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Social integration is known to be positively related to academic performance. It is also well-known to play a different role for (self-identified) men and women. In this paper, we examine the differences seen in the correlations between academic performance and social integration for men and women. Gender was determined on the basis of self-identification. Utilizing the data from the Russian representative panel of late adolescents (N = 4,400), we demonstrate a positive relationship between the core discussion network size as a measure of social integration. Using moderation analysis, we demonstrate that the role of social integration for women is more pronounced than for men. Our findings show the importance of social integration and support for girls and women and suggest possible policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research highlights the positive impact of social connectedness on subjective well-being. In this paper, we test a model in which an identity-based mechanism links a structural form of connectedness (significant social ties) with two psychological well-being outcomes, life satisfaction and self-esteem. Using data from the LIVES Longitudinal Lausanne Youth Study (LIVES-LOLYS, N = 422), a longitudinal mediation path model tests direct and indirect effects, via the strength of social identification, of the number of significant social ties in two life domains (friends and family) on life satisfaction and self-esteem. Results showed positive associations between the number of significant ties and social identification in the concordant domain, empirically linking the structural and subjective forms of social connectedness. Moreover, our model displays significant indirect effects in the friend domain, but not in the family domain. Having more friends as significant social ties predicted higher social identification with friends, and this was longitudinally associated with higher life satisfaction and self-esteem. Findings show a new mechanism linking structural and subjective forms of social connectedness, unpacking their concerted impact in protecting well-being. The differences between the friend and family domains are discussed in the framework of both life-course and social identity perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the association between evaluating a romantic partner as deviating from relationship ideals (i.e., ideal-partner discrepancy) and a widely studied form of self-regulatory behavior in romantic relationships—accommodation (i.e., inhibiting one's own destructive relationship behaviors and enacting constructive behaviors). We also consider the moderating role of relationship commitment. Two studies tested these associations using self-reports (Study 1, N = 450 individuals) and by observing accommodation behaviors in couples (Study 2, N = 116 dyads). Across both studies, a negative-ideal partner discrepancy (i.e., a partner is deemed as falling below ideals) was associated with more accommodation when relationship commitment was high than for when it was low. The findings provide novel insights into understanding accommodation behavior in romantic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies show that prosocial behavior leads to positive emotional outcomes for the actor, yet does it matter, who the beneficiary is? The present paper explores differential effects of helping acts towards close versus distant recipients on subjective well-being and the role that basic psychological needs play in this relationship. Two studies using event-recall (N = 127) and interventional (N = 305) designs in Russian samples were conducted to test our hypotheses. Study 1 showed that performing acts of kindness towards family and friends (compared to a control condition) led to higher satisfaction of the needs for relatedness and morality, while helping strangers increased only the latter. Study 2 failed to unconditionally replicate the prosocial-happiness link; however, when the need for competence was controlled for, helping both types of recipients was shown to provide higher event-level well-being outcomes. The positive effect of prosocial acts toward strong ties was mediated by relatedness and morality satisfaction, while when the recipient was a stranger, the effect was accounted for by fulfilling the needs for morality and autonomy. No significant event-level well-being differences were detected between those helping close versus distant others and no differences in positive affect, negative affect or life satisfaction emerged between the three conditions. The paper provides support for the importance of the self-perceived impact for the success of kindness interventions. We conclude with a discussion of implications for kindness interventions towards different recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It saddens me to admit that I feel safest on an app where men are simply not allowed to contact me until I express an interest in them. A quick review of online discussion platforms would suggest that many in society have just decided that men cannot be trusted with the first move. I get it, frankly, but it isn't what I hope for. In this piece I argue that Black women who desire connection and community cannot afford to stop dating online. With personal narrative and a review of the literature, this paper takes an autoethnographic approach to online dating as a Black woman. I show that the risks of social isolation and mental health concerns leave women of color, particularly Black single women in a vulnerable position. Research is suggesting that people are meeting less new people IRL (in real life), and that this is especially true for romantic connections. Given the hostility of the online dating environment, I consider the role of courtesy, consciousness and awareness of virtual space as community for the Black woman. The paper requests that claims of anti-racism be replaced with demonstrations of this in dating practices, and I present suggested strategies for holding space in the current environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely acknowledged that social relationships unfold across multiple time-scales. For example, social interactions that take place over moments, hours, or days also shape relationship change and outcomes over months, years, and even decades. These processes likely unfold in the reverse direction as well: experiences over longer-term timeframes may shape how people interact on a moment-to-moment basis. The increasing availability of intensive longitudinal data and measurement burst designs, as well as creativity in the contexts and modes of data collection--including social media, text messages, and event-contingent sampling--have exploded the possibilities for advancing knowledge on social relationships across multiple time-scales. The aim of this issue is to forward methodological innovations, empirical findings, and future directions in relationship science through the study of social and personal relationships across multiple time-scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within relationship research, a great deal of attention is given to emphasizing the interpersonal context related to daily stress and its association with relationship well-being. However, apart from the interpersonal context in which stress may occur, one must consider individual, sociocultural, and systemic factors associated with these daily experiences. Taking an intersectional focus, this systematic review aimed to critically examine the extant research on daily stress and romantic relationship quality from the past two decades, answering three guiding questions: (RQ1) From whose vantage point has the research been conducted? (RQ2) What types of questions have been valued? (RQ3) Whose voices have been included (and excluded)? Using a scoping review methodology, we identified 23 articles meeting inclusion criteria (empirical studies that used daily methodologies, focused on romantic relationships, and examined associations between stress or stressors and relationship quality). Findings revealed most of this research was conducted by researchers in Psychology and Family Studies (or related disciplines) working in the U.S. (RQ1). Studies were quantitative and largely dyadic, often adopting theoretical perspectives without particular theorizing on context and identity (RQ2). Samples were predominantly White, U.S.-based, and comprised of different-sex couples (RQ3). In addition, studies typically did not report (or excluded from analyses) demographics related to cisnormativity/cissexism, heteronormativity/heterosexism, ableism, and placeism/Western industrialized rich democratic samples. Finally, even though studies often included participants from different age groups, races, and social classes, minority and underserved identities were under-represented. We conclude with specific recommendations for future research aimed to remedy these limitations to advance further the decolonization of the research on daily stress and relationship quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many people believe that "living happily ever after" involves finding a romantic partner. Regardless, it seems obvious that at least some single people are happier than some coupled people. But how likely is it, and what factors predict whether singles will be as happy as their coupled peers? The present paper addressed these questions via a secondary analysis of an existing cross-sectional dataset (N = 2,000) of coupled (n = 1,438) and single (n = 562) adults. We identified 10 candidate predictors of life satisfaction, seven of which were significant in multiple regression models. Using the seven significant predictors as indicators in latent profile analysis (LPA), we identified four distinct profiles (or groups) of coupled adults and six distinct profiles of single adults. We then further conceptualized these profiles in terms of interpersonal indicators (friend satisfaction, closest friend intimacy, family satisfaction, and romantic satisfaction) and intrapersonal indicators (self-esteem, perceived stress, and physical health). Some profiles had very favorable levels of interpersonal and intrapersonal indicators and some had very unfavorable levels, while several profiles fell in between the two extremes with a range of nuances. Overall, people with favorable levels were happier than those with unfavorable levels—regardless of their relationship status, but disadvantages in one area (e.g., self-esteem) could be offset by advantages in another area (e.g., friendship satisfaction). Most importantly, in comparing single and coupled profiles directly, we found that the vast majority of single adults follow a range of life satisfaction patterns (from happy to unhappy) that is nearly identical to that of their coupled peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we review the self-expansion model in the context of close relationships, focusing primarily on work in the last 20 years, considering throughout variation in our samples across cultures and other demographics—both in existing studies and in potential implications for future research. The self-expansion model has two key principles. The first half of the paper focuses on the motivational principle: The model theorizes that people have a fundamental desire to expand the self—that is, to increase their self-efficacy, perspectives, competence, and resources, and this often occurs through relationships in general. The second half of the paper focuses on the inclusion-of-other-in-the-self principle, in that a major means of self-expansion is through close relationships, when one's partner's identities, perspectives, skills, and resources become to some extent "included in the self" as also one's own. For each principle we briefly describe its foundational research support and then explore the extensive, significant work of the last 20 years substantially expanding and deepening the implications of the model. The majority (although with some interesting exceptions) of studies have fallen short of testing the universal breadth of the model. As we review the research, we consider where the studies were conducted and with what kinds of populations. Where there are data from diverse populations, the overall pattern of results are generally similar. However, there were individual differences found within the populations studied, such as in attachment style, that affected the operation of both principles. Since there are well known differences in the distribution of such individual differences across populations of many types, it is quite likely that while the basic patterns may not differ, future research will show different degrees of operation in different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feminism provides a worldview with innovative possibilities for scholarship and activism on behalf of families and intimate relationships. As a flexible framework capable of engaging with contentious theoretical ideas and the urgency of social change, feminism offers a simultaneous way to express an epistemology (knowledge), a methodology (the production of knowledge), an ontology (one's subjective way of being in the world), and a praxis (the translation of knowledge into actions that produce beneficial social change). Feminist family science, in particular, advances critical, intersectional, and queer approaches to examine the uses and abuses of power and the multiple axes upon which individuals and families are privileged, marginalized, and oppressed in diverse social contexts. In this paper, I embrace feminism as a personal, professional (academic), and political project and use stories from my own life to illuminate broader social-historical structures, processes, and contexts associated with gender, race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, nationality, and other systems of social stratification. I provide a brief history and reflections on contemporary feminist theory and activism, particularly from the perspective of my disciplinary affiliation of feminist family science. I address feminism as an intersectional perspective through three themes: (a) theory: defining a critical feminist approach, (b) method: critical feminist autoethnographic research, and (c) praxis: transforming feminist theory into action. I conclude with takeaway messages for incorporating reflexivity and critical consciousness raising to provoke thought and action in the areas of personal, professional, and political change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented which discusses articles on topics including perspectives within relationship science and social psychology; and study of interpersonal violence, and maltreatment novel insights when approached from traditional perspectives within the violence and aggression field.

The article focuses on the need for a more comprehensive understanding of Latinx youths' interpersonal relationships and socioemotional well-being, highlighting the importance of moving away from deficit perspectives towards asset-based approaches. Topics include challenges in representation within the literature, the significance of family and peer relationships in Latinx communities, and the necessity for inclusive studies that examine diverse facets of Latinx populations.

This paper examined the associations among: (1) the perceived freedom to initiate and end interpersonal relationships (relational mobility), (2) relationship quality, and (3) well-being. Across 38 nations, people in nations with higher relational mobility reported greater well-being, which was explained by higher-quality relationships with close others (Study 1A). This effect was replicated at the individual level, after controlling for extraversion and socio-economic status (Study 1B). Finally, first-year college students with higher relational mobility reported receiving more social support from new friends during the COVID-19 pandemic, which explained those students' higher well-being during the pandemic (Study 2). Together, this work demonstrates that relational mobility can explain enhanced well-being across nations, individuals, and life circumstances, and indicates potential avenues for interventions that increase the well-being of individuals and societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault (SA) commonly disclose their experiences to friends or family members, or within other personal relationships. Disclosure recipients' responses to these disclosures are associated with victims' mental health. Previous research has separately measured both actual responses to IPV/SA and anticipated responses to IPV/SA (e.g., response to a hypothetical scenario) from the perspective of disclosure recipients. Yet, little research has described the association between disclosure recipients' anticipated and actual responses. The aim of the current paper was to use a prospective design to examine the association between disclosure recipients' anticipated and actual responses to IPV/SA, including positive and negative social reactions, perceptions of victim responsibility, empathy, and confusion and ineffectiveness about how to respond. Participants (N = 126 college students aged 18–23; 70.6% women) answered questions about their anticipated responses to a hypothetical IPV/SA disclosure scenario, and then six months later answered the same questions about their actual responses to an actual disclosure of IPV/SA. Although most anticipated and actual responses were significantly associated, associations were moderate in size. Some associations were stronger for participants with a closer relationship to the victim, for participants who had their own victimization history, for women, and for men. Individuals can predict their responses to some degree, but are not totally accurate in doing so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The longitudinal actor–partner interdependence model (L-APIM) is used to study actor and partner effects, both linear and curvilinear, in dyadic intensive longitudinal data. A burning question is how to conduct power analyses for different L-APIM variants. In this paper, we introduce an accessible power analysis application, called PowerLAPIM, and provide a hands-on tutorial for conducting simulation-based power analyses for 32 L-APIM variants. With PowerLAPIM, we target the number of dyads needed, but not the number of repeated measurements for both partners (which is often fixed in longitudinal studies). PowerLAPIM allows to study moderation of linear and quadratic actor and partner effects by incorporating time-varying covariates or a categorical dyad-level predictor to test group differences. We also provide the functionality to account for serial dependency in the outcome variable by including autoregressive effects. Building on existing study that can yield estimates and thus plausible values of relevant model parameters, we illustrate how to perform a power analysis for a future study. In this illustration, we also demonstrate how to run a sensitivity analysis, to assess the impact of uncertainty about the model parameters, and of changes in the number of repeated measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper builds on a body of work over the decades that examines how East Yorkers give and receive support. We go beyond the earlier work taking into consideration communication technologies and how they play a role in the ways people exchange social support across the life course. We draw on 101 in-depth interviews conducted in 2013–2014 to shed light on the support networks of a sample of East York residents and discern the role of communication technologies in the exchange of different types of social support across age groups. Our findings show that not much has changed since the 1960s in terms of the social ties that our sample of East Yorkers have, and the types of support mobilized via social networks: companionship, small and large services, emotional aid, and financial support. What has changed is how communication technologies interweave in complex ways with different types of social ties (partners, siblings, friends, etc.) to mobilize social support. We found that communication technologies helped siblings and extended kin to increase the frequency of interaction and help exchange support at a distance. Communication technologies helped solidify friendship ties by providing a continuous flow of interaction. We draw implications for theories of social support and for social policy associated with interventions aimed at helping vulnerable groups cope in hard times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a systemic, multiple socialization approach to studying prosocial development, including empathy, sympathy and helping behaviors in individuals. It highlights the importance of considering various socialization agents such as family, peers and media in shaping prosocial tendencies and calls for more research in this area to gain a holistic understanding of prosocial development.

The purpose of this paper was to document the use of social media in romantic relationships. More specifically, we examined whether the information that people desired to share (i.e., desired relationship visibility) and shared in practice (i.e., actual relationship visibility) about their romantic relationships on Facebook was predicted by their level of relational commitment. A sample of 139 couples, users of Facebook, aged 17 to 30 years, participated in the study. Participants completed questionnaires and used the Friendship application on Facebook (which gathered data directly from their Facebook accounts). The mediating role of desired relationship visibility in the link between relational commitment and actual relationship visibility on Facebook (i.e., declared relationship status and transient relationship visibility) was investigated using path analyses for dyadic data. Results of actor-partner interdependence mediation model analyses confirmed that women's relational commitment was positively associated with their desired relationship visibility on Facebook. Men's and women's desired relationship visibility were, in turn, associated with their own and their partner's declared relationship status and their own transient relationship visibility on Facebook. Our results provided evidence of the dyadic nature of Facebook self-presentations of coupledom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of romantic partners' experiences of stress and coping has exploded with nearly 11,000 empirical studies on this topic within the past two decades alone. Despite its prevalence, researchers, clinicians, and policy makers alike are questioning how inclusive is our current knowledge base on partners' stress and coping ? The purpose of this review is to examine literature on this topic from the past two decades to offer perspectives on whose vantage point has the research been conducted and what types of questions have been valued and for whom ? To answer these questions, a scoping review was conducted of articles published in the last two decades (2002–2021) that focused on associations of partners' stress, support, and/or coping with relationship quality and presented research questions on two or more demographic identities. Fifty-six empirical articles met the inclusion criteria. Results were not surprising given the lack of diversity in psychological science; most manuscripts used theories and models that were developed by Western scholars and the research questions focused on general processes independent of peoples' identities or focused on a singular aspect of identity. Limitations and future directions of this review are presented, specifically as they pertain to the need for a more critical analysis of the types of stressors people may experience and how those with diverse identities, particularly multiple minoritized identities, may experience and cope with such stressors in the context of their relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and hazardous drinking have been linked to lower relationship satisfaction; however, few studies have evaluated these associations over time in a college sample. The current study aimed to examine within-person and between-person longitudinal main and interactive effects of self-reported PTSD symptoms and hazardous drinking on relationship satisfaction in a college sample. We further examined whether individual PTSD symptom clusters (i.e., re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal, and emotional numbing) uniquely predicted relationship satisfaction. College students in current dating relationships (N = 307; 71% cisgender women) completed online self-report measures assessing relationship satisfaction, PTSD symptoms, and hazardous alcohol use on four occasions across 12 months. Multilevel models revealed that students with more severe PTSD symptoms than average had lower relationship satisfaction (i.e., at the between-person level). Additionally, higher hazardous drinking at the between-person and within-person levels was associated with lower relationship satisfaction. When examining specific PTSD symptom clusters, results indicated only emotional numbing symptoms were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction at the between-person and within-person levels after controlling for other PTSD symptom clusters. Collectively, these results underscore the impact of within- and between-person individual differences in PTSD symptoms and hazardous drinking on romantic relationships in college student populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has highlighted the impact of social network partners on individuals' attitudes and behaviors and the significant role that siblings often play in providing lifelong support, especially in times of important life events. However, a few studies have examined the intragenerational transmission of divorce risks. Given the increasing prevalence of unmarried cohabitation, however, no study has yet unraveled the link between siblings' relationship breakups in general, and neither has the impact of siblings' partnership type and demographic characteristics been investigated. This study aims to understand cross-sibling influence on relationship breakup, including both divorce and separation, and whether sibling similarity in partnership type and demographic traits explain the social influence processes. We used longitudinal data from the Belgian population register and family fixed-effects event history analysis. Partnered individuals (N = 67,113) and their siblings were followed between 1998 and 2018. The results revealed that an individual's likelihood of experiencing a union dissolution was lower following that of a sibling. This was particularly pronounced among siblings belonging to the same partnership type (both married or both cohabiting) and close-in-age siblings. For instance, after a sibling's separation from a cohabitation, cohabiters were at lower odds of dissolving their union than the married, especially when they had a small age gap. The findings indicate that accounting for the time-constant factors originating from the family context, a sibling's breakup might have a protective impact on one's own relationship status and duration. The study contributes to the growing knowledge on intragenerational transmission of partnership dissolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research examining the effects of severe, prolonged early deprivation has shown elevated rates of neurodevelopmental symptoms, which frequently persist into adulthood and are associated with functional and social relationship difficulties, as well as elevated rates of mental health problems. The behavioural manifestations of these symptoms closely resemble those of ADHD and also ASD. Here, we used qualitative methods to explore and characterise the social experiences and difficulties encountered by young adults exposed to profound early deprivation, in part to highlight any apparent parallels between the experiences in this group and those identified in typically developing samples with ADHD or ASD. To do so, we interviewed young adults and their adoptive parents (N = 18) from the English and Romanian Adoptees study, about their social lives. Participants were keen to describe not only the challenges they faced but also adaptive responses. A semantic/descriptive thematic analysis revealed that the young adults strongly desired social relationships but struggled to navigate social norms, resulting in frustration and frequent loss of relationships. This was accompanied by strong feelings of loss and rejection, all of which were perceived to have a negative impact upon self-esteem and mental health. Adaptive strategies included the fostering of casual friendships with older individuals and seeking employment with strong social components. Similarities and differences between our findings and the social difficulties experienced by typically developing groups with neurodevelopmental problems, and adopted individuals more generally, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of journaling-based interventions on perceived relationship quality (i.e., mother-adolescent interactions and conflict) and gratitude among Chinese adolescents (ages 12–14 years) and their mothers (N = 339 dyads). Mother-adolescent dyads were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (i.e., gratitude, affection, and control), and kept a daily journal on assigned topics for 21 days. Participants' mother-adolescent relationship quality and level of gratitude were measured before and after the 21-day period. The findings showed that both the gratitude and affection interventions had positive impacts on mother-adolescent relationship quality (i.e., more positive mother-adolescent interactions and less conflict) with a small to medium effect size for adolescents but no impact for mothers. Gratitude did not change from pre-to post-intervention. The current study provides some preliminary support for implementing gratitude and affection interventions with Chinese adolescents to promote relationship quality, but suggests that the intervention works better for adolescents than mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The main aim of this study was to investigate the mutual relationship between perceptions of peer relationship quality and position in positive and negative peer networks among young people from late childhood to early adolescence. Method: A cross-lagged panel model of three waves of data was conducted using a large representative sample of Polish students from third grade to sixth grade (N = 4 673). Results: The results proved a reciprocal relationship between position in positive (Like) and negative (DisLike) peer networks and the perceived quality of peer relationships (PPI). The effect found of position on the perceived quality of peer relationships is in line with the existing state of knowledge. Since previous research has yielded divergent results, this demonstration of the prospective impact of perceived relationship quality on peer network position fills an important cognitive gap. The study also revealed the following: (1) in the first (W1→W2) and second period (W2→W3) the strength of the prospective effects of position in the peer network on its perceived quality (Like→PPI and DisLike→PPI), and the strength of the prospective effects of perceived quality on position (PPI→Like and PPI→DisLike), were not statistically significantly different; (2) the effect size of the cross-lagged coefficients ranged from small to medium; (3) all constructs showed greater stability in the second period than in the first; (4) in both periods stability of PPI was lower than the stability of sociometric indicators. Conclusion: This research confirms the presence of a self-reinforcing loop: a low position in peer networks→poor perceived quality of relations→decrease of position in peer networks. The findings are discussed in relation to the evolutionary theory of loneliness (ETL), which assumes a potentially active role of the perception of peer relationships in forming a position in a peer network. Practical implications of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative communication between partners can impede the enactment of prosocial, relationship maintenance behaviors. These processes are especially critical to consider for Latine young adults who hold cultural values, like familism, which emphasize the great importance of personal relationships. Using a sample of 475 Latine young adults (M = 24.8 years, SD = 3.22), we examined the moderating role of familism on the association between negative communication (e.g., partners' propensity to withdraw or criticize during interactions) and relationship maintenance (e.g., affectionate and supportive efforts to sustain the relationship). We found that negative communication was inversely associated with individuals' own relationship maintenance enactment. However, familism buffered the association between negative communication and relationship maintenance; under conditions of high familism, the association between negative communication and relationship maintenance remained negative, but with a weaker effect than under conditions of low familism. Findings reinforce the negative effects of maladaptive communication in relationships more broadly and highlight the protective role of relationally oriented cultural values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conspiracy beliefs have been found to have negative real-world consequences that can impact interpersonal relationships; however, this remains an under-researched area. With the current popularity of conspiracy movements such as QAnon, more research into these phenomena is necessary. The present research therefore aimed to explore the impact of QAnon belief on interpersonal relationships. Fifteen participants aged 21–54 (M = 41) with a QAnon-affiliated loved one were interviewed about how QAnon has changed their relationship. Using thematic analysis, four main themes were identified: Malignant Q, Distance, Qonflict, and Attempts at Healing. Participants characterized QAnon as a malignant force in their relationships and communicated with their loved ones less as a result. Although QAnon was a source of conflict and tension for all participants, they were motivated to understand their loved ones. Most participants who still had relationships with their loved ones were motivated to heal or maintain their relationships, while those who no longer did had previously tried many different strategies to save their relationships. These findings provide greater insight into how QAnon can impact relationships, offering fruitful directions for future research examining how individuals can heal from QAnon-afflicted relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the relationship between self-esteem, its interactive patterns within couples, and relationship satisfaction. We employed dyadic response surface analysis (DRSA), an advanced method for examining the links between dyadic interaction patterns and outcome variables. Analyzing data from 731 Dutch heterosexual couples from the Longitudinal internet Studies for the Social Sciences data set across short-term (two-month) and long-term (two-year) timeframes, our findings align with previous research. Both actor and partner self-esteem had significant positive effects on relationship satisfaction, indicating that one's self-esteem is positively associated with outcomes for both oneself and one's partner. Additionally, we observed an additive effect where the combined self-esteem of a couple was positively associated with satisfaction. However, an actor superiority effect was noted, where individuals were most satisfied when self-reporting higher self-esteem than their partners, suggesting that one's own self-esteem plays a more crucial role in their relationship perceptions than their partner's and that self-esteem may not act as a shared resource. We did not find a significant self-esteem similarity effect on relationship satisfaction. These results were consistent in both timeframe analyses, with and without covariate controls. This study contributes to bridging the gap between existing theoretical models by providing novel insights into how self-esteem patterns within couples relates to relationship wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence indicates that family-based mind-body therapy programs (FMBTs) act as an important alternative for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment in the youth with minimal side-effects. Moreover, FMBTs contribute to improving the family functioning of those affected by ADHD. To summarize and analyze the benefits and mechanisms, an extensive literature search of the EBSCOhost, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases was conducted to identify eligible studies. Fifteen studies published between 2010–2023 were reviewed. The included FMBTs were implemented with 850 children/adolescents and 996 parents/caregivers, of whom 201 parent couples attended the programs together with their children. All included FMBTs adopted mindfulness/meditation as the core practice to enhance the participants' mental focus and attention, and were designed for long-term engagement, with six including parent–child joint session(s). Positive changes were observed in both children and adolescents, including improvements in ADHD symptoms, behavioral problems, executive function, and school performance. Additionally, parents experienced positive changes in ADHD traits/symptoms, mental health, and parenting behaviors. Furthermore, FMBTs were found to enhance family functioning by delivering mindful strategies to family, restoring psychological capacity and interpersonal skills in family members, and improving parent–child relationships. The reviewed FMBTs demonstrated high levels of feasibility and participant satisfaction. The factors and issues potentially influencing the effectiveness and feasibility of FMBTs are also discussed. The findings indicate that FMBT holds promise as an ADHD treatment option in home settings. Future efforts may focus on optimizing the design of FMBTs to better address the diverse needs of families in varying circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the literature on person-culture fit, we investigated how culture (assessed as national-level familism), personality (tapped by attachment styles) and their interactions predicted social network characteristics in 21 nations/areas (N = 2977). Multilevel mixed modeling showed that familism predicted smaller network size but greater density, tie strength, and multiplexity. Attachment avoidance predicted smaller network size, and lower density, tie strength, and multiplexity. Attachment anxiety was related to lower density and tie strength. Familism enhanced avoidance's association with network size and reduced its association with density, tie strength, and multiplexity. Familism also enhanced anxiety's association with network size, tie strength, and multiplexity. These findings contribute to theory building on attachment and culture, highlight the significance of culture by personality interaction for the understanding of social networks, and call attention to the importance of sampling multiple countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional empathy has been linked to prosocial behaviors and is deemed crucial for parenting and caring for infants. This study examined whether emotional empathy (dispositional and in response to infant crying) is associated with sensitive responsiveness, as observed in 221 heterosexual couples (half of whom were expecting their first child) during a standardized caregiving situation. Simulators resembling real infants were used. Caregiving performed by each partner individually and as a couple was observed using the Ainsworth sensitivity scale. The partners rated their own empathy and their perceived partner's empathy toward the infant simulator. The Polish version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used to measure dispositional emotional empathy (empathic concern, EC; personal distress, PD). Multilevel modeling showed that self-reported and partner-reported empathy elicited by the infant simulator mediated the association between dispositional empathic concern and sensitive responsiveness during caretaking. Women were more empathic and responsive while caring for the infant simulator, and couple sensitive responsiveness was predicted by higher dispositional EC and lower PD in women but not in men. Our findings suggest that dispositional empathy and empathic reactions toward an infant simulator might translate into better adjustment to parenthood and more responsive parenting and coparenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incremental advancements in technology present researchers with opportunities to examine and predict human behavior before the integration of technology into daily life. Previous studies have identified trends in both the design and reception of current social robotic technologies, including gender biases and social "othering", which may affect how humans interact with more advanced robotic technologies in the future. The aim of the current study was to explore whether preconceived beliefs about gender inequality, interest in casual sex, and social hierarchies would relate individuals' interest in engaging in platonic friendships ("robofriendship") or sexual relationships ("robosexuality") with hypothetical human-like robots. Two-hundred and twelve participants completed an online survey measuring gender, ambivalent sexism, social dominance orientation, and sociosexual orientation in relation to individuals' interest in both robofriendship and robosexuality. It was found that hostile sexism positively predicted interest in robosexuality, particularly for men (β =.16, b =.27, 95% CI [.03,.30], t (209) = 2.364, p =.019). Conversely, hostile sexism negatively predicted robofriendship, and significant interactions effects were found in that at lower levels of SDO, women maintained greater interest in robofriendship than men (β =.26, b =.54, 95% CI [.09,.99], t(208) = −2.235, p =.02). The current study provides preliminary evidence to suggest that preconceived beliefs about social hierarchy and gender inequality may impact romantic and platonic interactions between humans and robots. Limitations and future directions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationship processes often involve fluctuating, variable, or tumultuous dynamics. Yet, close relationship models have traditionally focused on linear processes. The purpose of this Journal of Social and Personal Relationships special issue is to provide examples of how modeling nonlinear effects and dynamics can: (I) test nonlinear theoretical assumptions, (II) reconcile inconsistencies and reveal novel effects, (III) detect dynamic shifts in core relationship constructs, and (IV) capture temporal and spatial synchrony between partners within dyads. By showcasing a variety of nonlinear applications, we hope to encourage close relationship scholars to utilize similar nonlinear methods in order to advance relationship science by discovering common and important, but currently under-examined, relationship processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived Partner Responsiveness (PPR) is vital in establishing a sense of well-being within marital relationships. However, the existing corpus of research primarily relies on Western samples, thus limiting its generalizability. Therefore, the current study, focusing on 152 couples from Northeast India, explores the role of PPR in explaining the relationship between marital and life satisfaction through the lens of interpersonal flourishing and psychological needs fulfilment. Simultaneously, employing the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model extended to Mediation (APIMeM), we analyse the mediating role of PPR, uncovering significant actor effects. Our analysis considers covariates such as marital duration, income, number of children, family structure, and positive affect. The mediation results are explained under the framework that PPR is essential for fulfilling psychological needs and allowing for individual thriving. Consequently, the study's findings underscore the importance of prioritising PPR in relationship interventions. Tailored strategies should guide couples in aligning their life and marital satisfaction goals to bolster individual well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emotional consequences of online social contact in adolescents are a controversial topic. Social interactions and membership in social groups have been identified as essential protection against negative mood. However, different modes of online and offline communication differ in their ability to satisfy the individuals' need for social closeness. Using a daily diary study, the current work investigated how in-person contact, text messaging, and (video) phone calls were related to adolescents' mood. Study 1 was conducted during strict school closures in the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany in February 2021 (N individual s = 290; N observations = 1796; M age = 14.47; 59% girls and 41% boys) and Study 2 in November 2021 after schools had reopened (N individuals = 160; N observations = 1061; M age = 15.21; 66% girls and 34% boys). Hybrid mixed-effects regression models showed that while in-person contact had the most consistent mood effect, text messaging, and (video) phone calls were also at least partially associated with more positive mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like online dating sites, mobile dating applications are popular technologies for navigating the dating market, whether for seeking romantic relationships or sexual partners. The searching-matching-interacting (SMI) framework describes mate selection in the dating market and how mediated market intermediaries (e.g., dating apps) can aid these functions. We conducted in-depth interviews (N = 37) to explore dating app use during relationship initiation and relationship escalation, examining the SMI framework. For searching and matching, perceptions of affordances such as visibility, searchability, and locatability governed participants' selection and use of apps. Examining the interacting function, our findings provide some of the first empirical support for modality weaving during relationship development. Rather than a simple modality switch from app to face-to-face, participants reported integrating multiple interpersonal and masspersonal channels, including social media, texting, and video. Channel transitions were made based on goals (e.g., relationship escalation, verification, uncertainty reduction) and perceived affordances (e.g., synchronicity, editability, bandwidth, accessibility). Notably, participants' evaluations of the advantages and disadvantages of dating apps revealed several tensions and paradoxes among beliefs and behaviors. These paradoxes indicate why many users may not satisfy interpersonal goals such as hookups or long-term romantic relationships through mobile dating apps. Our findings support the viability of the SMI framework, and we extend its theorizing for studying relationship initiation and relationship development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines gender differences in the degree to which men's and women's views of their relationship predict eventual dissolution among mixed-gender couples. We analyzed data from a national sample of 314 unmarried mixed-gender couples from the United States that were surveyed across four years to test gender differences in associations between baseline levels of perceived likelihood of breaking up, relationship satisfaction, commitment, and love and relationship dissolution across one, two, three, and four years. Probit regression models revealed women's greater perceived likelihood of breakup was a stronger predictor of relationship dissolution two years later than their male partner's reports, but men's and women's perceived likelihood of breakup did not differ in the strength of predicting dissolution across one-, three-, and four-year follow-up. Women's low commitment emerged as a significantly stronger predictor of relationship dissolution across two, three, and four years than their male partner's commitment (but not at one year). Women's and men's relationship satisfaction and love did not differ in predicting dissolution across all time intervals; those less satisfied with their relationship and with less love for their partner were more likely to dissolve their relationship. Although commitment may be an area where women's reports take primacy in predicting future breakup among adult unmarried mixed-gender couples, the results add to a growing body of literature finding that women's and men's views of their partnership are similarly diagnostic of future relationship outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human matchmaking has existed for millennia and continues to be an important means of relationship initiation. Yet little is known about the matchmaking process or the role of formal intermediaries in mate selection. To begin exploring this topic, a two-part study was conducted using proprietary data from a professional matchmaking company. Study 1 surveyed matchmakers about what makes their services unique and the criteria they use to select partners for their clients. Study 2 used data from couples to understand if matchmakers' preferences align with the characteristics their clients seek in a long-term partner. The results showed that rather than matching according to others' preferences, part of a matchmaker's work is helping their clients discover, and in some cases reassess, what they desire in a mate. These findings provide novel insight into the commercial dating industry at a time when online dating is beginning to automate many of the tasks traditionally associated with human matchmakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing work on the contribution of life events and person characteristics to changes in attachment has mostly overlooked interactions between events and characteristics. Using 15 common events and ten personality characteristics in a multi-wave longitudinal study of 6,566 people, we examined whether person characteristics moderate the impact of life events on change in attachment. Although we found more interactions than were expected by chance, they did not consistently involve specific events or person characteristics and had small effect sizes. The largest number of event-person interactions were observed for changes in attachment security, followed by anxiety and avoidance. We found a similar number of interactions between events and within-person variation in person characteristics and "traditional" PxE interactions where the person characteristics are stable. These results suggest the need to look at both the traditional PxE interactions and the way dynamically varying person characteristics interact with events to understand changes in attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is considered a traumatic experience with long-term adverse effects on the quality of adult intimate relationships. Research on the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon among Arab societies is scarce. Objective: This study investigated the impact of childhood physical abuse (PA) and emotional abuse (EA) on the quality of marital relationships. Additionally, it examined the mediating roles of two dimensions of insecure adult attachment (i.e., avoidant and anxious) to a romantic partner and psychological distress within gender-specific models. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a representative sample of 604 married Arab adults (M age = 33.5, SD = 6.52; 50.1% women) in Israel using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Childhood PA was significantly related to low levels of relationship quality among men and women. For men, childhood PA was positively related to psychological distress and both patterns of romantic attachment styles, which in turn were negatively associated with relationship quality. For women, childhood PA was positively associated with psychological distress and avoidant attachment, correlating with low levels of relationship quality. Conclusion: A retrospective assessment of childhood PA is associated with decreased levels of marital relationship quality for men and women. This association is mediated by psychological distress and romantic attachment styles. Implications: Implementing interventions focused on improving mental health and promoting a secure romantic attachment style can enhance the quality of marital relationships for adults with CM experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We hypothesized that dissimilar mate preferences would augment friendship attraction in zero-acquaintance interactions whereas similar mate preferences would hinder friendship attraction. Heterosexual participants completed an online survey to assess their mate preferences. They also rated the attractiveness of opposite-sex photos. Next, they attended a 3-hr speed-friending session in which they interacted with same-sex others for 3-min each. After each interaction, they completed a 2-min assessment about the person they just met. Two sessions were held, one for women (N = 20) and one for men (N = 18). The social relations model was used to regress unique feelings of friendship attraction on similarity in terms of mate preferences while controlling for perceiver and target variance. Our hypothesis was supported among men: Interactions in which two people differed in mate preferences were rated more positively than those in which participants had similar mate preferences. These results are consistent with Parental Investment Theory and highlight the importance of mate preferences in friendship attraction among men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spousal support may help ameliorate the health consequences of stressful situations by downregulating cortisol. To examine how cortisol levels change in conjunction with spousal social support during discussions of a stressful situation, 191 married couples engaged in two 10-minute interactions addressing a personal (i.e., non-marital) problem. We coded for positive and negative social support provision and receipt, assessed the perception of received support, and collected salivary cortisol samples. We found that wives' display of more negative behaviors while receiving support was associated with an increase in wives' cortisol levels via an indirect (mediated) effect of perceived partner responsiveness. Overall, results suggest a link between support behaviors, changes in cortisol and perceived partner responsiveness, with more consistent links between support behaviors and responsiveness ratings relative to other paths, and cortisol effects found more often in wives than husbands. Exploratory analyses also suggest that cortisol levels coming into an interaction may impact elements of support interactions. The implications of the role of cortisol and partner responsiveness to the provision of spousal support are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does phone presence during romantic couple conversations influence the accuracy and bias of emotion perceptions? This two-part study examined whether phone presence – experimentally-manipulated in the lab (Part 1: N = 383) and assessed naturalistically in daily diaries (Part 2: N = 342) – relates to emotion perceptions, and, in turn, relationship quality. In Part 1, participants randomly assigned to have their phone present (vs. absent) with their romantic partner exhibited more positive emotion perceptions, indirectly contributing to greater relationship quality. In Part 2, on days when participants reported having their phone present with their romantic partner, they exhibited greater assumed similarity, indirectly contributing to greater relationship quality. Overall, phone presence when with a romantic partner may be beneficial, as it could contribute to more biased partner impressions and, in turn, greater relationship quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although cyberbullying is relational by nature, prior models focused on individual explanations for cyberbullying rather than integrating contextual processes. We present the Relational Model of Cyberbullying Motivation and Regulation (RMC). This model applies the concepts of proximal processes (e.g., interactions with parents, teachers, peers) from ecological systems theory and the concepts of psychological resources (e.g., autonomy, competency, and relatedness) from self determination theory to explain youth motivation and self-regulation of cyberbullying. First, we review theoretical foundations for the theories involved and outline postulates for youths' proximal influences, motivations for, and regulation against cyberbullying perpetration. Then, we present a pathway by which the most proximal social influences on youth impact the development of psychological resources, which then may impact cyberbullying. We also present pathways by which autonomy, competence, and relatedness have an indirect impact on cyberbullying via motivation and self-regulation. The RMC informs intervention efforts by identifying proximal contexts and leverage points to disrupt processes that lead to competence and/or autonomy to cyberbully others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What role do financial worries play in close relationship functioning? In this research, we examine how financial worry – negative thoughts and feelings about finances – is associated with perceived relationship behaviors. Participants recalled how their partner acted during a recent disagreement (Study 1, N = 97 couples) or recalled the frequency of positive and negative behaviors enacted by their partner during the previous week (Study 2, N = 99 couples). Feeling more worried about finances was associated with recalling less supportive behavior from one's partner at the disagreement (Study 1) and with perceiving more negative behaviors from one's partner in the last week (Study 2). Truth and Bias Model analyses suggest that part of this link may be attributed to biased perceptions, as the link between financial worry and perceiving more negative behaviors persisted even after controlling for participants' own reported behaviors (i.e., accounting for similarity) and for their partner's own reported behaviors (i.e., accounting for accurate perceptions). In sum, financial worry is linked to how partners notice and interpret a loved one's actions within their relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing evidence that the modern world is more diverse and so is the nature of relationships that present in therapy, there remains paucity of empirical evidence on how cultural differences impact those in intercultural romantic ties. We conducted this comprehensive scoping review with the aim to outline the size and scope of existing research in the field of intercultural love and romantic relationships. We utilised a five-stage scoping review protocol provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) manual for synthesis of evidence for a scoping review to ensure the rigour, transparency, and replicability of our findings. We reviewed peer-reviewed articles across nine electronic databases as well as "snowballing" the literature from the reference lists. A total of 46 studies were included in this review. We found that the majority of studies approached intercultural relationships from the deficit perspective, focusing on the domains of cultural difference that bring challenges to the relationship. These included culture-rooted differences in parenting standards and gender role expectations, among others. Often, cultural differences were found to bring power impedance into the relationship. Open communication and flexibility were found as important coping strategies. Differences in native language posed challenges to emotional communication between partners. These findings demonstrate that intercultural relationships face an additional layer of challenges and complexities that have to be recognised in therapy. We propose four domains of transmodality relational competencies on the basis of our findings to inform culturally sensitive therapeutic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romantic relationships are affectively complex. Any given interaction consists of both rewarding and aversive features. Recent work has shown that implicit partner evaluations (IPEs)—evaluations spontaneously triggered when one thinks about one's partner—are also affectively complex. Does such complexity in IPEs help individuals navigate rewarding and aversive aspects inherent in interactions? The present work examined the proposition that negative IPEs uniquely forecast aversive daily relationship behaviors, whereas positive IPEs uniquely forecast rewarding daily relationship behaviors. Individuals self-identified as in a heterosexual romantic relationship completed measures to assess their implicit and explicit partner evaluations at two time points, spanning a three-month period, as well as a daily diary component. Time-1 negative IPEs forecasted perceiving and enacting negative behaviors during a 14-day daily diary, which, in turn, predicted deterioration in explicit partner and relationship evaluations 3-months later. The predictive ability of negative IPEs remained even after statistically controlling for positive IPEs and explicit evaluations. Positive IPEs were weak and inconsistent predictors of outcomes. The findings shine a spotlight on the differential functions of positive and negative IPEs, the importance of assessing negative IPEs independently from positive IPEs, and the role of negative IPEs in predicting destructive relationship experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have suggested that active social media use can promote well-being by enhancing perceived social support. However, the relationship between social media use and perceived social support remains inconsistent across studies. This study explores possible mechanisms underlying the relationship between active social media use, perceived social support, and well-being during and after a COVID-19 lockdown. Using online surveys with Chinese participants during (N = 1,131) and after (N = 407) the lockdown period, our findings support a sequential mediation model. Specifically, active social media use was positively associated with perceived online network responsiveness, which in turn, predicted augmented perceived social support. Ultimately, increased social support was linked to reduced loneliness and increased life satisfaction. These findings were consistent both during and after the lockdown, indicating that social media has the potential to complement offline social interactions and effectively fulfill individuals' social needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extensive body of literature shows how people deal with conflicts, verbally and nonverbally, in interpersonal interactions. However, the role of technologically-mediated communication (TMC) in romantic relational conflict has received less attention. Through the lenses of Relational Turbulence and Expectancy Violations Theories, this study explored how a chronemic expectancy violation from a romantic partner impacts emotional well-being in a TMC-involved conflict discussion. Two online questionnaires were distributed. First, a pilot study was conducted to understand the basic online communication dynamics between emerging adult romantic partners (e.g., usual response latency) and possible emotions when they experience a chronemic expectancy violation from their partner on TMC. Results show that people are likely to experience negative affect and other specific emotions (e.g., disillusion, loneliness, frustration, hurt, anger) if their partner takes longer than expected to respond. The main study then further explored how individuals' expectations differ in a hypothetical TMC-involved conflict scenario where they use text-based TMC to discuss a recent romantic conflict with their partners. Participants were instructed to imagine a chronemic expectancy violation whereby their partner does not respond within their expected time period (i.e., conflict expected latency) and report their feelings about it. Results show that people expect their partners to respond more rapidly in the conflict scenario than usual and report negative feelings after the expectancy violations. Conflict-specific (e.g., seriousness), personal (e.g., attachment anxiety and avoidance), and relational (e.g., commitment) variables also influence the intensity of their emotional experiences. This research enhances comprehension of nonverbal cues in text-based TMC and potential emotional repercussions in romantic conflict management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research project addresses the role algorithms play in curating meaningful social connections on social media by examining perceived algorithm responsiveness (PAR) and perceived algorithm insensitivity (PAI) within the framework of the bidirectional model of social internet use and loneliness. In study 1, a cross-sectional survey found that PAR and PAI on Instagram are both associated with loneliness, and that the association for PAR depends upon age. In study 2, a 3-wave longitudinal survey replicates these associations. Online relational maintenance behaviors explained the negative relationship between PAR and loneliness but not the positive relationship for PAI and loneliness. Loneliness at wave t -1 predicted perceptions of algorithm responsiveness at wave t but not vice versa. This research contributes to social media uses and effects by theorizing and empirically testing the connection of algorithms with loneliness, finding that perceptions of social media algorithms are associated with perceived social isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Answers to questions at the interface of health, emotion, and relationships (HER) are critical for intervening in medical and social ills ranging from heart disease to aggression. The articles in this special issue report on recent research that targets the HER interface and summarize talks that were given at the 2011 mini-conference of the International Association for Relationship Research held at the University of Arizona. The articles present interdisciplinary approaches for tackling the complexity of HER processes across different relationships, levels of analysis, health domains, and methodologies. The papers report on many new findings but also highlight unanswered (and unasked) questions. In doing so, this work points to areas that are ripe for future cross-disciplinary discussion and investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]