Search

Relationship standards are beliefs about what is important in a satisfying couple relationship, which vary considerably between cultures, and might mean that what couples seek from couple therapy differs across cultures. We assessed the standards of n = 49 Pakistani couples and whether those standards predicted couple satisfaction. To provide referents for the Pakistani standards, we also assessed selfreported relationship standards in n = 33 Western couples and n = 30 Chinese couples. Pakistani couples endorsed couple bond standards (e.g., expressions of love) as similarly important, and family responsibility (e.g., extended family relations) standards as more important, than Western or Chinese couples. In Pakistani couples, Couple Bond predicted couples' relationship satisfaction, but family responsibility and Religion predicted only wives' satisfaction. Modest sample sizes necessitate caution in interpreting results but suggest existing couple therapies might need modification to address the distinctive relationship standards of Pakistani couples.

Routine outcome measurement and progress monitoring is well established to enhance quality assurance in clinical psychology service delivery but is not widely used in routine care. A major barrier to more widespread implementation is the lack of public domain, brief, psychometrically sound outcome measures that easily integrate into clinical information systems. The current study assessed a brief 10-item version of the widely used Depression Anxiety Stress (DASS)-42 scale, which we called the Depression Anxiety Stress-10 (DASS-10) scale. In two clinical samples of adults (n = 1036, 445 men, 591 women; and n = 1084, 493 men, 591 women), the DASS-10 had a replicable two-level factor structure, which at the lower level had two factors assessing stress-anxiety and depression, which each loaded onto a superordinate psychological distress scale. The items in the distress score discriminated between a clinical sample (n = 376) and a community sample (n = 379) and were sensitive to clinical change. The measure has the potential to make routine outcome measurement and progress monitoring more cost-effective to implement than existing measures, particularly when integrated with practice management software to make administration, scoring, and use easy.

Research on couple relationships has increasingly focused on the concept of "we-ness", the subjective closeness of the couple bond, as crucial to predicting relationship outcomes including satisfaction and dissolution. However, diverging perspectives on the definition, terminology, and measurement of this concept persist. We drew upon social identity theorizing to clarify the nature of we-ness and investigate its predictive utility. Participants were 375 members of the general community in long-term intimate relationships. The sample were aged 18-74 (M = 37.22; SD = 12.00) and 69% were women. Participants completed seven measures of we-ness drawn from both the couple literature and the social identity literature. We used exploratory factor analyses to establish the latent structure of we-ness, and regression analyses to examine the utility of each we-ness factor in predicting relationship satisfaction and likelihood of dissolution. A four-factor solution was extracted and the factors were labeled couple identity, partner liking, relationship orientation, and partner similarity. Each of the four factors explained unique variance in relationship quality, with couple identity being most strongly associated with positive outcomes. We conclude that couple research can fruitfully draw upon social identity theorizing in conceptualizing we-ness. This has implications both for more effectively measuring key concepts and for more precisely targeting interventions in couple therapy.对伴侣关系的研究越来越关注 "我们 "这个概念，即主观方面认知的伴侣关系亲密度，它对预测伴侣关系的结果包括满意度和关系破裂至关重要。然而，对这一概念的定义、术语和测量仍然存在不同的观点。我们利用社会认同理论来阐明 "我们 "这个概念的本质并调查其预测效用。参与者是375名处于长期亲密关系的普通社区成员。该样本的年龄为18至74岁(M=37.22；SD=12.00)，69%为女性。参与者完成了七项关于 "我们“概念的测量，这些量表来自于关于伴侣关系研究的文献和社会认同相关研究文献。我们使用探索性因素分析来建立 "我们 "这个概念的潜在结构，并使用回归分析来探究每个 "我们 "的因素在预测关系满意度和关系破裂的可能性方面的效用。笔者提取了一个四因素解决方案，这四个因素具体被称为伴侣身份认同、伴侣好感、关系取向和伴侣相似性。四个因素中的每一个都解释了关系质量的独特变异，伴侣认同与积极正向的结果联系最紧密。我们的结论是，情侣方面的研究在概念化 "我们 "的时候可以有效地借鉴社会认同理论。这对更有效地测量关键概念，以及更精确地针对伴侣治疗的干预措施都有意义。.

Objective: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are at higher risk of poor mental health, and have more unmet mental health needs, compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Few studies h...

The current study aimed to develop a reliable, valid, and condensed version of the 25-item Acrimony Scale. In a sample of 451 separated parents seeking family mediation, an Exploratory Factor Analy...

Relationship education (RE) enhances couple functioning in different-sex couples, though less is known about the effects of RE for same-sex couples. This study investigates the preliminary effects ...

Relationship standards are the beliefs people hold about what a good relationship should be like, which vary substantially across Western and Chinese cultures. The current study extends the assessment of couple relationship standards to Pakistan, a large, developing Muslim majority country with a distinctive collectivistic, hierarchical, religious, and tight culture. We administered the Cross-Cultural Couple Relationships Standards Scale to 354 Pakistanis and compared their standards with those of 312 Westerners living in Australia and 286 Chinese living in Hong Kong, China. A confirmatory factor analysis revealed an acceptable fit of a model of two positively correlated latent factors, Couple Bond and Family Responsibility, in each sample. We added two standards hypothesized likely to be of importance to Pakistanis: Religion and Relationship Self-Regulation. Pakistanis endorsed all standards as important; they endorsed Couple Bond standards more than Westerners or Chinese, and Family Responsibility standards a lot more than Westerners or Chinese. Gender differences were of very small effect size. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

The transition to parenthood (TTP) often is associated with declines in couple relationship satisfaction. The current study evaluated changes in three relationship behaviors, namely communication, dyadic coping and relationship self-regulation, across the TTP and the association of those behaviors with relationship satisfaction. One hundred and three couples completed questionnaires twice before and three times after the birth of their first child. Prenatally, all behaviors were stable, except negative communication that declined. Postnatally, positive relationship behaviors decreased in both genders, and negative communication increased in men. Negative behaviors were associated with relationship satisfaction throughout the TTP. Furthermore, relationship self-regulation strategies and males’ negative dyadic coping prospectively predicted male relationship satisfaction, while men’s supportive dyadic coping predicted female relationship satisfaction. Enhancing positive relationship behaviors through relationship education programs might help couples successfully adjust to parenthood.

Mindfulness training has been incorporated into a variety of Western psychological therapies. However, Western psychological applications of mindfulness typically have not included 2 aspects of mindfulness central to traditional Buddhist teachings from which mindfulness is derived: first, that mindfulness is used to develop insights, and second that mindfulness enhances positive well-being, rather than just reducing psychological distress. Two studies evaluated the effects on positive well-being of the Insight-Based Mindfulness Program (IBMP), which extends the well-established Western mindfulness programs to incorporate the development of insight. In a randomized controlled trial with n = 141 Thai participants, and in an uncontrolled trial with n = 96 Australian participants, IBMP improved well-being and mindfulness, developed key insights, and reduced psychological distress. A multilevel model of trajectory of change across the course of IBMP through to a 6-week follow-up showed most change was evident in the first half of IBMP, with gains being maintained through to follow-up. Effects were very similar for Thai and Australian participants, showing the program has cross-cultural applicability.

This invited paper is a review of the significance of couple relationships to the practice of all therapists. The article begins with a summary of the evidence on the centrality of committed couple relationships to the lives and wellbeing of adults, and the association of the quality of the parents’ couple relationship on the wellbeing of children. We argue that the well-established reciprocal association between individual problems and couple relationship problems means that all therapists need to pay attention to how a couple relationship might be influencing a client's functioning, even if the relationship is not the presenting problem. There is an outline the evolution of current approaches to behavioural couple therapy, and the current state of the art and science of couple therapy. We present an analysis of the evidence for couple therapy as a treatment for relationship distress, as well as couple-based treatments for individual problems. This is followed by a description of the distinctive challenges in working with couples and how to address those challenges, and recommendations about how to address the needs of diverse couple relationships. Finally, we propose some core therapist competencies needed to work effectively with couples.

Heterosexual gender roles are not directly relevant to gay romantic relationships, but gay men often take on different relationship roles depending on their sexual roles. In the present paper, we argue that gay men might draw on sexually explicit media (SEM) featuring men who have sex with men (MSM) to get information about how insertive sexual partners ("tops") and receptive sexual partners ("bottoms") typically behave. For this to be the case, however, we would have to reliably observe different behavior in SEM performers acting as tops vs. bottoms. We examined 220 of the most viewed online dyadic MSM SEM videos to determine whether performed verbal and physical intimacy, victimization, and sexual behaviors depended on the sexual role taken. We found that tops and bottoms engaged in similar amounts of intimacy behaviors, but that bottoms were depicted as initiating sexual activity more than tops. Tops enacted physical and psychological victimization more than bottoms, although these behaviors were rare. Tops were shown taking the insertive role across all sexual acts and versatile performers (i.e., those taking both insertive and receptive roles) were rarely depicted. The present study adds to the literature about the complexity of sexual-self-labels, and suggests that MSM SEM depictions of intimacy and sexual decision-making depend on the sexual role taken.

Objective: To examine couple and parenting outcomes from an American version of Couple CARE for Parents (CCP) in low-income, unmarried couples. Background: We adapted an evidence-based, flexibly delivered program for use with low-income, unmarried couples, for whom the outcome literature is scarce. Method: Couples (N = 443) were recruited from maternity units and began CCP. They completed measures before, during, and immediately after the intervention and again 6 months later. Results: Experience of moderate psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) declined and perceived parenting efficacy increased over time; there was no change in severe psychological or physical IPV. Individuals with lower levels of relationship commitment than their partners showed improvement in relationship satisfaction, whereas those with similar or higher levels of commitment maintained their baseline levels despite being in a period of expected satisfaction decline. Conclusion: CCP showed some signs of helping low-income couples during a stressful period, and its flexible service delivery model allowed these couples to participate by reducing the impediments of transportation challenges, conflicting work schedules, and overall time poverty. Implications: The results of this study suggest practitioners interested in using CCP with low-income couples would likely maximize the impact by (a) focusing on pregnant, first-time parents; (b) integrating CCP within postnatal health care; and (c) assuming that a considerable minority of couples will avail themselves of only up to two sessions, and thus practitioners should frontload content, making other content optional or just-in-time. In addition, nonpsychoeducational elements (e.g., gamification, easy computerized tasks to reduce angry responses, watching couple-themed movies) could enliven preventative offerings for perinatal couples.

Couple satisfaction has been extensively investigated, but little attention has been paid to the nature and assessment of high-quality, flourishing couple relationships. Particularly, current measures of relationship quality are insensitive at the upper end of the continuum, which in turn hinders progress toward understanding and facilitating flourishing couple relationships. Drawing on concepts developed in positive psychology, we proposed a theoretical framework of couple flourishing that incorporates hedonic and eudemonic components. Items to assess these aspects of couple flourishing were generated and administered online to a sample of 1,116 participants. Using combined methods of classical test theory and item response theory (IRT), we selected the most informative items to form 4-, 8-, 16-item versions of a Couple Flourishing Measure (CFM). IRT analyses show that the CFM discriminated variation at the upper range of relationship quality better than widely used measures of relationship satisfaction. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that couple flourishing was related to, but distinguishable from, relationship satisfaction. In an independent sample of 330 participants, we replicated the unifactorial structure of the CFM, and the distinguishability of couple flourishing from couple satisfaction. This research offers new insight into the concept of relationship flourishing. The sensitivity of the CFM at the high end of relationship quality makes it possible to test for predictors of relationship flourishing and evaluate interventions that seek to enhance flourishing.La satisfacción en la pareja se ha investigado exhaustivamente, pero se ha prestado poca atención a la índole y a la evaluación de las relaciones de pareja de alta calidad y prósperas. Particularmente, los instrumentos de medición actuales de la calidad de las relaciones no captan el extremo superior del proceso, lo cual a su vez obstaculiza el avance hacia la comprensión y la facilitación de las relaciones de pareja prósperas. Utilizando conceptos desarrollados en la psicología positiva, propusimos un marco teórico de prosperidad de la pareja que incorpora componentes hedónicos y eudemónicos. Los ítems para evaluar estos aspectos de la prosperidad de la pareja se generaron y se administraron en línea a una muestra de 1116 participantes. Utilizando métodos combinados de la teoría clásica de las evaluaciones y la teoría de respuesta a ítems, elegimos los ítems más informativos para formar versiones de 4, 8 y 16 ítems de un instrumento de medición de la prosperidad de la pareja. Los análisis de la teoría de respuesta a ítems indican que el instrumento de medición de la prosperidad de la pareja discriminó mejor la variación en el rango superior de la calidad de la relación que los instrumentos de medición de la satisfacción en la relación de uso generalizado. El análisis factorial confirmatorio indicó que la prosperidad de la pareja estuvo relacionada con la satisfacción en la relación, pero se diferenció de ella. En una muestra independiente de 330 participantes, reprodujimos la estructura unifactorial del instrumento de medición de la prosperidad de la pareja, y la diferenciación de la prosperidad de la pareja respecto de la satisfacción en la pareja. Esta investigación ofrece nuevos conocimientos sobre el concepto de prosperidad de la relación. La sensibilidad del instrumento de medición de la prosperidad de la pareja en el extremo superior de la calidad de la relación hace posible analizar los predictores de la prosperidad de la relación y evaluar las intervenciones orientadas a mejorar la prosperidad.人们对伴侣满意度的广泛研究很多, 但对质量高、发展良好的伴侣关系的性质和评估等方面的关注比较少。特别是对关系质量的衡量在连续体的高端是不敏感的, 这反过来阻碍了理解和促进关系的蓬勃发展。借鉴积极心理学的概念, 我们提出了一个伴侣关系蓬勃发展的理论框架, 它包含了享乐和幸福的成分。我们制作了评估伴侣关系良性发展方面相关的在线测试项目, 由1116名参与者答题作为样本。利用经典测量理论和项目反应理论 (IRT) 相结合的方法, 我们选择了信息量最大的项目, 形成了4个、8个、16个项目的伴侣关系发展测量表 (CFM) 。IRT分析表明, CFM比使用较为广泛的关系满意度的测量方法更能辨别关系质量上限的变化。验证性因子分析结果显示, 伴侣关系繁荣发展程度与关系满意度呈正相关, 但两者之间存在差异。在一个由330名参与者组成的独立样本中, 我们复制了CFM的单因素结构, 以及伴侣关系的蓬勃发展与伴侣关系满意度的区别性。这项研究为关系良性发展的概念提供了新的见解。在关系质量的高端, CFM的敏感性使我们有可能测试关系蓬勃发展的预测因素, 并评估寻求有效干预措施以促进关系蓬勃发展。.

Sexually explicit material (SEM) featuring men who have sex with men (MSM) may be a source of information about intimacy in same-sex male relationships for MSM. However, little is known about how MSM SEM depicts intimacy between male performers. The current study examined the 220 most viewed dyadic scenes of MSM SEM videos for the presence of verbal intimacy (compliments, personal disclosure, and expressions of care) and physical intimacy (kissing, cuddling, affectionate touch, and genital touch before and after sex) between performers. At least one example of physical and verbal intimacy was present in the majority of videos (91% and 68% of videos, respectively). Most forms of physical and verbal intimacy occurred before or during sex, with intimacy being least evident post-sex. We also tested if the presence of intimacy was associated with viewer interactions with videos (likes and dislikes) and number of views. Only one of seven forms of intimacy, care (verbal), was associated with more interactions (i.e., likes and dislikes per 100,000 views), and there was no association with the number of views. Potential implications for MSM's understandings of intimacy are recognized and discussed with reference to sexual script theory.

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

BACKGROUND New parents face increased risks of emotional distress and relationship dissatisfaction. Digital interventions increase support access, but few preventive programs are optimized for both parents. OBJECTIVE This study aims to conduct the first randomized controlled trial on universal self-guided digital programs to support positive perinatal adjustment of both mothers and fathers. Effects of childcare information (Baby Care) and information plus an interactive program (Baby Steps Wellbeing) were compared from the third trimester baseline to 3 and 6 months subsequently. METHODS The study recruited 388 co-parenting male-female adult couples expecting their first single child (26-38 weeks’ gestation), using web-based registration. Most (337/388, 86.8%) were obtained from prenatal hospital classes. Couples’ randomization was automated and stratified by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores (50% couples scored high if either mother >7, father >5). All assessments were web-based self-reports: the EPDS and psychosocial quality of life were primary outcomes; relationship satisfaction, social support, and self-efficacy for parenting and support provision were secondary. Linear mixed models provided intention-to-treat analyses, with linear and quadratic effects for time and random intercepts for participants and couples. RESULTS Selection criteria were met by 63.9% (248/388) of couples, who were all randomized. Most participants were married (400/496, 80.6%), tertiary educated (324/496, 65.3%), employed full time (407/496, 82%), and born in Australia (337/496, 67.9%). Their mean age was 32.2 years, and average gestation was 30.8 weeks. Using an EPDS cutoff score of 13, 6.9% (18/248) of men, and 16.1% (40/248) of women screened positive for depression at some time during the 6 months. Retention of both partners was 80.6% (201/248) at the 6-month assessments, and satisfaction with both programs was strong (92% ≥50). Only 37.3% (185/496) of participants accessed their program more than once, with higher rates for mothers (133/248, 53.6%) than fathers (52/248, 20.9%; P<.001). The EPDS, quality of life, and social support did not show differential improvements between programs, but Baby Steps Wellbeing gave a greater linear increase in self-efficacy for support provision (P=.01; Cohen d=0.26) and lower reduction in relationship satisfaction (P=.03; Cohen d=0.20) than Baby Care alone. Mothers had greater linear benefits in parenting self-efficacy over time than fathers after receiving Baby Steps Wellbeing rather than Baby Care (P=.01; Cohen d=0.51). However, the inclusion of program type in analyses on parenting self-efficacy and relationship satisfaction did not improve model fit above analyses with only parent gender and time. CONCLUSIONS Three secondary outcomes showed differential benefits from Baby Steps Wellbeing, but for one (parenting self-efficacy), the effect only occurred for mothers, perhaps reflecting their greater program use. Increased engagement will be needed for more definitive testing of the potential benefits of Baby Steps Wellbeing for perinatal adjustment. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614001256662; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367277

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are at higher risk for poor mental health than their heterosexual counterparts, and these disparities are largely accounted for by minority stressors. Less is known about the mechanisms underlying associations between minority stress and mental health. In a sample of 592 LGB adults (

Relationship standards are beliefs about what makes a good romantic relationship. To date, no research on relationship standards in same-sex relationships has been conducted. This paper describes development of the Rainbow Couples Relationship Standards Scale (Rainbow CRSS). In common with measures of relationship standards developed with heterosexuals, the Rainbow CRSS assesses the importance people attach to Couple Bond standards (expression of love, caring, intimacy), Family Responsibility standards (extended family relations, maintenance of face and harmony), Religion, and Relationship Effort standards. The Rainbow CRSS also assesses three standards hypothesized to be of particular importance to same-sex couples: Relationship Outness (public disclosure of the relationship), Sexual Openness (acceptance of open sexual relationship), and Dyadic Coping with Homophobic discrimination. Participants were 414 same-sex attracted men and women who completed the Rainbow CRSS online, plus some validation scales. The Rainbow CRSS showed a coherent two-level factor structure that was similar to that in heterosexual couples for the Couple Bond and Family Responsibility Scales. Same-sex attracted people's standards were similar for men and women, and for singles versus those in a relationship. Same-sex attracted people's standards were very similar in endorsement of Couple Bond, Family Responsibility, Religion, and Relationship Effort standards to those of heterosexuals. The Relationship Outness and Dyadic Coping with Homophobia scales assessed potentially important standards that reflect some distinctive challenges for same-sex couple relationships.La terapia familiar generalmente se ha conceptualizado como un proceso conversacional por medio del cual los terapeutas y los pacientes generan nuevos significados. Basándose en un estudio de tres años de prácticas conversacionales observables en procesos satisfactorios de terapia familiar de familias chilenas con un niño/adolescente que tiene comportamientos disruptivos, buscamos ejemplos clínicos de patrones interpersonales transformadores (PIT). Estos patrones son un aspecto clave del “IPscope” o instrumento de evaluación de los patrones interpersonales (Tomm, St. George, Wulff,Strong, 2014), un marco que usamos para analizar los procesos de creación de significado en la terapia familiar. Los patrones interpersonales transformadores constituyen un enfoque innovador para analizar los procesos terapéuticos mediante el reconocimiento de prácticas conversacionales fáciles de seguir empíricamente que participan en la generación de “significados nuevos”. Los patrones interpersonales transformadores intervienen en la presentación y la articulación discursiva (“convencer de crear”) de las manersa preferidas de los pacientes de relacionarse y vivir (p. ej.: preferencias relacionales o PR). Analizamos datos conversacionales de sesiones/tratamientos satisfactorios de terapia familiar y presentamos un modelo emergente de cinco categorías de prácticas conversacionales que constituyen patrones interpersonales transformadores, por ejemplo: PIT preparatorios, PIT identificadores, PIT localizadores, PIT transformadores y PIT consolidadores. Los hemos llamado “realizadores” porque estas prácticas conversacionales ayudan a las familias a convencerlas de crear (o a “hacer realidad”) preferencias relacionales particulares. También ofrecemos descriptores fáciles de usar de las subcategorías de los realizadores (p. ej.: PIT de medición) que pueden ayudar a los profesionales a reconocer, aprender y llevar a cabo estas invitaciones conversacionales. Se debaten las consecuencias teóricas y las futuras líneas de investigación.家庭治疗通常被认为是一种会话过程,通过会话治疗师和来访者共同构建新的意义。本研究基于对一个智利家庭的成功家庭治疗过程中为期三年的会话实践观察,试图从中寻找变革性人际交往模式(TIPs)的临床案例。参与研究的家庭有一个较多破坏性行为的少年。TIPs是IPscope (Tomm, St. George, Wulff,Strong, 2014)的一个重要方面,是我们用于探索家庭治疗中意义构建的过程所使用的一种框架。TIPs是一种新型的治疗方法,它在治疗过程中辨认区分那些实证性的可追踪的有关生成“新的意义”的会话实践。TIPs有关引导出并靠不断交谈传达出(即多说而成现实)来访者的偏好关联方式和生活方式(即关系偏好)。我们分析了成功的家庭治疗会谈/治疗处理时的交谈数据,提出五个自然显现出来的会话实践类别:准备TIPs、辨认TIPs、跟踪TIPs、改变TIPs、巩固TIPs。我们称他们为“实现者”,因为这些会话实践帮助家庭谈话中实现(或“变为现实”)某种特定的关系偏好。我们也提供对使用者友好的描述词来命名实现者的亚类别(如:测量性TIPs)以帮助行医者辨识、学习和实践这些会话邀请。本文也对理论上的成果和未来研究方向作了讨论。.

Most lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people want a stable, satisfying romantic relationship. Although many of the predictors of relationship outcomes are similar to those of heterosexual couples, same-sex couples face some additional challenges associated with minority stress that also impact upon relationship quality. Here, we investigate the association between minority stressors and relationship quality in a sample of 363 adults (M age = 30.37, SD = 10.78) currently in a same-sex romantic relationship. Internalized homophobia and difficulties accepting one's LGB identity were each negatively associated with relationship satisfaction via heightened concealment motivation. We also examined the protective role of identity affirmation on relationship quality, finding a direct positive relationship between the two variables. Minority stressors were negatively associated with couple relationship satisfaction via heightened concealment motivation. The finding that identity affirmation directly predicted increased couple satisfaction also highlights the important role of protective factors in same-sex couple relationships.La mayoría de las personas lesbianas, gais y bisexuales (LGB) desean una relación amorosa estable y satisfactoria. Aunque muchos de los predictores de las complicaciones en las relaciones son similares a los de las parejas heterosexuales, las parejas del mismo sexo enfrentan algunas otras dificultades asociadas con el estrés de las minorías que también repercuten en la calidad de la relación. Aquí investigamos la asociación entre los factores desencadenantes de estrés en las minorías y la calidad de la relación en una muestra de 363 adultos (edad promedio = 30.37, desviación estándar = 10.78) que están actualmente en una relación amorosa del mismo sexo. La homofobia internalizada y las dificultades para aceptar la identidad LGB propia estuvieron asociadas negativamente con la satisfacción en la relación mediante un incremento de la motivación por la ocultación. También analizamos el papel protector que desempeña la afirmación de la identidad en la calidad de la relación y encontramos una relación positiva directa entre las dos variables. Los factores desencadentantes de estrés en las minorías estuvieron asociados negativamente con la satisfacción en la relación de pareja mediante un incremento de la motivación por la ocultación. El hallazgo de que la afirmación de la identidad predijo directamente una mayor satisfacción en la pareja también destaca el papel importante que desempeñan los factores protectores de las relaciones de pareja del mismo sexo.大多数同性恋和双性恋(LGB)需要一个稳定令人满意的浪漫关系。虽然同性恋伴侣中很多关系成果预测因素和异性恋伴侣相同,同性恋伴侣面临一些和影响关系质量的少数压力相关的额外挑战。我们考察了由363位当前处于同性浪漫关系的成年人(M age = 30.37, SD = 10.78)构成的样本中少数压力源和关系质量之间的关系。内在恐同症和难以接受自己LGB身份通过增高的隐瞒动因和负面关系满意度相关。我们还考察了身份肯定对于关系质量的保护作用,并发现这两个变量之间直接正面关联。少数压力源通过增高的隐瞒动因和伴侣关系满意度负面相关。研究发现身份肯定直接预期提升的伴侣关系满意度同时强调了同性伴侣关系中保护因素的重要作用。.

Partners in an intercultural couple can be similar because of selection effects (they were attracted to each other because of their similarity), accommodation (relationship length diminishes differences), or acculturation (the migrant partner adjusts to the dominant culture). The current study explored these sources of similarity, as well as the association of relationship standards with relationship satisfaction, by comparing intercultural couples (68 Chinese-Western couples) with two groups of monocultural couples (63 Western couples and 66 Chinese couples) across 2 countries of residence (China and Australia). Regardless of country of residence, Chinese couples rated Family Responsibility standards (e.g., relations with the extended family and maintaining relational harmony) as more important than Western couples. Western couples rated Couple Bond standards (e.g., the demonstration of love and caring) as more important than Chinese. Intercultural couples endorsed standards to an intermediate extent between the Chinese and Western couples. There was considerable similarity of partners' standards within couples in all 3 groups of couples. Endorsement of Couple Bond standards and partner similarity on Family Responsibility standards were associated with relationship satisfaction across all 3 groups and both countries of residence. We conclude that cultural differences in endorsement of relationship standards show little acculturative change, at least in first-generation migrants. The substantial similarity in partners' standards in intercultural couples seems to be due primarily to selection effects. The association of standards with satisfaction is remarkably similar across countries of residence and cultural groups.

Relative to Westerners, Chinese are alleged to prefer more indirect, subtle, and implicit communication, referred to as high-context communication. We examined whether the use of indirect communication is more common, and more closely related to relationship satisfaction, in Chinese compared with Western couples. Cultural differences in communication might lead to relationship distress in intercultural couples, so we also studied intercultural couples. We coded the observed marital problem-solving of n = 36 Chinese couples, n = 32 Western couples, and n = 51 intercultural Chinese-Western couples, all of whom were living in Brisbane, Australia. There were low rates of most indirect communication behaviors in all groups of couples, with few cultural differences other than avoidance, which was notably higher in couples in which the woman was Chinese. Only a few associations of relationship satisfaction with aspects of indirect communication were moderated by culture. The common view of Chinese communication (as being indirect and implicit) was not reflected in the couple communication of Chinese couples living in Australia.

Rates of international migration are increasing, which raises the question of how migration might influence couple relationship standards and impact on the standards of migrants forming intercultural relationships. We compared relationship standards in n = 286 Chinese living in Hong Kong, China with standards in n = 401 Chinese migrants to a Western country (Australia) by administering the Chinese-Western Intercultural Couple Standards Scale (CWICSS). We also compared these two groups to n = 312 Westerners living in Australia. We first tested the structural invariance of the CWICSS across the three samples with a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. There was marginal but acceptable fit of a model of two positively correlated latent factors: Couple Bond (with four indicators, such as demonstration of love and caring) and Family Responsibility (also with four indicators, such as extended family relations and preserving face). Within the limitations of the study, results suggest migration is associated predominantly with differences in women’s but not men’s relationship standards. Migrant Chinese women show alignment of Couple Bond standards toward Western standards, and conversely greater distance away from Western standards with stronger endorsement of Family Responsibility standards. Discussion focused on how migration and intercultural relationship experiences might differentially influence different domains of relationship standards, gender differences in migration effects on standards, and the implications for working with culturally diverse couples.

The present article examined couple service utilization in adults in same-sex relationships, as well as satisfaction with couple services, and preferences regarding content, delivery, and tailoring of services. Couples accessed services relatively infrequently and were generally dissatisfied with the usefulness of such services. Most participants (87%) endorsed the importance of couple interventions being tailored specifically for same-sex couples. Concerns such as financial constraints and time limitations were identified as barriers to accessing services, in addition to stigma-related barriers such as fear of discrimination and a lack of appropriately trained practitioners to work with same-sex couples. It is expected that the findings of the present article can inform future research and practice and help to improve the relationships of same-sex couples.

Relationship education (RE) usually is conceived of as relationship enhancement for currently satisfied couples, with a goal of helping couples sustain satisfaction. However, RE also might be useful as a brief, indicated intervention for couples with low satisfaction. The current study evaluated the effect of RE on couples with low and high relationship satisfaction. The study was a randomized controlled trial in which 182 couples were randomly assigned to: a book reading control condition (control); RELATE online assessment with feedback and relationship goal setting (RELATE); or RELATE with CoupleCARE (RCC), a flexible delivery skill-based education program. Couples were assessed on relationship satisfaction and individual mental health before and after RE, and through to 4-year follow-up. Couples with high initial satisfaction showed no effects of RE on satisfaction. RCC but not RELATE increased satisfaction in couples with low initial satisfaction, but effects dissipated between 6 and 12 months after RE. There were no effects of RE on mental health. Flexible delivery RE produces immediate effects as an indicated early intervention for couples with low relationship satisfaction, but the effects attenuate. Future research needs to seek methods to produce better maintained effects. (PsycINFO Database Record

Attachment insecurity is generally associated with low romantic attraction from prospective partners. However, no research has examined the pan-cultural applicability of attachment and initial romantic attraction, referring to the extent to which attachment processes are implicated in romantic attraction across cultures. We examined if attachment insecurity influenced initial romantic attraction in the actor and partner, and whether effects were moderated by culture. Participants (n = 93 heterosexual participants, 42 of Western ancestry and 51 of Chinese ancestry) completed a measure of attachment and subsequently completed a speed-dating session. Women were less attracted to men high in attachment avoidance irrespective of culture, though attachment anxiety and avoidance were unrelated to male initial romantic attraction. Chinese women were more attracted to men higher in attachment anxiety, whereas attachment anxiety was unrelated to attraction in Western women. The pan-cultural applicability of attachment and romantic attraction is discussed, with particular focus on the extent to which attachment influences romantic attraction across cultures.

Committed couple relationships of marriage and marriage-like partnerships exist across all known cultures and likely reflect shared evolutionary imperatives to form couple partnerships to enhance the chance of raising viable offspring ( Buss, 2016 ). At the same time, there is considerable variation between cultures in the form and functions of couple relationships. The first half of the current chapter reviews the form and function of couple relationships cross-culturally, with a particular focus on how standards about what should be in good relationships are similar and different across diverse cultures. The second half of the chapter describes interventions to enhance couple functioning, couple relationship education and therapy, and how these interventions appropriately can address issues of culture.

The current Chapter analyzes the universal aspects of the form and function of human families, the important cultural variations in families, and the implications of those universalities and cultural variations for practice aimed at enhancing family functioning. I begin by examining families through an evolutionary lens to identify what is universal about human families. The next section of the Chapter describes how culture affects human adaptation, and how culture and families reciprocally influence each other. The last section of the Chapter synthesizes knowledge about interventions to promote family functioning across diverse cultures.

Rates of international migration and intercultural marriage are rising. Migrants and intercultural partners may experience challenges in defining their ethnic identity relative to their own heritage culture, their partner’s heritage culture, and the majority culture of their country of residence. The current study examined Chinese and Western ethnic identification and relationship satisfaction in four cultural combinations of couples: Western–Western (Western male–Western female), Chinese–Chinese (Chinese male–Chinese female), Western male–Chinese female, and Chinese male–Western female. All couples were residing in Brisbane, Australia, a multicultural city with a majority Western culture. Intracultural couples (Western–Western and Chinese–Chinese) reported the strongest ethnic identification with their heritage culture and weakest ethnic identification with their nonheritage culture, whereas intercultural couples (Western male–Chinese female and Chinese male–Western female) demonstrated intermediate identification. Greater similarity between partners on ethnic identification with the majority Western culture of Australia predicted greater relationship satisfaction, but there was no association of relationship satisfaction with partner similarity on Chinese ethnic identification. We discuss patterns of ethnic identification in terms of acculturation of immigrants, the selection of partners who are similar in ethnic identification, and accommodation of individuals’ ethnic identification toward their partner’s ethnic identification. (APA PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)

Couple Relationship Education (RE) seeks to enrich couples' relationships, and assist them to manage stressful life events [1]. In the current paper we present an ecological model of couple relationships intended to guide the practice of RE, analyze the mediators of RE effects, and suggest future research needs to assess moderators and mediators of RE effects in order to enhance the impact of RE.

An important limitation to the effectiveness of family mediation in assisting separated parents is parents failing to engage in the mediation process. In 524 parents who presented to a telephone-based mediation service, 113 (22%) initiating parents withdrew from mediation before the other parent was invited to participate, 241 (46%) initiating parents had respondent parents who declined to participate in mediation, and 170 cases (33%) completed mediation. We tested whether socio-demographic variables, psychological distress, coparental acrimony, parenting problems, or children's behavioral difficulties predicted mediation engagement. High interparental acrimony predicted failure to engage in mediation, but none of the other variables predicted mediation engagement. We followed a sample of 131 families that did not mediate and found they showed elevated psychological distress, acrimony, parenting problems and child adjustment difficulties, which remained unchanged 6 months later. Further research is needed to explore strategies to enhance respondent parent engagement with mediation, and to address the negative outcomes for those separated families not proceeding with mediation.

Military life can place excess strain on couple relationships. The Couple CARE relationship education program was tailored to address the challenges of military couples. Thirty-two Australian military couples participated in a pilot feasibility study assessing the Couple CARE in Uniform adaptation against an active control. Relationship satisfaction and communication improved in both conditions, with no significant difference between the conditions. Couples' high relationship satisfaction on presentation, paired with modest statistical power, might have contributed to the null results. However, Couple CARE in Uniform had significantly higher consumer satisfaction than the comparison condition, suggesting it is a program worthy of further evaluation.

This chapter reviews the emerging field of couple interventions for same-sex couples. It outlines the evidence base for couple relationship education and couple therapy based on research with heterosexual couples. It reviews data pertaining to relationship stability and relationship satisfaction of same-sex couples and also the similarities and differences in the predictors of relationship outcomes between heterosexual and same-sex couples. The differences suggest modifications are required, including addressing the role of external influences on couple functioning, the role of dyadic coping to buffer effects of minority stress, non-monogamous relationships, and managing disclosure of one’s relationship. Currently, there is modest uptake of couple services among same-sex couples, and this chapter offers suggestions to enhance the relevance and inclusivity of couple interventions. It concludes by proposing a number of future research directions, including examining the efficacy of couple interventions for same-sex couples and evaluating innovations to increase same-sex couples’ access to services.

Effective, accessible prevention programs are needed for adults at heightened risk for intimate partner violence IPV. This parallel groups randomized controlled trial examines whether such couples receiving the American version of Couple CARE for Parents of Newborns (CCP; Halford, Heyman, Slep, Petch, & Creedy, 2009) following the birth of a child, compared with controls, report fewer first occurrences of clinically significant IPV, less frequent physical and psychological IPV, and improved relationship functioning. Further, we test whether intervention effects are moderated by level of risk for IPV. Couples at elevated risk for IPV (N = 368) recruited from maternity units, were randomized to CCP (n=188) or a 24-month waitlist (n=180) and completed measures of IPV and relationship functioning at baseline, post-program (when child was 8-months old), and two follow-ups (at 15- and 24-months). Intervention effects were tested using Intent to Treat (ITT) as well as Complier Average Causal Effect (CACE; Jo & Muthén, 2001) structural equation models. CCP did not significantly prevent clinically significant IPV nor were there significant main effects of CCP on clinically significant IPV, frequency of IPV, or most relationship outcomes in the CACE or ITT analyses. Risk moderated the effect of CCP on male-to-female physical IPV at post-program, with couples with a planned pregnancy declining, but those with unplanned pregnancies increasing. This study adds to previous findings that prevention programs for at-risk couples are not often effective and may even be iatrogenic for some couples.