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Background: It is essential to characterize communication patterns for better health outcomes for family caregivers and persons living with dementia. Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationships between communication patterns and the characteristics of dyads of family caregivers and persons living with dementia. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using 75 video-recorded home care observations from 19 dyads. Participant characteristics and caregiver burden, depression, and sense of competence were collected from the parent study. The video-recorded dyadic communication patterns were assessed using a coding scheme developed based on Communication Accommodation Theory and Classical Test Theory. The relative frequency of the communication patterns was compared between groups. Results: Overall, 8311 caregiver and 8024 care recipient communication behaviors were observed. Caregiver communication patterns were categorized as facilitative, disabling, and neutral. Care recipient communication patterns were categorized as engaging, challenging, and neutral. Caregiver gender, care recipient gender, care recipient education level, dementia diagnosis length, types of dementia, dyadic gender difference, burden, depression, and competence of caregiver, and types of communication were significantly associated with caregiver communication. Dementia diagnosis length, caregiver competence, dyadic gender difference, and types of communication were significantly associated with care recipient communication. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated different communication patterns depending on individual and dyad characteristics and evidence for dyadic communication support to promote meaningful interaction for persons living with dementia. Further analysis is needed to identify mediating factors and causal relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Studies indicate a significant challenge for therapists in forming a therapeutic alliance (TA) with patients coping with anorexia nervosa (AN). While TA is a significant predictor of treatment outcomes, and AN treatment has low success rates, little is known about factors that affect the formation of an alliance and its quality in the treatment of AN. This study aimed at examining the factors associated with alliance formation, as perceived by patient–therapist dyads throughout AN therapy. Methods: A total of 18 dyads of patients with AN and their therapists were recruited from an eating disorder unit. The semistructured interviews focussed on the TA between the therapist and patient and examined facilitators towards, and barriers to, TA formation. Data analysis followed a thematic approach. Results: The data analysis revealed an overarching theme: the mutual wish of the patient and therapist to form a close relationship and related challenges. This theme was divided into subthemes: (1) the role of self‐disclosure of affection; (2) the meaning of the therapeutic setting; (3) coping with relationship ruptures; and (4) the importance of empathic acknowledgements. Conclusion: A major barrier to TA formation between patients with AN and their therapists is patients' conflict between a need for meaningful relationships and fear of re‐experiencing disappointment and pain. Self‐disclosures of affection, flexible treatment setting, acknowledgement of therapists' empathic failures and ability to see things from patients' perspectives are perceived by therapists and patients to facilitate alliance formation. This study also presents practical implications derived from these themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyads can be challenging to recruit for research studies, but detailed reporting on strategies employed to recruit adult–adolescent dyads is rare. We describe experiences recruiting adult–youth dyads for a hypertension education intervention comparing recruitment in an emergency department (ED) setting with a school-based community setting. We found more success in recruiting dyads through a school-based model that started with adolescent youth (19 dyads in 7 weeks with < 1 hour recruitment) compared to an ED-based model that started with adults (2 dyads in 17 weeks with 350 hours of recruitment). These findings can benefit future adult–youth dyad recruitment for research studies.

Background: Quality staff-resident communication is crucial to promote outcomes in nursing home residents with dementia requiring assistance during mealtimes. Better understanding of staff-resident language characteristics in mealtime interactions help promote effective communication, yet evidence is limited. This study aimed to examine factors associated with language characteristics in staff-resident mealtime interactions. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of 160 mealtime videos involving 36 nursing staff and 27 residents with moderately severe to severe dementia in 9 nursing homes. Mixed-effects models was used to examine the relationships between factors and language characteristics in staff-resident mealtime interactions. The independent variables were speaker (resident vs. staff), utterance quality (negative vs. positive), intervention (pre- vs. post-communication intervention), and resident dementia stage and comorbidities. The dependent variables were expression length (number of words in each utterance) and addressing partner by name (whether staff or resident named their partner in each utterance). All models included staff, resident, and staff-resident dyad as random effects. Results: Staff (utterance n = 2990, 99.1% positive, mean = 4.3 words per utterance) predominated conversations and had more positive, longer utterances than residents (utterance n = 890, 86.7% positive, mean = 2.6 words per utterance). As residents progressed from moderately severe to severe dementia, both residents and staff produced shorter utterances (z=-2.66, p =.009). Staff (18%) named residents more often than residents (2.0%; z = 8.14, p <.0001) and when assisting residents with more severe dementia (z = 2.65, p =.008). Conclusions: Staff-resident communication was primarily positive, staff-initiated, and resident-oriented. Utterance quality and dementia stage were associated with staff-resident language characteristics. Staff play a critical role in mealtime care communication and should continue to initiate resident-oriented interactions using simple, short expressions to accommodate resident declining language abilities, particularly those with severe dementia. Staff should practice addressing residents by their names more frequently to promote individualized, targeted, person-centered mealtime care. Future work may further examine staff-resident language characteristics at other levels of language using more diverse samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depressive symptoms are substantial among stroke survivors and their caregivers in poststroke management. Optimism and social support are known to protect against depressive symptoms. However, little is known about how optimism and social support contribute to depressive symptoms among stroke survivor–caregiver dyads. The study's purpose was to examine actor and partner effects of optimism on depressive symptoms through perceived social support among stroke survivors and caregiver dyads in the chronic stage of rehabilitation. Methods: Stroke survivors and caregivers (N = 105 dyads) completed the survey at 2 years of follow-up after the first stroke. Depressive symptoms, optimism, and perceived social support were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression, the Life Orientation Test, and the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model Extended to Mediation analysis was used to test the indirect effect of optimism on depressive symptoms through perceived social support. Results: Higher optimism was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms for caregivers (direct actor effect, −0.6844; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.9844 to −0.3844) and stroke survivors (direct partner effect, −0.4189; 95% CI, −0.0789 to −0.0889). Perceived social support availability significantly mediated the association between optimism and depressive symptoms for stroke survivors (indirect effect, −0.1957; 95% CI, −0.3923 to −0.0670). Caregiver perceived social support availability was also a significant mediator between caregivers' optimism and stroke survivors' depressive symptoms (indirect effect, 0.1658; 95% CI, 0.0559–0.3128). Conclusions: Intervention improving dyad members' optimism and social support would be beneficial to improve depressive symptoms of the stroke survivors and caregivers in chronic stroke management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recent meta‐analytic research suggests that the absence of pessimism could be a stronger predictor of physical health than the presence of optimism. The present study examined the role of subjective well‐being in the effects of optimism and pessimism on physical health in romantic couples. It was hypothesized that pessimism would be more strongly associated with both well‐being and health than optimism, intra‐ and interpersonally. Subjective well‐being was also expected to explain variance in the associations between optimism, pessimism, and health. Methods: A baseline sample of 153 opposite‐sex couples completed various measures of subjective well‐being (e.g., life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, and depressive symptoms) and physical health (e.g., subjective health, sleep efficiency, physical symptoms, cold symptoms, and chronic illness). Results: Results of actor‐partner interdependence models showed that the absence of pessimism, but not the presence of optimism, was associated with better physical health at baseline and over time. Pessimism was also a stronger predictor than optimism of baseline levels in some indicators of subjective well‐being. These effects were obtained intra‐ and interpersonally. Finally, subjective well‐being explained variance in some of the effects of pessimism on levels of physical health. Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intellectual disability is associated with increased risk for childhood obesity, and the factors most often associated with this risk are incorrect eating behavior and insufficient amount and intensity of physical activity. As is well known, there area whole range of factors determining lifestyle, but many currently available reports in this field refer to the functioning of children without a diagnosis of intellectual disability, and, as we know, due to numerous individual and environmental barriers, children with ID may function differently in this context than their peers. Therefore, we examined the relationships between the selected variables and divided them into two models: (1) first regression model: child's willingness to engage in physical activity (dependent variable), child's physical limitations related to disabilities and/or comorbidities, child's independence, parents' willingness to engage in physical activity, child's body dissatisfaction (independent variables/predictors); (2) second regression model: child's emotional eating (dependent variable), child's coping with emotions, parents' attitudes, beliefs, and practices about child feeding (restriction and pressure to eat), parents' emotional eating, parents' happiness (independent variables/predictors). A group of 503 parents (of children and adolescents with mild and moderate intellectual disability) completed: the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, the Child Feeding Questionnaire, the Emotional Overeating Questionnaire, the Scale of Experiencing Happiness, and the supplementary survey. Our results allow partial confirmation of the hypotheses related to both of these models: (1) model I: the relationships between the child's willingness to engage in physical activity and all predictors are significant, but the direction of the relationship between the dependent variable and one of the predictors—body dissatisfaction—is opposite to the assumed one (negative relationship); (2) model II: the relationships between the child's emotional eating and almost all predictors are significant, except for the relationship between the dependent variable and pressure to eat. In conclusion, (to the authors' knowledge) this study is the first to assess dyadic predictors of willingness to engage in physical activity and emotional eating in children and adolescents with mild and moderate intellectual disability. It allows for a better understanding of the attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of children with intellectual disabilities and their parents, which gives the opportunity (taking into account factors from both individuals from the child-parent dyad) to better design strategies to support pro-health behaviors in children and adolescents from this group (which may improve the effectiveness of overweight prevention and obesity). These findings emphasize how important it is to consider the dynamic of the child-parent dyad when considering how parenting contributes to a child's willingness to engage in physical activity, as well as thatchild's emotional eating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary 24/7 working society, the separation of work and private life is increasingly turning into an unrealizable ideal. Ruminating about work outside the work context lets work spill over into private lives and affects the dynamics of workers' private relationships. Although negative work rumination was linked to couples' reduced relationship satisfaction, little is known about the mechanism of action and the impact of positive work rumination. Drawing on the load theory of selective attention, we hypothesize that both negative and positive work rumination occupy attentional resources and thus reduce workers' attention to the partner on the same day. Lower levels of attention to the partner, in turn, should relate to lower levels of both partners'relationship satisfaction. However, sharing the work-related thoughts with the partner might support the resolution of the work issue the worker is ruminating about, which releases attentional resources and thus buffers the negative association between rumination and attention to the partner. We conducted a daily diary study and the findings based on 579 daily dyadic observations from 42 dual‐earner couples support the proposed cognitive spillover-crossover mechanism and the buffer mechanism of thought-sharing. We conclude that negative and positive work rumination takes up scarce attentional resources and thus jeopardizes relationship quality. However, sharing thoughts with one's partner seems to be a useful strategy for couples to maintain or even increase their relationship satisfaction in the light of work rumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research to understand self-care behaviors increasingly engages patient–caregiver dyads. However, collecting data on dyads requires both members to complete the research protocol, potentially resulting in biased information if caregivers who do not participate differ from caregivers who do. Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine how recruitment conditions and patients' appraisal of dyadic engagement in heart failure management are related to caregiver participation across two research studies. Methods: We used logistic regression to examine whether recruitment strategy and patients' responses on the dyadic symptom management-type instrument were associated with caregivers' participation. Results: Caregivers not present at the initial recruitment were less likely to participate in the study. Regardless of recruitment strategy, caregivers were less likely to participate if the patient indicated primary responsibility for heart failure management. In the restricted recruitment study (recruiting both dyad members simultaneously), caregiver participation was significantly higher when patients selected a collaborative-oriented care type relative to patient- or caregiver-oriented type. Discussion: Instruments assessing dyad-level information could aid researchers in deploying resources at recruitment, as well as in adjusting results for data that could bias results and conclusions. Our findings support the importance of considering the recruitment strategy as well as dyadic care type as part of the recruitment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current arricle describes a novel recruitment protocol for collecting data from sexual assault and intimate partner violence survivors referred to research studies by individuals to whom they had previously disclosed. Challenges in both recruiting participants and interpreting data are described. Only 35.8% of cases had usable data for both survivors and disclosure recipients, suggesting that this referral method had limited success in recruiting matched pairs. Suggestions for modifications to improve the protocol for future research are offered. Potential advantages and drawbacks of various methods for recruiting dyads are described in order to facilitate future research on survivors' disclosure processes, social reactions, and the influence of social reactions on survivor recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst encounters in psychology are typically experienced relationally, qualitative dyadic research in psychology is relatively rare. This study used qualitative dyadic research to understand psychological therapy assessments, exploring how experiences are actively created through situated, relational encounters. Seven dyads participated in qualitative semi-structured interviews, predominantly from services for trauma survivors. Thematic dyadic analysis explored a third space, distinct from the experiential knowledge of individuals. We found that clients and assessors balance closeness and distance through enacting aspects of their identities impacting on connection, safety, trust and disclosures. Whilst assessors and clients come together as strangers, human beings, experts, collaborators and, at times, survivors, the key determining factor shaping the encounter is how successfully assessors communicate their humanity. We conclude that dyadic qualitative inquiry is a feasible and rich method for understanding the relational in psychological healthcare encounters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rectal cancer (RC) patients experience unique sources of distress, including sexual dysfunction and body image concerns, which can also cause distress among partners. This preliminary study investigated patterns of psychological distress, sexual functioning, sexual distress, and relationship satisfaction among RC patient‐partner couples at pivotal points during cancer treatment. Methods: Twenty couples participated (N = 40). Patients and partners completed a series of validated measures of psychological distress (ET), sexual functioning (FSFI; IIEF), sexual distress (GMSEX; Sexual Distress Scale) and relationship satisfaction (GMREL) at time of diagnosis, 3 weeks after radiation, 4 weeks post‐surgery, and after chemotherapy and surgery for ostomy closure. Descriptive statistics, t‐tests, and repeated‐measures ANOVA were used to analyze scores over time, first for patients and partners, and then by sex. Results: Relationship satisfaction remained elevated over time. In this sample, 55% of patients and 78.9% of partners reported clinically significant rates of psychological distress at diagnosis, which decreased to 23% and 46% respectively at the last assessment. Sexual satisfaction and distress worsened for patients and partners between baseline and surgery for ostomy closure. Both male and female participants reported statistically significant declines in sexual function from baseline to end of treatment (p < 0.05). Discussion: Relative to relationship satisfaction, psychological and sexual health outcomes seem more vulnerable to the effects of RC treatment during the first year after diagnosis, both for patients and partners and for men and women. Results support the need for psychosocial care and sexual education/counseling for couples coping with RC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few years, the use of dyadic research methods has expanded considerably. One area that has benefited from this type of research is the study of the family unit, particularly parent‐adolescent dyads. Dyadic research allows investigators to assess relationship dynamics, processes, and congruences within a family unit, as well as the distinct experiences of each member of the dyad. However, like all emerging and expanding areas of human subjects research, parent‐adolescent dyadic research faces several ethical challenges. Given the advantages of parent‐adolescent dyadic research for examining family relational processes, this article addresses ethical challenges experienced by dyadic researchers that often temper interests in applying these approaches. Drawing on the scholarly literature and the authors' experiences conducting parent‐adolescent dyadic research, we discuss heightened and unique ethical challenges that arise in this area of inquiry and provide recommendations on how to best navigate those issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• eHealth interventions for heart failure care dyads are feasible and acceptable. • Our teamwork intervention can improve outcomes for both members of a dyad. • Recruiting dyads from acute care settings for intervention research is challenging. Dyadic heart failure (HF) management can improve outcomes for patients and caregivers and can be enhanced through eHealth interventions. To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an eHealth dyadic teamwork intervention, compared to an attention control condition. We recruited 29 HF patient-caregiver dyads from inpatient units and randomized dyads to an intervention or a control group. We calculated enrollment and retention rates, described acceptability using interview and questionnaire data, and computed intervention effect sizes. 37% of eligible dyads agreed to participate and 93% of randomized participants completed follow-up questionnaires. Participants found both study conditions to be acceptable. Between-group effect sizes suggested that the intervention led to improvements in relationship quality, self-efficacy, and quality of life for patients and caregivers. Dyadic recruitment from acute care settings is challenging. Findings provide initial evidence that our intervention can contribute to better health outcomes for HF dyads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This narrative review aims to provide an introduction and overview of dyadic research within the context of chronic illness. In addition, some methodological considerations and future directions for conducting dyadic research are presented. Methods: The focus of this review is on adult participants in dyads and with chronic illness based on the previous studies and literatures on dyadic science. Results: Theory of Dyadic Illness Management and Dyadic Regulation-Connectivity Model (DR-CM) may be appropriate for performing dyadic research. At present, there is a lack of qualitative and quantitative knowledge on the dyadic approach for research on chronic diseases. Dyadic health interventions for building collaborative relationships within a dyad may be beneficial to improve dyadic health outcomes. This article addressed some of the challenges regarding recruitment, data collection, and analysis when it comes to planning dyadic research pertaining to chronic illnesses. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals should prioritize needs and preferences at the dyadic level when designing effective chronic disease management. Particularly, it is critical to regularly monitor the dyadic relationships or type of dyadic care during illness trajectories. More research should be undertaken on patient-family caregiver dyads in chronic care, considering the various types of chronic diseases and cultural diversities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portable and wireless devices that collect physiological data are becoming more and more sought after in clinical and psychophysiological research as technology swiftly advances. These devices allow for data collection in interactive states, such as dyadic therapy, with reduced restraints compared to traditional laboratory devices. One such portable device is the Empatica E4 wristband (Empatica Srl, Milan, Italy) which allows quantifying cardiac interbeat intervals (IBIs), heart rate variability (HRV), and electro-dermal activity (EDA), as well as several other acceleration and temperature measures. In the current study, we aimed to assess IBI, HRV, and EDA measures, against the same data collected from the well-validated MindWare mobile impedance cardiograph device (MindWare Technology, Gahanna, OH, United States). We assessed the E4 strictly as a research instrument and not as a clinical tool. We were specifically interested in the wristbands’ performance during naturalistic interactive face-to-face conversations which inherently involve more hand movements. We collected data from 30 participants, nested in 15 dyads, which were connected to both devices simultaneously, during rest and during a social conversation. After preprocessing and analyses, we found that mean IBIs obtained by the E4 and the MindWare device, were highly similar during rest and during conversation. Medium to high correlations were found between the devices with respect to several HRV measures, with higher correlations during rest compared to conversation. The E4 failed to produce reliable EDA data. We conclude by discussing the strengths and limitations of the E4 during seated conversational states and suggest optimal ways to collect and analyze data with the E4.

Purpose of Review: This review aims to compile recent research on the interpersonal and relational predictors of sexual satisfaction and to identify key trends in this area of research. Recent Findings: The introduction of the Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction (IEMSS) in 1995 caused researchers to begin conceptualizing sexual satisfaction in a relational context, rather than as an evaluation of individual sexual experiences. This shift gave rise to more dyadic research on sexual satisfaction, and in recent years, dyad-focused research has identified a number of factors that either facilitate or attenuate sexual satisfaction at the partner and relational levels. Factors such as communication, sexual compatibility, and relationship satisfaction have all been shown to facilitate greater sexual satisfaction. Conversely, factors like desire discrepancies and sexual dysfunction are common attenuators. Though recent research has yielded a greater understanding of the factors that are associated with sexual satisfaction, the current review identified an acute lack of experimental manipulations and individual differences research in this area, which may inhibit the development of effective treatments to maximize sexual satisfaction at the couple-level. Summary: Current research on sexual satisfaction has identified a number of important interpersonal factors that predict sexual satisfaction levels; however, there is still a great need for research that will clarify the directionality of these relationships and examine individual differences to inform treatment development and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portable and wireless devices that collect physiological data are becoming more and more sought after in clinical and psychophysiological research as technology swiftly advances. These devices allow for data collection in interactive states, such as dyadic therapy, with reduced restraints compared to traditional laboratory devices. One such portable device is the Empatica E4 wristband (Empatica Srl, Milan, Italy) which allows quantifying cardiac interbeat intervals (IBIs), heart rate variability (HRV), and electro-dermal activity (EDA), as well as several other acceleration and temperature measures. In the current study, we aimed to assess IBI, HRV, and EDA measures, against the same data collected from the well-validated MindWare mobile impedance cardiograph device (MindWare Technology, Gahanna, OH, United States). We assessed the E4 strictly as a research instrument and not as a clinical tool. We were specifically interested in the wristbands' performance during naturalistic interactive face-to-face conversations which inherently involve more hand movements. We collected data from 30 participants, nested in 15 dyads, which were connected to both devices simultaneously, during rest and during a social conversation. After preprocessing and analyses, we found that mean IBIs obtained by the E4 and the MindWare device, were highly similar during rest and during conversation. Medium to high correlations were found between the devices with respect to several HRV measures, with higher correlations during rest compared to conversation. The E4 failed to produce reliable EDA data. We conclude by discussing the strengths and limitations of the E4 during seated conversational states and suggest optimal ways to collect and analyze data with the E4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual activity is an important aspect of most romantic relationships. However, many couples report declines in sexual activity over time and report many reasons for not engaging in sexual activity on a daily basis. To investigate the reasons for not engaging in sexual activity in couples over a month and whether these reasons are associated with sexual and relationship satisfaction and sexual desire. We collected 30-day daily electronic report data from 174 individuals (87 mixed-sex couples). The responses between men and women were analyzed using chi-squared tests, and we used multilevel modeling to examine the association between the reasons and satisfaction and desire. The main outcome measure includes daily sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and sexual desire. Daily reported reasons for not engaging in sexual activity are categorized into joint reason, self-based reason, partner-based reason, and other reasons. Men and women were equally likely to endorse joint reasons for not engaging in sexual activity (eg, "It just didn't happen"), whereas women were more likely to endorse self-based reasons (eg "I wasn't in the mood") and men partner–based reasons (eg "My partner was tired"). The reasons for not engaging in sexual activity were associated with daily sexual and relationship satisfaction and daily sexual desire. Higher baseline sexual desire was associated with a greater likelihood of endorsing partner-related reasons and smaller likelihood of endorsing self-related reasons. Higher baseline sexual satisfaction was associated with a decreased likelihood of reporting partner-based reasons, and higher baseline relationship satisfaction was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting joint reasons. Some of the other associations were significant only for men or women. Results inform couples' therapy and other clinical interventions and highlight the importance of addressing the reasons for not engaging in sexual activity to find ways of mitigating some of these reasons. The study was the first to date to address reasons for not engaging in sexual activity in a sample of couples in an experience-sampling study. However, our scope was limited to mixed-sex couples who were primarily white and heterosexual, and we only addressed reasons for not engaging in partnered sex (not solitary sex). The reasons for not engaging in sexual activity seem different for men and women and are associated with sexual and relationship satisfaction and sexual desire, and this link appears to be bidirectional. Mark KP, Vowels LM, Leistner CE. "Not Tonight, Honey:" Reasons Couples Do Not Engage in Sex and Their Impact on Satisfaction and Desire. J Sex Med 2020;17:431–441. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has demonstrated a strong link between relationship and sexual satisfaction in the context of romantic relationships. However, little research has examined this in the context of a dyadic longitudinal sample, where both partner and actor effects are considered over time. The current study aimed to assess directional fit of the link between relationship and sexual satisfaction with the actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) on the cross-sectional and longitudinal level. Data were collected online from 204 mixed-sex couples (408 individuals) in an online quantitative longitudinal study (baseline, 2 months, and 4 months). The average age of participants was 34 and participants were in a relationship for an average of nine years. Results from the cross-sectional APIM indicated that relationship satisfaction as a predictor of sexual satisfaction provided a better fit to the data. The over-time APIM further supported this directionality. Although prior research has shown mixed results, with some studies providing support for a bidirectional model, the current results indicated that relationship satisfaction precedes sexual satisfaction. This provides additional support that targeting relationship building to improve relationship satisfaction may be a fruitful approach to improving sexual satisfaction in relationships. Implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adaptive selling literature identifies effective salespeople as those who match their influence tactics to suit the characteristics of buyers. However, prior research is largely silent on the specific influence tactics that salespeople use and the effectiveness of these tactics across different types of buyers. The authors propose a theoretical model that uses Kelman's (1961) underlying influence processes of internalization, compliance, and identification to identify the seller influence tactics that salespeople use and to assess which of these tactics will resonate with three types of buyers: task-oriented buyers, interaction-oriented buyers, and self-oriented buyers. The authors test their model with data from 193 bidirectionally matched buyer--seller dyads. The results strongly support the theoretical model and suggest that buyers are more complex than originally presumed. However, salespeople seem to recognize this complexity and use the combination of influence tactics prescribed by theory for persuading these types of buyers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigative interviews are complex, dyadic, and social interactions typically studied by evaluating interviewers’ questioning strategies. In field settings, interviewers naturally vary in their interviewing practice. Thus, it is important to conduct research reflective of idiosyncrasies in witnesses, interviewers, and the resulting unique pairings. This study explored sources of variation in an interview by using a “round-robin” design. Each session of the study involved five witnesses observing five separate events. Witnesses were then simultaneously, but independently interviewed by four different interviewers, or completed a self-administered written interview. This sequence was repeated until each witness had seen every event and had been interviewed by each interviewer. Over nine sessions (N = 45) this produced 225 total interviews. Individual interview performance (accuracy and level of detail) as well as experience (subjective ratings) were then analyzed in relation to the typical performance of the interviewer, the witness, the event, and the unique paring. We found that witnesses and interviewers could have an effect on statement quality; however, the unique interview experience variance had the greatest influence on interview performance. This study presents the round-robin methodology as a useful tool to study realistic variation in interviewer, witness, and dyad behavior. The preprint of this paper is available at psyarxiv.com/tv5gz/, and materials and data are available at osf.io/ef634/files/.

Investigative interviews are complex, dyadic, and social interactions typically studied by evaluating interviewers' questioning strategies. In field settings, interviewers naturally vary in their interviewing practice. Thus, it is important to conduct research reflective of idiosyncrasies in witnesses, interviewers, and the resulting unique pairings. This study explored sources of variation in an interview by using a "round-robin" design. Each session of the study involved five witnesses observing five separate events. Witnesses were then simultaneously, but independently interviewed by four different interviewers, or completed a self-administered written interview. This sequence was repeated until each witness had seen every event and had been interviewed by each interviewer. Over nine sessions (N = 45) this produced 225 total interviews. Individual interview performance (accuracy and level of detail) as well as experience (subjective ratings) were then analyzed in relation to the typical performance of the interviewer, the witness, the event, and the unique paring. We found that witnesses and interviewers could have an effect on statement quality; however, the unique interview experience variance had the greatest influence on interview performance. This study presents the round-robin methodology as a useful tool to study realistic variation in interviewer, witness, and dyad behavior. The preprint of this paper is available at psyarxiv.com/tv5gz/, and materials and data are available at osf.io/ef634/files/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies into the determinants of marital satisfaction are today a significant research area in psychology. The investigations conducted so far involve mainly the couples at the stages of early and middle adulthood. Relatively few studies focus on identification of the factors of marital success specific to the late adulthood, on determining the degree of similarity (fit) of spouses in terms of these factors and its impact on marital satisfaction of seniors. The purpose of this article is to identify the subject variables relevant to marital satisfaction of elderly people, both at the level of an individual and a couple. The study involved 120 participants (60 marriages) aged 60-75. We used 9 psychological methods to measure: marital satisfaction (KDM-2), life balance (KBŻ), religiousness (SRSZ), styles of coping with stress (CISS), self-esteem (SES), hope for success (KNS), location of health control (MHLC), value system (SWS), valuation crisis (KKW), and emotional intelligence (INTE). The results confirmed the complexity of the construct of marital satisfaction and allowed to identify the key predictors of happiness in marriage at old age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual dysfunction represents a critical aspect of quality of life for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Studies have consistently documented that adolescents and young adults report greater psychological and physical morbidity than older survivors and healthy peers, including elevated rates of sexual dysfunction, often accompanied by lower satisfaction with sex life and delays in meeting sexual milestones. Moreover, sexual dysfunction, body image concerns, and fertility status affect their confidence in being both physically and emotionally intimate. Despite this evidence, limited research has investigated the influence of psychosocial and interpersonal factors on sexual health outcomes reported by this group. This constitutes a significant gap in the provision of comprehensive sexual health care for adolescent- and young adult-onset cancer survivors, especially since greater emphasis has been recently placed on the biopsychosocial model of sexuality and dyadic approaches to intervention and treatment. In comparison to other cancer types, the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been increasing at an alarming rate for the adolescent and young adult group. Patients with early-onset CRC experience elevated rates of sexual dysfunction, psychological distress, and social and physical burden, often resulting from issues with bowel control, incontinence, and body image., Objective: This study uses an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach to (1) characterize sexual function, sexual distress, dyadic coping, infertility-related distress, relationship and mental health outcomes of adolescent and young adult CRC survivors within the first 5 years post diagnosis and their partners; (2) examine the reciprocal influence of sexual function and dyadic coping behaviors on sexual distress; and (3) identify interpersonal or couple characteristics associated with coping with sexual dysfunction and its associated distress., Methods: Participating couples (n=60) will complete a quantitative web-based survey investigating sexual function, sexual distress, dyadic coping, infertility-related distress, emotional functioning, relationship satisfaction, and body image (cancer survivors only). A subset of 20 couples will participate in an in-depth dyadic interview with 2 members of the research team to further explore couple-based strategies implemented to cope with cancer-related sexual dysfunction and distress., Results: The study received institutional review board approval. Recruitment and enrollment of couples began in July 2022., Conclusions: Results will provide a deeper understanding of the challenges couples experience as they navigate sexual intimacy after CRC treatment by highlighting the role of interpersonal processes. These findings will inform a dyadic intervention for young couples at risk of greater sexual distress in the aftermath of CRC., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/41831., (©Chiara Acquati, Daniela Wittmann, Michael Roth, Allison Rosen, Lynley Christian Carr, Zachary Gresham, Elena Ionescu. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 23.03.2023.)

Introduction Research investigating the impact of contraceptive use on sexual desire has produced mixed results. This scholarship also has had inconsistent methodology, with some studies not separating contraceptive types and others lacking non-hormonal comparison groups. Relationship context of contraceptive use and sexual behavior also have not been well represented. Aims To investigate the impact of contraceptive type on sexual desire in women and in men who are partnered to contraceptive-using women. Methods In two separate studies we examined the impact of contraceptives on the sexual desire of women currently using contraceptives and men partnered to women using contraceptives. The first study examined the impact of contraceptive type on sexual desire in women and in men partnered to contraceptive users in relationships of different lengths. The second study examined this impact in heterosexual couples in long-term relationships. Main Outcome Measures Solitary and dyadic sexual desire as measured by the Sexual Desire Inventory and contraceptive type as categorized into three types: oral hormonal contraceptive, other hormonal contraceptive, and non-hormonal contraceptive. Results Contraceptive type significantly affected solitary and dyadic desire. Women on non-hormonal contraceptives reported higher solitary sexual desire than women on other hormonal contraceptives. Women on oral hormonal contraceptives reported significantly higher dyadic sexual desire than women on non-hormonal contraceptives. In male partners of female contraceptive users, solitary and dyadic sexual desires were not affected by partner contraceptive type. In the multivariate model, relationship length and age were stronger predictors of contraceptive type than was solitary or dyadic sexual desire. At the couple level, contraceptive type also was not related to solitary or dyadic sexual desire in men and women. Conclusion Contraceptive type can affect solitary and dyadic sexual desire in women; however, contextual factors seem to be stronger predictors of sexual desire for long-term coupled women and men than contraception type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose/Objectives: To longitudinally explore changes, similarities, differences, and interrelations in the sleep-wake parameters of patient–caregiver dyads throughout adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Design: Observational, repeated-measures, dyadic study. Setting: Four ambulatory oncology clinics in Scotland. Sample: 48 dyads consisting of patients and their primary informal caregivers. Methods: Four dyadic, self-reported sleep-wake assessments took place before chemotherapy (T0), during chemotherapy cycles 1 (T1) and 4 (T2), and after chemotherapy (T3). Dyads completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Multilevel hierarchical linear modeling was used to explore dyadic data. Main Research Variables: Perceived sleep quality, sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time, habitual sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, daily disturbance, daytime napping duration, overall sleep-wake impairment. Findings: The majority of dyads had at least one poor sleeper throughout the study; 25%–35% were dyads of concurrent poor sleepers. Curvilinear patterns of change were evident for patients' (but not caregivers') sleep-wake parameters, steadily deteriorating from pre- to midtreatment, then leveling off close to baseline. Average trajectories were significantly different between the dyad members but indicative of a trend for concurrent deterioration at T2. Dyad members' perceived sleep quality, SOL, and overall sleep-wake impairment were closely interrelated; wake variables remained uncoupled. Conclusions: Despite overall differences in magnitude, sleep problems may be concurrently present in both dyad members, covary, and peak midway through chemotherapy. Implications for Nursing: Dyadic sleep assessments can shed light on potential areas of sleep interaction to enable interventions to support care dyads at risk of sleep distress during chemotherapy for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet-based surveys are commonly utilized as a cost-effective mechanism for data collection in social and health psychology research. Little is known about the differences between partnered gay men who participate alone compared to those with partners who also agree to participate. A sample of 260 partnered gay/bisexual men from New York City completed an online survey covering demographic characteristics, sexual behavior, substance use, and relationship satisfaction. Upon completion, they had the option to send the study link to their partner. In total, 104 (40 %) participants successfully recruited their partners, 90 (34.6 %) were unsuccessful, and 66 (25.4 %) declined the option to refer their partners. Men who did not refer their partners were significantly older, in relationships longer, and reported higher personal income. Participants who successfully recruited partners reported significantly higher relationship satisfaction. While generalizability is limited given the diversity of methodological factors that influence research participation, these data provide an initial insight into the effects on sample composition imposed by the implementation of dyadic (vs. unpaired) designs in online studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While retention of highly qualified employees is vital for professional services firms, prior research has largely neglected the role of customers as a driver of employee satisfaction and retention. Drawing on an experimental study and a dyadic field study, this article shows that client satisfaction is an important determinant of employee satisfaction, which in turn increases employee retention. Thus, for professional services firms, the common logic in relationship marketing that employee satisfaction affects client satisfaction can also be reversed. First, in line with balance theory, an attitudinal transfer occurs from the client to the employee which is stronger when both share the same opinion about their collaboration. Second, in line with Herzberg’s motivational theory, client satisfaction indirectly affects employee satisfaction by affecting the perceived appreciation the employee receives from the customer. These findings have three major managerial implications: First, investments into client satisfaction might pay off double by enhancing revenues and profit on one hand, and enhancing employee satisfaction and retention, on the other hand. Second, positive client feedback has positive effects on employee satisfaction and recognition. Third, these results suggest that marketing and human resource issues are intertwined in professional services firms. Thus, service firms should encourage ample communication and collaboration between these functions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

It is widely acknowledged that cancer affects not only patients but also their friends and family members who provide informal, and typically unpaid, care. Given the dual impact that cancer often has on patients and their informal caregivers (i.e., family members, partners, or friends), an expanded dyadic framework that encompasses a range of health and psychosocial outcomes and includes primary caregivers with a range of relationships to the patients is critically needed. Moreover, an emphasis on the role of social and contextual factors may help the framework resonate with a broader range of patient-caregiver relationships and allow for the development of more effective dyadic interventions. This article describes the development of the Dyadic Cancer Outcomes Framework, which was created to guide future research and intervention development. Using an iterative process, we conducted a conceptual review of currently used dyadic and/or caregiving models and frameworks and developed our own novel dyadic framework. Our novel Dyadic Cancer Outcomes Framework highlights individual- and dyad-level predictors and outcomes, as well as incorporating the disease trajectory and the social context. This framework can be used in conjunction with statistical approaches including the Actor Partner Interdependence Model to evaluate outcomes for different kinds of partner-caregiver dyads. This flexible framework can be used to guide intervention development and evaluation for cancer patients and their primary caregivers, with the ultimate goal of improving health, psychosocial, and relationship outcomes for both patients and caregivers. Future research will provide valuable information about the framework's effectiveness for this purpose. • This article introduces the new Dyadic Cancer Outcomes Framework (DCOF). • The DCOF was created to integrate caregiving and dyadic cancer literatures. • It includes individual and dyadic factors, the cancer trajectory and social context. • The DCOF can be used to guide future research and intervention development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates the preliminary reliability and validity of the grandparent version of the Grandparent Support Scale for Teenage Mothers (GSSTM-G), a measure designed to assess grandparents' perceptions of triadic relationships that support or imperil the teen mother's care of her baby. Grandparents (N = 61) who participated in this study were parents and parent surrogates of teen mothers who completed a teen version of the scale (GSSTMT). Principal axis factoring with oblique rotation resulted in a reduction of the GSSTM-G scale from 19 to 14 items. A two-factor solution was supported by item factor loadings and conceptual clarity. The GSSTM-G factors revealed two different patterns of family relationships, Responsive Family Relationships (α = .82) and Adversarial Family Relationships (α = .81), that correlated with other measures. Construct validity and internal consistency support further exploration of the GSSTM-G as a measure of family relationships, as related to the care of the infant, from grandparents' perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partners and other informal caregivers provide unpaid tangible, emotional, and decision-making support for patients with cancer, but relatively little research has investigated the cancer experiences of sexual minority women (SMW) with cancer and their partners/caregivers. This review addressed 4 central questions: 1) What social support do SMW with cancer receive from partners/caregivers? 2) What effect does cancer have on intimate partnerships or caregiving relationships of SMW with cancer? 3) What effects does cancer have on partners/caregivers of SMW with cancer? 4) What interventions exist to support partners/caregivers of SMW or to strengthen the patient-caregiver relationship? This systematic review, conducted in 2018 and updated in 2020, was based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Two independent coders screened abstracts and articles. In total, 550 unique records were screened; 42 articles were assessed for eligibility, and 18 were included in a qualitative synthesis. Most studies were U.S.-based, involved breast cancer, included intimate partners, had primarily white/Caucasian samples, and were cross-sectional. Sexual minority female participants reported that partners/caregivers often provide important social support, including emotional support, decision-making support, and tangible support. Effects of cancer on relationships with partners/caregivers were mixed, with some studies finding relationships remained stable and others finding cancer either increased closeness or disrupted relationships. Participants reported partners/caregivers often experience distress and may experience discrimination, discomfort disclosing sexual orientation, and a lack of sexual minority-friendly services. No studies involved an intervention targeting partners/caregivers or the dyadic relationship. More work is needed to understand SMW with cancers other than breast cancer, and future work should include more racially, ethnically, and economically diverse samples. Longitudinal research will allow an examination of patterns of mutual influence and change in relationships. These steps will enable the development of interventions to support SMW with cancer and people close to them. • This review synthesized 18 articles about sexual minority women and cancer. • Partners/caregivers often provide crucial social support to sexual minority women. • Effects of cancer on relationships with partners/caregivers were mixed. • Partners/caregivers may experience distress and discrimination. • More work is needed in diverse samples and in cancers other than breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]