Applying the Vulnerability Stress Adaptation Model of Marriage to Couples Raising an Autistic Child: A Call for Research on Adaptive Processes

Sexual growth and destiny beliefs: Longitudinal associations with dyadic coping among couples seeking medically assisted reproduction

BACKGROUND

Medically assisted reproduction is a vulnerable time for couples' sexual health. Believing that sexual challenges can be worked through (i.e., sexual growth beliefs) or that these challenges indicate incompatibility (i.e., sexual destiny beliefs) may be related to dyadic coping-the strategies couples use to cope-with the physical and psychological stressors of medically assisted reproduction.

AIM

In the current study we aimed to examine the longitudinal associations between typical (i.e., average) levels of sexual growth and destiny beliefs and positive and negative facets of dyadic coping and how greater than typical levels of these constructs predicted each other across time.

METHODS

Couples (n = 219) seeking medically assisted reproduction were recruited for an online longitudinal, dyadic study.

OUTCOMES

Couples completed online measures of sexual growth and destiny beliefs and positive and negative dyadic coping at baseline, 6-and 12-months.

RESULTS

Random intercept cross-lagged panel models demonstrated that at the within-person level, reporting higher sexual growth beliefs at baseline, relative to their average across time points, was associated with lower negative dyadic coping at 6 months. Higher negative dyadic coping at 6 months, relative to their average, was linked to lower sexual growth beliefs at 12-months. When individuals reported higher sexual destiny beliefs at 6-months, relative to their average, they and their partners reported higher negative dyadic coping at 12 -months. At the between-person level, higher overall levels of sexual destiny beliefs were related to higher overall levels of negative dyadic coping. No associations with positive dyadic coping were identified.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Couples may benefit from identifying and reducing unhelpful beliefs about sex and negative dyadic coping.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

Strengths of this study include our large, inclusive sample, engagement of community partners, and novel analytical approach to assess change over time. However, following couples in 6-month increments and not using questionnaires specific to medically assisted reproduction may have limited our ability to detect nuanced changes that couples experience during this time.

CONCLUSION

Lower sexual growth and higher sexual destiny beliefs may promote couples' engagement in less adaptive coping behaviors as they seek medically assisted reproduction.

Relationship satisfaction in Black heterosexual couples: The role of self-compassion and openness

The study examined how Black heterosexual couples cope with the impact of racial discrimination on their relationship. The Vulnerability Stress Adaptation (VSA) model was utilized to examine the role of self-compassion in mitigating negative interaction in the relationship and how racial discrimination might disrupt this protective process. Further, the influence of open communication on the relationship between negative interaction and overall relationship satisfaction was explored. Participants included 210 Black married heterosexual couples. A common-fate moderated mediation model was used to analyze the data. The results indicated that first, higher levels of self-compassion in both spouses were associated with lower negative interaction within the couple's relationship. Second, among wives, the relationship between self-compassion and negative interaction changed in response to higher levels of racial discrimination. Third, couples' negative interaction suppressed the positive effects of self-compassion on overall relationship satisfaction. Fourth, for wives, the level of open communication played a role in the relationship between negative interaction and relationship satisfaction. Fifth, specifically for wives, the extent to which self-compassion was related to relationship satisfaction through negative interaction depended on the level of discrimination perceived by wives and the degree of open communication in their relationships. The findings have implications for clinical work and further research.

Role of resilience and self-coping strategy in determining positive emotions during pandemic among healthcare professionals in Iran

BACKGROUND

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic placed immense stress on healthcare professionals worldwide. This strain often resulted in imbalances in their physical and mental well-being, necessitating effective coping mechanisms. In light of this context, this study investigates the correlations between the fear of COVID-19, self-coping strategies, and positive emotions, with particular reference to the Iranian health care industry.

METHODS

Data were collected from 1050 healthcare professionals in Iran and the data were analysed sing structural equation modelling.

RESULTS

The study revealed that pandemic fear negatively impacts self-coping strategies and positive emotions during crisis scenarios. Conversely, self-coping strategies have a positive correlation with positive emotions. The research also underscored the role of resilience in reinforcing the favorable link between self-coping strategies and positive emotions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is one of the first to explore the significance of resilience and self-coping strategies among Iranian healthcare professionals during the pandemic. Its findings offer valuable insights for researchers and practitioners, paving the way for further contributions in this field. Future research endeavors may consider investigating the effects of various psychological interventions, including breathing techniques, self-talk, physical exercises, yoga, optimizing sleep, and dietary measures on the resilience and self-coping practices of healthcare professionals.

Family Relationships Under Work From Home: Exploring the Role of Adaptive Processes

Work-from-home (WFH) influences both work and life, and further impacts family relationships. The current study explored the impacts of WFH on family relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified effective adaptive processes for maintaining family relationships under WFH. Using the Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation (VSA) model, the study examined the roles of adaptive processes (spending time with family members and balancing work and life) and demographic differences (gender, age, marital status, and education level) in the relation between WFH and family relationships. Path analysis results based on an online survey (N = 150) suggested that, overall, WFH improved family relationships through proper adaptive processes. WFH had a positive relation to time spent with family members, and this relation was especially salient for workers with lower education levels. While there was no statistically significant overall relation between WFH and work-life balance, older workers tended to engage in increased work-life balance during WFH. Both adaptive processes were positively related to family relationship quality. The findings advance the understanding of family relationships and WFH and provide practical recommendations to enhance family relationships under WFH.

The disconnected couple: intimate relationships in the context of social isolation

Partners in intimate relationships, because they have each other to rely on, have generally been considered safe from the negative consequences of social isolation. Here, we question this assumption, suggesting instead that social isolation may pose a threat to couples by depriving them of the tangible and emotional support that couples are likely to need, especially when confronted by stress. After briefly reviewing theoretical frameworks relevant to this idea, this article summarizes existing research documenting (1) associations between network ties and relationship outcomes, (2) mediators of these associations, for example, support and approval, and (3) moderators of these associations, for example, relationship qualities and cultural differences. We conclude by describing a research agenda to address methodological limitations in existing research and the policy implications of this line of work.