reassessed at 6 and 12 months postpartum on a large number of measures (including attachment).Results:Findings highlight the strong continuity of attachment across these three assessment points, as well as the important influence of the man’s partner relationship and mental well-being on his attachment.Conclusion:Pregnancy provides a potential window of opportunity for enhancing antenatal attachment in expectant fathers, with potential long-term benefits for the future father–child relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]