A Latent Class Analysis of Predictors for Engaging in Sex: A Study with Ethnically Diverse High School Students.

Sexual activity occurs among a large portion of young adults and adolescents, including high school students. While about 40% of high school students nationwide have engaged in sexual intercourse, more information is needed about how individual characteristics may relate to larger patterns of adolescent sexual behavior. This exploratory study utilized a latent class analysis (LCA) to identify clusters of high school students (N = 801) based on demographic characteristics, sexual refusal skills, healthy relationship skills, sociosexuality, internalizing symptoms, alcohol use, various forms of social support (i.e., parents, friends, teachers), and sexual activity at baseline to predict their sexual behavior at a 6-month follow-up. Four unique latent classes were identified based on these baseline predictors. Distinctions in the profiles of high schoolers varied significantly by internalizing symptoms, race/ethnicity, sexually conservative attitudes, and social support in the prediction of adolescent sexual activity at 6-months. This study contributes to the investigation of demographic, social, psychological, attitudinal, and behavioral factors that may distinguish high school students from one another in terms of their longitudinal rates of sexual activity.

Impact evaluation of the family expectations program and moderation by sociodemographic disadvantage.

The federal government, through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), has funded community-based relationship education programs for couples, individuals, and families, with a strong focus on serving economically disadvantaged and racially diverse families. This study evaluated the impact of a 36-hour, workshop-based couple relationship education program that was funded by ACF using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design and intent-to-treat (ITT) analyses. Participants were 1320 couples who were either expecting a baby or had a baby within the past 3 months, at the time of enrollment. Follow-up surveys were administered 12 months later. Analyses evaluated program impacts on relationship stability, constructive communication, and destructive conflict compared to a no-treatment control group. Analyses showed a statistically significant impact of the program on destructive conflict (d = 0.10) but not on constructive communication (d = 0.06) or stability (dCox  = 0.10). Based on findings from previous evaluations, we also examined whether participants' levels of sociodemographic disadvantage moderated these effects. There was significant moderation by sociodemographic disadvantage on constructive communication and destructive conflict, but not on stability. Effects were observed for those at higher levels of sociodemographic disadvantage.

Having a Baby: Impact on Married and Cohabiting Parents' Relationships.

The current study evaluates the effects of having a baby on relationship quality and stability, contrasting married and unmarried cohabiting parents (N = 179; 38% unmarried cohabiting). Participants provided several waves of data, including time points before, during, and after pregnancy. Results indicated that cohabiting parents broke up at a significantly higher rate after having a baby compared to married parents. In terms of relationship quality, interrupted time-series analyses indicated that negative communication significantly increased after baby regardless of marital status. In addition, married parents had significantly higher levels of relationship satisfaction and commitment before baby compared to cohabiting parents but experienced modest declines in relationship satisfaction after baby. Cohabiting parents did not show such declines but remained lower in satisfaction throughout the study. Gender moderated commitment trajectories, such that married and cohabiting women demonstrated decreased commitment after baby, but married and cohabiting men demonstrated no significant changes in commitment. This study adds to the literature by examining both relationship stability and relationship quality trajectories from before pregnancy to after the birth of a baby among married and cohabiting parents in the same sample. Implications of these findings for practice and future research are discussed.

El presente estudio evalúa los efectos de tener un bebé en la calidad y la estabilidad de la relación, contrastando los padres casados y los concubinos convivientes (N = 179; 38 % concubinos convivientes). Los participantes proporcionaron varias series de datos que incluyeron momentos antes, durante y después del embarazo. Los resultados indicaron que los padres concubinos se separaron a un índice considerablemente mayor después de tener un bebé en comparación con los padres casados. En cuanto a la calidad de la relación, los análisis de series de tiempo interrumpido indicaron que la comunicación negativa aumentó considerablemente después del bebé independientemente del estado civil. Además, los padres casados tuvieron niveles considerablemente más altos de satisfacción con la relación y de compromiso antes del bebé en comparación con los padres concubinos, pero tuvieron leves reducciones de la satisfacción con la relación después del bebé. Los padres concubinos no demostraron esas disminuciones pero mantuvieron una satisfacción más baja a lo largo del estudio. El género moderó las trayectorias de compromiso, de manera que las mujeres casadas y las concubinas demostraron un menor compromiso después del bebé, pero los hombres casados y los concubinos no demostraron cambios significativos en el compromiso. Este estudio enriquece la bibliografía analizando tanto las trayectorias de estabilidad de la relación como de calidad de la relación desde antes del embarazo hasta después del nacimiento de un bebé entre padres casados y padres concubinos en la misma muestra. Se debaten las consecuencias de estos resultados para la práctica y las futuras investigaciones.

We are not all the same: The importance of perceived difference in racial ideology and Afrocentricity for African American relationships.

A large body of existing research on African American relationships perpetuates a deficit model that assumes Eurocentric norms and emphasizes between-group differences (e.g., cross-racial comparisons with the majority group-European Americans). The current study examined within-group variability and the influence of culturally unique factors, Afrocentricity, racial ideology, and perceived discrepancy between self and partner on African American relationship processes. Data were collected from 137 self-identified African American adults in same-race, cross-gender relationships. Consistent with the literature on protective values of Afrocentricity, there was an association between reported relationship quality and high levels of one's own and perceived partner's Afrocentricity. Discrepancies between self and partner Afrocentricity were not associated with relationship processes, but higher perceived discrepancies across all four subscales of racial ideology were associated with lower relationship dedication. Higher perceived discrepancies on the humanist and assimilationist subscales were also related to higher levels of conflict. These findings have important clinical implications and demonstrate a need for further research into the nuances of individual factors and dyadic processes that are unique to African American couples.

Un gran número de investigaciones existentes sobre las relaciones afroestadounidenses perpetúa un modelo deficitario que supone normas eurocéntricas y enfatiza las diferencias entre grupos (p. ej.: las comparaciones interraciales con el grupo mayoritario: los estadounidenses de ascendencia europea). El presente estudio analizó la variabilidad intragrupal y la influencia de los factores culturalmente únicos, la afrocentricidad, la ideología racial y la discrepancia percibida entre el yo y el otro integrante de la pareja en los procesos relacionales afroestadounidenses. Se recolectaron datos de 137 adultos autoidentificados como afroestadounidenses que estaban en relaciones con personas de la misma raza y de diferente género. De acuerdo con las publicaciones sobre los valores protectores de la afrocentricidad, hubo una asociación entre la calidad de la relación informada y los niveles altos de la afrocentricidad propia y de la percibida por el otro integrante de la pareja. Las discrepancias entre la afrocentricidad propia y la del otro integrante de la pareja no estuvieron asociadas con los procesos relacionales, pero las discrepancias mayores percibidas entre las cuatro subescalas de la ideología racial estuvieron asociadas con una menor dedicación a la relación. Las discrepancias mayores percibidas en las subescalas humanista y asimilacionista también estuvieron relacionadas con niveles más altos de conflicto. Estos resultados tienen consecuencias clínicas importantes e indican una necesidad de investigar más profundamente los matices de los factores individuales y los procesos diádicos que son exclusivos de las parejas afroestadounidenses.

Helping Couples in the Shadow of COVID-19.

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (coronavirus) and the associated illness, COVID-19, has caused a level of worldwide upheaval unlike any most people now living have seen in their lifetimes. This crisis affects people in their most important, committed, and intimate relationships. Although this crisis has damaged the health and well-being of individuals, crushed economies, and led to an extensive period of uncertainty about the future, there may also be positive outcomes in the motivation people have to protect their relationships. In this paper, we focus on strategies that therapists and relationship educators can use to help couples preserve and protect their relationships during such a time. We describe four foundations of safety that allow relationships to thrive: physical, emotional, commitment, and community. We then highlight three keys from our body of work that can help guide individuals and couples in protecting their relationships on a day-to-day and moment-to-moment basis: (1) decide, don't slide; (2) make it safe to connect; (3) do your part.

La pandemia causada por el virus SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) y la enfermedad asociada, COVID-19, ha causado un nivel de agitación mundial jamás visto en las vidas de la mayoría de las personas ahora vivas. Esta crisis afecta a las personas en sus relaciones más importantes, comprometidas e íntimas. Aunque esta crisis ha dañado la salud y el bienestar de las personas, destrozado las economías y llevado a un periodo extenso de incertidumbre acerca del futuro, también puede haber tenido consecuencias positivas en la motivación que tienen las personas para proteger sus relaciones. En este artículo, nos centramos en estrategias que los terapeutas y los capacitadores en relaciones pueden usar para ayudar a las parejas a preservar y proteger sus relaciones durante este tiempo. Describimos cuatro bases de seguridad que permiten que las relaciones prosperen: física, emocional, comprometida y comunitaria. Luego destacamos tres claves de nuestro trabajo que pueden contribuir a guiar a las personas y a las parejas a la hora de proteger sus relaciones día a día, momento a momento: 1) Decida, no haga cosas sin elegirlas 2) Encárguese de que sea seguro conectarse. 3) Haga su parte.

Everything Here is Fine: Protective Buffering by Military Spouses During a Deployment.

To minimize potential distractions for deployed military service members (SMs), some nondeployed romantic partners have reported engaging in protective buffering, or intentionally withholding information or concerns to protect their deployed partner. This study assessed the associations of protective buffering and psychological distress and marital satisfaction for military couples during and after deployment. Additionally, the study explored whether protective buffering was related to SM reports of being distracted during deployment by family matters. A total of 54 couples provided data before, during, and after an Army deployment. In multilevel models, higher protective buffering by partners was associated with higher psychological distress and lower marital satisfaction for both SMs and partners during, but not after, deployment. Additionally, partners reported frequent use of protective buffering during deployment; however, protective buffering was not significantly correlated with family related distraction for SMs during deployment. Limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.

Para minimizar posibles distracciones para miembros del servicio militar (SM) desplegados, algunas parejas románticas no desplegadas han informado que practican la amortiguación protectora, es decir, ocultan información o preocupaciones intencionalmente para proteger a su pareja desplegada. Este estudio evaluó las asociaciones de amortiguación protectora y angustia psicológica y satisfacción conyugal para parejas militares durante y después del despliegue. Además, el estudio exploró si la amortiguación protectora tenía relación con informes de los SM de estar distraídos durante el despliegue por cuestiones familiares. Un total de 54 parejas proporcionó datos antes, durante y después de un despliegue del ejército. En modelos multinivel, una amortiguación protectora mayor por parte de las parejas se asoció a mayor angustia psicológica y menor satisfacción conyugal tanto para los SM como para las parejas durante, pero no después del despliegue. Además, los socios informaron el uso frecuente de amortiguación protectora durante un despliegue; sin embargo, la amortiguación protectora no tuvo una correlación significativa con la distracción por motivos familiares para los SM durante el despliegue. Se discuten las limitaciones e implicaciones de estos hallazgos.

Protective Buffering by Service Members During Military Deployments: Associations with Psychological Distress and Relationship Functioning.

To shield a romantic partner from potential distress due to stressors occurring during deployment, service members (SMs) may engage in protective buffering, or withholding information or concerns from a romantic partner. This study utilized data from 54 couples collected before, during, and after a military deployment to assess whether SMs engaged in protective buffering while deployed and the possible associations between buffering and psychological, relationship, and contextual factors. Only 2% of SMs indicated never engaging in protective buffering during a deployment. In bivariate analyses, only partners' psychological distress prior to deployment was significantly associated (negatively) with protective buffering. In multilevel models with time nested within individuals, and individuals nested within couples, higher buffering was associated with less partner distress during deployment, but was also associated with higher SM distress both during and after deployment. In these multilevel models, protective buffering was not significantly associated with SM or partner marital satisfaction.

Para proteger a una pareja romántica del posible distrés debido a factores desencadenantes de estrés que se producen durante la movilización militar, los miembros de las fuerzas armadas pueden adoptar una conducta de atenuación protectora u ocultar información o preocupaciones a una pareja romántica. El presente estudio utilizó datos de 54 parejas recopilados antes, durante y después de una movilización militar para evaluar si los miembros de las fuerzas armadas adoptaron una conducta de atenuación protectora mientras estaban movilizados y las posibles asociaciones entre la atenuación y los factores psicológicos, relacionales y contextuales. Solo el 2% de los miembros de las fuerzas armadas indicaron no haber adoptado nunca una conducta de atenuación protectora durante una movilización militar. En los análisis bivariables, solo el distrés psicológico de las parejas antes de la movilización militar estuvo asociado considerablemente (negativamente) con la atenuación protectora. En los modelos multinivel, con el tiempo localizado dentro de las personas y las personas localizadas dentro de las parejas, una mayor atenuación estuvo asociada con menos distrés de la pareja durante la movilización militar, pero también estuvo asociada con un mayor distrés de los miembros de las fuerzas armadas tanto durante como después de la movilización militar. En estos modelos multinivel, la atenuación protectora no estuvo asociada de forma significativa con la satisfacción conyugal de la pareja o del miembro de las fuerzas armadas.

Treatment-as-Usual for Couples: Trajectories Before and After Beginning Couple Therapy.

Couple therapy has been shown to be a meaningful way to improve couples' relationships. However, less information is known about couples' functioning prior to entering treatment in community settings, as well as how their relationship functioning changes from initiating therapy onward. This study examined 87 couples who began community-based couple therapy during a longitudinal study of couples in the military. The couples were assessed six times over the course of 3 years, including time points before and after starting couple therapy. Using an interrupted-time series design, we examined trajectories across the start of couple therapy in relationship satisfaction, divorce proneness, and negative communication. The results demonstrated that couples' relationship satisfaction was declining and both divorce proneness and negative communication were increasing prior to entering couple therapy. After starting couple therapy, couples' functioning on all three variables leveled off but did not show further change, but previous experience in relationship education moderated these effects. Specifically, those who were assigned to the relationship education program (vs. control) demonstrated greater reductions in divorce proneness and greater increases marital satisfaction after starting therapy; however, they also started more distressed.

Se ha demostrado que la terapia de pareja es una manera valiosa de mejorar las relaciones de las parejas. Sin embargo, se cuenta con menos información acerca del funcionamiento de las parejas antes de comenzar un tratamiento en entornos comunitarios, así como acerca de la manera en que el funcionamiento de su relación cambia desde el inicio de la terapia en adelante. Este estudio analizó a 87 parejas que comenzaron terapia de pareja basada en la comunidad durante un estudio longitudinal de parejas en las fuerzas armadas. Se evaluó a las parejas seis veces durante el transcurso de tres años, incluidos momentos específicos antes y después de comenzar la terapia de pareja. Utilizando un diseño de series de tiempo interrumpido, analizamos las trayectorias a lo largo del comienzo de la terapia de pareja en la satisfacción con la relación, la propensión al divorcio y la comunicación negativa. Los resultados demostraron que la satisfacción con la relación de la pareja estaba disminuyendo y que tanto la propensión al divorcio como la comunicacióin negativa estaban aumentando antes de comenzar la terapia de pareja. Después de comenzar la terapia de pareja, el funcionamiento de las parejas en las tres variables se nivelaron pero no demostraron otros cambios, aunque la experiencia previa en capacitación en relaciones moderó estos efectos. Específicamente, los que fueron asignados al programa de capacitación en relaciones (frente al grupo de control) demostraron una mayor reducción de la propensión al divorcio y un mayor aumento de la satisfacción conyugal después de comenzar la terapia, sin embargo, también comenzaron la terapia más angustiados.

Unequally into "Us": Characteristics of Individuals in Asymmetrically Committed Relationships.

This study examined characteristics of individuals that are associated with being in asymmetrically committed relationships (ACRs), defined as romantic relationships in which there was a substantial difference in the commitment levels of the partners. These ACRs were studied in a national sample of unmarried, opposite-sex romantic relationships (N = 315 couples). Perceiving oneself as having more potential alternative partners was associated with increased odds of being the less committed partner in an ACR compared to not being in an ACR, as was being more attachment avoidant, having more prior relationship partners, and having a history of extradyadic sex during the present relationship. Additionally, having parents who never married was associated with being the less committed partner in an ACR but parental divorce was not. Although fewer characteristics were associated with being the more committed partner within an ACR, more attachment anxiety was associated with increased odds of being in such a position compared to not being in an ACR. We also address how some findings change when controlling for commitment levels. Overall, the findings advance understanding of commitment in romantic relationships, particularly when there are substantial asymmetries involved. Implications for both research on asymmetrical commitment as well as practice (e.g., therapy or relationship education) are discussed.

Este estudio examinó características de individuos que se encuentran en relaciones comprometidas asimétricamente (RCA), definidas como relaciones románticas en las que hay una diferencia significativa en los niveles de compromiso de cada pareja. Estas RCA fueron estudiadas en una muestra nacional de relaciones románticas solteras con el sexo opuesto (N = 315 parejas). La autopercepción de tener más alternativas posibles de parejas se asoció a una probabilidad mayor de ser la pareja menos comprometida en una RCA en comparación con no estar en una RCA, así como de evitar más los apegos, tener más parejas previas, y tener un historial de sexo extradiádico durante la relación actual. Además, tener padres que nunca se casaron se asoció a ser la pareja menos comprometida en una RCA, pero no así el divorcio de los padres. Aunque se asociaron menos características a ser la pareja más comprometida en una RCA, se asoció más ansiedad de apego a una probabilidad mayor de encontrarse en dicha posición en comparación con no estar en una RCA. También abordamos el tema de cómo cambian algunos hallazgos al controlar niveles de compromiso. En conjunto, los hallazgos avanzan el entendimiento del compromiso en relaciones románticas, especialmente cuando incluye asimetrías significativas. Se discuten las implicaciones tanto para la investigación del compromiso asimétrico así como la práctica (p.ej. terapia o educación de relaciones).

Associations of Army Fathers' PTSD Symptoms and Child Functioning: Within- and Between-Family Effects.

This study examined the within-family and between-family associations between fathers' military-related PTSD symptoms and parent ratings of children's behavioral and emotional problems. The sample included married couples (N = 419) with children composed of a civilian wife and an active-duty husband serving in the U.S. Army. Results indicate that changes in fathers' PTSD symptoms over time were associated with corresponding changes in both mothers' and fathers' reports of child behavioral and emotional problems. These within-family findings were independent from between-family effects, which showed that higher average PTSD symptomatology was associated with more overall behavioral and emotional problems for children. This study uses advances in statistical methodologies to increase knowledge about how PTSD symptoms and child problems are related, both across different families and over time within families.

Changes in the Sexual Relationship and Relationship Adjustment Precede Extradyadic Sexual Involvement.

Extradyadic sexual involvement (ESI) is associated with negative consequences for individuals and threatens couple stability. Research on ESI in unmarried samples has been marked by methodological limitations, such as examining only mean levels of sexual satisfaction or frequency to predict later ESI as opposed to changes in various aspects of the sexual relationship over time. The current study compared linear trajectories of four aspects of the sexual relationship-sexual satisfaction, frequency of sex, comfort communicating about sex, and sexual closeness-between individuals in opposite-sex, unmarried relationships who subsequently engaged in ESI (ESI group; n = 183) compared to individuals who did not engage in ESI (non-ESI group; n = 603). Trajectories of relationship adjustment were also evaluated leading up to ESI as well as controlled for in models evaluating the sexual relationship. Results indicated that relationship adjustment declined for individuals preceding ESI, but did not change for the non-ESI group. When controlling for relationship adjustment, comfort communicating about sex decreased for ESI women but increased for ESI men. Some results became nonsignificant after controlling for relationship adjustment, including that sexual satisfaction declined more steeply in the ESI group compared to the non-ESI group, and ESI women significantly decreased in sexual closeness while ESI men demonstrated no significant change. Some mean level differences were also discovered directly before ESI. Conclusions include that changes in a couple's sexual relationship and relationship adjustment are associated with ESI behaviors, providing novel information regarding normative and risk trajectories.

Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater? Serial Infidelity Across Subsequent Relationships.

Although there is a large body of research addressing predictors of relationship infidelity, no study to our knowledge has specifically addressed infidelity in a previous relationship as a risk factor for infidelity in a subsequent relationship. The current study addressed risk for serial infidelity by following adult participants (N = 484) longitudinally through two mixed-gender romantic relationships. Participants reported their own extra-dyadic sexual involvement (ESI) (i.e., having sexual relations with someone other than their partner) as well as both known and suspected ESI on the part of their partners in each romantic relationship. Findings from logistic regressions showed that those who reported engaging in ESI in the first relationship were three times more likely to report engaging in ESI in their next relationship compared to those who did not report engaging in ESI in the first relationship. Similarly, compared to those who reported that their first-relationship partners did not engage in ESI, those who knew that their partners in the first relationships had engaged in ESI were twice as likely to report the same behavior from their next relationship partners. Those who suspected their first-relationship partners of ESI were four times more likely to report suspicion of partner ESI again in their next relationships. These findings controlled for demographic risk factors for infidelity and held regardless of respondent gender or marital status. Thus, prior infidelity emerged as an important risk factor for infidelity in next relationships. Implications for novel intervention targets for prevention of serial relationship infidelity are discussed.

The effect of communication change on long-term reductions in child exposure to conflict: impact of the promoting strong African American families (ProSAAF) program.

African American couples (n = 331) with children, 89% of whom were married, were assigned to either (a) a culturally sensitive couple- and parenting-enhancement program (ProSAAF) or (b) an information-only control condition in which couples received self-help materials. Husbands averaged 41 years of age and wives averaged 39 years. We found significant effects of program participation in the short term on couple communication, which was targeted by the intervention, as well as over the long term, on self-reported arguing in front of children. Long-term parenting outcomes were fully mediated by changes in communication for wives, but not for husbands. For husbands, positive change depended on amount of wife reported change. We conclude that wives' changes in communication from baseline to posttest may be more pivotal for the couples' long-term experience of decreased arguing in front of children than are husbands' changes, with wives' changes leading to changes in both partners' reports of arguments in front of children.

Racial discrimination and parenting perceptions among low-income Black couples.

Racism affects Black individuals in the United States through multiple institutional, social, and economic injustices. Relationship scientists have called for greater attention to the potentially harmful effects racism might exert on Black families. A small literature has begun to document negative associations between experiences of racism and romantic relationship functioning. However, even less empirical work has focused on a central relationship domain for many Black couples: parenting. The present study used cross-sectional data (N = 312 couples) from low-income Black couples who had recently had a child together. We examined associations between both partners' experiences of racial discrimination and their coparenting relationship quality and parenting stress. We next controlled for depression and relationship dedication as substantive covariates that could guide future research in this area. Actor-partner interdependence models revealed actor associations between discrimination and poorer parenting outcomes and a partner association specifically between one's partner's discrimination experience and own lower coparenting relationship quality. This partner effect was no longer significant, and actor effects were attenuated, when controlling for depression and relationship dedication, respectively. Our findings indicate that the negative effects of racial discrimination on Black couples' relationships are also apparent in the parenting domain, even above and beyond associations of individual depression and relationship dedication. These findings underscore the urgent need for more basic science to better understand the harms of racism for Black families, identify mechanisms that drive those effects, and highlight ways that clinical services can begin to address these impacts even now. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Genetic and subjective sensitivity, relationship dynamics, and psychological distress in couples.

Positive and negative aspects of intimate relationships influence mental health and well-being in couples. According to the environmental sensitivity framework, individuals differ in how strongly they are affected by their environment, with some individuals being more or less sensitive to both negative and positive experiences. The present study examined the longitudinal associations between positive and negative relationship dynamics, including marital satisfaction, positive bonding, and negative communication, and psychological distress as well as the extent to which individual differences in genetic and subjective measures of environmental sensitivity moderated the association between relationship dynamics and psychological distress in a sample of couples in the U.S. Army (n = 238 individuals representing 152 unique couples). Sensitivity was measured by self-report and a polygenic score derived from previous genome-wide association study results. Separate three-level multilevel models were conducted for each relationship dynamic and sensitivity variable. Only for subjective (i.e., self-reported) sensitivity did significant cross-level interactions emerge in predicting psychological distress, whereas no such interactions were found for genetic (i.e., polygenic score) sensitivity. Specifically, lower marital satisfaction and positive bonding were associated with higher psychological distress among subjectively highly sensitive individuals, and higher negative communication was associated with higher psychological distress among subjectively highly sensitive individuals. Findings suggest that both low positive and high negative relationship dynamics may have a greater effect on psychological distress among highly sensitive individuals, which may help to inform tailored intervention to meet the unique needs of couples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Does income moderate basic relationship processes?

Objective: This study explores whether household income moderates the predictive association from adaptive processes (positive and negative interactions and commitment), enduring vulnerabilities (psychological distress), and stressors (financial strain) to future relationship satisfaction? Background: Theory and research have long conceptualized socioeconomic status as a predictor of couple relations, but recent work questions whether socioeconomic status may moderate basic couple relationship processes. Method: This study used data from a U.S. national sample of 927 adults aged 18-34 years in a cohabiting (marital or nonmarital) different-sex partnership (66% female; 22% non-White; 47% earned a high school diploma or GED as their highest education credential) surveyed five times at 4-to 6-month intervals. A series of latent curve models with structured residuals were used to examine between- and within-person associations. Results: Robust between-persons associations emerged consistent with prior literature (e.g., those with more positive and less negative interactions, higher commitment, lower psychological distress, and less financial strain reported higher relationship satisfaction). One robust longitudinal association emerged at the within-person level: higher than typical negative interactions predicted intraindividual decreases in future relationship satisfaction. Within-person associations were more evident in the cross-section: at times when positive interactions and commitment were higher than one's own average and negative interactions and psychological distress were lower than average, relationship satisfaction was also higher than average. Income did not moderate any links with future relationship satisfaction. Conclusion: Results suggest that basic longitudinal processes in relationships operate consistently across income level.

Changes in couple, parenting, and individual functioning following Family Expectations program participation.

The current study investigated changes in couple, parenting, and individual functioning following participation in Family Expectations, a relationship and parenting education program for new or expectant parents. The sample comprised 339 couples who participated in most sessions of the Family Expectations program and completed assessments at three different time points over a 12-month period. Study analyses examined: (a) change shortly following completion of the program, (b) associations between short-term change and subsequent change in outcomes at 12-month follow-up, and (c) differences in short-term change between married and unmarried couples. Significant improvements were observed in all three domains at short-term follow-up. Short-term changes, particularly for psychological distress, were predictive of long-term change in multiple domains. Few moderation effects by marital status were evident; those that appeared suggested stronger effects for married participants compared to unmarried. Study findings inform ongoing discussions into the utility of federally-funded relationship and parenting programming.

Relationship functioning moderates the link between history of childhood maltreatment and depression during pregnancy.

Prenatal depression is a significant health issue associated with increased risk for poor mental and physical health outcomes among for both parents and their children. Having a history of childhood maltreatment is associated with increased risk for prenatal depression. Although research suggests that romantic relationship functioning likely plays a role in the links between childhood maltreatment and prenatal depression, it remains to be tested which aspects of relationship functioning modulate these associations. Using an actor-partner interdependence model framework (Kenny et al., 2006), the present study examined how specific aspects of romantic relationship functioning-relationship commitment, perceived partner support, constructive communication, and destructive conflict-moderated the links between mothers' and fathers' childhood maltreatment and depression during pregnancy. Participants included a subset of 1,135 low-income heterosexual couples (2,270 individuals) who enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of a relationship education program during pregnancy. Baseline, pretreatment data were used. Results indicated significant actor and partner effects of childhood maltreatment on prenatal depression. Further, these effects were moderated by specific indices of relationship functioning, such that the effect of one's own maltreatment on their prenatal depression was mitigated by high emotional support from partner and high constructive communication and was exacerbated by destructive conflict. Findings demonstrate that high relationship functioning can act as a protective factor, and low relationship functioning as a risk factor, in the link between one's own childhood maltreatment and their prenatal depression among both mothers and fathers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Overlap of relationship distress and intimate partner violence in community samples.

Mixed-gender couples presenting for couple therapy are at 2-3 times higher risk for physical intimate partner violence (IPV) than community couples. However, it is unclear if this elevation of relative risk is the same in the general population because relationship distress and treatment-seeking are often confounded. We used archival data from three representative U.S. civilian samples and one representative U.S. Air Force sample to test the hypothesis that clinically significant relationship distress is associated with increased risk of various forms of IPV. In these community samples, those in mixed-gender distressed relationships were at 2-3 times higher risk than those in nondistressed relationships for any physical IPV during the past year and at 3-6 times higher risk for clinically significant psychological and physical IPV during the past year. Given that the increase in IPV risk is similar for individuals in distressed community relationships and therapy-seeking relationships, the prior findings of the elevated rates of IPV in clinical samples are unlikely to be due to therapy-seeking. Although epidemiological risk involves statistical, not causal, associations, the increased co-occurrence of IPV in distressed mixed-gender couples fits with numerous theories of IPV and has implications for both screening and future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

A Longitudinal Investigation of Commitment Dynamics in Cohabiting Relationships.

This longitudinal study followed 120 cohabiting couples over 8 months to test hypotheses derived from commitment theory about how two types of commitment (dedication and constraints) operate during cohabitation. In nearly half the couples, there were large differences between partners in terms of dedication. These differences were associated with lower relationship adjustment, even controlling for overall level of dedication. Further, among couples who believed in the institution of marriage, cohabiting women were, on average, more dedicated than their partners. Additionally, there was evidence that constraints (e.g., signing a lease, having a joint bank account) may make it less likely that couples will break-up, regardless of relationship dedication. This finding was strongest for women and for those with higher income levels.