Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms and Marital Relationship Functioning: The Mediating Role of Demand-Withdraw Communication Processes

The association between the romantic relationships of parents and offspring depressive symptoms: Mediating effects of offspring communication patterns and romantic relationships

This study investigated a conceptual model by testing how parental romantic relationships influenced the depressive symptoms of grown-up children and whether the constructive communication patterns of grown-up children and romantic relationships played mediation effects within it. A total of 421 Chinese participants were enrolled in the study. The level of depressive symptoms, romantic relationship satisfaction and closeness, couple communication patterns, and parental romantic relationships were measured via self-report questionnaires. According to the results, the structural equation modeling analysis verified that the severity of participants’ depressive symptoms was negatively associated with the parental romantic relationship and that the association was mediated by participants’ constructive communication patterns and their own romantic relationships. Furthermore, compared with nondepressed participants, depressed participants were less satisfied with their parental romantic relationships, exhibited fewer constructive communication patterns, and were more distant and unsatisfied with current romantic relationships.

Autoregressive and Cross-Lagged Associations Between Psychological Intimate Partner Aggression and Psychopathology in Newlyweds

Most research to date relies on cross-sectional data to identify associations between psychopathology (i.e., internalizing and externalizing disorders) and intimate partner aggression (IPA). Studies that utilize longitudinal data tend to survey only one member of a dyad, examine only perpetration or victimization, and/or use statistical methods that converge within- and between-person effects. The current study examines the associations between psychopathology, psychological IPA perpetration, and psychological IPA victimization at three time points over the course of 1 year in a sample of newlyweds. An autoregressive latent trajectory model with structured residuals (ALT-SR) tested the hypotheses that within-person internalizing and externalizing psychopathology would predict IPA perpetration and victimization at each subsequent time point, and IPA victimization would predict subsequent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Results of the ALT-SR model did not support hypotheses. Rather, results suggest internalizing symptoms were negatively associated with externalizing symptoms at subsequent time points, and vice versa. IPA perpetration was positively associated with IPA victimization at the following time points. These results elucidate the interplay between psychopathology and IPA, suggesting that although these constructs show bivariate relationships with one another, psychopathology is not a significant within-person predictor of subsequent psychological IPA.

The path to couples therapy: A descriptive analysis on a Veteran sample

The current study uses descriptive data from a sample of Veterans and their partners (N = 97 opposite-sex couples) presenting to a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The purpose of this investigation was to examine 1) the problems couples face prior to seeking treatment; 2) how long it took couples to seek treatment; 3) what attempts couples made to improve their relationship prior to couples therapy. We also examined how these treatment initiation factors were related to relationship distress and expectations for therapy. Results suggest the relationship problems that precede Veteran couples seeking treatment are varied (e.g., stressors outside of relationship, communication problems, lack of trust) and agreement between partners on type of relationship problem is not predictive of relationship satisfaction, perception of relationship problem severity, nor expectations for therapy. Partners tend to wait approximately 4-7 years before pursuing couples therapy to resolve relational concerns. The length of time partners wait to pursue therapy is positively associated with optimistic expectations for therapy. In addition, prior to treatment initiation, partners tend to make multiple attempts to improve their relationship (M = 1.79 attempts for men; M = 2.40 attempts for women) and the number of unique attempts made to improve the relationship is associated with greater distress and more negative perceptions of relationship problem severity. Findings have implications for identifying Veteran couples who may be more or less receptive to intervention and informing the development of a stepped-care approach for couples treatment referral and planning.

Marital functioning and treatment outcome in couples undergoing assisted reproduction

AIM

To investigate the relationship between the quality of marital functioning and communication, individual psychological symptomatology, and pregnancy achievement in couples undergoing assisted reproduction.

BACKGROUND

The results concerning marital functioning and the feasibility of pregnancy yield contradictory outcomes and the quality of the relationship of the couple undergoing assisted reproduction has not been analysed from systemic models. Our hypothesis is that when undergoing assisted reproduction treatment (ART), the couple's functioning and communication will be related to the pregnancy rate.

DESIGN

This study employs a cross-sectional design with couples receiving ART.

METHODS

Spanish heterosexual couples (N = 185) completed the self-report instruments. The data were collected from 2010 - 2015. All the couples completed at least one treatment process, or at least 1 year had gone by since beginning the treatment.

RESULTS

The association between couple relationship quality and the individual psychological symptomatology experienced during the assisted reproduction process was confirmed in men and women. Although both members of the couple experienced an increase of symptomatology, only men's symptomatology was statistically significantly linked to pregnancy achievement.

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to support the couple from the assisted reproduction centres, promoting cohesion, flexibility, and communication in the relationship. The intervention process should also be understood from a systemic perspective; that is, considering dyadic transactions as a systemic unit. Two aspects seem to be especially relevant for clinical nurses in ART: (a) the man's role is crucial for treatment success; (b) the woman's communication is crucial to the process.