Identification of resiliency processes in dual-trauma couples: An exploration of self-reported relational strengths and weaknesses.

OBJECTIVE: Empirical knowledge about "dual-trauma couples" (DTC), characterized by both partners with a history of trauma exposure and presentation of trauma-related symptoms, is especially deficient. We analyzed DTC partners' qualitative data culled from the Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire (Busby et al., 2001) to ascertain dyadic resiliency processes within dual-trauma couples. METHOD: A data-reductive thematic analysis on short-answer responses of reported relational strengths and weaknesses from female (n = 822) and male partners' (n = 831) yielded several processes that provide insight into individual perceptions, behaviors, and past experiences, and dyadic interactions that may foster or hinder effective resilience in DTC. RESULTS: Participant responses highlighted existing dyadic strengths that fostered effective couple adaptative processes: shared beliefs and goals, mutual collaboration and psychological flexibility, and dyadic connectedness. Barriers to couple resiliency included individual perceptions, behaviors, and past experiences, and dyadic interactions that exacerbated relational instability, emotional unsafety, contentious communication, and difficulties with distress tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Results promote a balanced conceptualization (i.e., inclusion of both adaptive and maladaptive interactions) of couples affected by trauma exposure. Implications for clinical treatment and several areas for future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Parents' interest in resources to address their child's behavioral health through primary care.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to investigate parents' interest in additional primary care-based resources for their children's behavioral health, including parenting support. METHOD: We surveyed 264 English- or Spanish-speaking parents (80% mothers) of children between the ages of 3 and 11 years as they arrived for an appointment at an urban, pediatric primary care clinic. Measures included demographics, the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17) as a parent report of the child's behavioral health, and interest in behavioral resources (e.g., a parenting class, online videos). We used multiple regression to evaluate the predictors of resource interest. RESULTS: Most parents reported interest in behavioral health resources, including many parents not reporting behavioral symptoms high enough to meet criteria for a positive PSC-17. Overall, 82% of parents reported interest in at least 1 resource item; 28% reported interest in all 7 resource items. The resource item with the most interest was online videos and resources (64%). More behavioral health issues (indicated by higher PSC-17 total scores) were positively related to interest in resources; 20% screened positive for behavioral health concerns. DISCUSSION: Parental report of child behavioral health issues was related to greater interest in resources for children's behavioral health; of note, much of the interest came from parents reporting levels of behavioral health concerns that would be scored as negative on the screening tool in practice. These results provide support for efforts to increase parenting and behavioral health resources through primary care, and raise questions about how to best direct resources. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).