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).

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Moderated mediation in relationship education: Communication, commitment, and sociodemographic disadvantage.

This study tested moderated mediation-that is, whether the mechanisms of program impacts are different for different groups of people-in the Supporting Healthy Marriage (SHM) study of relationship education (RE) programs for low-income married couples. Large-scale evaluations of RE programs have yielded small effects in community settings. Understanding program mechanisms specific to disadvantaged populations may help improve program impacts. This study explored whether communication and commitment mediated program effects on relationship outcomes in the SHM study for participants with relatively higher or lower levels of sociodemographic disadvantage. The present study included all 6,298 couples who enrolled in the SHM study. Data on self-reported communication skills, commitment, happiness, warmth/support, conflict, and psychological abuse were used from wives' and husbands' 12-month follow-up assessments, and a risk index was constructed from nine baseline indicators of social, economic, and demographic disadvantage. Analyses used structural equation modeling to test (a) mediation by communication and commitment, and (b) moderation of the mediation paths by level of disadvantage. The programs improved all relationship outcomes measured. Communication mediated program impacts only for couples with moderate or low disadvantage. Commitment mediated program impacts for participants reporting lowest disadvantage only, with more evidence of mediation for wives than husbands. Further research is needed to determine mechanisms of RE among highly disadvantaged populations to improve services for those at highest risk of relationship distress and dissolution. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Happy, healthy, and wedded? How the transition to marriage affects mental and physical health.

Decades of research have documented the apparent health benefits of marriage, but the dynamics of how health may change across the transition to marriage are not fully understood. In two studies, we compared being unmarried or married on several indices of mental and physical health. In Study 1, we used a national sample of 1,078 individuals in different-sex relationships who completed surveys by mail. Compared with those who were cohabiting or dating, married individuals generally reported better mental and physical health than those in less committed relationships, and most differences remained when controlling for putative selection factors. Study 2 used longitudinal data from the participants in the Study 1 sample who later married (N = 168) to study changes within individuals over the transition to marriage on the same indicators. Six waves of mailed surveys spanning 20 months were employed. Findings of Study 2 indicated that although some indicators of mental and physical health were improving up until the point of marriage, these indicators then stabilized or began to decline, with women experiencing these declines more than men. Findings are more consistent with selection effects (i.e., better-adjusted individuals are more likely to get married) than social causation effects (i.e., marriage causes improvements in mental and physical health) and suggest that if marriage does have a causal effect on well-being in the short term, it may actually manifest in the lead-up to the wedding. Implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Within-Couple Associations Between Communication and Relationship Satisfaction Over Time.

Relationship science contends that the quality of couples' communication predicts relationship satisfaction over time. Most studies testing these links have examined between-person associations, yet couple dynamics are also theorized at the within-person level: For a given couple, worsened communication is presumed to predict deteriorations in future relationship satisfaction. We examined within-couple associations between satisfaction and communication in three longitudinal studies. Across studies, there were some lagged within-person links between deviations in negative communication to future changes in satisfaction (and vice versa). But the most robust finding was for concurrent within-person associations between negative communication and satisfaction: At times when couples experienced less negative communication than usual, they were also more satisfied with their relationship than was typical. Positive communication was rarely associated with relationship satisfaction at the within-person level. These findings indicate that within-person changes in negative communication primarily covary with, rather than predict, relationship satisfaction.

Helping couples achieve relationship success: A decade of progress in couple relationship education research and practice, 2010-2019.

This article systematically reviewed 34 rigorous evaluation studies of couple relationship education (CRE) programs from 2010 to 2019 that met the criteria for Level 1 well-established interventions. Significant advances include reaching more diverse and disadvantaged target populations with positive intervention effects on a wider range of outcomes beyond relationship quality, including physical and mental health, coparenting, and even child well-being, and evidence that high-risk couples often benefit the most. In addition, considerable progress has been made delivering effective online CRE, increasing services to individuals rather than to couples, and giving greater attention to youth and young adults to teach them principles and skills that may help them form healthy relationships. Ongoing challenges include expanding our understanding of program moderators and change mechanisms, attending to emerging everyday issues facing couples (e.g., healthy breaking ups, long-distance relationships) and gaining increased institutional support for CRE.

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.

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.

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.

Political Party Identification and Romantic Relationship Quality.

Although there are studies on voting similarity in mate selection, very little research has examined party identification and relationship quality. We assessed associations between reports of personal and partner voting behavior (Democrat, Republican, or Independent) and both relationship adjustment and commitment to one's partner. We used a national (U.S.) sample of individuals (N = 510) in their 20s and 30s who were mostly in different-sex, serious relationships (Mdn duration = 5.25 years; 50% married). Controlling for age, college graduation, income, religiosity, minority status, and duration of relationship, voting Republican was associated with higher levels of commitment compared to voting Democrat. Similarly, being partnered with someone voting Republican was associated with higher relationship adjustment and commitment compared to being partnered with someone voting Democrat. Notably, differences in commitment were found only among those who were not already married or engaged. Findings were largely consistent with numerous online reports of survey data that have shown modestly greater relationship quality among those who report being politically conservative. While research has shown that people are less attracted to those who vote differently and that voting differently can be associated with lower relationship quality, we did not generally find perceived voting similarity to be associated with relationship adjustment or commitment. There was one exception: In exploratory analyses, Republicans paired with Democrats tended to report substantially lower relationship adjustment than if paired with Republicans. Implications for political differences among intimate partners and clinical work around these themes are discussed.

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.

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.

"Will you complete this survey too?" Differences between individual versus dyadic samples in relationship research.

This study examines the ways in which collecting data from individuals versus couples affects the characteristics of the resulting sample in basic research studies of romantic relationships. From a nationally representative sample of 1,294 individuals in a serious romantic relationship, approximately half of whom were randomly selected to invite their partner to participate in the study, we compare relationship, individual, and demographic characteristics among 3 groups: individuals randomized to invite their partner and whose partner participated in the study, individuals randomized to invite their partner but whose partner did not participate, and individuals who were not randomized to invite their partner. Results indicated that individuals whose partner participated reported the highest levels of relationship and individual well-being relative to comparison groups, as well as individuals who participated alone despite being asked to invite their partner, reported the lowest levels of relationship and individual well-being relative to comparison groups. Effect size magnitudes indicated the strongest group differences with respect to relationship variables, particularly cognitive appraisals of overall relationship stability and satisfaction. Implications for romantic relationship research and study design are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Trajectories of relationship confidence in intimate partnerships.

The current study examined trajectories of relationship confidence, defined as the belief that oneself and the partner together have the skills needed to navigate conflict and maintain a partnership into the future. This study uses data from a sample of 1,294 partnered but unmarried young adults to examine trajectories of relationship confidence across 11 waves of assessment over more than 4 years and the between- and within-person predictors of those trajectories. On average, relationship confidence was high at the outset of the study and remained stable over time. Underlying the overall stability, however, men's and women's trajectories flowed in opposite directions. Women started with more confidence than men, and their confidence decreased over time while men's increased, although the analysis of individuals rather than couples must be considered when interpreting this finding. Individuals in longer partnerships, who were cohabiting at Wave 1, with lower levels of avoidant attachment, more frequent positive interactions and higher satisfaction at Wave 1, and those who married during the study, had higher initial relationship confidence. Having children with a prior partner predicted lower initial confidence and faster decreases over time only for women. At the within-person level, relationship confidence was higher than usual at waves when more positive interactions, less negative interactions, and higher relationship satisfaction were reported, particularly for women. Results highlight the substantial variability in trajectories of relationship confidence among individuals in unmarried relationships as well as an array of factors that influence its development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).