Menghao Ren, Xiaohang Luo, Cui Wu, Ruoshui Zhao, Yu Xia, Xinyi Han
{"title":"When Parental Burnout Hits: Dyadic Effects on Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Families, Buffering Role of Supportive Coparenting and Differences Across Family Fertility Situations","authors":"Menghao Ren, Xiaohang Luo, Cui Wu, Ruoshui Zhao, Yu Xia, Xinyi Han","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70040","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Parental burnout has become increasingly common, often accompanied by depressive symptoms. This study aims to explore the actor and partner effects of parental burnout on depressive symptoms, alongside the moderating role of supportive coparenting and its differences between only-child and non-only-child families. Longitudinal dyadic data were collected from 501 heterosexual parent dyads at two time points. First, Actor-Partner Interdependence Model results showed that parental burnout had significant actor and partner effects on maternal depressive symptoms, but only a partner effect on paternal depressive symptoms. Second, the Actor-Partner Interdependence Moderation Model results revealed that maternal perceived supportive coparenting buffered both the adverse effects of maternal burnout on mothers and fathers, while exacerbating the adverse effects of paternal burnout on fathers. Finally, multi-group analysis showed that significant differences in the moderating effects of perceived supportive coparenting between only-child and non-only-child families.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"51 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144197329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Interplay Between Relationship Dissatisfaction and Individual Symptoms: Insights From Dyadic Analyses","authors":"Terje Tilden, Solveig Tilden, Johanne Elise Bakke Bæverfjord, Jesper Dammeyer, Sverre Urnes Johnson, Kristoffer J. Whittaker","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Clients seeking couple therapy often experience a blend of individual psychiatric symptoms and severe relationship distress. In a study among 150 heterosexual couples within residential couple therapy in Norway, the aim was to investigate the relationship between individual and relationship distress. The research questions addressed the predictive associations between initial and termination levels of individual and relational distress. By the use of dyadic analysis, the findings identified actor and partner effects. Overall, the results revealed that the level of relational distress at the start of therapy predicted the change in individual psychiatric symptoms more than the opposite direction. No gender differences were revealed. The clinical implications suggest that addressing interventions that strengthen dyadic satisfaction and family functioning is beneficial.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"51 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144197331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Military Cultural Competence Among Human Service Helping Professionals: A Psychometric Analysis of Three Brief Measures","authors":"Mallory Lucier-Greer, Catherine Walker O'Neal, Erin Cooper, Carlynn Vandenberg, Davina Quichocho, Haley Sherman","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70038","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Service members, Veterans, and military families regularly seek clinical care from civilian providers, and military cultural competence is critical for effective service provision. This study outlines the development and evaluation of three brief measures designed to assess military cultural competence among human service helping professionals. Participants were 258 diverse professionals. A series of psychometric analyses were conducted, including confirmatory factor analyses, tests for measurement invariance, and assessments of scale reliability and validity for each measure: <i>Perceived Military Cultural Knowledge and Skills, Military Client Intervention Confidence</i>, and <i>Informed Practice Serving Military-Connected Clients</i>. Results indicated good model fit. Measures were internally consistent, showed convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity, and demonstrated invariance over time. This initial study demonstrates that the three measures appear to be distinct, reliable, valid, and appropriate for use. Helping professionals and researchers can use these measures to assess military cultural competence for self-assessment, in training programs, and/or in research.</p>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"51 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jmft.70038","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144197330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shemeka Thorpe, Kasey E. Vigil, Brenice Duroseau, Praise Iyiewuare, Natalie Malone, Jardin N. Dogan-Dixon, Jessica Ross
{"title":"Superwoman Schema and Relationship Satisfaction Among Black Women in the United States: The Mediating Role of Relationship Attachment","authors":"Shemeka Thorpe, Kasey E. Vigil, Brenice Duroseau, Praise Iyiewuare, Natalie Malone, Jardin N. Dogan-Dixon, Jessica Ross","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70036","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We examined insecure attachment styles as mediators of the link between Superwoman Schema (SWS) and relationship satisfaction among <i>N</i> = 288 Black women. We also examined partner race and gender as moderators of the indirect association between SWS and relationship satisfaction through relationship attachment. Avoidant attachment significantly mediated the relationship between SWS and relationship satisfaction. Anxious and avoidant attachment significantly mediated the relationship between SWS components and relationship satisfaction. Partner race (i.e., observed for participants with a Black partner) moderated the indirect effect of SWS on relationship satisfaction through avoidant attachment. While having a Black woman partner did not moderate the mediation of SWS on relationship satisfaction via avoidant attachment, a significant conditional indirect effect was observed. Findings highlight how SWS impacts Black women's relationship satisfaction. Addressing the structural and interpersonal dynamics of SWS could facilitate safe relational spaces that foster healthier, more fulfilling relationships for Black women.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"51 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144148361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Examining the Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Flash Technique on Racial Trauma","authors":"Yi-Hsin Hung, Kai-Tang Chang, Kristy Soloski, Deanna Linville","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70032","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Racial trauma poses significant risks to mental health and reduces the effectiveness of traditional psychotherapy. This study evaluated the self-administered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing—flash technique (EMDR-FT) as a telehealth intervention for reducing distress associated with racial trauma memories. Thirty-nine participants with moderate distress levels completed three bilateral stimulation sessions, with disturbance measured using the subjective units of disturbance (SUDs) scale. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant reduction in distress across five time points, <i>F</i>(2, 90) = 17.37, <i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>η</i>² = 0.31. Post hoc analysis confirmed decreases from pre-test (<i>M</i> = 5.41, SD = 2.51) to post-test (<i>M</i> = 3.00, SD = 2.29). These findings suggest that EMDR-FT effectively reduces distress linked to racial trauma and highlight its potential as an accessible telehealth intervention. This study underscores the need for further exploration of self-administered approaches to trauma-focused therapy.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"51 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144117968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Caitlin Edwards, Andrea K. Wittenborn, Robert Allan
{"title":"“Be Open to All Those Ways That People Can Live Their Lives:” LGBTQ+ Client Recommendations for Adapting Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy","authors":"Caitlin Edwards, Andrea K. Wittenborn, Robert Allan","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70037","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Emotionally focused couple therapy (EFCT) is an empirically supported treatment for relationship distress. Yet, despite EFCT's substantial evidence base, to date, there have been no studies that have integrated LGBTQ+ clients' experiences and therapeutic needs into the EFCT process. Thirty-five EFCT clients participated in theater testing focus groups to generate client recommendations for the use of EFCT for LGBTQ+ relationships. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants drew on their own lived experiences, their experiences receiving EFCT, and EFCT video observation to make recommendations about the use of EFCT for LGBTQ+ relationships.</p>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"51 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jmft.70037","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144100886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Resource Loss and Empathy in Couples During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Attachment Behaviors","authors":"Angela Bradford, Alyssa Banford Witting","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70031","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This dyadic, longitudinal study investigates the impact of pandemic-related resource loss on cognitive empathy through actor–partner effects via attachment behaviors in a sample of 535 cisgender heterosexual couples. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant resource loss, disruption to societal functioning and transportation, panic, and isolation. In the wake of mass-stress events, preserving empathy in relationships may aid long-term adaptation; this study represents a contribution toward understanding empathy in couples during mass stress. We tested actor and partner effects of resource loss at the onset of the pandemic on changes in empathy 6 months later. We also examined the mediating role of attachment behavior changes in this relationship. Resource loss indirectly decreased empathy through reduced attachment behaviors for actors. It also indirectly increased empathy in the partner via enhanced partner attachment behaviors. Attachment behaviors supported higher empathy within partners, with no gender differences in model effects. Implications include the importance of reducing loss and enhancing attachment behaviors in couples and maintaining empathy for each other during mass stress events.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"51 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144091904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ben Ong, Andrea McCloughen, Sarah Farrell-Whelan, Niels Buus
{"title":"Reputation and Responsibility: A Qualitative Investigation of Parents' Experiences of Open Dialogue School Meetings","authors":"Ben Ong, Andrea McCloughen, Sarah Farrell-Whelan, Niels Buus","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70030","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Open Dialogue approaches to family therapy emphasize the voicing of multiple perspectives in a supportive collaborative environment. In a novel application of Open Dialogue, this study explored how parents of students at an Australian independent school experienced Open Dialogue meetings within a school setting. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we analyzed 4 h of audio recordings of three focus groups involving 14 parents. Parents reported that Open Dialogue meetings promoted closer relationships between the school, parents, and students and focused on adapting to the needs of the student. However, Open Dialogue meetings also interacted with parents' expectations and the school's reputation for student wellbeing to amplify parents' perceptions of the school's responsibility. Open Dialogue meetings promoted closer collaborative relationships between parents, students, and staff. Clinicians need to be mindful of broader social attitudes that influence a parent's experience, and to set up appropriate expectations to mitigate potential problems.</p>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"51 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jmft.70030","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143950303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Umme Kawser, Steven M. Harris, Pauroma Preety Mallick, Michael L. White, Lexi D. Gramlow
{"title":"Bangladeshi Couple Therapists’ Perspectives of Divorce Decision-Making","authors":"Umme Kawser, Steven M. Harris, Pauroma Preety Mallick, Michael L. White, Lexi D. Gramlow","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70028","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This qualitative study explores how family therapists (<i>n</i> = 15) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, assist couples in navigating divorce decision-making, addressing a gap in research on divorce ideation in non-Western contexts. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed four key themes: (1) Therapists as experts, (2) Respect for client autonomy, (3) Therapist neutrality, and (4) Clarity in the decision as the goal. Each of the themes is situated in the social context of Dhaka, the capital city, where couple therapy is a fairly new mental health practice and beliefs about marriage and divorce are culturally informed. These cultural beliefs include ideas that divorce is shameful, is not religiously sanctioned, and is harder on women. Future research could focus on the experiences of therapists or other community helpers (i.e., religious or kinship networks) in rural areas and among less-educated populations to better understand the broader landscape of divorce decision-making in Bangladesh.</p>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"51 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jmft.70028","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143944609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Imogen M. Sloss, Jackson Smith, Laura Colucci, Mirisse Foroughe, Dillon T. Browne
{"title":"Trajectories of Child and Caregiver Positive Coping Following a Brief Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) Intervention","authors":"Imogen M. Sloss, Jackson Smith, Laura Colucci, Mirisse Foroughe, Dillon T. Browne","doi":"10.1111/jmft.70029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70029","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Families play an influential role in promoting positive coping (PC) among youth, which has led to the development of family-based interventions, such as emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT). The present study examined trajectories of PC over 1 year following a 2-day virtual caregiver group EFFT intervention. Participants included 155 caregivers who attended the EFFT intervention. Caregivers completed measures on themselves and up to four children at six time points from pre-intervention to 12-month follow-up. Higher-order growth curve analysis modelled trajectories of PC for individuals nested within families. Participants exhibited an increase in PC over 12 months. Caregivers had higher initial PC levels than children and improved at a slower rate. Finally, participants in families with higher social support and lower family dysfunction had higher baseline PC. These variables did not predict change. Findings reveal that aspects of the family environment are related to PC, highlighting the importance of family-based interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16320,"journal":{"name":"Journal of marital and family therapy","volume":"51 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jmft.70029","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143925785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}