Three reasons why parental burnout is more prevalent in individualistic countries: a mediation study in 36 countries.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of parental burnout, a condition that has severe consequences for both parents and children, varies dramatically across countries and is highest in Western countries characterized by high individualism. METHOD: In this study, we examined the mediators of the relationship between individualism measured at the country level and parental burnout measured at the individual level in 36 countries (16,059 parents). RESULTS: The results revealed three mediating mechanisms, that is, self-discrepancies between socially prescribed and actual parental selves, high agency and self-directed socialization goals, and low parental task sharing, by which individualism leads to an increased risk of burnout among parents. CONCLUSION: The results confirm that the three mediators under consideration are all involved, and that mediation was higher for self-discrepancies between socially prescribed and actual parental selves, then parental task sharing, and lastly self-directed socialization goals. The results provide some important indications of how to prevent parental burnout at the societal level in Western countries.

The influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on infants' physiological regulation during mother-father-infant interactions in Switzerland.

In this study, we investigated the physiological regulation of vagal tone during dyadic and triadic parent-infant interactions in infants born before or around the COVID-19 lockdown in Switzerland. We hypothesized that there would be a decrease in vagal tone in triadic interactions compared with dyadic interactions, as triadic interactions are more complex and therefore more resource demanding. However, we expected this difference to be smaller for infants who experienced the period of confinement, as the lockdown led parents to spend more time at home. We also hypothesized that parents would have less stressful interactional events in the triadic interaction because they would be used to interacting with the child together. This study included 36 parents with their 3 month-old infants. Eighteen families met the study authors before the onset of the pandemic (pre-COVID) and 18 met them after its onset, having experienced a period of confinement during the infants' first 3 months of life (COVID). Results showed that the COVID group had no decrease in vagal tone during triadic interactions, whereas the pre-COVID group did. This difference could not, however, be explained by less stressful interactional events in triadic interactions, as the COVID group showed more stressful interactional events in mother-father-infant interactions.

When not teaming up puts parents at risk: Coparenting and parental burnout in dual-parent heterosexual families in Switzerland.

Parental burnout refers to loss of energy and pleasure in the parental role. It is predictive of psychopathological outcomes in parents and dysfunctional parenting behaviors. Support of parental duties is central to alleviation of parental burden and prevention of burnout. Coparenting is the concept related to interparental mutual support in rearing a child. However, the links between coparenting and parental burnout have yet to be assessed. We thus aimed in this study to assess which dimensions of coparenting are linked with parental burnout. A total of 306 participants from the French-speaking part of Switzerland (120 fathers, 186 mothers) completed online questionnaires about parental burnout, their coparental relationship, and sociodemographic characteristics. We performed hierarchical regressions, entering sociodemographic characteristics in a first block and coparenting dimensions in a second block. Results showed that (i) a higher number of children and having younger children are linked to higher burnout; (ii) coparenting exposure to conflict is related to higher burnout, whereas endorsement of the partner's parenting is related to lower burnout; and (iii) no interaction effect occurs between sociodemographic characteristics and coparenting variables. Coparenting thus significantly contributes to the occurrence of burnout syndrome. Working on the coparental relationship preventively in parental educational programs or at a relational systemic level in therapy may help prevent burnout. Treating one parent only may not be sufficient to alleviate burnout, as negative coparenting could counter the effect of individual therapy.

In-session gaming as a tool in treating adolescent problematic gaming.

For some adolescent gamers, playing online games may become problematic, impairing functioning in personal, family, and other life domains. Parental and family factors are known to influence the odds that adolescents may develop problematic gaming (PG), negative parenting and conflictual family dynamics increasing the risk, whereas positive parenting and developmentally supportive family dynamics protecting against PG. This suggests that a treatment for adolescent PG should not only address the gaming behaviors and personal characteristics of the youth, but also the parental and family domains. An established research-supported treatment meeting these requirements is multidimensional family therapy (MDFT), which we adapted for use as adolescent PG treatment. We report here on one adaptation, applying in-session gaming. In-session demonstration of the "problem behavior" is feasible and informative in PG. In the opening stage of therapy, we use in-session gaming to establish an alliance between the therapist and the youth. By inviting them to play games, the therapist demonstrates that they are taken seriously, thus boosting treatment motivation. Later in treatment, gaming is introduced in family sessions, offering useful opportunities to intervene in family members' perspectives and interactional patterns revealed in vivo as the youth plays the game. These sessions can trigger strong emotions and reactions from the parents and youth and give rise to maladaptive transactions between the family members, thus offering ways to facilitate new discussions and experiences of each other. The insights gained from the game demonstration sessions aid the therapeutic process, more so than mere discussion about gaming.

Parental sensitivity, family alliance and infants' vagal tone: Influences of early family interactions on physiological emotion regulation.

In this study, we investigated the influence of parental sensitivity and family alliance on infants' vagal tone, considered as a physiological indicator of emotion regulation. Studies on mother-infant interactions have shown that vagal tone can be influenced by the quality of the interaction, such as interacting with a sensitive mother. To date, no study has investigated the influence of paternal sensitivity or family alliance on infants' vagal tone. We hypothesized that maternal sensitivity, paternal sensitivity, and family alliance would be associated with infants' vagal tone during dyadic and triadic interactions. We also explored if family alliance would act as a moderator on the association between parental sensitivity and vagal tone and if the sensitivity of both parents would act as a moderator on the association between family alliance and vagal tone. This study took place in Switzerland and included 82 families with their 3-4-month-old infants. Results showed that maternal sensitivity and family alliance were associated with infants' vagal tone, but paternal sensitivity was not. We found no significant moderation effect. However, result tendencies suggested that the contribution of paternal sensitivity to infants' emotion regulation could be influenced by family alliance, whereas maternal sensitivity and family alliance have a unique contribution.

En este estudio, investigamos la influencia de la sensibilidad del progenitor y la alianza de familia sobre el tono vagal del infante, considerado como un indicador fisiológico de regulación de la emoción. Los estudios acerca de las interacciones madre-infante han demostrado que el tono vagal puede ser influido por la calidad de la interacción, tal como el interactuar con una mamá sensible. Hasta hoy, ningún estudio ha investigado la influencia de la sensibilidad paterna o la alianza de familia sobre el tono vagal del infante. Nuestra hipótesis es que la sensibilidad materna, la sensibilidad paterna y la alianza de familia estaban asociadas con el tono vagal del infante durante las interacciones diádicas y triádicas. También exploramos si la alianza de familia actuaba como moderadora en la asociación entre la sensibilidad paterna y el tono vagal y si la sensibilidad de ambos progenitores actuaba como moderadora en la asociación entre la alianza de familia y el tono vagal. Este estudio se llevó a cabo en Suiza e incluyó a 82 familias con sus infantes de 3-4 meses de edad. Los resultados muestran que la sensibilidad materna y la alianza de familia estaban asociadas con el tono vagal del infante, pero que la sensibilidad paterna no lo estaba. No encontramos ningún efecto de moderación significativo. Sin embargo, las tendencias del resultado sugieren que la contribución de la sensibilidad paterna a la regulación de la emoción puede ser influida por la alianza de familia, mientras que la sensibilidad materna y la alianza de familia tienen una contribución particularmente única.

Dans cette étude nous nous sommes penchés sur l'influence de la sensibilité paternelle et de l'alliance de la famille sur le tonus vagal des nourrissons, considéré comme étant un indicateur physiologique de la régulation de l'émotion. Les études sur les interactions mère-nourrisson ont montré que le tonus vagal peut être influencé par la qualité de l'interaction, comme l'interaction avec une mère sensible. Jusqu'à présent aucune étude n'a porté sur l'influence de la sensibilité paternelle ou l'alliance familiale sur le tonus vagal des nourrissons. Nous avons fait l'hypothèse que la sensibilité maternelle, la sensibilité paternelle, et l'alliance familiale peuvent être liées au tonus vagal des nourrissons durant les interactions dyadiques et triadiques. Nous avons également exploré si l'alliance familiale pourrait agir comme modératrice sur le lien entre la sensibilité parentale et le tonus vagal et si la sensibilité des deux parents pourrait agir comme modérateur du lien entre l'alliance familiale et le tonus vagal. Cette étude s'est faite en Suisse et a inclus 82 familles avec des bébés de 3-4 mois. Les résultats ont montré que la sensibilité maternelle et l'alliance familiale étaient liées au tonus vagal des bébés mais la sensibilité de l'était pas. Nous n'avons trouvé aucun effet de modération important. Cependant les tendances des résultats ont suggéré que la contribution de la sensibilité paternelle à la régulation de l'émotion des nourrissons pourrait être influencée par l'alliance familiale alors que la sensibilité maternelle et l'alliance familiale a une contribution unique.

Parents in couple therapy: An intervention targeting marital and coparenting relationships.

This article describes the treatment framework and core therapeutic principles of the integrative brief systemic intervention (IBSI), a manualized six-session intervention intended for parents seeking couple therapy. IBSI aims to work on the couple's presenting problem, considering its specific impact in the marital and coparenting domains. The basic premise of IBSI is to consider that, when working with couples who have children, therapeutic work on their coparenting alliance may be used as a lever, as both parents may be particularly motivated to improve their relationship for their children's benefit. Increasing the coparenting alliance may then facilitate work on deeper conflicts within the marital relationship. The core therapeutic principles of IBSI are: (1) joining with the couple as romantic partners and a coparenting team from the start of the therapeutic process; (2) supporting the parents in increasing their awareness regarding their children's behavior and emotional experiences when facing their parents' conflicts; and (3) working on the spill- and cross-over effects between marital and coparenting relationships (i.e., exploring how conflict or positivity spills over from one relationship to the other or crosses over from one partner to the other). Therapeutic work following these main therapeutic principles is expected to improve the quality of both relationships. A clinical case is provided to illustrate the core therapeutic principles of IBSI.

Body image, sexual activity, and side effects of treatments across the first year after surgery in women facing breast cancer: The influence of attachment insecurity.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess, across the first year after surgery, the influence of attachment insecurity, that is, avoidant and anxious tendencies, on body image, sexual activity, and side effects of treatments in women diagnosed with breast cancer.Design: A total of 110 women with non-metastatic breast cancer were surveyed 2 weeks (T1), 3 months (T2), and 12 months (T3) after surgery.Methods: Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess attachment tendencies (avoidance and anxiety), medical data (cancer stage, oncological treatment), sociodemographic data (age, socioeconomic level, relational status), and the three outcomes.Results: Generalized linear modeling showed that (1) having more avoidant and anxious attachment tendencies predicted a more negative body image, as did being younger and having undergone a mastectomy; (2) having more avoidant attachment tendencies predicted being sexually inactive, as did having undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy or adjuvant hormonal therapy, whereas being younger and in a committed relationship predicted being sexually active; and (3) attachment tendencies did not predict the intensity of side effects, whereas a higher cancer stage and being at the beginning of treatment predicted more side effects.Conclusions: Women with avoidant and anxious attachment tendencies may be especially vulnerable to the consequences of oncological treatment, in particular regarding body image and sexual activity.

Sexual health in colon cancer patients: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the impact that diagnosis and treatment can have on patients' sexual health, very little research has been conducted on the impact of colon cancer on sexual health. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions in colon cancer and describe the sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological correlates of sexual dysfunction. METHODS: Four electronic databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, AcademicSearchPremier, Cochrane Library) were searched for studies reporting sexual adjustment outcomes for colorectal cancer patients from January 1990 to July 2019. RESULTS: Of the 380 articles screened, 14 were included in this review. Sexual function is affected by colon cancer: patients' sexual satisfaction decreases significantly, as does the frequency of sexual intercourse. There is an increase in sexual problems (desire, excitement, or pleasure disorders). Male gender, advanced age, distress, and the comorbidities increase sexual disorders. In addition, it appears that partner distress negatively affects patients' sexual health. Taking such difficulties into account appears key for these patients and their partners. They could benefit from better care throughout treatment and in remission. CONCLUSION: The results of this systematic review highlight the importance of taking an interest in the sexual health of patients with colon cancer.

We are in this together - Aren't we? Congruence of common dyadic coping and psychological distress of couples facing breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer (BC) can be understood as a we-disease, which affects a couple as a unit and requires coping as a unit (eg, common dyadic coping, CDC). However, partners can be incongruent in their perceptions of CDC, for example, because of misunderstandings and lack of mutuality or conflict, which may likely be associated with greater distress. Thus, this paper examines the effect of CDC congruence on individual psychological distress in cancer patients and their partners. METHODS: Seventy mixed-sex couples in which the woman had nonmetastatic BC completed self-report questionnaires at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year after cancer surgery. CDC congruence measured the difference between patients' and partners' CDC perceptions while controlling for CDC itself. RESULTS: Multilevel modeling showed negative associations between couples' CDC and psychological distress. Beyond this effect, female patients' psychological distress was associated with CDC congruence with an interaction showing that psychological distress was greater when couples were congruent with low rather than a high CDC. CONCLUSION: Less congruence was associated with greater psychological distress in BC patients but not their male partners - especially if the couple reported low CDC. Health professionals should identify and address diverging perceptions, so that additional distress can be minimized for BC patients.

Fearful-Avoidant Attachment: A Specific Impact on Sexuality?

In this study, we investigated sexual outcomes in individuals presenting fearful-avoidant attachment, that is, those who have both high avoidant and anxious attachment tendencies (reluctant to engage in a close relationship and a dire need to be loved by others). A community sample of men and women (N = 600; 25-45 years) completed self-reported questionnaires related to attachment, sexuality, and control variables. Results showed that fearful avoidance is predictive of (a) more sexual partners in individuals during their lifetime and (b) greater sexual compliance. These effects were true for women as well as for men.

Mother-Stepfather Coparenting in Stepfamilies as Predictor of Child Adjustment.

Coparenting between biological parents is a strong predictor of child adjustment. To date, however, little is known about the coparenting dynamics between parent and stepparent in stepfamilies. This study aimed at exploring the links between coparenting in the mother-stepfather dyad and child behavior in stepfamilies compared with the links between mother-father coparenting and child behavior in first-marriage families. Two modes of coparenting were assessed: overt coparenting, that is, coparental behaviors in the presence of the child, and covert coparenting, that is, the way each parent speaks of the other parent to the child. The sample (N = 80) comprised 48 stepfamilies and 32 first-marriage families with a child between 7 and 13 years old. Overt coparenting was assessed through direct observation in the standardized situation of the PicNic Game. Covert coparenting and child behavior were assessed through mother-reported questionnaires. Results showed (a) more covert coparenting behaviors in first-marriage families, (b) no differences in overt coparenting, (c) more child difficulties reported in stepfamilies, (d) less optimal overt coparenting being linked with more difficulties in children in both family structures, and (e) an interaction effect between family structure and coparenting, showing that overt coparenting is linked with child behavior mainly in stepfamilies.

La cocrianza entre padres biológicos es una buena predictora de la adaptación del niño. Sin embargo, hasta la fecha, se sabe muy poco acerca de la dinámica de cocrianza entre padre/madre y padrastro/madrastra en las familias ensambladas. La finalidad de este estudio fue analizar las relaciones entre la cocrianza en la díada madre-padrastro y comportamiento del niño en familias ensambladas comparadas con las relaciones entre la cocrianza de la madre y el padre y el comportamiento del niño en familias formadas por un matrimonio en primeras nupcias. Se evaluaron dos formas de cocrianza: la cocrianza abierta, es decir, los comportamientos coparentales en presencia del niño, y la cocrianza encubierta, es decir, la manera en la que cada padre habla del otro padre al niño. La muestra (N = 80) constituyó 48 familias ensambladas y 32 familias de matrimonios en primeras nupcias con un niño de entre 7 y 13 años. La cocrianza abierta se evaluó mediante la observación directa en la situación estandarizada del juego del picnic. La cocrianza encubierta y el comportamiento del niño se evaluaron mediante cuestionarios informados por la madre. Los resultados demostraron (a) más comportamientos de cocrianza encubierta en las familias formadas por matrimonios en primeras nupcias, (b) ninguna difrencia en la cocrianza abierta, (c) más dificultades de los niños informadas en las familias ensambladas, (d) menos cocrianza abierta óptima ligada a más dificultades en los niños en ambas estructuras familiares, y (e) un efecto de interacción entre la estructura familiar y la cocrianza, lo cual demuestra que la cocrianza abierta está asociada con el comportamiento del niño principalmente en las familias ensambladas.

Parental Perceptions of Individual and Dyadic Adjustment as Predictors of Observed Coparenting Cohesion: A Cross-National Study.

Over the past 20 years, systemically guided approaches to understanding early family processes have helped to provide greater clarity concerning the interplay among individual, dyadic, and family level processes. Parental depression, marital functioning, and child adjustment in particular appear to be reliable predictors of coparental and family level functioning. Indeed, cohesion at the level of the family group covaries in theoretically meaningful ways with these indicators of individual and dyadic adjustment. In this study, two collaborating research groups (one in Switzerland, the second in the United States) partnered to examine whether similar patterns of relationships exist among individual and marital adjustment and coparenting processes in families of 4-year-old children. Using similar constructs but disparate and occasionally dissimilar measures, both groups measured parent-reported depression, marital satisfaction, and child behavior problems. Coparenting cooperation and warmth were observed during family interactions. Despite differences between samples and evaluation tools, similar results were found for the Swiss and U.S. samples. A model with depression, marital satisfaction, and child symptoms as predictors of a latent factor of observed coparenting cooperation and warmth showed good fit to data in both samples, suggesting the model was relevant for each. Parameter estimation showed that higher coparenting cooperation and warmth was predicted by lower maternal depression and higher child internalizing symptoms. The common significant effects despite differences in assessment paradigms and instrumentation are of substantive interest. Future directions pertinent to the coparenting questions addressed in this research are discussed.

Durante los últimos veinte años, los enfoques guiados sistemáticamente para comprender los procesos familiares iniciales han contribuido a aclarar mejor la interacción entre los procesos individuales, diádicos y familiares. La depresión de los padres, el funcionamiento conyugal y la adaptación de los niños en particular parecen ser predictores fiables del funcionamiento coparental y familiar. De hecho, la cohesión a nivel del grupo familiar covaría de formas teóricamente significativas con estos indicadores de adaptación individual y diádica. En este estudio, dos grupos de investigación colaboradores (uno en Suiza, el segundo en los Estados Unidos) se asociaron para analizar si existen patrones similares de relaciones entre la adaptación individual y la conyugal y los procesos de cocrianza en familias de niños de cuatro años. Utilizando constructos similares pero diferentes y medidas ocasionalmente disímiles, ambos grupos midieron la depresión, la satisfacción conyugal y los problemas de comportamiento de los niños informados por los padres. Se observó cooperación y cordialidad en la cocrianza durante las interacciones familiares. A pesar de las diferencias entre las muestras y las herramientas de evaluación, se hallaron resultados similiares para las muestras de Suiza y de los EE. UU. Un modelo con síntomas de depresión, satisfacción conyugal y síntomas en los niños como predictores de un factor latente de cooperación y cordialidad observado en la cocrianza demostró una bondad de ajuste a los datos en ambas muestras, lo cual sugiere que el modelo fue relevante para cada uno. Las estimaciones paramétricas demostraron que se predijo una mayor cooperación y cordialidad en la cococrianza por medio de una depresión materna más baja y una mayor internalización de los síntomas en los niños. Los efectos notables comunes, a pesar de las diferencias en los paradigmas de evaluación y la instrumentación, son de interés sustancial. Se debaten futuras indicaciones pertinentes a las cuestiones relativas a la cocrianza que se abordan en esta investigación.

The Impact of Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease on Couple Satisfaction: An 18-Month Longitudinal Study.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may benefit from deep brain stimulation (DBS) to improve motor and medication-induced symptoms. Yet mixed evidence regarding the outcome of successful DBS on couple satisfaction has been highlighted in the literature. Thirty patients diagnosed with PD were included in a study investigating couple satisfaction (MSS-14), depression (HAD-D) and anxiety (HAD-A) at four measurement times: before DBS and 6, 12, and 18 months post-surgically. Sixteen spouses/partners were included as well. Couple satisfaction from the patient perspective was never associated with depression or anxiety. However, poor marital adjustment (i.e., difference and absolute difference between patients and spouses/partners MSS-14 scores) predicted patients' pre-operative depressive mood. Longitudinal analyses showed that couple satisfaction (n = 9) worsened at 12 months and 18 months compared to pre-DBS scores, F(2.047, 16.378) = 8.723, p = .003, and despite concomitant motor improvement. Growth curve analyses showed that couple satisfaction worsening occurred between 6 and 12 months post-operatively (b = 2.938, p < .001). Thus, couple satisfaction did not increase along with motor improvement and deteriorated after the adjustment period following DBS.

The protective effect of a satisfying romantic relationship on women's body image after breast cancer: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the protective role of relationship satisfaction on body image in women with breast cancer throughout the first year post-surgery. METHODS: Seventy-four Swiss patients engaged in a relationship filled out a questionnaire assessing body image disturbance 2 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year after surgery. A univariate latent change score model was used to analyze the evolution of body image disturbance and the contribution of relationship satisfaction to body image disturbance. RESULTS: Women who were satisfied with their relationship reported less body image disturbance than did dissatisfied women at 2 weeks post-surgery. Being married was also associated with less body image disturbance at that time. The protective effect of these relational variables was still observable 1 year later. Changes in body image disturbance over time were explained by the negative impacts of mastectomy and chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: How women perceive the impact of breast cancer treatment on their body may be partly determined by the quality of the relational context in which they live.

A Longitudinal Study of Parental Depressive Symptoms and Coparenting in the First 18 Months.

Although the negative impact of postpartum depression on parenting behaviors has been well established-albeit separately-for mothers and fathers, the respective and joint impact of both parents' mood on family-group interactive behaviors, such as coparenting support and conflict behaviors between the parents, have not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the association between parental depressive symptoms and coparenting behaviors in a low-risk sample of families with infants, exploring reciprocity between the variables, as well as gender differences between mothers and fathers regarding these links. At 3 (T1), 9 (T2), and 18 months postpartum (T3), we assessed both parents' depressive symptoms with a self-report questionnaire and observed coparenting support and conflict during triadic mother-father-child interactions. The results revealed that higher maternal depressive symptoms at T1 were associated with lower support at T1 and T2. Conflict at T3 was associated with higher maternal depressive symptoms at T3 and, more surprisingly, with less depressive symptoms in mothers at T2 and fathers at T3. Cross-lagged associations suggested that parental depressive symptoms were more likely to influence coparenting than the reverse. Moreover, maternal depressive symptoms were more likely to be linked to coparenting behaviors than were paternal depressive symptoms. These results confirm that parental-mostly maternal-depressive symptoms, even of mild intensity, may jeopardize the development of healthy family-level relations, which previous research has shown to be crucial for child development.

Psychological Factors Involved in Sexual Desire, Sexual Activity, and Sexual Satisfaction: A Multi-factorial Perspective.

This study explored the role of psychological trait factors in sexual desire and sexual activity. In particular, it investigated how these factors may contribute to maintaining a balance between motivational aspects and self-control abilities, as both have been considered important in relation to adaptive sexuality. Moreover, the study explored the relationship between sexual desire, activity, and satisfaction. Participants completed questionnaires assessing sexual desire (dyadic, solitary), sexual activity (with a partner, alone), sexual satisfaction, approach and avoidance motivation, attachment, self-control, sensation seeking, and mindfulness. Cluster analyses, based on participants' level of sexual desire and sexual activity, highlighted three distinct profiles for each gender related to different types of psychological functioning: (a) participants with high dyadic sexual desire and activity were the most sexually satisfied, showed optimal psychological functioning, and were characterized by a balance between motivational tendencies to seek positive rewards and self-control abilities (high approach motivation, secure attachment, high self-control, high mindfulness); (b) participants with high dyadic and solitary sexual desire and activity were moderately satisfied and showed a type of psychological functioning predominantly characterized by impulsivity (an overly high motivation to obtain rewards in women, and low self-control in men); (c) participants with low dyadic sexual desire and activity were the least sexually satisfied and were characterized by high motivation to avoid negative consequences and low self-control (high avoidance motivation, insecure attachment, and poor mindfulness). These results shed further light on how fundamental psychological factors contribute to explain the individual variability in sexual desire, activity, and satisfaction.

THE PICNIC GAME: PRESENTATION OF A SITUATION OF OBSERVATION TO ASSESS FAMILY INTERACTIONS.

The aim of this article is to present a situation of observation designed for the assessment of family interactions: The PicNic Game (PNG). In this situation, families are invited to play at having a picnic together. This can be done with any number of children, aged from a few weeks to adolescence. A companion assessment tool, the Revised-Picnic Assessment Scale (Re-PAS), allows evaluation of interactions in the family on several dimensions. This article presents the PNG and a preliminary study of the validation of the Re-PAS dimensions in a sample of families (N = 67) with 18-month-old infants and their siblings. The PNG was well-received by the families. Construct validity of the Re-PAS was tested, first against self-reported data by mothers and fathers regarding marital satisfaction, coparenting behavior, and division of household tasks, and then against observed maternal and paternal sensitivity and controlling behaviors assessed during free-play. Results show satisfactory preliminary reliability and validity. Two contrasting cases are presented to illustrate the different interactions highlighted in the PNG. This situation is useful for researchers and clinicians, particularly as a basis for video-feedback work with the family.

[Neurobiological, psychological and sociological approach to sexual desire and sexual satisfaction]. / Une approche neurobiologique, psychologique et sociologique du désir sexuel et de la satisfaction sexuelle.

In the last years, University Fund Maurice Chalumeau (FUMC) launched a dynamic of research designed to promote scientific excellence and the development of Sexology with particular interest regarding sexual desire. The FUMC has supported a research project entitled "Neurobiological, psychological and sociological approach to sexual desire and sexual satisfaction". This project, sampled on 600 people (300 men and 300 women) aged between 25 and 46 years, was structured around three studies: a broad sociological study and two more specific ones, focused on some psychological mechanisms and neurobiological factors involved in sexual desire. The results show how the secondary socialization, personal expectations, beliefs and values in sexuality, sexual motivations, body image, as well as the neurobiological foundations and visual patterns, are of vital importance in the dynamics of sexual desire.

Colorectal cancer survivors' adjustment to permanent colostomy in Switzerland: A qualitative analysis.

Colostomized colorectal cancer survivors present physical, psychological, and social difficulties after treatment, which complicate their return to normal life. Nevertheless, we lack insight into their lived transition experience after treatment in Switzerland. We led nine semi-structured interviews with participants who had a colostomy for a mean of 16.4 years. The participants' mean age was 73.1 years. Through an inductive thematic analysis, we highlighted several adaptation difficulties. Their body image was poor, and they behaved differently than before the surgery. For fear of being rejected, they concealed their colostomy. However, they felt isolated and often wished for more support. They may be in a vicious circle where their difficulties are maintained. We advocate that supporting survivors psychologically beyond the end of their treatment is essential to facilitate adjustment and overcome cancer.

The Interplay Between Maternal and Paternal Senses of Efficacy Moderates the Link Between Perinatal Parental Stress and Family Alliance at 3 Months.

Objective. Both parents may report high levels of stress during the perinatal period with possible negative consequences for parental well-being and child development. Parental sense of efficacy moderates the effect of stress. To date, no studies have assessed links between parental stress and mother-father-infant interactions in terms of family alliance and the extent to which each parent's sense of efficacy moderates these links. Design. In this study, 65 dual-parent families answered a questionnaire about parental stress between 36 and 38 weeks of pregnancy and at 3 months after birth. Families were also observed while playing with their 3-month-old infant in the Lausanne Trilogue Play, and they completed a questionnaire about parental efficacy. Results. Structural equation modeling analyses showed that higher maternal or paternal postnatal stress has a direct link with higher family alliance and the links between stress and family alliance are moderated by complex interaction effects between maternal and paternal senses of efficacy. Conclusions. This study shows the necessity of considering the interaction between the senses of self-efficacy of both parents as moderators of parenting stress.