Neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver relationship quality for older Mexican Americans.

OBJECTIVES: Caregivers play a key role in supporting older Mexican Americans, who are less likely to enter nursing facilities than other racial/ethnic groups in the US. However, there is little research on how Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) affect relationship quality between caregivers and care recipients. METHOD: Using data from the 2015 wave of the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE) (n = 416) study of older (age 85+) Mexican Americans, we examined relationship quality and NPS with ordered logistic regression. Relationship quality was measured using positive (enjoyment, appreciation) and negative (nerves, argue) assessments. NPS were categorized into hyperactivity, affective, and psychosis symptoms. RESULTS: Hyperactivity symptoms were associated with appreciation, arguing, and nerves. Psychosis symptoms were associated with arguing and nerves. Spousal caregivers were more likely to report arguing and nerves and less likely to report feeling appreciated. Enjoyment assessments were not associated with NPS. CONCLUSION: Relationship quality is related to behavioral changes in late life. Mexican American caregivers negatively evaluate their relationships, not in response to care tasks per se, but when the older person exhibits behavioral problems. The relationship between NPS and negative relationship assessments may be due to unanticipated behavior changes in late life and stigma around psychiatric symptomatology.

Partner responsiveness moderates the relation between COVID-19-related stressors and changes in mood during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unusually stressful situation for many people around the world. Due to the restrictions, many have been isolated in their homes, and having a responsive partner may have become even more important. The present study aimed to investigate (1) whether there were any differences in social and work-related stressors and changes in negative mood during the COVID-19 pandemic as a function of marital status, and (2) whether perceived partner responsiveness can attenuate the associations between COVID-19-related stressors and changes in negative mood. The participants were 2,400 Brazilian adults recruited via the Internet, using a virtual sampling strategy. They were assigned to three distinct groups based on their relationship status. The results showed that a relatively large proportion of the sample reported increased levels of negative mood, and that married/cohabitating couples reported low levels of negative change in mood compared to single participants. We also found that partner responsiveness attenuated the association between stress and mental health, but only for people who were dating. Our study contributes new insights by showing that effects on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic are dependent on relationship type and perceived partner responsiveness.

Partner relationship quality predicts later postpartum depression independently of the chronicity of depressive symptoms

Objective: Given the lifelong implications of extended postpartum depression (PPD), research is needed to examine the social factors implicated in its development (such as relationship quality) and associated predictors. This study sought to examine the association of partner relationship quality (PRQ) and decline of sexual life (DSL) with maternal PPD at 12-15 months after childbirth. Methods: Prospective study of 294 low-income postpartum women. A structured questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) captured responses for the main outcome variable and covariates. Results: The prevalence of the main outcome (PPD at 12-15 months) was 19.1%. Using logistic regression models, low PRQ (risk ratio [RR] = 1.58, 95%CI 1.01-2.49) and DSL (RR = 1.97, 95%CI 1.23-3.15) were associated with PPD at 12-15 months even after controlling for perinatal depression. Conclusions: Late PPD (12 to 15 months after giving birth) is very common among low-income women, and is independently associated with different aspects of the couple's relationship. Improving PRQ may prevent late PPD. Future investigations are warranted.

[Neighborhood Danger and Maternal Parenting in Medellin-Rome: The Role of Negative Emotional Self-Efficacy]. / Violencia de Barrio y Crianza Materna en Medellín-Roma: Rol de la Autoeficacia Emocional Negativa.

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effect of perceptions of neighborhood danger on positive parenting and whether it is mediated by the mothers' perceived self-efficacy in managing negative emotions, comparing two countries: Colombia and Italy. Participants were 434 mothers and children between ages of 8 and 10 years old (108 dyads from Medellin, Colombia and 109 dyads from Rome, Italy). selected by convenience, non-probabilistically and proportionally to the social stratum of each city. Mothers and children answered the neighborhood violence perception scale, mothers also answered the emotional self-efficacy scale and children the Acceptance-Rejection/Control questionnaire. The multigroup analysis found that mothers' self-efficacy in managing negative emotions behaved differently in Colombia compared to Italy. In Colombia, mothers' perceived self-efficacy in managing negative emotions mediated the link between the effect of perceived neighborhood violence and the quality of mother-child relationship. In Italy, mothers' self-efficacy in managing negative emotions did not mediate this link. Perceived self-efficacy in managing negative emotions of Colombian mothers indirectly explains the adverse effect of perceived neighborhood danger on positive parenting. With mothers from Rome-Italy, there is no significant relationship between perceived self-efficacy for the management of negative emotions and positive parenting.

Adult attachment style combination, conflict resolution and relationship quality among young-adult couples / Combinación de estilo de apego adulto, resolución de conflictos y calidad de la relación en parejas de adultos jóvenes

Abstract: The objective was to analyze whether romantic partners' conflict resolution style and perceived relationship quality are influenced by the dyadic configuration of adult attachment, specifically, by: a) attachment style matching; b) the number of couple members with a secure (vs. insecure) style. A sample of 405 Spanish heterosexual couples of young adults completed an online survey. Results showed no differences between couples with matched versus unmatched attachment styles. However, the presence of one or two members in the couple with a secure style was significantly associated with higher relationship quality and lower use of dysfunctional conflict resolution styles. In conclusion, for insecurely attached young adults, it is more beneficial to be in a relationship with a securely-attached partner than with a similarly-attached partner.

Resumen: El objetivo es analizar si el estilo de resolución de conflictos de los miembros de una pareja y la calidad de la relación percibida se ven influidos por la configuración diádica del apego adulto, específicamente, por: a) la coincidencia del estilo de apego; b) el número de miembros de la pareja con un estilo seguro (vs. inseguro). Una muestra de 405 parejas heterosexuales de adultos jóvenes españoles completó una encuesta en línea. No se encuentran diferencias entre parejas con estilos de apego coincidentes frente a no coincidentes. Sin embargo, la presencia de uno o dos miembros en la pareja con estilo de apego seguro se asoció significativamente con mayor calidad de la relación y menor uso de estilos de resolución de conflictos disfuncionales. En conclusión, para los adultos jóvenes con apego adulto inseguro, es más beneficioso tener una pareja con un estilo seguro que una pareja con un estilo de apego similar.

How Do Couples Disagree? An Analysis of Conflict Resolution Profiles and the Quality of Romantic Relationships / ¿Cómo no Están de Acuerdo las Parejas? Un Análisis de los Perfiles de Resolución de Conflictos y la Calidad de las Relaciones Románticas / Como os casais entram em desacordo? Uma análise dos perfis de resolução de conflitos e a qualidade dos relacionamentos amorosos

Abstract This study aimed to identify conflict resolution profiles and assess relationship quality levels associated with each profile. The participants were 750 heterosexual couples living in southern Brazil. They filled out measures about conflict resolution strategies, relationship quality, and sociodemographic data. A latent profile analysis was conducted in order to classify participants regarding conflict resolution. Variance and association analyses were also conducted in order to examine relationships between the resolution profiles and other study variables. Four profiles were identified: Low Conflict/ Withdraw, Validator, Hostile, and Volatile. The Validator profile showed higher relationship quality, followed by Low Conflict/Withdraw and Volatile profiles, which did not differ from each other, and the Hostile, which showed low levels of relationship quality. We conclude that even though validation and negotiation are desirable, emotionally intense strategies may also be beneficial for couples in some contexts.

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los perfiles de resolución de conflictos y evaluar los niveles de calidad de la relación asociados con cada perfil. Participaron 750 parejas heterosexuales residentes en el sur de Brasil, que diligenciaron cuestionarios relativos a estrategias de resolución de conflictos, la calidad de la relación y datos sociodemográficos. Se llevó a cabo un análisis de perfiles latentes para clasificar a los participantes con respecto a la resolución de conflictos. También se realizaron análisis de varianza y asociación para examinar las relaciones entre los perfiles de resolución y las otras variables del estudio. Se identificaron cuatro perfiles: Conflicto Bajo/Evasión, Validador, Hostil y Volátil. El perfil de Validador mostró una calidad de relación más alta, seguido de los perfiles de Conflicto Bajo/Evasión y Volátil, que no presentaron diferencias entre si. El perfil Hostil mostró bajos niveles de calidad de relación. Concluimos que, aunque la validación y la negociación son deseables, las estrategias emocionalmente intensas también pueden ser benéficas para las parejas en algunos contextos.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os perfis de resolução de conflitos e avaliar os níveis de qualidade do relacionamento associados com cada perfil. Participaram 750 casais heterossexuais residentes do sul do Brasil, que responderam a questionários relativos a estratégias de resolução de conflitos, qualidade do relacionamento e dados sociodemográficos. Foi realizada uma análise de perfis latentes para classificar os participantes a respeito da resolução de conflitos. Também foram realizadas análises de variância e associação para avaliar as relações entre os perfis de resolução e as outras variáveis do estudo. Foram identificados quatro perfis: Conflito Baixo/Evasão, Validador, Hostil e Volátil. O perfil de Validador mostrou uma qualidade do relacionamento mais alta, seguido dos perfis de Conflito Baixo/Evasão e Volátil, que não apresentaram diferenças entre si. O perfil Hostil mostrou baixos níveis de qualidade do relacionamento. Concluímos que, embora a validação e a negociação sejam desejáveis, as estratégias emocionalmente intensas também podem ser benéficas para os casais em alguns contextos.

Longitudinal associations among parental acceptance, familism values, and sibling intimacy in Mexican-origin families.

Prospective associations among parent-adolescent acceptance and familism values in early and middle adolescence and sibling intimacy in late adolescence and young adulthood were assessed in 246 Mexican-origin families. Older sibling gender and sibling gender constellation were investigated as moderators of these associations. Sibling intimacy was stable over time and younger siblings with older sisters reported higher levels of sibling intimacy than those with older brothers. As predicted, stronger familism values were associated with greater sibling intimacy, but this link was evident only for older sisters and for girl-girl dyads. The links from mother- and father-acceptance to sibling intimacy also depended on the gender constellation of the sibling dyad: Higher levels of maternal warmth were associated with greater sibling intimacy for older sisters and girl-girl sibling pairs but higher levels of paternal warmth were linked to greater sibling intimacy only for older siblings in mixed-gender sibling dyads. Findings are consistent with prior research on the role of gender in family relationships but extend this work to encompass the effects of both parents' and siblings' gender, as well as the role of sociocultural values in parents' socialization influences.

Individual-Oriented Relationship Education: An Evaluation Study in Community-Based Settings.

The effects of relationship education aimed at individuals, rather than couples, have not yet been widely investigated. However, increasingly, relationship education is provided to large and diverse groups of individuals who may be in varying stages of relationships. Several programs have been developed to strengthen relationship competencies among single individuals as well as among partnered individuals who, for a variety of reasons, seek relationship education without their partners. The current study is an exploratory evaluation study that examined self-reported outcomes for 706 single and partnered individuals who attended Within My Reach classes delivered in community-based agencies. Participants were from diverse backgrounds and exhibited many of the risk factors for poor relationship outcomes including unemployment, low income, and childhood experience of abuse or neglect. Pre-post analyses indicated that the program was beneficial for both singles and partnered individuals. Singles reported increased belief in ability to obtain healthy relationships. Partnered individuals reported increased relationship quality, relationship confidence, and reduced conflict. Regardless of relationship status, participants also reported improvement in general relationship and communication skill. Results support the utility of individual-oriented relationship education for singles and partnered individuals with diverse background characteristics.