Mental health profiles of depressive symptoms and personal well-being among active-duty military families.

Although some research has examined the mental health of individual family members in military families, additional research is needed that considers mental health among multiple members of the family system simultaneously and that characterizes subsets of families with distinct patterns. Mental health patterns of depressive symptoms and well-being in and among families were identified using latent profile analysis with a community sample of 236 military families with a service member (SM) parent, civilian partner, and adolescent. Drawing from the Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response model, we examined several military-related family demands (e.g., relocations, deployments) and capabilities (e.g., family cohesion, social support outside the family) as correlates of the family profiles. Three profiles emerged: thriving families (62.3% of the sample where all three family members reported relatively low depressive symptoms and high personal well-being), families with a relatively distressed SM (24.2%), and families with a relatively distressed adolescent (13.5%). Overall, there were no differences between the groups of families regarding military-related demands, yet there were differences between the groups regarding their capabilities, namely family cohesion and social support. In general, families in the thriving profile tended to have higher family cohesion and social support as reported by multiple family members compared to the other two profiles. Findings can inform the development of family needs assessments and tailored interventions (and intervention points) based on family profiles and current capabilities.

How military-related stress and family relationships are associated with perceptions of work-family impact for married male service members with adolescent children.

Family members' perceptions of challenges associated with military life can spillover to their relationships with one another and, in turn, inform service members' beliefs of how their work impacts family life. The current study examined connections between active-duty fathers', civilian mothers', and adolescents' perceptions of military-related stress, adolescents' perceptions of quality of family relationships (i.e. parent-adolescent relationships), and service members' perceived work-family impact (specifically work-related guilt and work-related enrichment). To examine these associations, a path analysis with secondary cross-sectional data was estimated using data from 228 Army families (each with an active-duty father, civilian mother, and adolescent offspring). The findings suggested that service members' perceptions of military-related stress and adolescents' relationship quality with both parents were related to service members' work-family impact, specifically work-related enrichment. Such associations highlight the importance of high-quality parent-adolescent relationships for active-duty fathers' work-family impact, which has implications for military families but, more broadly, for service members' readiness and retention.

Factors associated with antibody titer levels among an occupational cohort of fully vaccinated individuals and subsequent risk of COVID-19 infection: A cohort study.

This study (1) determined the association of time since initial vaccine regimen, booster dose receipt, and COVID-19 history with antibody titer, as well as change in titer levels over a defined period, and (2) determined risk of COVID-19 associated with low titer levels. This observational study used data from staff participating in the National Football League COVID-19 Monitoring Program. A cohort of staff consented to antibody-focused sub-study, during which detailed longitudinal data were collected. Among all staff in the program who received antibody testing, COVID-19 incidence following antibody testing was determined. Five hundred eighty-six sub-study participants completed initial antibody testing; 80% (469) completed follow-up testing 50-101 days later. Among 389 individuals who were not boosted at initial testing, the odds of titer < 1000 AU/mL (vs. ≥1000 AU/mL) increased 44% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-1.75) for every 30 days since final dose. Among 126 participants boosted before initial testing with no COVID-19 history, 125 (99%) had a value > 2500 AU/ml; 86 (96%) of 90 tested at follow-up and did not develop COVID-19 in the interim remained at that value. One thousand fifty-seven fully vaccinated (330 [29%] boosted at antibody test) individuals participating in the monitoring program were followed to determine COVID-19 status. Individuals with titer value < 1000 AU/mL had twice the risk of COVID-19 as those with >2500 AU/mL (HR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.28-3.18). Antibody levels decrease postvaccination; boosting increases titer values. While antibody level is not a clear proxy for infection immunity, lower titer values are associated with higher COVID-19 incidence, suggesting increased protection from boosters.

Use of food distribution resources among military families with young children since the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined military families' use of food distribution resources and military (e.g. rank) and non-military (e.g. race/ethnicity) characteristics associated with using food distribution resources. DESIGN: Secondary data analyses from a cross-sectional survey in the first 6 months of 2021. SETTING: A national sample of eligible families completed an online survey. PARTICIPANTS: 8326 enlisted military families with an active duty service member in the United States Army or Air Force who applied for supplemental childcare funding distributed by National Military Family Association. RESULTS: 13·2 % of the families reported utilising a food distribution resource in the past 12 months. Those with lower financial well-being were more likely to utilise such resources. Older (OR = 1·04, 95 % CI = 1·02, 1·05, P < 0·001), single-earner (OR = 0·73, 95 % CI = 0·61, 0·89, P = 0·001) families with a lower rank (OR = 0·69, 95 % CI = 0·64, 0·75, P < 0·001) and Army affiliation (compared with Air Force) (OR = 2·31, 95 % CI = 2·01, 2·67, P < 0·001) were more likely to utilise food distribution resources. Members of certain racial/ethnic minority groups were more likely to utilise food distribution resources than White respondents (OR from 1·47 for multi-racial to 1·69 for Asians), as were families with more dependent children (OR = 1·35, 95 % CI = 1·25, 1·47, P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: These results identify the extent of food distribution resource utilisation in military families with young children approximately 1 year into the COVID-19 pandemic. The results also identify characteristics associated with their use of food distribution resources. Findings are discussed with an emphasis on prevention and intervention implications for military families.

Identifying Mental Health Profiles Among Adolescents Who Experienced a Recent Parental Deployment or Military-Related Family Separation.

Accessing two independent samples of adolescents in military families in the United States who recently experienced parental separation (N = 573; N = 186), this study sought to identify adolescent mental health profiles indexed on multiple indicators. In other words, we asked how military adolescents fare after parental separation in terms of mental health indicators. Proximal family processes (family cohesion, conflict, and marital adjustment) were also examined in relation to mental health profiles as well as core adolescent outcomes, self-rated health, and school enjoyment. In both samples, three profiles emerged identifying similar structures of mental health profiles. Two-thirds of adolescents were in the lowest risk mental health group. Poor family cohesion and greater conflict were associated with the moderate and highest risk groups. The lowest risk group reported better health and greater school enjoyment. Family nurses and other health care professionals are encouraged to inquire about military connectedness, structural changes occurring within the family system, and family processes in relation to adolescent well-being.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infections and Reinfections Among Fully Vaccinated and Unvaccinated University Athletes-15 States, January-November 2021.

BACKGROUND: Limited data currently exist on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among fully vaccinated persons or reinfections in college-aged populations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partnered with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions to analyze retrospective data and present characteristics of positive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases among student athletes 18 years of age and older. METHODS: De-identified, individual-level data contributed by 21 universities on 1378 student athletes who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 from January through November 2021 (pre-Omicron) were examined to determine percentages of infection among unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and fully vaccinated individuals (breakthrough infections) as well as reinfections. Comparisons by demographic characteristics and regions were also made to further characterize these infections. RESULTS: Among the 1378 student athletes positive for SARS-CoV-2, 1070 (77.6%) were infected when unvaccinated and 22.4% (n = 308) were infected after full vaccination. There was a significant difference between Black (14.7%, n = 40) and White (23.9%, n = 168) student athletes who experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection after being fully vaccinated (P < .01). Proportions of infections among fully vaccinated individuals did not differ statistically by sex (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: This article adds to the knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 infections among fully vaccinated individuals in college-aged populations. The level of infections among fully vaccinated student athletes indicates the need for maintaining precautions to prevent infection. Further study of COVID-19 vaccination, infection, and reinfection among the well-resourced and diverse population of student athletes might contribute further understanding of factors that play a role in health equity among young adults.

Results from a Test-to-Release from Isolation Strategy Among Fully Vaccinated National Football League Players and Staff Members with COVID-19 - United States, December 14-19, 2021.

During December 2021, the United States experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases, coinciding with predominance of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant (1). During this surge, the National Football League (NFL) and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) adjusted their protocols for test-to-release from COVID-19 isolation on December 16, 2021, based on analytic assessments of their 2021 test-to-release data. Fully vaccinated* persons with COVID-19 were permitted to return to work once they were asymptomatic or fever-free and experiencing improving symptoms for ≥24 hours, and after two negative or high cycle-threshold (Ct) results (Ct≥35) from either of two reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests† (2). This report describes data from NFL's SARS-CoV-2 testing program (3) and time to first negative or Ct≥35 result based on serial COVID-19 patient testing during isolation. Among this occupational cohort of 173 fully vaccinated adults with confirmed COVID-19 during December 14-19, 2021, a period of Omicron variant predominance, 46% received negative test results or had a subsequent RT-PCR test result with a Ct≥35 by day 6 postdiagnosis (i.e., concluding 5 days of isolation) and 84% before day 10. The proportion of persons with positive test results decreased with time, with approximately one half receiving positive RT-PCR test results after postdiagnosis day 5. Although this test result does not necessarily mean these persons are infectious (RT-PCR tests might continue to return positive results long after an initial positive result) (4), these findings indicate that persons with COVID-19 should continue taking precautions, including correct and consistent mask use, for a full 10 days after symptom onset or initial positive test result if they are asymptomatic.

Higher-order trajectories of pain and depressive symptoms link midlife financial stress to women's well-being in later life.

Objectives: Consistent with biopsychosocial models, shared pathophysiological conditions underlying both physical pain and depressive symptoms can result in the clustering of pain and depressive symptoms. However, previous studies have not investigated a higher-order construct capturing both pain and depressive symptoms over time. Furthermore, research has not identified trajectory antecedents (e.g. perceived family financial stress) and their consequences for later-life health and well-being. The present study sought to address these gaps in the research.Method: Using prospective data over 23 years from 244 long-term married women, the present study estimated latent growth curves in a structural equation model (more specifically a parallel trajectory model was estimated).Results: Family financial strain in midlife was, on average, associated with a higher initial level (ß = .37, p < .001) and rate of change (ß = .20, p = .045) of pain-depressive symptoms trajectories, which, in turn, contributed to health and well-being challenges, including the level and rate of change in physical limitations (ß = .50, p < .001 and 0.43, p < .001, respectively), memory impairment (ß = .47 and .47, p < .001, respectively), and loneliness (ß = .63, p = < .001 and .28, p = .022, respectively) in later years. The adverse influence of family financial strain on pain-depressive symptoms trajectories weakened under high levels of marital closeness (ß = -.10, p = .032). Conclusion: These findings emphasize the necessity of policies and interventions that focus on reducing adults' stressful life circumstances and further developing protective factors that can aid in the redirection of adverse pain-depressive symptoms trajectories.Supplemental data for this article are available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2021.1993129.

Midlife financial strain and later-life health and wellbeing of husbands and wives: Linking and moderating roles of couple intimacy trajectories.

This study investigates (a) heterogeneous trajectories of couple intimacy over the mid-later years (average ages of 40-65) and (b) how these intimacy classes are differentially associated with spouses' midlife financial strain as well as their later-life health and wellbeing outcomes. The sample was comprised of white couples in long-term marriages from the rural Mid-west who experienced the economic downturn of the farm crisis in late 1980s. Couple-level measures of emotional intimacy and sexual intimacy were created by summing husbands' and wives' reports. Using growth mixture modeling with a sample of 304 couples, conjoint intimacy classes were identified from trajectories of couple emotional intimacy and sexual intimacy. Three qualitatively different latent intimacy classes of couples were identified: Consistently High, Moderate and Increasing, and Chronically Low. Intimacy classes were differentially associated with midlife financial strain and later-life health and wellbeing. Spouses with consistently high and moderate and increasing intimacy in their mid-later years averaged lower financial strain in early midlife and better health and wellbeing outcomes in later years (>67 years) compared to those with consistently low intimacy after controlling for lagged health measures. The identification of couple intimacy trajectory groups provides a potentially useful prognostic tool for counseling efforts that can promote and develop resiliency factors to aid in the redirection of adverse couple intimacy trajectories.

En el presente estudio se investigan las a) trayectorias heterogéneas de la intimidad de la pareja durante los años de la mediana edad y la vejez (edades promedio de 40 a 65 años) y b) cómo estas clases de intimidad se asocian diferencialmente con la presión económica de la mediana edad de los cónyuges, así como con los resultados en la salud y el bienestar en la vejez. La muestra estuvo compuesta de parejas blancas en matrimonios duraderos de zonas rurales del centro de los Estados Unidos que sufrieron la recesión económica de la crisis agrícola a fines de la década de los ochenta. Las medidas a nivel de la pareja de la intimidad emocional y la intimidad sexual se crearon sumando los informes de los esposos y las esposas. Utilizando un modelo de combinación de crecimiento con una muestra de 304 parejas, se identificaron clases de intimidad conjunta a partir de las trayectorias de la intimidad emocional y la intimidad sexual de la pareja. Se identificaron tres clases de parejas cualitativamente diferentes según su intimidad latente: constantemente alta, moderada y en aumento, y crónicamente baja. Las clases de intimidad estuvieron asociadas diferencialmente con la presión económica en la mediana edad y la salud y el bienestar en la vejez. Los cónyuges con intimidad constantemente alta, y moderada y en aumento entre la mediana edad y la vejez promediaron una menor presión económica a principios de la mediana edad y mejores resultados en la salud y el bienestar durante la vejez (más de 67 años) en comparación con aquellos que tenían una intimidad constantemente baja después de tener en cuenta las medidas de salud retardadas. La identificación de los grupos de trayectorias de la intimidad de la pareja ofrece una herramienta de pronóstico que puede ser útil para el trabajo de terapia orientado a personas y a parejas, ya que puede promover y desarrollar factores de resiliencia que ayuden a redirigir las trayectorias desfavorables de la intimidad de la pareja.

Military couples' childhood experiences and romantic relationship satisfaction: The role of accepting influence.

Although accepting influence (i.e., being open to the influence of others) is considered important for couple relationships, there is a lack of empirical research on the association between accepting influence and relationship satisfaction. Moreover, research has not examined what family experiences may precede one's ability to accept influence in later romantic relationships, although life course theory and the vulnerability stress adaptation model support the notion that stressful childhood experiences may be consequential for accepting influence adaptive processes, which, in turn, can impact relationship satisfaction. This study used dyadic, couple data and an actor partner interdependence model to investigate the associations between stressful childhood experiences, accepting influence, and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 229 military couples (with one male service member and one female civilian spouse) after accounting for elements of their military context (e.g., rank, number of deployments), relationship length, and mental health. The path model also estimated the indirect effects from both partners' stressful childhood experiences to relationship satisfaction through accepting influence. Female spouses' stressful childhood experiences were associated with their perceptions of male partners' accepting influence, which, in turn, was associated with both partners' relationship satisfaction, demonstrating partial mediation. Military couples, as well as other couples in stressful contexts, may benefit from interventions that address how prior family experiences impact current accepting influence processes. Moreover, accepting influence behaviors can be a tool for couples to utilize to mitigate the possible negative consequences of their stressful circumstances on their relationship.

Aunque la aceptación de la influencia (p. ej.: estar abierto a la influencia de los demás) se considera importante para las relaciones de pareja, faltan investigaciones empíricas sobre la asociación entre la aceptación de la influencia y la satisfacción con la relación Además, las investigaciones no han analizado qué experiencias familiares pueden preceder la capacidad de una persona de aceptar la influencia en relaciones amorosas posteriores, aunque la teoría del curso de vida y el modelo de adaptación al estrés de vulnerabilidad respaldan la noción de que las experiencias estresantes de la niñez pueden ser significativas para aceptar los procesos adaptativos de la aceptación de la influencia que, a su vez, puede afectar la satisfacción con la relación. En este estudio se utilizaron datos diádicos de parejas y un modelo de interdependencia actor-pareja para investigar las asociaciones entre las experiencias estresantes de la niñez, la aceptación de la influencia y la satisfacción con la relación en una muestra de 229 parejas de militares (formadas por un esposo en el servicio militar y una esposa civil) después de tener en cuenta los elementos de su contexto militar (p. ej.: rango, número de movilizaciones militares), la duración de la relación y la salud mental. El modelo de pautas también calculó los efectos indirectos de las experiencias estresantes de la niñez de ambos integrantes de la pareja en la satisfacción con la relación mediante la aceptación de la influencia. Las experiencias estresantes de la niñez de las esposas estuvieron asociadas con sus percepciones de la aceptación de la influencia de los esposos, la cual, a su vez, estuvo asociada con la satisfacción con la relación de ambos integrantes de la pareja. Esto demuestra una mediación parcial. Las parejas de militares, así como otras parejas en contextos estresantes, pueden beneficiarse de las intervenciones que abordan cómo las experiencias familiares anteriores afectan los procesos actuales de aceptación de la influencia. Además, las conductas de aceptación de la influencia pueden ser una herramienta que las parejas pueden utilizar para mitigar las posibles consecuencias negativas de sus circunstancias estresantes en su relación.

Time from Start of Quarantine to SARS-CoV-2 Positive Test Among Quarantined College and University Athletes - 17 States, June-October 2020.

To safely resume sports, college and university athletic programs and regional athletic conferences created plans to mitigate transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Mitigation measures included physical distancing, universal masking, and maximizing outdoor activity during training; routine testing; 10-day isolation of persons with COVID-19; and 14-day quarantine of athletes identified as close contacts* of persons with confirmed COVID-19. Regional athletic conferences created testing and quarantine policies based on National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) guidance (1); testing policies varied by conference, school, and sport. To improve compliance with quarantine and reduce the personal and economic burden of quarantine adherence, the quarantine period has been reduced in several countries from 14 days to as few as 5 days with testing (2) or 10 days without testing (3). Data on quarantined athletes participating in NCAA sports were used to characterize COVID-19 exposures and assess the amount of time between quarantine start and first positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. Despite the potential risk for transmission from frequent, close contact associated with athletic activities (4), more athletes reported exposure to COVID-19 at social gatherings (40.7%) and from roommates (31.7%) than they did from exposures associated with athletic activities (12.7%). Among 1,830 quarantined athletes, 458 (25%) received positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results during the 14-day quarantine, with a mean of 3.8 days from quarantine start (range = 0-14 days) until the positive test result. Among athletes who had not received a positive test result by quarantine day 5, the probability of having a positive test result decreased from 27% after day 5 to <5% after day 10. These findings support new guidance from CDC (5) in which different options are provided to shorten quarantine for persons such as collegiate athletes, especially if doing so will increase compliance, balancing the reduced duration of quarantine against a small but nonzero risk for postquarantine transmission. Improved adherence to mitigation measures (e.g., universal masking, physical distancing, and hand hygiene) at all times could further reduce exposures to SARS-CoV-2 and disruptions to athletic activities because of infections and quarantine (1,6).

Couple processes of family economic hardship, depressive symptoms, and later-life subjective memory impairment: moderating role of relationship quality.

OBJECTIVES: To examine a) processes through which family economic hardship (FEH) contributes to spouses' mental health and subsequent subjective memory impairment (SMI) in later years and b) the moderating effect of overall relationship quality on these associations. METHODS: With prospective data over 27 years from a sample of 224 husbands and wives in enduring marriages, the present study utilized latent growth curves to identify how FEH trajectories are associated with both spouses' depressive symptoms trajectories across their mid-later years (average age 40-65 years) and subsequent SMI in later life (> 67 years). The moderating role of relationship quality between depressive symptoms and SMI was also examined. RESULTS: FEH experiences across the mid-later years (1991-2015) explained variation in husbands' and wives' depressive symptoms trajectories (1994-2015). Change in depressive symptoms was associated with husbands' and wives' SMI in later life (2017) after taking the level of depressive symptoms into account. Spousal dependencies, including partner effects, existed among husbands' and wives' depressive symptoms trajectories and SMI outcomes. Some of these dependencies were moderated by couples' overall relationship quality. CONCLUSION: FEH has a persistent influence on husbands' and wives' SMI in later years. Depressive symptoms mediated the influence of FEH on later wellbeing. The findings are discussed as they relate to family systems and life course stress process theories. Implications are addressed at multiple levels including national- and state-policies and clinical interventions.

Mastery and Marital Processes: Mechanisms Linking Midlife Economic Adversity and Later-Life Loneliness for Husbands and Wives in Enduring Marriages.

Research has documented that loneliness is a major public health concern, particularly for older adults in the United States. However, previous studies have not elucidated the mechanisms that connect family economic adversity to husbands' and wives' loneliness in later adulthood. Thus, using prospective dyadic data over 27 years from 254 enduring couples, the present study investigated how spouses' mastery, as an intraindividual process, and marital functioning, as a couple process, link midlife family economic adversity to spouses' later-life loneliness. The results provided support for three linking life course pathways: an adversity-mastery-loneliness pathway, an adversity-marital functioning-loneliness pathway, and a mastery-marital functioning-loneliness pathway. The results also showed spousal contemporaneous dependencies in mastery and loneliness. These findings demonstrate the persistent influence of midlife family economic adversity on husbands' and wives' loneliness nearly three decades later and elucidate linking mechanisms involving mastery and couple marital functioning. Findings are discussed as they relate to life course and family systems theories. Implications address multiple levels including national- and state-policies and couple-level clinical interventions.

Las investigaciones han documentado que la soledad es un gran problema de salud pública, particularmente en el caso de los adultos mayores en los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, hay estudios previos que no han dilucidado los mecanismos que conectan las dificultades económicas familiares con la soledad de los esposos y las esposas en la tercera edad. Por lo tanto, utilizando datos diádicos prospectivos durante 27 años de 254 parejas duraderas, el presente estudió investigó cómo la dominancia de los cónyuges como proceso intraindividual y el funcionamiento conyugal como proceso de pareja vinculan las dificultades económicas familiares de la mediana edad con la soledad de los cónyuges en la tercera edad. Los resultados respaldaron tres vías asociadas en el transcurso de la vida: una vía de dificultades-dominancia-soledad, una vía de dificultades-funcionamiento conyugal-soledad, y una vía de dominancia-funcionamiento conyugal-soledad. Los resultados también demostraron dependencias contemporáneas conyugales en la dominancia y la soledad. Estos resultados demuestran la influencia constante de las dificultades económicas familiares durante la mediana edad en la soledad de los esposos y las esposas casi tres décadas después, y dilucidan los mecanismos conectivos relacionados con la dominancia y el funcionamiento conyugal de la pareja. Se exponen los resultados en relación con el transcurso de la vida y las teorías de sistemas familiares. Las implicancias abordan varios niveles, incluidas las políticas nacionales y estatales, y las intervenciones clínicas a nivel de la pareja.

When Fathers Are Involved: Examining Relational and Psychosocial Health among Military Families.

Father involvement can promote the psychosocial health of family members (i.e., fathers, mothers, and children). However, the association between father involvement and individual members' psychosocial health may depend on the quality of the marital relationship and the perceptions of the reporting family member. Research with multiple reporters from the same family is needed identify how family members perceive the impact of father involvement on family member well-being. Using a risk and resilience theoretical framework applied to a family systems perspective, the current study examines associations between father involvement, family flexibility, marital quality, and psychosocial health with a sample of 207 military families (including fathers, mothers, and their adolescents). After accounting for military context, a conditional structural equation model was used to examine the associations between fathers' involvement and family members' psychosocial health. Family flexibility was examined as a mediator between these associations and marital quality as a moderator. Findings suggest that when fathers are more involved, both mothers and fathers report less family flexibility, and that family flexibility was positively associated with family member (father, mother, and adolescent) well-being. Further, father involvement was indirectly related to mothers' psychosocial health through family flexibility, and father involvement was directly associated with better psychosocial health for fathers and adolescents. Marital quality moderated these associations for fathers, mothers, and adolescents. Given the combined benefits of father involvement, family flexibility, and positive marital relationships, clinical efforts to provide information to increase knowledge and skills around maintaining a healthy relationship could serve to promote psychosocial health by improving marital quality and family flexibility.

La participación del padre puede promover la salud psicosocial de los miembros de la familia (p. ej.: padres, madres e hijos). Sin embargo, la asociación entre la participación del padre y la salud psicosocial individual de los miembros de la familia puede depender de la calidad de la relación conyugal y de las percepciones del miembro de la familia que informa. Se necesitan investigaciones con varios informantes de la misma familia para identificar cómo los miembros de la familia perciben el efecto de la participación del padre en el bienestar de los miembros de la familia. Utilizando un marco teórico de riesgo y resiliencia aplicado a una perspectiva de sistemas familiares, el presente estudio analiza las asociaciones entre la participación del padre, la flexibilidad familiar, la calidad conyugal y la salud psicosocial con una muestra de 207 familias de militares (incluidos los padres, las madres y sus adolescentes). Después de tener en cuenta el contexto militar, se utilizó un modelo condicional de ecuaciones estructurales para analizar las asociaciones entre la participación de los padres y la salud psicosocial de los miembros de la familia. Se analizó la flexibilidad familiar como mediadora entre estas asociaciones y la calidad conyugal como moderadora. Los resultados sugieren que cuando los padres participan más, tanto las madres como los padres informan menos flexibilidad familiar, y que la flexibilidad familiar estuvo asociada positivamente con el bienestar de los miembros de la familia (padre, madre y adolescente). Además, la participación de los padres estuvo indirectamente relacionada con la salud psicosocial de las madres mediante la flexibilidad familiar, y la participación de los padres estuvo asociada directamente con una mejor salud psicosocial en los padres y los adolescentes. La calidad conyugal moderó estas asociaciones en el caso de los padres, las madres y los adolescentes. Teniendo en cuenta los beneficios combinados de la participación del padre, la flexibilidad familiar y las relaciones conyugales positivas, los esfuerzos clínicos para proporcionar información a fin de ampliar el conocimiento y las habilidades en torno al mantenimiento de una relación saludable podrían servir para promover la salud psicosocial mejorando la calidad conyugal y la flexibilidad familiar.

How Early Stressful Life Experiences Combine With Adolescents' Conjoint Health Risk Trajectories to Influence Cardiometabolic Disease Risk in Young Adulthood.

Research has primarily focused on additive (unique) associations between early stressful life experiences (specifically, socioeconomic adversity and maltreatment) and young adults' cardiometabolic disease risk without considering multiplicative (synergistic) influences. Furthermore, research has not fully considered the varying patterns of health risk trajectories (e.g., substance use, obesogenic-related behaviors, depressive symptoms) across adolescence and the transition to young adulthood that may link earlier stressful experiences and later cardiometabolic disease risk. This study examined heterogeneity in conjoint health risk trajectories from adolescence to the transition to young adulthood and their additive and multiplicative (synergistic) influences with early stressful life experiences on cardiometabolic disease risk in young adulthood using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 9,421; 55.6% female) over a period of 13 years. Four distinct conjoint health risk trajectories were identified considering trajectories of substance use behaviors, obesogenic-related behaviors, and depressive symptoms: (a) overall high-risk, (b) behavioral risks, (c) psycho-obesogenic risks, and (d) overall low-risk. Socioeconomic adversity and maltreatment were additively and multiplicatively associated with cardiometabolic disease risk in young adulthood. Individuals with overall high-risk conjoint trajectories averaged higher cardiometabolic disease risk in young adulthood when they were exposed to early socioeconomic adversity. Implications for personalized interventions for individuals who have experienced multiple forms of health risks are discussed.

The Contribution of Stressful Marital Interactions to Loneliness and Health across Mid-life and Later Adulthood.

Although past research has noted longitudinal, and sometimes bi-directional, associations between marital interactions, loneliness, and physical health, previous work has not identified long-term associations and differential associations over life-course stages (i.e., mid-life and later adulthood). Utilizing a life-course stress process perspective and a sample of 250 couples in enduring marriages over 17 years (2001-2017), a structural equation model within a dyadic framework assessed the unique influences of stressful marital interactions on loneliness and physical health and the variation in bi-directional influences of loneliness and physical health over time. Marital interactions were relatively stable across life stages, yet marital interactions appear to influence loneliness and physical health. Notable distinctions were evident across life stages (from mid-life to later adulthood and then within later adulthood). Findings are discussed with an emphasis on the implications for health promotion and prevention programs targeting couples' quality of life in later years.

Community, Context, and Coping: How Social Connections Influence Coping and Well-Being for Military Members and Their Spouses.

Military members and their spouses (n = 223 families) were selected from an Active Duty Army installation and assessed with regard to their connections with the military community, their levels of coping with military culture demands, and their reports of individual (depression and life satisfaction) and family well-being. Guided by the contextual model of family stress and the social organization theory of action and change, results from a structural equation model indicated that military community connections, for both military members and their civilian spouses, were related to coping with the military culture and its demands, which in turn was related to both individual and family well-being. Unique actor and partner effects also emerged where both active duty military members' and their civilian spouses' perceptions of military community connections influenced the civilian spouses' satisfaction with military life, but only the active duty military members' community connections influenced their military-specific coping. Additionally, the associations between military-specific coping and individual and family well-being only had actor effects. When examined within the context of important military culture elements, namely rank and extent of military transitions (deployment and relocation), these core findings linking communities to coping and well-being were unchanged. Implications for theory, future research, and practice are shared.

Se seleccionaron militares y sus cónyuges (n = 223 familias) de una instalación de servicio activo del ejército y se evaluaron en términos de sus conexiones con la comunidad militar, sus niveles de afrontamiento de las demandas de la cultura militar, y sus informes de bienestar individual (depresión y satisfacción de vida) y familiar. Los resultados de un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales, guiado por el modelo contextual de estrés familiar y la teoría de acción y cambio de organizaciones sociales, indicaron que las conexiones con la comunidad militar, tanto para militares como para sus cónyuges civiles, se asociaron al afrontamiento con la cultura militar y sus demandas, asociado a su vez al bienestar individual y familiar. Además, efectos únicos de actor y de pareja emergieron cuando las percepciones de sus conexiones con la comunidad militar tanto de militares en servicio activo como de sus cónyuges influyeron en la satisfacción del cónyuge civil con la vida militar pero sólo las conexiones con la comunidad militar de los militares en servicio activo influyeron en su propio afrontamiento específicamente militar. Por otra parte, las asociaciones entre el afrontamiento específicamente militar y el bienestar individual y familiar sólo tuvieron efectos de actor. Al examinarse dentro del contexto de elementos de cultura militar importantes, específicamente de rango y alcance de transiciones militares (despliegue y reubicación), estas relaciones de la comunidad central al afrontamiento al bienestar se mantuvieron sin cambio. Se comparten las implicaciones para la teoría, investigaciones futuras y la práctica.

Psychological Resources, Constructive Conflict Management Behaviors, and Depressive Symptoms: A Dyadic Analysis.

This study investigated the longitudinal associations between mastery, conflict management behaviors, and depressive symptoms using an actor-partner interdependence model with 371 middle-aged couples over a span of 24 years. Results indicated that for both husbands and wives, individuals who possessed higher levels of mastery generally displayed more constructive conflict management behaviors during marital conflicts in middle years. In turn, individuals with more constructive behaviors averaged fewer depressive symptoms in their later adulthood. A partner effect was also noted, as individuals' constructive behaviors were linked to their spouse's depressive symptoms. This finding emphasizes the importance of utilizing a dyadic context to understand intra-individual and inter-individual (or crossover) influences between husbands and wives in enduring marriages. A better understanding of how couples affect each other's mental health can inform the development and implementation of health promotion interventions and prevention efforts targeting middle-aged couples.

Este estudio investigó las asociaciones longitudinales entre el control, las conductas de manejo de conflictos y los síntomas depresivos usando un modelo de interdependencia actor-pareja con 371 parejas de mediana edad durante un periodo de 24 años. Los resultados indicaron que tanto en el caso de los esposos como en el de las esposas, las personas que tuvieron niveles más altos de control generalmente demostraron conductas más constructivas de manejo de conflictos durante los conflictos conyugales en la mediana edad. A su vez, las personas con más conductas constructivas promediaron menos síntomas depresivos en su tercera edad. También se observó un efecto de pareja, ya que las conductas constructivas de las personas estuvieron asociadas con los síntomas depresivos de su cónyuge. Este resultado enfatiza la importancia de utilizar un contexto diádico para comprender las influencias intraindividuales e interindividuales (o cruces) entre los esposos y las esposas en los matrimonios duraderos. Una mejor comprensión de cómo las parejas influyen mutuamente en su salud mental puede contribuir al desarrollo y la implementación de intervenciones de promoción de la salud y de esfuerzos de prevención dirigidos a las parejas en la mediana edad.

Life Course Trajectories of Negative and Positive Marital Experiences and Loneliness in Later Years: Exploring Differential Associations.

Loneliness is relatively common among older adults in the United States, and there can be significant physical, psychological, and cognitive impairments associated with feelings of loneliness. Consequently, this study seeks to uncover determinants of loneliness, particularly the impact of couples' negative and positive marital experiences (i.e., marital strain and strength) over the life course on loneliness in later adulthood. To accomplish this goal, an integrated analytical framework is utilized, incorporating growth curves within an actor-partner interdependence model, to capture the initial level and the rate of change in marital strain and strength over a period of 25 years (from 1991 to 2015) with a sample of 257 couples in enduring, long-term marriages. Couples first participated in the Iowa Youth and Family Project in 1989 and most recently participated in the Later Adulthood Study in 2015. The confirmatory factor analyses showed that latent constructs of marital strain and marital strength are distinct constructs. The univariate growth curve analyses showed that there were significant interindividual variations in the initial level (1991) and rate of change (1991-2015) in marital strain and marital strength for both husbands and wives. While the initial level and rate of change in perceived marital strain from 1991 to 2015 was generally of consequence for both spouses' loneliness in 2015 (actor and partner effects), only actor effects were noted for marital strength. Findings are discussed as they relate to health policies and interventions focusing on the well-being of married couples in later life.

Marital strain trajectories over a quarter century and spouses' loneliness: Couple-level and individual pathways.

Although research suggests that stressful marital experiences may lead to feelings of loneliness in later life, little is known about the influence of marital strain over an extended period of time on loneliness in later years. Thus, in the present study, drawing from family systems and cognitive theories along with common fate and actor-partner interdependence modeling approaches, we hypothesized a hybrid model comprised of two multilevel pathways explaining the persistent influence of marital strain on loneliness, including: (a) a couple-level pathway and (b) an individual pathway involving within-spouse and between-spouse effects. Specifically, we investigated the influences of individual- and couple-level trajectories of marital strain over a period of 25 years (from 1991 to 2015) on loneliness outcomes in later years with a sample of 257 couples in enduring, long-term (over 40 years) marriages. The results mostly supported both hypothesized pathways. Consistent with the pathway involving a couple-level process, couple-level trajectories of marital strain predicted couples' later-life loneliness as reflected by both spouses' reports of loneliness (shared perceptions). In addition, at the individual level, each spouses' unexplained variances (unique perception) in marital strain trajectories predicted his/her own later-life loneliness outcomes (within-spouse effect or actor effect). Findings are discussed as they relate to intervention and prevention programs focusing on the well-being of married couples in later life.