Discrimination Against Muslims in the USA and Couple Interactions: An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model.

Muslims in the USA experience unfair treatment and direct exposure to discriminatory acts because of their religion. Trauma stemming from discrimination can strengthen couples' relationships as they find solace in each other, or strain relationships if couples struggle to cope with the stress. This study examined the relationship between experiencing anti-Muslim hate and couples' interactional quality. Further, the role of open communication between partners in moderating the impact of anti-Muslim hate on couple interactions was examined. The study included a sample of 129 Muslim couples. The results indicated gender disparity whereby anti-Muslim hate was linked to negative interactions in relationships for Muslim women, but this was not true for their male partners. In addition, open communication had contracting gender effects on the relationship between anti-Muslim hate and couple interactions. Increased self-disclosure buffered the adverse effects of anti-Muslim hate by reducing the likelihood of negative interactions. Among women, increased self-disclosure exacerbated the detrimental effects of anti-Muslim hate on the couples' relationship such that couples engaged in more negative interactions. Clinical implications are discussed.

"I Don't Like Being That Hyperaware of My Body": Women Survivors of Sexual Violence and Their Experience of Exercise.

The experience of exercise among women survivors of sexual violence is a multifaceted phenomenon. In effort to inform treatment interventions, we used a phenomenological approach to describe the lived experience of exercise among women survivors of sexual violence. Data analysis from a focus group discussion and individual interviews with eight women survivors receiving services at a rape crisis center (RCC) revealed four themes: exercising (and not exercising) fosters safety, exercising is risky, past trauma restricts exercise choices, and exercising is beneficial. Findings indicate that survivors' experience of exercise is related to their connections with self and their social environment. Survivors' choices related to exercise were impacted by their stage of recovery. A variety of social-contextual factors appeared to support or impede motivation to exercise and it was not disinterest in exercise or low confidence in the ability to exercise, but restricted exercise options perceived as safe that influenced exercise motivation.

Health needs and challenges of rural adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to gain understanding of the health issues and needs of rural adolescents by listening to their voices and eliciting their personal perspectives. Rural counties in the USA are defined as having 6-19.9 persons per square mile. METHODS: Focus group interviews were conducted with 65 adolescents aged between 13 and 19 years old, from four rural counties in the USA. These counties are medically underserved with one primary care physician per 3500 population. Grounded theory analysis was utilized to identify overarching themes. RESULTS: Thematic content analysis revealed two themes of health issues - making healthy choices and lack of pro-social, health-promoting role models - and four themes of health needs - privacy, reliable information, accessible health care, and prioritizing health. The findings that speak to the complexity of adolescent health go beyond the inability to access health care and may provide important information that can help mitigate some of the obstacles to adolescents accessing health care in rural settings. A main contributor to adolescents' health choices is the lack of positive role models. Adolescents look for role models in their parents, siblings, peers and adults in their communities. The absence of positive role models means adolescents lack guidance at an age when they are highly impressionable. Contrary to general perceptions that adolescents do not want to affiliate with their parents, adolescents in this study desired connection with their parents and adults in general. Adolescents in the study called for 'frank' discussions with adults about stress management, consequences of substance abuse, realities of adolescent pregnancy and sexual health. It is through open dialogue and frank conversations with adults that adolescents believe they would best obtain the type of credible, realistic health information they need. Common features of rural settings such as familiarity and close-knit communities, though integral in developing a sense belonging, can be an impediment to privacy. Lack of exposure and resources to educate residents of rural communities may enhance biases against the mentally and physically ill. Biases can lead to the stigma associated with seeking health care that in turn leads to distancing and fear promotion, making it difficult, and at times impossible, for adolescents to seek the health care they need. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to developmentally necessary health care and health information that all adolescents need are compounded by the unique rural socio-environment and the involvement of multiple systems - family, school, peers, and healthcare providers - rooted within communities that may hinder adolescents from becoming thriving, contributing citizens. It is crucial that adults in rural communities seek to hear, strengthen, and empower young people through education, sharing of personal experiences and struggles, focusing adolescents' time and energies on positive, pro-health activities, and providing positive role models. Attaining and maintaining good health is a lifelong process. Learning how to be healthy takes time and effort. Communities that lack recreational resources for adolescents to have positive 'down time to unwind', engage with others in the community and re-energize do a disservice to adolescents who want to be active and thriving. The lack of healthy forms of recreation and community engagement can lead to boredom, and engagement in activities that may not be the safest or healthiest.

Relationship satisfaction in Black heterosexual couples: The role of self-compassion and openness.

The study examined how Black heterosexual couples cope with the impact of racial discrimination on their relationship. The Vulnerability Stress Adaptation (VSA) model was utilized to examine the role of self-compassion in mitigating negative interaction in the relationship and how racial discrimination might disrupt this protective process. Further, the influence of open communication on the relationship between negative interaction and overall relationship satisfaction was explored. Participants included 210 Black married heterosexual couples. A common-fate moderated mediation model was used to analyze the data. The results indicated that first, higher levels of self-compassion in both spouses were associated with lower negative interaction within the couple's relationship. Second, among wives, the relationship between self-compassion and negative interaction changed in response to higher levels of racial discrimination. Third, couples' negative interaction suppressed the positive effects of self-compassion on overall relationship satisfaction. Fourth, for wives, the level of open communication played a role in the relationship between negative interaction and relationship satisfaction. Fifth, specifically for wives, the extent to which self-compassion was related to relationship satisfaction through negative interaction depended on the level of discrimination perceived by wives and the degree of open communication in their relationships. The findings have implications for clinical work and further research.

Clinical efficacy of EMDR in unipolar depression: Changes in theta cordance.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has demonstrated efficacy in treating major depressive disorder. EMDR increases cerebral perfusion in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Activity in the ACC and dlPFC can be measured by theta cordance (TC) but has not been examined in EMDR. Ten participants (3 men, 7 women, M age = 42.31 ± 15.03) received ten 75 ± 15 minute EMDR sessions over 6.5 ± .5 weeks. Results indicated that PHQ-9 depression scores reduced from T1 (M = 13.9 ± 3.31) to T11 (M = 6.30 ± 3.23) with EMDR (SMD = 2.30), and that fTC but not pfTC was significantly related to this change. Depression declined as fTC declined. EMDR may engage the dlPFC or ACC that modulates depression and aid in reducing fTC and thus depression levels.

Black-White Marriages: The Moderating Role of Openness on Experience of Couple Discrimination and Marital Satisfaction.

This study examined how open communication between spouses may buffer against discrimination experienced by Black-White couples. Results from 178 couples analyzed using a combination of common-fate and actor-partner interdependence models, indicated that for Black partners, marital satisfaction was not contingent on the level of openness when experiences of couple discrimination were low. When experiences of couple discrimination were high, levels of marital satisfaction were maintained among partners who reported high openness and reduced among partners who reported low openness. Moderation effects were not found for White partners. The results suggest that because Black partners are more aware of and sensitized to discrimination, White partners' abilities to attune to their partners' needs for support could help enhance their relationships.

Computer-Mediated Communication in Intimate Relationships: Associations of Boundary Crossing, Intrusion, Relationship Satisfaction, and Partner Responsiveness.

This study examined the impact of technology on couples in committed relationships through the lens of the couple and technology framework. Specifically, we used data from 6,756 European couples to examine associations between online boundary crossing, online intrusion, relationship satisfaction, and partner responsiveness. The results suggest that participants' reports of online boundary crossing were linked with lower relationship satisfaction and partner responsiveness. Also, lower relationship satisfaction and partner responsiveness were associated with increased online boundary crossing. The results suggest that men, but not women, who reported greater acceptability for online boundary crossing were more likely to have partners who reported lower relationship satisfaction in their relationships. Implications for clinicians, relationship educators, and researchers are discussed.