Family ProcessPub Date : 2026-07-26DOI: 10.1111/famp.70178
Racine R. Henry, DeAnna Harris-McKoy, Taimyr Strachan-Louidor
{"title":"I Remain as an Act of Resilience and Resistance: Balancing Community Obligation and Self Preservation","authors":"Racine R. Henry, DeAnna Harris-McKoy, Taimyr Strachan-Louidor","doi":"10.1111/famp.70178","DOIUrl":"10.1111/famp.70178","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our article is <i>testimonios</i> from the perspective of three Black, female MFTs. We explore various results of the intersecting pandemics that we have ourselves experienced and continue to navigate. A recurring narrative that has been amplified during this time is that therapy and therapists should not be political and human. Not only is there an expectation that clinicians should not express or maintain a political stance, but we are also expected to hold space for clients to express their discriminatory or marginalizing views. This notion reflects the repeated pattern of clinicians showing up for clients regardless of any personal turmoil. Clinicians are expected to intentionally consider the context of intersecting pandemics on the populations we serve and give grace to students we teach, yet the same context is disregarded when considering the clinician's wellbeing and expectations regarding productivity. We see this habit manifest in academia as well and it contributes to an internal disconnect and lack of work/life balance. Overall, we have found that clinicians impacted by the ongoing pandemics are unable to find time to reflect on and process what is happening. Our article features our experiences, the lessons we have learned as a result of continuing to survive, and how we intend to use our agency, autonomy, and voices to create change for ourselves and our communities. We hope that readers develop a better understanding of how to recognize and respect the humanity of mental health clinicians.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51396,"journal":{"name":"Family Process","volume":"65 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148594408","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}
Family ProcessPub Date : 2026-07-26DOI: 10.1111/famp.70181
Yue Liang, Nan Zhou, Hongjian Cao
{"title":"Parents' Gratitude Lability and Its Associations With Adolescents' Psychological Well-Being and Prosocial Behaviors: The Roles of Adolescents' Gratitude and Gender","authors":"Yue Liang, Nan Zhou, Hongjian Cao","doi":"10.1111/famp.70181","DOIUrl":"10.1111/famp.70181","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Parents play an important role in adolescents' gratitude development, yet little is known about whether and how fluctuations in parents' gratitude (i.e., gratitude lability) over time are associated with adolescents' socioemotional adjustment. Using three-wave data spanning 16 months, this study examined the longitudinal associations between parents' gratitude lability and adolescents' socioemotional outcomes, including depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and prosocial behaviors, in 537 Chinese parent–adolescent dyads (<i>M</i><sub>Child age</sub> = 10.25 years, SD = 0.69; 57.3% girls). Adolescents' gratitude lability was tested as a possible explanatory mechanism, and adolescent gender was examined as a moderator. Results showed that parents' gratitude lability was positively associated with adolescents' gratitude lability across waves, which in turn was related to adolescents' depressive symptoms and prosocial behaviors. Furthermore, for girls, parents' gratitude lability was indirectly associated with adolescents' prosocial behaviors via adolescents' gratitude lability. However, for boys, this indirect effect was nonsignificant. These findings underscore the value of a dynamic perspective for understanding the intergenerational transmission of gratitude and its developmental correlates. Future intervention research may benefit from examining whether more consistent parental expressions of gratitude can support adolescents' stable gratitude development, well-being, and prosociality.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51396,"journal":{"name":"Family Process","volume":"65 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148594358","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}
Family ProcessPub Date : 2026-07-13DOI: 10.1111/famp.70180
Ainsley Jenicek, Miles Cooke, Heather B. MacIntosh, Tamara Sussman, Aline Bogossian
{"title":"Caring for Chosen Family: A Scoping Review of Clinical Work With Chosen Family","authors":"Ainsley Jenicek, Miles Cooke, Heather B. MacIntosh, Tamara Sussman, Aline Bogossian","doi":"10.1111/famp.70180","DOIUrl":"10.1111/famp.70180","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This scoping review provides an overview of empirical research and practice-based literature that addresses direct clinical practice with chosen families—familial relationships that are not based on biology or law. Given the prevalence of chosen family among sexual and gender minorities as well as the amount of research that underlines chosen family as an important social support, this paper aims to synthesize recommendations for clinical work with chosen families and to highlight gaps in the literature. Using the five-step Arksey and O'Malley (2005) scoping review process, four electronic databases were systematically searched to identify papers that address working with chosen family in care-related fields, including social work, couple and family therapy, and nursing. Twenty-seven articles were included in this review and seven themes were identified by these authors that culminated in recommendations for clinical practice: (a) educate oneself about diverse family forms and address biases; (b) invite self-definition of “family”; (c) proactively include chosen family; (d) consider legal and policy barriers; (e) refer chosen family members to sources of support; (f) encourage people to create or maintain chosen family; and (g) engage in sexual and gender minority affirmative practices generally. The existing literature focuses primarily on individual services that involve chosen family as needed, but do not explicitly focus on dynamic and systemic needs. Further research into systemic work with chosen family is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":51396,"journal":{"name":"Family Process","volume":"65 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/famp.70180","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148438814","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}
Family ProcessPub Date : 2026-07-13DOI: 10.1111/famp.70179
Samuel Guerin, Jeffrey McCrossin, Romuald Blanc, Émilie Cappe
{"title":"The Stigmatization of Caregivers of Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review","authors":"Samuel Guerin, Jeffrey McCrossin, Romuald Blanc, Émilie Cappe","doi":"10.1111/famp.70179","DOIUrl":"10.1111/famp.70179","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Research on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-related stigma has centered on individuals with the diagnosis. Evidence concerning caregivers exists but has not been brought together in a way that clarifies its scope, correlates, and implications, despite caregivers' central role in navigating services, supporting daily functioning, and treatment engagement. The present study therefore to systematically review the empirical literature on the stigmatization of caregivers of children with ADHD. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed and PsycINFO for studies between 2013 and 2024. Of the 4136 articles, 15 studies examining affiliate and courtesy stigma met criteria. Across studies, affiliate stigma was consistently linked to higher levels of caregiver depression, anxiety, and distress, as well as coping strategies and parenting styles. Higher education levels among caregivers were associated with lower affiliate stigma. The severity of the child's ADHD symptoms and internalizing/externalizing problems significantly associated with the level of stigma experienced by caregivers. Courtesy stigma was associated with several factors, including negative attitudes (e.g., anger or blame directed at children with ADHD) among members of the general public. These findings highlight the multifaceted associations of stigma on caregivers. The association between affiliate stigma and caregiver psychological distress underscores the need for targeted interventions, however only one intervention study met inclusion criteria for this review. The association between negative attitudes and courtesy stigma indicates the importance of addressing public perceptions. Future research should focus on developing and testing interventions that aim to reduce stigma and improve the well-being of caregivers and their families.</p><p><b>Trial Registration:</b> Prospero registration number: CRD42024527305</p>","PeriodicalId":51396,"journal":{"name":"Family Process","volume":"65 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/famp.70179","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148438847","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}
Family ProcessPub Date : 2026-07-09DOI: 10.1111/famp.70177
Brian D. Doss, Shayna Guttman, Maya Metser-Waldman, Nirvi Ajmera, Alex Dopp
{"title":"Economic Costs and Benefits of the Digital OurRelationship Program for Distressed Couples","authors":"Brian D. Doss, Shayna Guttman, Maya Metser-Waldman, Nirvi Ajmera, Alex Dopp","doi":"10.1111/famp.70177","DOIUrl":"10.1111/famp.70177","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Relationship distress is a prevalent issue with significant economic and societal consequences, including increased mental and physical health problems, decreased workplace productivity, and increased absences. Although couple therapy has been shown to improve relationship and individual well-being, its high costs limit accessibility. Digital relationship interventions provide a cost-effective alternative. However, limited research has assessed the cost–benefit of such programs using experimental designs. This study conducted a cost–benefit analysis of the OurRelationship program using data from two randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) cost–benefit model was applied to quantify economic benefits across four domains—depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse, and insomnia—relative to a waitlist control. Program costs were estimated at $280 per individual, and benefits were assessed in terms of healthcare savings, productivity gains, and labor market outcomes. The primary analysis found that, for every dollar spent on the OurRelationship program, $6.60 was saved in societal costs. Sensitivity analyses suggested benefit–cost ratios ranging from $1.88 to $22.06 depending on assumptions regarding the number of participants, duration of effects, and magnitude of program impact. Findings suggest that the OurRelationship program yields substantial economic benefits, making it a viable investment for policymakers, employers, and healthcare systems. The study supports broader implementation of efficacious digital relationship interventions and highlights the importance of economic evaluations in guiding funding decisions for relationship support programs. Further research should explore the long-term benefits and applicability across diverse populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":51396,"journal":{"name":"Family Process","volume":"65 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/famp.70177","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148413608","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}
Family ProcessPub Date : 2026-07-06DOI: 10.1111/famp.70171
Wafaa Sowan, Rania Ali Saleh, Romain Jammal Abboud, Limor Ilan Bushari
{"title":"Demoralization and Illness-Related Communication Among Individuals With Cardiac Disease: A Dyadic Analysis","authors":"Wafaa Sowan, Rania Ali Saleh, Romain Jammal Abboud, Limor Ilan Bushari","doi":"10.1111/famp.70171","DOIUrl":"10.1111/famp.70171","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Chronic cardiac illness often places substantial psychological and relational strain on patients and their intimate partners. Demoralization, a state of hopelessness, low coping efficacy, and perceived incompetence, can emerge in both partners, particularly when illness-related communication is ineffective. Understanding how couples communicate about the illness is therefore critical for supporting each partner's mental health. This study examined how illness-related communication is associated with demoralization in couples in which the male partner has a cardiac disease. Specifically, we investigated how each partner's communication relates to their own and their partner's experiences of demoralization (actor and partner effects). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 117 heterosexual couples (<i>N</i> = 234 individuals) in which the male partner was enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program in Israel. Dyadic analysis using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) was employed. Results indicated that 19% of male patients and 17% of female partners met criteria for demoralization. Dyadic analysis revealed significant actor and partner effects, indicating that both an individual's own and their partner's effective communication were associated with lower demoralization. Sex moderated these effects: female partners benefited primarily from their own communication, whereas male patients benefited from their partner's communication. These findings suggest that integrating structured dyadic communication training into cardiac rehabilitation programs may reduce demoralization and improve psychological adjustment among couples coping with chronic illness.</p>","PeriodicalId":51396,"journal":{"name":"Family Process","volume":"65 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/famp.70171","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148392508","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}
Family ProcessPub Date : 2026-07-03DOI: 10.1111/famp.70175
Michal Shamai, Uri Carmel-Kraiem, Osnat Cohen-Ganor
{"title":"First Psychological Aid for Families During War: Integrating the Narrative Approach With Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)","authors":"Michal Shamai, Uri Carmel-Kraiem, Osnat Cohen-Ganor","doi":"10.1111/famp.70175","DOIUrl":"10.1111/famp.70175","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The article describes a first psychological support project for families living in the seam zone between Israel and areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority. Since October 7th, the proximity to the border and potential of terrorist infiltration into communities have generated heightened anxiety among residents, alongside concern for family members enlisted to reserve duty or on mandatory service. Therefore, the Family Therapy Unit of Menashe Regional Council initiated a psychological support program designed to strengthen families' resources and enhance their ability to cope with the ongoing stress and anxiety. The intervention was based on an integration of the narrative approach and emotionally focused therapy (EFT). These approaches were chosen for their grounding in positive and humanistic psychology, which highlights family resilience and can be applied in a focused, short-term intervention. The intervention protocol and a case example are described in detail. Additionally, an attempt to evaluate the project under wartime conditions is described, including its limitations. The evaluation method included a quantitative component and a content analysis of one open-ended question focused on the family's experiences with the intervention. The results indicated a significant reduction in parents' stress and in their perceptions of children's stress, but no significant difference in family resilience. Consistent with previous studies, participants experienced the therapeutic relationship as the most meaningful factor rather than the techniques employed. The article concludes with a call for further evaluation of such interventions in war zones and disaster-affected regions across diverse sociocultural and political contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":51396,"journal":{"name":"Family Process","volume":"65 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/famp.70175","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148377880","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}
Family ProcessPub Date : 2026-07-02DOI: 10.1111/famp.70176
Hollen N. Reischer, Hayley C. Fivecoat, Lena Blum, Chrishane N. Cunningham, Stacey Ho, Erika Lawrence
{"title":"Narratives About COVID Challenges in Mexican American Couples as Predictors of Relationship Satisfaction","authors":"Hollen N. Reischer, Hayley C. Fivecoat, Lena Blum, Chrishane N. Cunningham, Stacey Ho, Erika Lawrence","doi":"10.1111/famp.70176","DOIUrl":"10.1111/famp.70176","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The objective of this study was to describe the narrative themes that emerged in Mexican American couples' stories about their relationship challenges at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic—during lockdown—and to examine how those themes related to their relationship satisfaction. We surveyed 58 male–female married couples (<i>n</i> = 116 participants; 73.33% Mexican American) recruited from the Southwest United States and enrolled in a longitudinal study of relationship functioning. Spouses wrote stories about the greatest COVID-19–related challenges they were facing as a couple. To explore associations between relationship satisfaction and the lived experience of COVID-19, stories were coded for established narrative identity themes (agency, communion, affect, meaning-making) and themes developed to account for the context of marital challenges (challenge outcomes, couple stress responses, familismo, overriding positive regard). Relationship satisfaction was associated with six narrative themes for wives (0.29 ≤ |<i>r</i>| ≤ 0.56) and three themes for husbands (0.29 ≤ |<i>r</i>| ≤ 0.40). Actor–partner interdependence modeling showed six actor effects and one partner effect for wives but no significant effects for husbands. This research provides novel insight into the challenges faced by Mexican American couples during the pandemic and suggests great promise for using narrative identity research to understand how individuals' narrations of couple stories are linked to relationship satisfaction. Further, our findings suggest that the narrative themes characterizing how conflict is storied by partners within the couple therapy room might be directly targeted as a means to improve relationship satisfaction.</p>","PeriodicalId":51396,"journal":{"name":"Family Process","volume":"65 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/famp.70176","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148377899","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}
Family ProcessPub Date : 2026-07-01DOI: 10.1111/famp.70169
Abril N. Harris, Hunter Ellis
{"title":"The Additive Labor of Survival: A Scoping Review of Black Familial Strategization in Preparation for Police Interactions","authors":"Abril N. Harris, Hunter Ellis","doi":"10.1111/famp.70169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.70169","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Black American families are aware of the precarious nature of police interactions. Black people are disproportionately killed by the police at such levels that police violence is now categorized as a public health issue among the Black population. Black children and youth are not exempt from police violence and tend to be <i>adultified</i> or perceived as older than their biological age. In recognition of police violence, Black families engage in a context-specific socialization process, commonly referred to as “the Talk” to adequately prepare their children for potential police interactions. To explore this socialization process, we conducted a scoping review summarizing the existing literature to provide further insight into the content of this process, with a key focus on identifying the strategies that Black parents in the United States employ to insulate their children from harm. The review utilizes Arksey and O'Malley's framework for scoping studies. We searched five databases using a literature-informed search strategy, which resulted in the identification of 7736 records, of which 20 articles met the inclusion criteria. Findings of this review show that strategies used by Black parents emerged in four types: <i>regulatory, consciousness raising, system-engaged</i>, and <i>beyond our control</i>. Parental strategies focused on behavioral regulation, racial consciousness education, engagement and collaboration with systems, and reliance on faith and other-worldly protection. Implications for policy and practice call for the acknowledgment of additive labor performed by Black families, and the necessary provision of support and services that address the harm caused by discriminatory policing.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51396,"journal":{"name":"Family Process","volume":"65 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148357982","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}
Family ProcessPub Date : 2026-06-15DOI: 10.1111/famp.70151
Carmen Knudson-Martin
{"title":"FPI Writers Fellowship Special Section: Expanding the Lens in Family Therapy","authors":"Carmen Knudson-Martin","doi":"10.1111/famp.70151","DOIUrl":"10.1111/famp.70151","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Family Process Institute (FPI) Writers Fellowship supports the development of scholars who will advance systemic theory, research, and clinical practice grounded in a commitment to social justice. In this introduction to the Writers Fellowship special section, I describe the rationale for and history of this FPI initiative and how these eight authors help expand whose perspectives, interests, and voices are included in the family therapy field's knowledge base. I highlight the broader systemic/relational lenses the authors bring to issues and communities that are often individualized or overlooked and emphasize the value of the personal transparency they bring to their scholarship. Together, these papers illustrate promising contributions of new scholars to the study and application of systemic approaches to research and practice and challenge the status quo.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51396,"journal":{"name":"Family Process","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148260532","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}