Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice最新文献

{"title":"Coping with Partners' Alcohol Use Disorder and Relationship Adjustment: A Dyadic Analysis Among Treatment-Seeking Couples.","authors":"Julie A Hurd, Margaret M Baer, Caroline C Boyd-Rogers, Shannon R Forkus, Sarah T Giff, Emily Hall, Julianne C Flanagan","doi":"10.1037/cfp0000310","DOIUrl":"10.1037/cfp0000310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The impact of alcohol use disorder (AUD) on romantic relationships is well-established. Three coping strategies that individuals may use in response to partners' AUD include: engaged, tolerant-inactive, and withdrawal coping. All three strategies are associated with adverse outcomes for partners and family members. Still, associations between these strategies and relationship adjustment have yet to be tested in a dyadic sample of romantic partners. Using secondary data from treatment-seeking couples with AUD, the present study examines the individual and dyadic associations among engaged coping, tolerant-inactive coping, and withdrawal coping with relationship adjustment. Results from a multilevel model using an actor-partner interdependence framework found that higher use of withdrawal coping was negatively associated with individual's own relationship adjustment (<i>b</i> = -0.61, <i>SE</i> = 0.11, <i>p</i> < .001), as well as their partner's relationship adjustment (<i>b</i> = -0.28, <i>SE</i> = 0.11, <i>p</i> = .010). There were no significant associations for engaged coping or tolerant-inactive coping. These findings highlight the importance of considering partners' interdependence when studying AUD and romantic relationships. Evidence-based treatments involving romantic partners may be particularly valuable for those reporting withdrawal coping in response to partners' AUD.</p>","PeriodicalId":45636,"journal":{"name":"Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13411106/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148621920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Involving Intimate Partners in Trauma-Focused Treatment: Veteran and Intimate Partner Perspectives.","authors":"Emily Taverna, Eileen Barden, Katherine M Iverson, Johanna Thompson-Hollands, Megan Shepherd-Banigan, Siamak Noorbaloochi, Melissa A Polusny, Michele Spoont, Afsoon Eftekhari, Craig S Rosen, Emily Hagel Campbell, Laura A Meis","doi":"10.1037/cfp0000304","DOIUrl":"10.1037/cfp0000304","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their intimate partners often express a desire for partner involvement (e.g., communication with therapists) in veterans' trauma-focused treatment (TFT), which can enhance treatment engagement and response. Although relationship satisfaction and PTSD symptoms in both partners may impact their interest in treatment involvement, there is a dearth of literature investigating these influences dyadically. The current study is a secondary analysis of data from veterans and their partners who completed a mailed survey as the veteran was beginning TFT through the Veterans Affairs (<i>n</i> = 211 dyads). We conducted an actor-partner interdependence model to examine the influence of veterans' and partners' relationship satisfaction, PTSD symptoms, and their interactions on each of their interest in having the partner talk with the therapist. Veterans were more interested in therapists speaking with their intimate partners when they experienced greater relationship satisfaction (<i>β</i> = .23, SE = .07), and when their partner had less relationship satisfaction and lower PTSD symptoms (<i>B</i> = -0.38, SE = 0.13). Intimate partners were more interested in speaking with the therapist when their own PTSD symptom severity was higher (<i>β</i> = .19, SE = .07), and when they experienced less relationship satisfaction and the veterans' PTSD severity was high (<i>B</i> = -0.28, SE = 0.11). Results suggest the importance of considering interconnections between veterans' and their partners' PTSD symptoms and relationship satisfaction when determining when and how to encourage partner-therapist discussions during veterans' TFT.</p>","PeriodicalId":45636,"journal":{"name":"Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13225682/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148151617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations between anger reductions and functional improvements among veterans in brief cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy for PTSD.","authors":"Kirsten H Dillon, Kayla C Knopp, Stephanie Y Wells, Tamara R Wachsman, Lauren M Sippel, Lorig K Kachadourian, Margaret A Mackintosh, Leslie A Morland","doi":"10.1037/cfp0000303","DOIUrl":"10.1037/cfp0000303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anger is a significant problem for military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Interventions designed to treat PTSD have been shown to decrease anger, which may be associated with improvements in psychosocial functioning. Couple-based PTSD treatments, which target both PTSD and relationship functioning, may be particularly useful for improving anger and associated psychosocial functioning. Thus, the current study sought to examine whether decreases in veterans' and partners' anger following participation in a brief couple-based treatment for PTSD (brief Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD) is associated with improvements in psychosocial impairment and relationship satisfaction, in addition to decreases in suicidal ideation. The sample included 184 veterans and their intimate partners (92 dyads). Each partner completed measures assessing several aspects of anger (angry temperament, angry reaction, and psychological aggression). Veterans also completed measures assessing their psychosocial impairment, relationship satisfaction, and suicidality. Latent growth curve models tested whether changes in anger over the course of treatment were associated with corresponding changes in veterans' functional outcomes at the within-person and between-person levels. Findings showed that improvements in veterans' anger were associated with improvements in their psychosocial impairment and relationship satisfaction over time. Partners' psychological aggression was also associated with improvements in veterans' psychosocial impairment over time. Neither veterans' nor partners' anger was associated with veterans' suicidality. Findings add to the literature demonstrating that improvements in anger for both veterans and their partners in the context of PTSD treatment may be associated with improvements in broader psychosocial functioning for veterans.</p>","PeriodicalId":45636,"journal":{"name":"Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice","volume":"2026 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13245628/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148212832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Family Dynamics and Opioid Misuse Among Black Americans: The Mediating Role of Emotional Support.","authors":"Adrienne B Smith, Brittany Miller-Roenigk, Kaylee Palomino, Danelle Stevens-Watkins","doi":"10.1037/cfp0000296","DOIUrl":"10.1037/cfp0000296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Social support is a known protective factor against opioid misuse. However, there is limited research focused on Black Americans, a population disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic. The current study examined whether emotional support mediated the relationship between family conflict and opioid misuse in a sample of 600 Black adults reporting opioid misuse. Following a screener and informed consent, participants completed a survey at two urban on-site study locations. Measures relevant to this study included socio-demographics, family conflict, opioid misuse, and emotional support. Data analysis employed univariate, bivariate, and multivariate methods, including mediation analysis using the SPSS PROCESS macro. Family conflict was associated with decreased emotional support and increased opioid misuse. Additionally, increased emotional support was associated with decreased opioid misuse. Mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of family conflict on opioid misuse through emotional support. The findings highlight the influence of family dynamics on opioid misuse and suggests emotional support as a possible mechanism explaining these associations. Clinical implications for addressing family dynamics and support in treatment in a culturally congruent manner are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":45636,"journal":{"name":"Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12854146/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146107786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cardiac Impedance Reactivity and Stress Transmission in Community Couples Following Laboratory Interpersonal Trauma-Analog Induction: A Preliminary Study.","authors":"Melissa V Gates, Eileen P Barden, Christina Balderrama-Durbin","doi":"10.1037/cfp0000275","DOIUrl":"10.1037/cfp0000275","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stress is a common and unavoidable experience for most individuals. Moreover, stress transmission may occur between individuals, such that one's reactivity to acute stress may also impact their partner. This study examined individual stress reactivity and stress transmission following a stressful-film induction paradigm in the context of one's romantic partner, whereby one partner was randomized to watch a trauma analog. Thirty-three community couples completed self-report assessments and provided physiological data (i.e., preejection period) throughout the study visit. Autoregressive repeated-measures actor-partner interdependence models demonstrated significant actor effects for stressed and nonstressed partners during all study periods. Partner pathways were significantly moderated by the baseline period, providing evidence of mutual influence between partner's preejection period. Actor pathways were significantly moderated by the trauma-analog induction and post trauma-analog induction study periods for the stressed partners but not the nonstressed partners, indicating differences in within-person stress reactions by study period after controlling for the influence of one's partner. While there was a nonsignificant effect for the partner pathways during the poststress induction period, this demonstrates provisional evidence for stress transmission between partners. Results provide evidence of individual stress reactivity and preliminary support for stress transmission between romantic partners following an acute stressor. This highlights the potential importance of considering the outcomes of <i>both</i> partners following acute stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":45636,"journal":{"name":"Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice","volume":"14 4","pages":"276-293"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12890185/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146167243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Marriage and Partnership in Caregiving: Links to the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis.","authors":"Melissa Zajdel, Helen Wang, Tracy Swan, Krystyna R Keller, Jielu Lin, Laura M Koehly","doi":"10.1037/cfp0000285","DOIUrl":"10.1037/cfp0000285","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Family caregiving is a major stressor that can compromise health and activate the HPA axis-one of the body's primary physiological stress systems. A multitude of past research shows that marital status and characteristics of the partnership can help buffer caregiving burden and enhance coping resources to mitigate negative physiological outcomes. However, there are numerous ways to measure the role of the spouse, and the conceptualization of these measures may have different implications for the links between stress and health. Moreover, many studies are limited by designs that specifically recruit both partners into a study, resulting in samples that may be skewed towards couples that already have higher relational quality or provide more support. In this study, parent caregivers of children (n=170) with rare genetic conditions and parent caregivers of typically developing children chose to participate alone or jointly as a couple. Information on caregiving burden, use of individual coping strategies, marital status, and caregiving-specific support by spouse/partner was collected via surveys. Blood samples were collected to assess serum arginine vasopression (AVP) levels-one biomarker of the HPA axis. Caregiving burden was positively associated with AVP, while greater use of individual coping resources was negatively associated with AVP. Marital status was directly linked to lower AVP, while caregiving-specific support and joint participation moderated some of the associations between caregiving burden, individual coping, and AVP. These findings highlight the need to consider multiple aspects of marriage and partnership as potential influences on the biological response to stress in parent caregivers.</p>","PeriodicalId":45636,"journal":{"name":"Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice","volume":"14 4","pages":"294-308"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13021259/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147575778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sexual Communication Links Insecure Adult Attachment With Sexual Satisfaction Among U.S. College Students.","authors":"Maya E Barrett, Evan J Basting, Patricia N E Roberson, Deborah P Welsh","doi":"10.1037/cfp0000294","DOIUrl":"10.1037/cfp0000294","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Research suggests that addressing sexual difficulties and concerns may enhance sexual satisfaction and, in turn, improve sexual and relationship outcomes among partnered individuals. This study examined whether perceived quality of sexual communication indirectly links insecure attachment (i.e., anxious and avoidant attachment) to sexual satisfaction among college students. Further, this study assesses sexual satisfaction by measuring both participants' own sexual satisfaction (i.e., self-sexual satisfaction) as well as their satisfaction derived from their partner's sexual experiences (i.e., partner-derived sexual satisfaction). This assessment of sexual satisfaction is relatively new within the literature. Participants (<i>N</i> = 352; 84.9% identified as female, 13.6% male, 1.4% gender diverse) were undergraduates from a southeastern university who identified as sexually active and were involved in a sexual relationship and/or romantic relationship. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling and were on average, 18.78 years old. Most participants identified as heterosexual (88.40%) and the remaining identified as bisexual (8.20%), queer (2.30%), gay (1.70%), lesbian (0.60%), and pansexual (0.60%). We collected cross-sectional survey data across three semester waves (Spring 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023) and tested hypotheses using path analysis. Results revealed that both anxious and avoidant attachment were indirectly related to self-sexual satisfaction and partner-derived sexual satisfaction through perceptions of worse sexual communication. Clinicians could consider assessing and targeting attachment-related concerns and sexual communication skills when working with couples and individuals experiencing sexual dissatisfaction. Moreover, future research might explore and develop therapeutic interventions that improve sexual communication strategies, particularly among those high in attachment insecurity.</p>","PeriodicalId":45636,"journal":{"name":"Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12680027/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145702495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining relationship quality bias in couples research: An analysis of responses from cisgender sexual minority men in the U.S.","authors":"Gabriel Robles, Addam Reynolds, Maria A Guevara-Carpio, Tyrel J Starks","doi":"10.1037/cfp0000266","DOIUrl":"10.1037/cfp0000266","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dyadic research among male couples is of increasing interest to researchers, as relationship factors have been implicated in a variety of physical and mental health outcomes. A small evidence base suggests samples of same-gender couples that participate in research may be biased towards those with better relationship quality. Unfortunately, this research is limited and has not examined perceptions that might determine a respondent's willingness to recruit their partner, such as the perception that a partner would be willing to participate. This study examined whether relationship quality (i.e., satisfaction, commitment, and intimacy) was associated with perceptions of a partner's willingness to participate in dyadic research among same-gender male couples. Partnered sexual minority men (<i>n</i> = 5,317) recruited from dating/social networking applications completed a brief online survey. Bivariate analyses suggested that satisfaction, commitment, and intimacy were all associated with perceptions of a partner's willingness to participate in research, which persisted in the multivariable, multinominal regression models. Those who were younger, and living with HIV, as well as those with younger partners, were more likely to perceive their partner as willing to participate. Samples in dyadic research involving male couples might over-represent those with better relationship quality. They may also over-represent relatively younger sexual minority men and those living with HIV. Recruitment strategies should explore ways to facilitate the recruitment of couples with lower relationship quality to facilitate the generalizability of evidence-based practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":45636,"journal":{"name":"Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice","volume":"14 3","pages":"258-270"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12456659/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145138898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Opioid Use Among Individuals in Intimate Relationships.","authors":"Amber M Jarnecke, Jeremiah A Schumm, Julianne C Flanagan, Tanya C Saraiya, Sudie E Back","doi":"10.1037/cfp0000290","DOIUrl":"10.1037/cfp0000290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Relationships and social support have direct effects on opioid misuse, which is highly prevalent and associated with morbidity and mortality. However, there is a dearth of research focusing on the characteristics and quality of intimate relationships in the context of opioid misuse, which is important for informing interventions with the dual target of improving intimate relationships and reducing opioid use. The current study surveyed individuals with opioid misuse who are in intimate relationships to characterize how they perceive (1) their relationship functioning and (2) how their intimate partners impact their opioid use. Individual participants (<i>N</i>=93) were recruited from Amazon's Mechanical Turk (mTurk) and answered quantitative survey questions related to their opioid and other substance use, intimate relationship quality and functioning, and intimate partners' behaviors in relation to their opioid use. Opioid misuse severity significantly differed by sexuality and rates of polysubstance use were high in this sample. Many participants reported low relationship quality and intimate partner violence in their relationship. Some participants reported using opioids with their intimate partners (33.3%) and having an intimate partner who had overdosed on opioids (15.1%). Many participants also reported that arguments with intimate partners impacted their opioid cravings (52.7%) and that they have an interest in couples treatment for opioid use (80.7%). Findings highlight links between intimate relationships and opioid misuse and identify areas in which behavioral treatments may be adapted to address the needs of couples with OUD. Future research should replicate the current findings in larger and more diverse samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":45636,"journal":{"name":"Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12574659/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145432517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Substance use agreements: An exploratory study of dyadic coping processes related to substance use among male couples in the US.","authors":"Tyrel J Starks, Demetria Cain","doi":"10.1037/cfp0000292","DOIUrl":"10.1037/cfp0000292","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Substance use disparities are well-documented among sexual minority men (SMM) and substance use is associated with increased sexual HIV transmission risk. SMM in relationships may engage in dyadic coping whereby partners establish explicit joint goals restricting health-limiting behaviors. This formative study examined discussion of substance use concerns and substance use limit setting in 50 male couples. Eligible couples were recruited between March 2018 and March 2020. All participants (<i>n</i> = 100) were cisgender adult males. Each couple included at least one partner who was aged 18-29; reported drug use and sexual HIV transmission risk; and was HIV-negative. Partners in 35 couples (70%) agreed about whether they had discussed substance use related concerns or not; in 36 couples (72%) partners concurred they had discussed the possibility of setting substance use limits; and in 9 couples (18%), both partners asserted that they had established a specific limit. In addition to abstinence, couples formed rules limiting the type, quantity, timing and motivational context of use. The 16 couples (32%) who discussed but did not set a limit provided open-ended responses that emphasized global desire for change, saw past failures as a barrier to current goal setting, or comprised partners who had different perceptions of the content discussions. Measures of substance use problems provided preliminary evidence they might covary with limit setting. Findings generally align with theories of interdependence and health. These posit that couples who have substance use concerns and can successfully negotiate shared limits may be more successful at regulating use.</p>","PeriodicalId":45636,"journal":{"name":"Couple and Family Psychology-Research and Practice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12445237/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145114160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}