Psychology Research Digest
Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice - Vol 13, Iss 3
Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice is a scholarly journal publishing peer-reviewed papers representing the science and practice of family psychology. The journal is the official publication of the Society for Couple and Family Psychology and is intended to be a forum for scholarly dialogue regarding the most important emerging issues in the field, a primary outlet for research particularly as it impacts practice and for papers regarding education, public policy and the identity of the profession of family psychology.
Relationship “jet lag” in long-distance and geographically close relationships: The impact of relationship transitions on emotional functioning.
Individuals in romantic relationships must be able to transition between phases in which they are operating as a couple and others when they are operating as individuals. Individuals who struggle to make the mental “set shift” into their current phase may experience disrupted functioning. Importantly, some may be more vulnerable to set shifting challenges; for instance, relationship proximity (long-distance relationships [LDRs] vs. geographically close relationships [GCRs]), relationship satisfaction, and an individual’s preference for a particular phase may influence set shifting abilities. The current investigation sought to understand factors which predict challenges in couples’ set shifting and how set shifting impacts subsequent emotional functioning. This study surveyed LDR (n = 29) and GCR (n = 30) couples at distinct timepoints: shortly after transitioning into a (a) reunion phase (i.e., physically together) and (b) separation phase (i.e., physically apart). Results found that individuals in LDRs relative to those in GCRs reported greater difficulties set shifting into separation, and these difficulties were associated with greater negative affect postseparation. Those more relationally satisfied reported fewer difficulties set shifting into reunion and subsequently experienced lower negative affect after reuniting. Moreover, one’s preferred state was associated with set shifting into each phase and subsequent negative affect. In total, these findings serve as an early step to highlight predictors of challenges across transition between being together as a couple versus being separated. Further research in these areas can provide deeper understanding of how partners make these mental shifts and be most functional when apart and reunited. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Publication date: Thu, 09 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT Access the article >>Couple relationship standards in Thailand.
Relationship standards are beliefs about what makes for a satisfying couple relationship. Standards vary substantially cross-culturally. The present study was the first assessment of relationship standards in Thailand, which is a unique synthesis of Chinese, Indian, and Buddhist influences. We assessed the standards of 300 Thai residents, and compared them with 354 Pakistani residents, 190 Westerners resident in the United States or Australia, and 285 residents of China. Thais endorsed almost all standards as of high importance. We found mainly cross-culturally consistency in Couple Bond standards (e.g., expression of love and intimacy); but large cultural differences in Family Responsibility standards (e.g., relations with extended family) and Religion standards (e.g., following religious practices as a couple), with Thais (and Pakistanis) endorsing these latter two standards more strongly than Westerners or Chinese. Couple therapy with Thai couples, and with culturally diverse couples in Western countries, likely needs to address culturally influenced relationship standards around Family Responsibility and Religion. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Publication date: Thu, 20 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT Access the article >>A communal coping intervention for couples managing chronic illness: Proof-of-concept study.
Communal coping is an interpersonal coping strategy defined as the appraisal of a problem as shared and collaboration to manage it. Despite evidence establishing links of communal coping to health, few interventions have involved communal coping. This study seeks to establish proof of concept that an intervention rooted in communal coping theory can impact couple members’ communal coping and intermediary outcomes. Couples (n = 40) in which one person has Type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to intervention versus control in a parallel randomized trial with 1:1 allocation. The intervention consisted of a single session focused on discussion of shared stressors, communal coping education, and collaborative implementation intentions followed by 7 days of text message reinforcement. Couples were interviewed in-person, received the intervention or active control, and completed seven daily questionnaires. Communal coping and intermediary outcomes associated with communal coping were assessed daily. Feasibility and acceptability were also assessed. The intervention increased reports of both patient and partner shared appraisal and collaboration and also impacted some intermediary outcomes of communal coping. Compared to control, intervention participants reported greater perceived partner responsiveness, patient support receipt, and partner confidence in patient illness self-efficacy. This study provides initial proof of concept that an intervention based on communal coping theory can increase couples’ communal coping—both shared appraisal and collaboration. Additionally, the intervention was able to impact some intermediary outcomes that may be linked to downstream health outcomes for both patients and partners. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Publication date: Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Access the article >>Couples’ dyadic coping in the context of child-related stressors: A systematic review across three decades.
The relevance of dyadic coping (DC), a concept how couples cope with stressors together, has been established in different contexts (e.g., daily hassles, mental and physical health) and is related to different outcomes such as relationship satisfaction, relationship quality and stability, psychological well-being, and child behavior. The current systematic review aims at providing an integration of the field of research on couple’s DC with child-related stressors which are understood as demands that arise for couples due to becoming or being parents. DC and related search terms were used for the literature search in PsycINFO, Psyndex, and Medline. We included 55 publications (reporting empirical data on 6,779 couples in total) including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies published between 1990 and 2020. We applied a narrative synthesis approach organizing the results around six identified areas of child-related stressors: pregnancy and transition to parenthood, parenting, child mental health, child disability, child chronic physical illness, and child death. Overall, results show the importance of DC for both individual and relationship functioning in the context of child-related stress. Surprisingly, effects of parental DC on child outcomes remained understudied, although the existing studies yield promising results for child adjustment. In conclusion, adapting a “we”-perspective, mutual understanding and support is of importance not only to overcome the stressor but also to grow together as a couple. As DC plays a significant role for couples to cope in a resilient way when facing child-related stressors it should be more promoted in couple- and family counseling and therapy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Publication date: Thu, 03 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT Access the article >>Comparison of emerging adults’ bid responses based on their gender and attachment.
This project explored individual differences in bid responses, focusing specifically on participant gender and attachment. Bid responses (i.e., turning toward, turning away, and turning against) have been demonstrated to predict relationship quality and duration. However, to date, individual differences have not been explored. A pilot study of college-enrolled emerging adults (N = 51) demonstrated variability in responses to the created vignettes about hypothetical interactions with a romantic partner. Participants in the main study (N = 172) were emerging adults recruited from Prolific who responded to the finalized vignettes, as well as attachment and demographic questions. Turning toward was the most endorsed response type, and participants’ responses did not differ based on their gender. Bid responses did differ based on their romantic attachment, but not on their friend or family attachments. The results reiterate that practitioners should consider clients’ romantic attachment when discussing their interactions in romantic relationships and suggest additional research examining individual differences in bid responses is warranted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Publication date: Thu, 03 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT Access the article >>He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.
- Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching (6th century BC)
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