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Dominance and prestige reflect different forms of power and can affect relationship outcomes. Whereas dominance is a conflict-oriented way of dealing with people and grabbing status, prestige is derived from respect and esteem that is granted by others due to superior skills and knowledge. In this research, we tested three partially competing perspectives on potential associations of dominance and prestige with relationship quality (RQ). Sociobiological perspectives suggest that both concepts ensure the provision of valuable resources, and thus predict that both dominance and prestige would be positively linked to RQ. From a sociocultural perspective, men are expected to be dominant and prestigious whereas being dominant (and perhaps being prestigious) would violate the feminine gender-role stereotype; thus, both variables should relate positively to RQ only for men. From a personality perspective, dominance is characterized by undesirable attributes, whereas prestige is characterized by more desirable attributes; as such, only prestige should be positively related to RQ. We conducted four studies with individuals in romantic relationships in three different countries (Germany, Israel, and the US; N total = 2,010 participants). The participants completed measures of dominance-prestige (as general attributes, as relationship-specific attributes, or in comparison with their partner) and measures of RQ. Although not entirely consistent across studies, our results were most consistent with the personality-based perspective. Prestige seems to benefit a relationship for both actors and partners whereas dominance is detrimental to relationship happiness. Yet, as some results showed that the negative link between dominance and RQ was stronger for women than for men, and the positive link between prestige and RQ was weaker for women than for men; thus some weak support for the sociocultural perspective was also found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Compare characteristics, therapies and clinical outcomes in older adults with type 1 diabetes in the United States T1D Exchange (T1DX) and German/Austrian Diabetes Patienten Verlaufsdokumentation (DPV) registries.Methods: Cross-sectional study of adults ≥60years old with type 1 diabetes seen in 2011-2012 in the T1DX (n=1283) and DPV (n=2014) registries. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables. Adjusted analyses used generalized linear models.Results: Individuals in both registries were similar in body mass index (mean 27kg/m2), percent with obesity (25%) and gender (48% male). In T1DX there was longer diabetes duration (32.3 vs. 28.8years), greater use of antihypertensive medications (including ACE-I and ARBs; 85% vs. 62%), statins (68% vs. 40%), aspirin (77% vs. 21%), insulin pumps (58% vs. 18%), and less smoking (7% vs. 10%); lower adjusted mean LDL-cholesterol (84 vs. 109mg/dL), and lower adjusted mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures (128 vs. 136 and 68 vs. 74mmHg); fewer myocardial infarctions (6% vs. 9% [99% CI of difference, 1% to 5%]), strokes (2% vs. 8% [3% to 7%]), microvascular complications including microalbuminuria (17% vs. 44% [22% to 32%]) but increased depression (16.1% vs. 8.7%). Adjusted mean HbA1c levels were similar (7.5%, 58mmol/mol).Conclusions: Differences between the registries included greater use of antihypertensives, statins and insulin pumps, and fewer chronic complications in the T1DX. Further research is needed to better understand the role of intensive therapy in improving outcomes in older adults with type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two studies, one in the United States (N= 130) and another in Germany (N = 100), examined relationships between daily social interaction and the traits of the Five-Factor Model. In both studies, student participants described their social interactions for 2 weeks using the Rochester Interaction Record. In both countries, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness were positively related to reactions to social interaction, whereas Neuroticism was unrelated to reactions to interactions. In the United States, Extraversion and Openness were positively related to reactions to interactions, whereas these factors were not related to reactions to interactions in Germany. In the United States, Extraversion was positively related to how socially active participants were, whereas none of the FFM traits was related to amount of social interaction in the German sample. In both countries, Extraversion was positively related to percent of interactions involving friends. The results highlight the importance of taking into account the sociocultural milieus within which personality unfolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two studies found positive relationships between the ability to manage emotions and the quality of social interactions, supporting the predictive and incremental validity of an ability measure of emotional intelligence, the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). In a sample of 118 American college students (Study 1), higher scores on the managing emotions subscale of the MSCEIT were positively related to the quality of interactions with friends, evaluated separately by participants and two friends. In a diary study of social interaction with 103 German college students (Study 2), managing emotions scores were positively related to the perceived quality of interactions with opposite sex individuals. Scores on this subscale were also positively related to perceived success in impression management in social interactions with individuals of the opposite sex. In both studies, the main findings remained statistically significant after controlling for Big Five personality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiologic data from three national surveys conducted in 1988, 1990, and 1991 were used to investigate the association between acculturation and use of crack cocaine among Hispanic Americans living in the United States. Poststratification and conditional logistic regression were used to hold constant shared aspects of neighborhood environment, age, sex, and education. The analyses showed a strong inverse relationship between degree of acculturation and crack smoking among Mexican Americans (relative odds = 0.12, 95% confidence interval = 0.04, 0.34) but not among other Hispanics in the study population. This observed variation within the US Hispanic American population deserves special attention in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined self and friends' ratings of social relationship quality and everyday social interactions in 3 studies involving 544 college students in Germany, Spain, and the United States. Scores on a situational judgment test measuring strategic emotion regulation ability (SERA) were negatively related to conflict with others. SERA was more consistently and strongly related to conflict with others than to the positive dimension of relationship quality (support, companionship, and nurturance). The relationship between SERA and conflict was generally not mediated by trait positive or negative affect, and it remained significant or marginally significant controlling for the Big Five personality traits. These findings highlight the importance of the ability to evaluate emotional situations and identify effective responses to these in interpersonal emotion regulation. Furthermore, they suggest that situational judgment and flexible response selection may help people to manage conflicts more than to bond with others., (© 2011 The Authors. Journal of Personality © 2011, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)