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Jolink TA, West TN, Alvarez GM, Cardenas MN, Feldman MJ, Algoe SB, Muscatell KA. Higher interleukin-6 is associated with greater momentary social connection in close relationships in daily life. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 164:107020. [PMID: 38520887 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Recent evidence has documented associations between higher levels of inflammation and social approach behaviors toward close others in laboratory-based tasks. Yet it is unknown if this translates to interactions with close others in daily life. Given that momentary experiences of social connection have both relational and health consequences, this is a critical gap in our knowledge. To address the association between inflammation and momentary social connection experiences in close relationships, 55 participants provided blood samples on two consecutive days, which were assayed for circulating levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6). After providing the first blood sample, participants received the annual influenza vaccine as a mild inflammatory challenge. Participants also reported on cognitive, affective, and behavioral indicators of social connection with a specific close other multiple times across the two study days. Results indicated that levels of IL-6 were positively associated with temporally-proximal indicators of momentary social connection with a close other. Specifically, higher levels of IL-6 were associated with greater feelings of comfort from the close other, greater desire to be near them, and higher reported relationship quality. Greater IL-6 reactivity to the vaccine was only associated with increased reported relationship quality. These data add to the existing literature suggesting that higher levels of IL-6 may motivate social approach toward a close other, extending evidence to now include momentary social connection experiences in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatum A Jolink
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Taylor N West
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gabriella M Alvarez
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Megan N Cardenas
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mallory J Feldman
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sara B Algoe
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Keely A Muscatell
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Nir B, Sher-Censor E. Integrating attachment and linguistic perspectives on the coherence of narratives regarding close relationships: A qualitative illustration. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2024; 246:104242. [PMID: 38636405 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
In this multidisciplinary study, we offer an integrative view on the coherence of narratives regarding close relationships. We show how coherence, as conceptualized by attachment researchers, is manifested in discursive syntactic structure, as conceptualized by linguists. To illustrate this correspondence, we use narratives of six mothers about their adolescent child and their relationship. Narratives were elicited with the widely used Five Minute Speech Sample (FMSS) procedure and were coded according to the FMSS-coherence manual, tapping their clarity, consistency, and multidimensionality. In addition, the syntactic constructions employed by mothers were analyzed. FMSS were segmented into Clause Packages (CPs). Within CPs, overt syntactic markers, such as 'because,' as well as unmarked thematic and pragmatic relations, such as new vs. given information, were categorized as reflecting different levels of integration between clauses. As we demonstrate, mothers whose narratives were rated as more coherent employed more integrated CPs. We conclude by discussing the multi-layered nature of coherence. We consider how a multidisciplinary approach to coherence can enrich the understanding of personal narratives and open a new direction for research of close relationships as well as inform functional analyses of the linguistic expression of coherence.
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Zambrano Garza E, Murphy RA, Linden W, Ashe MC, Madden KM, Jakobi JM, DeLongis A, Gerstorf D, Hoppmann CA. Daily Rumination-Affect Associations in Dyads During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbad187. [PMID: 38134244 PMCID: PMC10873859 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Negative and repetitive self-oriented thinking (rumination) is associated with lower well-being and health. The social context of rumination remains underexplored and mostly centers on marital relationships. To embrace the diversity of older adult relationships, this study includes a range of different relationships (e.g., spouses, siblings, friends, etc.) and examines the role of rumination by close others on individual well-being during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. METHODS Using daily diary data from 140 Canadian older adults (M = 72.21 years, standard deviation [SD] = 5.39, range: 63-87 years, 47% women, 71% university educated) and a close other of their choice (M = 59.95 years, SD = 16.54, range: 18-83 years, 78% women, 81% university educated), this project builds on past research examining daily life rumination dynamics from a dyadic perspective. For 10 days, both dyad members reported their daily rumination and affect quality in the evening. RESULTS Multilevel models replicate past work showing that individual rumination was associated with higher negative affect (within-person: b = 0.27, p < .001, between-person: b = 0.57, p < .001) and lower positive affect (within-person: b = -0.18, p < .001, between-person: b = -0.29, p < .001). Importantly, we additionally observed that partner rumination was associated with higher negative affect (b = 0.03, p = .038) and lower positive affect (b = -0.04, p = .023), highlighting the social context of rumination. DISCUSSION Findings illustrate the significance of rumination for the self and others and underline the merit of taking a dyadic perspective on what is typically viewed as an individual-level phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel A Murphy
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Wolfgang Linden
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maureen C Ashe
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kenneth M Madden
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jennifer M Jakobi
- School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anita DeLongis
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Denis Gerstorf
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christiane A Hoppmann
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Forest AL, Sigler KN, Bain KS, O'Brien ER, Wood JV. Self-esteem's impacts on intimacy-building: Pathways through self-disclosure and responsiveness. Curr Opin Psychol 2023; 52:101596. [PMID: 37348388 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Building intimate relationships is rewarding but entails risking rejection. Trait self-esteem-a person's overall self-evaluation-has important implications for how people behave in socially risky situations. Integrating established models of responsiveness and intimacy with theory and research on self-esteem, we present a model that highlights the ways in which self-esteem impacts intimacy-building. A review of relevant research reveals that compared to people with high self-esteem, people with low self-esteem exhibit interpersonal perceptions and behaviors that can hinder intimacy development-for example, disclosing less openly, and eliciting and perceiving less responsiveness from others. We identify important directions for future research and consider methods for encouraging intimacy-promoting processes among people with low self-esteem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Forest
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
| | - Kirby N Sigler
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Kaitlin S Bain
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Emily R O'Brien
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Joanne V Wood
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
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Lalani N, Dongjuan X, Cai Y, Arling GW. Structural equation model of coping and life satisfaction of community-dwelling older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Patient Rep Outcomes 2023; 7:46. [PMID: 37195441 DOI: 10.1186/s41687-023-00583-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 put older individuals at high risk for morbidity and mortality, isolation, reduced coping, and lower satisfaction with life. Many older adults experienced social isolation, fear, and anxiety. We hypothesized that successful coping with these stressors would maintain or improve satisfaction with life, a crucial psychological outcome during the pandemic. Our study investigated relationships between older people's coping and life satisfaction during the pandemic and their optimism, sense of mastery, closeness with spouse, family, and friends, and vulnerabilities from frailty, comorbid diseases, memory problems, and dependencies in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). METHODS The study was based on a special COVID-19 sample of 1351 community-dwelling older adults who participated in the 2020 Health and Retirement Survey. A comprehensive structural equation modeling was used to test direct and indirect effects, with life satisfaction as the main outcome and coping as a mediator between the other variables and coping. RESULTS Most survey respondents were female and between the ages of 65-74 years. They averaged 1.7 chronic conditions, one in seven was frail, about one-third rated their memory as fair or poor, and about one in seven reported one or more difficulties in IADL. As hypothesized-older people with increased sense of mastery and optimism were better able to cope and had greater life satisfaction. In addition, close relationships with friends and with other family members besides the spouse/partner or children contributed to more successful coping, while the interpersonal closeness of all types contributed directly to greater life satisfaction. Finally, older people with more IADL limitations reported greater difficulty coping and lower life satisfaction, and those older people who were frail or had multiple comorbid diseases reported lower life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS Optimism, sense of mastery and closeness with family/friends promotes coping and life satisfaction, whereas frailty and comorbidities make coping more challenging and lead to lower life satisfaction particularly during a pandemic. Our study improves on prior research because of its nationally representative sample and formal specification and testing of a comprehensive theoretical framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasreen Lalani
- College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
- Center of Aging and Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Xu Dongjuan
- College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center of Aging and Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Yun Cai
- College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center of Aging and Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Greg W Arling
- College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center of Aging and Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Vowels LM, Roos CA, Mehulić J, O'Dean SM, Sánchez-Hernández MD. What Does It Mean to Be Responsive to a Partner's Sexual Needs? Toward a Definition of Sexual Need Responsiveness. Arch Sex Behav 2022; 51:3735-3747. [PMID: 36224303 PMCID: PMC9663368 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02432-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Being responsive to a partner's sexual needs in relationships (i.e., sexual need responsiveness) is associated with higher sexual and relationship satisfaction. Previous research has focused on researcher-led definitions of sexual need responsiveness. The purpose of the present study was to develop a participant-informed definition of sexual need responsiveness. A total of 305 individuals responded to five open-ended questions concerning the definition and behaviors pertaining to sexual need responsiveness. The content analysis results showed that the most common elements in participants' definition included listening to and accommodating each other's sexual needs and wishes whenever possible, while respecting both partners' safety and boundaries. Both verbal and non-verbal communication in various forms was used to express and share needs with partners and participants often evaluated responsiveness in terms of their sexual satisfaction. The results provide a participant-informed definition of sexual need responsiveness and can be used to inform research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Vowels
- Family and Development Research Center, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Carla A Roos
- Department of Social Psychology, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Communication and Cognition, School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Jasmina Mehulić
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Siobhan M O'Dean
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - M Dolores Sánchez-Hernández
- Department of Social Psychology, Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Guo Y, Killoren S, Campione-Barr N. Strategies and Reasons for Nondisclosure in Close Relationships During Adolescence. J Youth Adolesc 2022. [PMID: 35639304 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-022-01634-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Adolescents keep secrets from parents to assert independence or avoid punishment; however, there is little research on nondisclosure in other close relationships during adolescence. This article examines strategies and reasons for nondisclosure between adolescents (N = 244, 47.5% female, Mage = 12.71, SDage = 1.66) and multiple close relationships (parents, siblings, and best friends). The results show that adolescents tended to use nondisclosure strategies more for personal information (e.g., thoughts/feelings). Adolescents had more reasons to keep information from family as they got older, and girls reported keeping information from mothers more than boys because they would feel bad, embarrassed, or ashamed. These findings provide a greater understanding of patterns of nondisclosure during adolescence, which may in turn have implications for adolescent adjustment and relationship quality.
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Huelsnitz CO, Rothman AJ, Simpson JA. Effects of Social Control on Eating and Relational Behaviors in Romantic Relationships. Ann Behav Med 2022; 56:1244-1258. [PMID: 35445689 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior research has shown that social control strategies can have either positive or negative effects on individuals' health behaviors. However, no research has examined the degree to which social control attempts enacted by romantic partners are associated with individuals' relational behaviors or whether perceptions of a partner's motivation to engage in social control moderate links between the use of social control and either health or relational behaviors. PURPOSE This study investigated (a) the degree to which two classes of social control strategies that romantic partners can use to improve their partners' eating behavior (autonomy-supportive and autonomy-limiting strategies) are associated with eating and relational behaviors, and (b) whether perceptions of the partner's motivation for using social control moderate associations between its use and an individual's eating and relational behavior. METHODS This study had a daily diary design. One hundred and forty-seven individuals in romantic relationships completed surveys for 14 consecutive days. RESULTS On days when individuals reported that their partner used autonomy-supportive social control strategies, individuals reported healthier eating and more constructive relational behaviors. There were no effects of autonomy-limiting strategies on eating or relational behavior. Perceptions of a partner's motives did not moderate associations between reported social control and any behavioral outcomes. Moreover, there were no effects of either reported social control strategies or partner motive perceptions across time. CONCLUSION Romantic partners' perceived use of autonomy-supportive-but not autonomy-limiting-social control has benefits for individuals' health behaviors without incurring notable costs to their romantic relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe O Huelsnitz
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Jeffry A Simpson
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Wu-Chung EL, Leal SL, Denny BT, Cheng SL, Fagundes CP. Spousal caregiving, widowhood, and cognition: A systematic review and a biopsychosocial framework for understanding the relationship between interpersonal losses and dementia risk in older adulthood. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 134:104487. [PMID: 34971701 PMCID: PMC8925984 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating research suggests that stressful life events, especially those that threaten close intimate bonds, are associated with an increased risk of dementia. Grieving the loss of a spouse, whether in the form of caregiving or after the death, ranks among 'life's most significant stressors', evoking intense psychological and physiological distress. Despite numerous studies reporting elevated dementia risk or poorer cognition among spousal caregivers and widow(er)s compared to controls, no review has summarized findings across cognitive outcomes (i.e., dementia incidence, cognitive impairment rates, cognitive performance) or proposed a theoretical model for understanding the links between partner loss and abnormal cognitive decline. The current systematic review summarizes findings across 64 empirical studies. Overall, both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies revealed an adverse association between partner loss and cognitive outcomes. In turn, we propose a biopsychosocial model of cognitive decline that explains how caregiving and bereavement may position some to develop cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. More longitudinal studies that focus on the biopsychosocial context of caregivers and widow(er)s are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bryan T. Denny
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX
| | | | - Christopher P. Fagundes
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX,Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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Jolink TA, Fendinger NJ, Alvarez GM, Feldman MJ, Gaudier-Diaz MM, Muscatell KA. Inflammatory reactivity to the influenza vaccine is associated with changes in automatic social behavior. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 99:339-349. [PMID: 34748895 PMCID: PMC9041378 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests differential patterns of social behavior following an inflammatory challenge, such that increases in inflammation may not uniformly lead to social withdrawal. Indeed, increases in inflammation have been associated with enhanced self-reported motivation to approach a specific close other, and greater neural sensitivity to positive social cues. However, no known studies have examined the association between inflammation in response to an inflammatory challenge and social behavior in humans, nor has past research examined specifically how approach and withdrawal behavior may differ based on whether the target is a close other or stranger. To address this, 31 participants (ages 18-24) received the influenza vaccine to elicit a low-grade inflammatory response. The morning before and approximately 24 h after the vaccine, participants provided a blood sample and completed a computer task assessing automatic (implicit) approach and withdrawal behavior toward a social support figure and strangers. Greater increases in the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in response to the vaccine were associated with an increase in accuracy in avoiding strangers and a decrease in accuracy in approaching them. Increases in IL-6 were also associated with a decrease in reaction time to approach a support figure, but only when controlling for baseline IL-6 levels. There were no associations between change in IL-6 and changes in self-reported motivation to engage in social behavior with either close others, or strangers. Together, these findings reveal that increases in inflammation following the influenza vaccine are associated with automatic social behavior, especially behavior suggesting avoidance of unfamiliar social targets and ease in approaching a support figure. These data add to the growing literature suggesting that the association between inflammation and social behavior includes both social withdrawal and social approach, depending on the specific target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatum A. Jolink
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Nicholas J. Fendinger
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Gabriella M. Alvarez
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Mallory J. Feldman
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Monica M. Gaudier-Diaz
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Keely A. Muscatell
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA,Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
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Taylor SH, Zhao P, Bazarova NN. Social media and close relationships: a puzzle of connection and disconnection. Curr Opin Psychol 2021; 45:101292. [PMID: 35016090 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Social media and well-being have been a subject of intense debate in research, policy, and the popular press. In this review, we discuss social media use and well-being in the context of close relationships, including romantic partners, friends, and family, by drawing on research that connects social media use to both relational connection and relational disconnection. In an effort to disentangle a puzzle of connection and disconnection, we argue for the duality of social media effects in close relationships in which behaviors that facilitate connection and disconnection are intertwined. We call for research to develop frameworks that focus on (1) the interplay of social media behaviors and (2) the relational processes that underlie the twists and turns of social media connection.
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12
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Frederick DA, Gillespie BJ, Lever J, Berardi V, Garcia JR. Debunking Lesbian Bed Death: Using Coarsened Exact Matching to Compare Sexual Practices and Satisfaction of Lesbian and Heterosexual Women. Arch Sex Behav 2021; 50:3601-3619. [PMID: 34725751 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02096-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The current study examined the prevalence and correlates of over 50 sexual practices in a national survey of heterosexual and lesbian women in relationships. Coarsened exact matching was used to create comparable samples of heterosexual (n = 2510) and lesbian (n = 283) women on six demographic factors, including relationship length. Heterosexual and lesbian women were equally likely to be sexually satisfied (66% heterosexual women vs. 68% lesbian women). Compared to heterosexuals, lesbians were more likely to report having sex 0-1 times per month (11% vs. 23%) and were less likely to report having sex greater than once per month (89% vs. 77%). Among women who had been in relationships for longer than 5 years, heterosexual women were less likely than lesbian women to report having sex 0-1 times per month (15%; 42%). This steeper drop in sexual frequency among lesbian women than heterosexual women has pejoratively been labeled lesbian bed death. Rather than accept the label "lesbian bed death" as characterizing these sexual relationships, we turn our attention to what we call lesbian bed intimacies: the myriad ways that lesbian women incorporate behaviors promoting emotional connection, romance, and mood setting, as well as relying on a wide variety of specific sexual acts (e.g., use of sex toys) and sexual communication. Compared to heterosexual women, lesbian women were more likely to usually to always receive oral sex during sex in the past month (28%; 47%) and to use sex toys in the past year (40%; 62%). In their last sexual encounter, lesbian women were more likely to say "I love you" (67%; 80%), have sex longer than 30 min (48%; 72%), and engage in gentle kissing (80%; 92%). These intimacies likely help explain why sexual satisfaction was similar in these groups despite notable differences in sexual frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Frederick
- Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA, 92866, USA.
| | | | - Janet Lever
- Department of Sociology, California State University, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vincent Berardi
- Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA, 92866, USA
| | - Justin R Garcia
- Department of Gender Studies, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
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13
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Ng YT, Huo M, Gleason ME, Neff LA, Charles ST, Fingerman KL. Friendships in Old Age: Daily Encounters and Emotional Well-Being. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2021; 76:551-562. [PMID: 31943103 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Having friends in old age is linked to higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. Yet, we know little about older adults' emotional experiences when they encounter friends throughout the day. This study examined whether older adults reported (a) more pleasantness, (b) fewer conversations about stressful experiences, and (c) better mood when they had contact with friends compared to when they had contact with other social partners or were alone throughout the day. We also examined whether these experiences varied by the friendship closeness. METHOD Adults aged 65+ (n = 313) from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study provided background information and listed and described their close social partners. Participants then completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys every 3 hr for 5 to 6 days where they reported their encounters with social partners, rated the pleasantness and indicated whether they discussed stressful issues during these encounters, and rated positive and negative mood. RESULTS Multilevel models revealed that encounters with friends were more pleasant and were associated with fewer discussions about stressful experiences compared to encounters with romantic partners or family members throughout the day. Encounters with friends were also associated with better mood, though this link only held for encounters with friends who were not considered close. DISCUSSION Findings are discussed in terms of functionalist theory, socioemotional selectivity theory, relationship ambivalence, and the benefits of less close ties. This work facilitates the understanding of how daily contact with friends can promote older adults' emotional well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee To Ng
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Meng Huo
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis
| | - Marci E Gleason
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Lisa A Neff
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
| | | | - Karen L Fingerman
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
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Soter LK, Berg MK, Gelman SA, Kross E. What we would (but shouldn't) do for those we love: Universalism versus partiality in responding to others' moral transgressions. Cognition 2021; 217:104886. [PMID: 34428711 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent work indicates that people are more likely to protect a close (vs. distant) other who commits a crime. But do people think it is morally right to treat close others differently? On the one hand, universalist moral principles dictate that people should be treated equally. On the other hand, close relationships are the source of special moral obligations, which may lead people to believe they ought to preferentially protect close others. Here we attempt to adjudicate between these competing considerations by examining what people think they would and should do when a close (vs. distant) other behaves immorally. Across four experiments (N = 2002), we show that people believe they morally should protect close others more than distant others. However, we also document a striking discrepancy: participants reported that they would protect close others far more than they should protect them. These findings demonstrate that people believe close relationships influence what they morally ought to do-but also that moral decisions about close others may be a context in which people are particularly likely to fail to do what they think is morally right.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura K Soter
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 1004 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Department of Philosophy, University of Michigan, 2215 Angell Hall, 435 S State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Martha K Berg
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 1004 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Susan A Gelman
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 1004 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Ethan Kross
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 1004 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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Pietromonaco PR, Overall NC. Implications of social isolation, separation, and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic for couples' relationships. Curr Opin Psychol 2021; 43:189-194. [PMID: 34416682 PMCID: PMC8881098 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The broad isolation, separation, and loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic raise risks for couples' relationship quality and stability. Guided by the vulnerability–stress–adaptation model, we suggest that how pandemic-related loss, isolation, and separation impact couples' relationships will vary depending on the amount and severity of pandemic-related stress, together with enduring personal vulnerabilities (e.g. attachment insecurity), both of which can disrupt adaptive dyadic responses to these challenges. A review of emerging research examining relationship functioning before and during the initial stages of the pandemic offers support for this framework. We draw on additional research to suggest pathways for mitigating relationship disruptions and promoting resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula R Pietromonaco
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA.
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16
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Macia KS, Blonigen DM, Shaffer PM, Cloitre M, Smelson DA. Trauma-related differences in socio-emotional functioning predict housing and employment outcomes in homeless veterans. Soc Sci Med 2021; 281:114096. [PMID: 34126293 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Mental health and substance use disorders are strong risk factors for homelessness. Understanding the role of transdiagnostic factors could help inform efforts to reduce homelessness among veterans with a range of disorders. Homeless veterans have high rates of trauma exposure, which can result in the depletion of social and emotional resources that may contribute to housing and employment stability. In this study, we evaluated the role of problems with emotional lability and interpersonal closeness as transdiagnostic socio-emotional factors that might interfere with efforts to achieve housing and employment stability. METHODS The sample consisted of 346 homeless veterans with co-occurring disorders that were admitted to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) residential treatment program between 2004 and 2009. Assessments were conducted at treatment entry (baseline) and two follow-up timepoints (6- and 12-months). Variables used in the current analyses included history of interpersonal trauma exposure, emotional lability and interpersonal closeness at baseline and 6-months, and homelessness and employment problems during follow-up. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and counterfactually-defined mediation effects. RESULTS Veterans exposed to more trauma types experienced more baseline impairment and less improvement during treatment in emotional lability and interpersonal closeness. Problems with interpersonal closeness mediated 73% of the relationship between exposure to multiple traumas and homelessness, and 32%-61% of the relationship between trauma exposure and employment problems. Emotional lability mediated 36% of the relationship between exposure to multiple traumas and employment problems. Decomposition of indirect pathways revealed that indirect effects were primarily transmitted through changes during treatment, and not baseline levels. CONCLUSION Findings support a cumulative effect of trauma on persistence of socio-emotional deficits across treatment, which increased risk of homelessness and employment problems during follow-up. Greater attention and more targeted efforts should be directed at helping trauma-exposed veterans build socio-emotional resources during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn S Macia
- National Center for PTSD Dissemination and Training Division, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
| | - Daniel M Blonigen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA; Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Paige M Shaffer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
| | - Marylène Cloitre
- National Center for PTSD Dissemination and Training Division, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
| | - David A Smelson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA; Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA
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17
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Soriano EC, Otto AK, LoSavio ST, Perndorfer C, Siegel SD, Laurenceau JP. Fear of Cancer Recurrence and Inhibited Disclosure: Testing the Social-Cognitive Processing Model in Couples Coping With Breast Cancer. Ann Behav Med 2021; 55:192-202. [PMID: 32608472 PMCID: PMC7980765 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaaa043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Withholding cancer-related concerns from one's partner (protective buffering) and feeling that one's partner is inaccessible or unresponsive to such disclosure (social constraints) are two interpersonal interaction patterns that separately have been linked to poorer adjustment to cancer. PURPOSE Guided by the Social-Cognitive Processing Model, we examined the joint effects of social constraints and protective buffering on fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in survivors and spouses. Social constraints and protective buffering were hypothesized to emerge as independent predictors of higher FCR. METHODS Early-stage breast cancer survivors and spouses (N = 79 couples; 158 paired individuals) completed up to five repeated measures of FCR, social constraints, protective buffering, and relationship quality during the year postdiagnosis. A second-order growth curve model was estimated and extended to test the time-varying, within-person effects of social constraints and protective buffering on a latent FCR variable, controlling for relationship quality. RESULTS As hypothesized, greater social constraints and protective buffering significantly (p < .05) predicted higher concurrent FCR at the within-person level, controlling for global relationship quality and change in FCR over time. The fixed effects were found to be similar for both survivors and spouses. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that interaction patterns resulting in inhibited disclosure are associated with greater FCR for both survivors and spouses, consistent with the Social-Cognitive Processing Model. This work adds to the growing body of research highlighting the social context of FCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily C Soriano
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Amy K Otto
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Stefanie T LoSavio
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christine Perndorfer
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Scott D Siegel
- Value Institute, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE, USA
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Fillo J, Rodriguez LM, Neighbors C, Lee CM. Intrapersonal and interpersonal pathways linking 21st birthday celebration beliefs, intentions, and drinking behavior. Addict Behav 2020; 110:106526. [PMID: 32652389 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the United States, turning 21 often involves heavy drinking and high rates of alcohol-related consequences. Friends are an important source of social influence on young adult drinking, including during 21st birthdays. However, research is needed to investigate the specific pathways through which this interpersonal influence occurs. Data were drawn from a larger intervention study focused on reducing 21st birthday drinking. Using data from 166 celebrant and friend dyads (N = 332 individuals), we prospectively examined relations among each person's beliefs about 21st birthday celebrations, drinking intentions for the celebrant, and celebrants' estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) on their 21st birthdays. Path analyses evaluated the impact of celebrant and friend beliefs on their own report of celebrant intentions, each other's report of celebrant intentions, and celebrant eBAC, as well as the mediating role of each individual's report of celebrant intentions. Results revealed significant indirect effects of each individual's beliefs on celebrant eBAC via their own report of celebrant 21st birthday drinking intentions. Friend beliefs also predicted celebrant eBAC via celebrant drinking intentions, beyond the effect of celebrant beliefs. Importantly, celebrant eBAC was as strongly predicted by friend 21st birthday celebration beliefs as they were by their own beliefs. Results highlight multiple pathways through which friends influence 21st birthday drinking and reveal that friend influence is not constrained to the celebration, but begins in advance of the event by shaping celebrants' drinking intentions. Findings highlight key directions for future work leveraging friends as intervention agents to reduce drinking related to this high-risk event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Fillo
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, USA
| | | | | | - Christine M Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, USA
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Guzmán-González M, Rivera-Ottenberger D, Brassard A, Spencer R, Lafontaine MF. Measuring adult romantic attachment: psychometric properties of the brief Spanish version of the experiences in close relationships. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 33:9. [PMID: 32542456 PMCID: PMC7295914 DOI: 10.1186/s41155-020-00145-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The Experiences in Close Relationships (Brennan et al, Attachment theory and close relationships, 1998) questionnaire is one of the most widely used measures of adult romantic attachment. Despite the advantages of the ECR, the length of this measure may discourage its use in clinical and research contexts. Consequently, the goal of this study was to develop a brief Spanish version of the ECR questionnaire and to examine its psychometric properties when administered to six different Spanish-speaking samples from Chile. Confirmatory factor analyses replicated the two-dimensional structure of the ECR and its invariance across gender. Results also supported the reliability and concurrent validity of our brief Spanish version of the ECR (i.e., Spanish ECR-12), by its association with measures of emotion regulation, dyadic empathy, psychological distress and well-being, and relationship satisfaction. The Spanish ECR-12 can be used by researchers and clinical professionals as an abridged measure of adult attachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Guzmán-González
- School of Psychology, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avenida Angamos, 0610, Antofagasta, Chile.
| | - Diana Rivera-Ottenberger
- School of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP), Avenida Vicuña Mackenna 4860, San Joaquín, Santiago, Chile
| | - Audrey Brassard
- Department of Psychology, University of Sherbrooke, 2500, boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Rosario Spencer
- Programa de Investigación Asociativa (PIA) en Ciencias Cognitivas, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Cognitivas (CICC), Universidad de Talca, Avenida Lircay s/n, Talca, Chile
| | - Marie-France Lafontaine
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, ON, K1N6N5, Canada
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Sened H, Bar-Kalifa E, Pshedetzky-Shochat R, Gleason M, Rafaeli E. Fast and Slow Empathic Perceptions in Couples' Daily Lives Use Different Cues. Affect Sci 2020; 1:87-96. [PMID: 36042967 PMCID: PMC9382916 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-020-00006-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Empathic accuracy, the ability to infer another person's emotions, thoughts, and other fleeting mental states, has been linked to assumed similarity (wherein the perceiver assumes that another person's mental states are similar to their own) and direct accuracy (wherein the perceiver uses various external cues to reach their judgment). Previous research has linked this component model, as well as dual process models, to neuroscientific models of empathy, but has not linked these components with dual process accounts directly. Thus, we examined whether assumed similarity involves rapid (type-1) processing while direct accuracy involves slower (type-2) inferences. In three dyadic daily diary samples (total N = 262 romantic couples), we examined associations between both components and response times. As expected, direct accuracy, but not assumed similarity, was associated with slower response times. Our findings suggest links between previously disparate lines of research and identify situations which may tip the balance between the empathic components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haran Sened
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Eran Bar-Kalifa
- Department of Psychology, Ben Gurion University, Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Marci Gleason
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX USA
| | - Eshkol Rafaeli
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Department of Psychology, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
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21
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Bierstetel SJ, Slatcher RB. Couples' behavior during conflict in the lab and diurnal cortisol patterns in daily life. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 115:104633. [PMID: 32151904 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The current study tested whether positive and negative behaviors exhibited by couples during conflict interactions assessed in the laboratory are associated with individuals' diurnal cortisol patterns (i.e., circadian rhythms in cortisol across the course of the day) outside of the lab. Participants (N = 82) provided a total of 18 salivary cortisol samples over a 3-day period and came into the lab with their spouse to engage in two ten-minute dyadic conflict discussions. These videotaped interactions were coded to assess the intensity with which couples displayed various positive behaviors (e.g., humor, affection) and negative behaviors (e.g., defensiveness, frustration) during the conflict discussions. Multi-level modeling was used to examine the associations between couples' positive and negative behavior during conflict discussions and diurnal cortisol patterns in daily life. Results showed links between overall positive, but not negative, behaviors and diurnal cortisol patterns. Individuals who experienced more positive behaviors with their partner during the conflict discussion showed a steeper ("healthier") cortisol slope across the day in their daily lives. Exploratory analyses investigating the association between specific positive and negative behaviors and diurnal cortisol revealed that affection and scorn were associated with diurnal cortisol patterns in daily life. This research advances our understanding of the impact of social relationships on physical health from a biopsychosocial perspective and has implications for understanding how the ways in which couples resolve conflict are linked to health-related biological processes in daily life.
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22
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Tchalova K, MacDonald G. Opioid receptor blockade inhibits self-disclosure during a closeness-building social interaction. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 113:104559. [PMID: 31911348 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Social ties are critical to human health and well-being; thus, it is important to gain a better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms involved in the development of interpersonal closeness. Prior research indicates that endogenous opioids may play a role in social affiliation by elaborating feelings of social connection and warmth; however, it is not currently known whether opioids mediate affiliative behavior and emerging feelings of closeness in humans at the relationship initiation stage. This randomized, double-blind study examined opioidergic processes in the context of a naturalistic, face-to-face social interaction. Eighty pairs of unacquainted participants (final N = 159 due to removal of one dyad member from analysis) received either 50 mg of the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone or placebo prior to completing a closeness-building exercise centered on escalating self-disclosure (sharing of personal information about the self). Compared to the placebo group, naltrexone participants held lower social reward expectations prior to the interaction, engaged in less intimacy-fostering behavior (self-disclosure) during the interaction, and reported wanting less closeness with their partner. Feelings of social connection were not significantly lower in the naltrexone group. However, placebo participants experienced improvements in mood after the closeness-building task whereas naltrexone participants did not. These findings suggest that endogenous opioids may contribute to behavioral, affective, and motivational processes related to the development of initial closeness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Tchalova
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada; Department of Psychology, McGill University, 2001 McGill College Avenue, Montréal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada.
| | - Geoff MacDonald
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada
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Sened H, Bahorski SG, Callahan L, Altpeter M, Rini C. Overcoming Barriers to Physical Activity in People with Osteoarthritis: the Role of Empathic Accuracy in Couples' Planning Discussions. Int J Behav Med 2020; 27:235-46. [PMID: 32048228 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-020-09856-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic joint disease with significant individual and public health consequences. Physical activity can reduce OA symptoms, but patients often fall below recommended levels. Social support from an intimate partner can help them become more active; however, some couples are better than others at enacting effective support. We examined the role of empathic accuracy (EA)-the ability to understand another person's thoughts and feelings-in couples' ability to identify strategies for overcoming barriers to increasing activity. We also examined whether EA was associated with changes in affect and with emotion regulation and communication skills. METHOD Forty-two insufficiently physically active participants with OA identified a barrier to becoming more active in a recorded discussion with their partner. Next, both rated self and partner thoughts and feelings during the discussion. Raters coded EA and whether discussions reached a solution. Affect and skills were assessed with validated questionnaires. RESULTS An actor-partner interdependence model found higher EA for participants in couples who reached a solution compared to those who did not reach a solution in the allotted time. Both partners' EA was associated with reduced negative affect in the other member of the couple. Unexpectedly, EA in people with OA was associated with reduced positive affect for their partners. EA was positively associated with one skill: emotional clarity. CONCLUSION Findings from this early-stage study suggest that EA can help couples manage health-related issues together. Emotional clarity emerged as a skill related to EA, suggesting avenues for additional research.
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Righetti F, Tybur J, Van Lange P, Echelmeyer L, van Esveld S, Kroese J, van Brecht J, Gangestad S. How reproductive hormonal changes affect relationship dynamics for women and men: A 15-day diary study. Biol Psychol 2019; 149:107784. [PMID: 31628974 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2019.107784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Research suggests that women's sexual psychology and behavior change across the ovulatory cycle, but very little is known about how fluctuations in estradiol and progesterone - two hormones that systematically vary across the ovulatory cycle - affect romantic relationship dynamics. We present the first dyadic study to assess daily hormonal fluctuations and personal and relationship well-being from both partners' perspectives. Specifically, we recruited women who were not using hormonal contraception and their partners for a 15-day diary study. Participants collected daily urine samples to assess estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, and they responded to daily questions about their relationship. Results revealed that increases in estradiol negatively affected women's relationship evaluations. Men perceived these changes, which in turn, affected men's well-being. The present findings highlight the importance of women's hormonal fluctuations in shaping relationship dynamics and provide, for the first time, information about how such fluctuations affect male partners.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Josh Tybur
- VU Amsterdam, Van der Boechorstraat 7, the Netherlands
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25
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Tymoszuk U, Kumari M, Pucci A, Cheung WH, Kirk A, Tschiala A, Carr-Rose K, Kingett H, Doyle J, Jenkinson A, Hashemi M, Adamo M, Elkalaawy M, Stafford M, Batterham RL. Is Pre-operation Social Connectedness Associated with Weight Loss up to 2 Years Post Bariatric Surgery? Obes Surg 2018; 28:3524-30. [PMID: 30043144 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-018-3378-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To date, little attention has been paid to supportive relationships as factors contributing to weight loss from bariatric surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospective study examined whether total percentage weight loss (%TWL) at 3, 12 and 24 months post-surgery varies by distinct aspects of pre-surgery social support (received emotional and practical support and contact with friends and family) in a sample of bariatric surgery candidates (n = 182). These associations were tested with linear regression models adjusted for gender, age, ethnicity, employment status, self-esteem, mastery and time elapsed since the day of surgery. RESULTS One hundred fifty-four participants underwent a bariatric procedure, and all but seven provided weight loss data at least at one occasion. Emotional support and contact with friends were positively associated with %TWL at 3, 12 and 24 months, and the magnitude of these associations was large. For instance, in the fully adjusted models, %TWL at 24 months increased by 2.36% (SE 1.17, p = 0.048) with each increase of one standard deviation in emotional support and was higher by 9.23% (SE 4.31, p = 0.035) for participants who reported seeing 1-5 friends per month compared with those who saw none. There was some evidence for a positive association between practical support and %TWL at 3 and 12 months post-surgery. CONCLUSION Supportive relationships are important contributors to weight loss from bariatric surgery. If replicated in future studies, these findings could inform clinical care and interventions aimed at improving support systems of bariatric surgery candidates.
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Ross KM, Rook K, Winczewski L, Collins N, Schetter CD. Close Relationships and Health: The Interactive Effect of Positive and Negative Aspects. Soc Personal Psychol Compass 2019; 13:e12468. [PMID: 32922511 PMCID: PMC7485933 DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Most health research focuses on the independent associations of positive or negative aspects of close relationships with health outcomes. A small but growing literature has begun to examine interactive effects of positive and negative aspects. These interactive effects frequently predict health independently or above-and-beyond main effects of either the positive or the negative aspects, suggesting unique relationship processes or emergent features of these close relationship patterns. Our goal in this review is to lay out the existing approaches to studying the interactive effects of positive and negative aspects of close relationships, and to review available evidence linking these interactive effects to health outcomes. We conclude by discussing important unresolved issues and highlighting critical directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kharah M. Ross
- Owerko Centre, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,
| | - Karen Rook
- Department of Psychology, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA, US,
| | | | - Nancy Collins
- Department of Psychology, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, US,
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Fillo J, Kamper-DeMarco KE, Brown WC, Stasiewicz PR, Bradizza CM. Emotion regulation difficulties and social control correlates of smoking among pregnant women trying to quit. Addict Behav 2019; 89:104-112. [PMID: 30286396 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 15% of US women currently smoke during pregnancy. An important step toward providing effective smoking cessation interventions during pregnancy is to identify individuals who are more likely to encounter difficulty quitting. Pregnant smokers frequently report smoking in response to intrapersonal factors (e.g., negative emotions), but successful cessation attempts can also be influenced by interpersonal factors (i.e., influence from close others). This study examined the association between emotion regulation difficulties, positive and negative social control (e.g., encouragement, criticism), and smoking cessation-related variables (i.e., smoking quantity, withdrawal symptoms) among pregnant smokers. Data were drawn from the pretreatment wave of a smoking cessation trial enrolling low-income pregnant women who self-reported smoking in response to negative affect (N = 73). Greater emotion regulation difficulties were related to greater smoking urges (b = 0.295, p = .042) and withdrawal symptoms (b = 0.085, p = .003). Additionally, more negative social control from close others was related to fewer smoking days (b = -0.614, p = .042) and higher smoking abstinence self-efficacy (b = 0.017, p = .002). More positive social control from close others interacted with negative affect smoking (b = -0.052, p = .043); the association between negative affect smoking and nicotine dependence (b = 0.812, p < .001) only occurred at low levels of positive social control. Findings suggest that emotion regulation difficulties may contribute to smoking during pregnancy by exacerbating women's negative experiences related to smoking cessation attempts. Negative social control was related to lower smoking frequency and greater confidence in quitting smoking, suggesting that it may assist pregnant smokers' cessation efforts. Positive social control buffered women from the effects of negative affect smoking on nicotine dependence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01163864.
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Cornelius T, Meli L, Thorson KR, Chang BP, Edmondson D, West TV. Bringing close others to the emergency department for an acute coronary event is associated with increased patient perception of threat. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2019; 56:42-49. [PMID: 30578986 PMCID: PMC6353683 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Relationship quality is one of the most consistent psychosocial predictors of physical and mental health. Yet, little research examines relationship types or support within the immediate context of acute health events. We tested the unexplored role that close others play in patients' experience of threat during evaluation for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Emergency Department (ED), as well as the indirect effect of close others on ACS-induced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD Participants were 871 patients evaluated for ACS at an urban academic ED (60.86 years old; 54.08% male; 56.37% Hispanic, 19.86% Black, 16.65% White). Threat perceptions were assessed in-ED and median 3 days later. ACS-induced PTSD was assessed median 41 days later using the PTSD checklist cued to a specific stressor. Non-overlapping categories were created representing close others in the ED (i.e., spouse/significant other, child), non-close others (e.g., neighbor), or no one. RESULTS Patients who brought close others recalled experiencing greater threat in the ED: vs. no one, b = 0.11, p = .072; vs. non-close others, b = 0.16, p = .030. There was no direct effect of close others on ACS-induced PTSD; however, recalled threat mediated the effect of close others on development of ACS-induced PTSD, ps < .05. CONCLUSIONS Close others were associated with recalling greater threat during ED evaluation, which predicted ACS-induced PTSD. ACS-induced PTSD is associated with medication nonadherence, event recurrence, and mortality, highlighting the need to develop a greater understanding of the impact stressful medical environments have on patients and close others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talea Cornelius
- Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America.
| | - Laura Meli
- Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America.
| | | | - Bernard P. Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Donald Edmondson
- Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America.
| | - Tessa V. West
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The first goal of this review is to discuss the evidence linking belonging threats to immune function and food intake. The second goal is to evaluate whether the links among belonging threats, immune function, and eating behavior differ based on gender. RECENT FINDINGS Threats to belonging are linked to elevated herpesvirus antibody titers, dysregulated appetite-relevant hormones, and increased food consumption. Furthermore, these relationships are largely consistent for both men and women. Threats to belonging are also linked to elevated inflammation. However, some studies showed that these effects were stronger among women, others demonstrated that they were stronger among men, and others determined that the links were consistent for men and women. Understanding why belonging threats are inconsistently linked to inflammation across men and women is an important next step. We conclude the review with four concrete recommendations for researchers studying belonging threats, immune function, and eating behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Jaremka
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, 212 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
| | - Olga Lebed
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, 212 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Naoyuki Sunami
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, 212 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
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Ooi K. A Doctor in the House: Ethical and Practical Issues when Doctors Treat Themselves and Those they are Close to. Asian Bioeth Rev 2018; 10:3-19. [PMID: 33717272 PMCID: PMC7745763 DOI: 10.1007/s41649-018-0043-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Having a doctor in the family is often seen as beneficial as there is easy access to medical advice and care. It is common for doctors to treat themselves and those they are close to, and some doctors consider this their prerogative. However, there are pitfalls. Primarily, there is a risk of compromising clinical judgement and objectivity when doctors self-treat and treat those they have a close relationship with. This could lead to treating problems beyond the doctor's competence-in some instances, because someone close pressures the doctor. Other pitfalls include trivialising or overtreating a condition, failing to document the care provided, making assumptions about a person's circumstances, and breaching confidentiality. Consequently, despite good intentions, a doctor may not provide the best quality care to those they are close to. This paper examines the ethical and practical issues that arise when doctors treat themselves and those they have a close relationship with. It argues that in the vast majority of clinical situations, doctors should not engage in such care arrangements, and explains why doctors should have their own regular doctor. Several cases where doctors in New Zealand have been censured for self-treatment will be discussed. The paper compares New Zealand's position with Singapore's and explores several factors that contributed to the different positions that were adopted. The paper concludes that this is a fraught area of care so it is important that medical regulators set standards that promote best practice and that provide clear guidance to the profession and public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanny Ooi
- Medical Council of New Zealand, PO Box 10509, The Terrace, Wellington Central, 6143 New Zealand
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31
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Murdock KW, Zilioli S, Ziauddin K, Heijnen CJ, Fagundes CP. Attachment and telomere length: more evidence for psychobiological connections between close relationships, health, and aging. J Behav Med 2018; 41:333-43. [PMID: 29067540 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-017-9895-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with a history of poor interpersonal relationships are more likely to demonstrate negative health outcomes than those who have had high quality relationships. We sought to evaluate how attachment orientations, stress-induced respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and self-reported stress were associated with length of telomeres measured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Participants (N = 213) completed self-report measures of attachment and stress. Measurement of RSA was conducted before and after a stressful task and a blood draw was completed for analysis of telomere length. Attachment orientations were not directly associated with telomere length; however, we found that high attachment anxiety was associated with shorter length of telomeres via high self-reported stress. Attachment avoidance was also associated with telomere length via self-reported stress, but only among those with high stress-induced RSA. Exploratory analyses of T cell subsets indicated that stress was most strongly associated with telomeres from CD8CD28+ cells in comparison to CD8CD28- and CD4 cells. Study findings indicate that attachment orientations are associated with telomere length via stress, providing novel insights into the mechanisms through which close relationships can impact health and aging.
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Rentscher KE, Soriano EC, Rohrbaugh MJ, Shoham V, Mehl MR. Partner Pronoun Use, Communal Coping, and Abstinence during Couple-Focused Intervention for Problematic Alcohol Use. Fam Process 2017; 56:348-363. [PMID: 26707707 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Communal coping-a process in which romantic partners view a problem as ours rather than yours or mine, and take collaborative action to address it -has emerged as an important predictor of health and treatment outcomes. In a study of partners' pronoun use prior to and during couple-focused alcohol interventions, we examined first-person plural (we-talk) and singular (I-talk) pronouns as linguistic markers of communal coping and behavioral predictors of treatment outcome. Thirty-three couples in which one partner abused alcohol were selected from a randomized control trial (N = 63) of couple-focused Cognitive-Behavioral or Family Systems Therapy if they had unambiguously successful or unsuccessful treatment outcomes (i.e., patient maintained abstinence for 30 days prior to treatment termination or had more than one heavy drinking day in the same period). Pronoun measures for each partner were obtained via computerized text analysis from transcripts of partners' speech, derived from a videotaped pretreatment interaction task and three subsequent therapy sessions. Spouse we-talk during the intervention (accounting for pretreatment we-talk), as an index of communal orientation, uniquely predicted successful treatment outcomes. In contrast, both patient and spouse I-talk during the intervention (accounting for pretreatment I-talk), as a marker of individualistic orientation, uniquely predicted unsuccessful outcomes, especially when distinguishing active and passive (I vs. me/my) pronoun forms. Results strengthen evidence for the prognostic significance of spouse behavior for patient health outcomes and for communal coping (indexed via pronoun use) as a potential mechanism of change in couple-focused interventions for health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily C Soriano
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Michael J Rohrbaugh
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Varda Shoham
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
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Ketay S, Beck LA. Attachment predicts cortisol response and closeness in dyadic social interaction. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 80:114-121. [PMID: 28324700 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The present study examined how the interplay of partners' attachment styles influences cortisol response, actual closeness, and desired closeness during friendship initiation. Participants provided salivary cortisol samples at four timepoints throughout either a high or low closeness task that facilitated high or low levels of self-disclosure with a potential friend (i.e., another same-sex participant). Levels of actual closeness and desired closeness following the task were measured via inclusion of other in the self. Results from multi-level modeling indicated that the interaction of both participants' attachment avoidance predicted cortisol response patterns, with participants showing the highest cortisol response when there was a mismatch between their own and their partners' attachment avoidance. Further, the interaction between both participants' attachment anxiety predicted actual closeness and desired closeness, with participants both feeling and wanting the most closeness with partners when both they and their partners were low in attachment anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ketay
- University of Hartford, East Hall, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA
| | - Lindsey A Beck
- Emerson College, 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA
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Ross KM, Miller G, Qadir S, Keenan-Devlin L, Leigh AKK, Borders A. Close relationship qualities and maternal peripheral inflammation during pregnancy. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 77:252-60. [PMID: 28129559 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Close relationships are associated with pregnancy outcomes, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. This paper examines whether quality of women's close relationships, specifically with romantic partner (RP) and closest friend or family member (CF), is associated with inflammatory biomarkers during the third trimester of pregnancy. METHODS 90 pregnant women were assessed during the second and third trimester. At both visits they completed self-reports describing the positive and negative aspects of their RP and CF relationships. Peripheral blood was collected during these visits, and used to measure systemic levels of cytokines, including IFNγ, IL10, IL6, IL8 and IL13. An index of inflammatory regulation, as reflected by the ratio of IL6:IL10, was also computed. RESULTS Positive (e.g. support, intimacy) and negative (e.g. conflict) aspects of the RP relationship interacted to predict third trimester cytokine values. Specifically, RP relationships relatively low in both positive and negative aspects were associated with lower third trimester anti-inflammatory (IL10, IL13) and anti-viral (IFNγ) cytokines, and a higher IL6:IL10 ratio, controlling for second trimester levels. These associations were independent of demographics, gestational age, weeks between assessment, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index, maternal stress, distress, depressed mood and RP cohabitation. CF relationship aspects were not associated with inflammatory markers. CONCLUSIONS RP relationships relatively low in both positive, e.g. support and intimacy, and negative, e.g. conflict, aspects were associated with a less anti- and more pro-inflammatory cytokine profile during the third trimester. These findings have implications for understanding the associations amongst close relationships, inflammation, and potentially pregnancy outcomes.
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Jaremka LM, Sunami N, Nadzan MA. Eating moderates the link between body mass index and perceived social connection. Appetite 2017; 112:124-132. [PMID: 28109731 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Some studies have demonstrated that heavier people perceive themselves as lacking social connections, whereas others have not. The current study investigated whether eating alters the link between body mass index (BMI) and perceived social connection, providing one explanation for inconsistencies across previous studies. Participants were instructed to refrain from eating or drinking anything except water after 9 p.m. the prior night. Upon arrival at the lab, participants were assigned to the food (n = 63) or no food (n = 110) condition. They also provided a saliva sample that was assayed for ghrelin (an appetite-relevant hormone), and completed a series of questionnaires about their relationships. Participants with a higher BMI felt more socially disconnected than people with a lower BMI, but only among those who had not recently eaten. BMI and perceived social disconnection were unrelated among people who had recently eaten. These results were consistent across multiple measures of perceived social disconnection, and also across the experimental manipulation and continuously measured ghrelin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Jaremka
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
| | - Naoyuki Sunami
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Megan A Nadzan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
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Schadler C. How to Define Situated and Ever-Transforming Family Configurations? A New Materialist Approach. J Fam Theory Rev 2016; 8:503-514. [PMID: 31423152 PMCID: PMC6686335 DOI: 10.1111/jftr.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Within the past few decades, the configuration "family" has included diverse living arrangements, yet traditional definitions of family persist. Accordingly, family studies scholars have discussed research strategies and theoretical approaches to define the shifting boundaries of family. In this article I propose the approach of new materialism for a contemporary definition of family that focuses on situated processes and the complex interplay of material-discursive differentiation processes. This perspective enriches current debates on defining family by adding concepts of intracontextual posthuman practices and multilocal forms of agency to the discussion, thus allowing for a definition of family that helps make comprehensible today's ever-transforming configurations.
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Raposa EB, Rhodes JE, Herrera C. The Impact of Youth Risk on Mentoring Relationship Quality: Do Mentor Characteristics Matter? Am J Community Psychol 2016; 57:320-329. [PMID: 27221800 DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Although mentoring is a widely used intervention strategy, effect sizes for at-risk youth remain modest. Research is therefore needed to maximize the impact of mentoring for at-risk youth who might struggle to benefit from mentoring relationships. This study tested the hypothesis that different types of youth risk would have a negative impact on mentoring relationship quality and duration and explored whether mentor characteristics exacerbated or mitigated these negative effects. Results showed that elevated environmental stress at a youth's home and/or school predicted shorter match duration, and elevated rates of youth behavioral problems, such as poor academic performance or misconduct, predicted greater youth dissatisfaction and less positive mentor perceptions of relationship quality. Mentors with greater self-efficacy and more previous involvement with youth in their communities were able to buffer the negative effects of environmental stress on match duration. Similarly, mentors' previous involvement with youth buffered the negative effects of youth behavioral problems on mentor perceptions of relationship quality. Findings have important implications for the matching of mentors and at-risk youth in a way that improves mentoring outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean E Rhodes
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Older adults are utilizing online dating websites in increasing numbers. Adults of different ages may share motivations for companionship and affection, but dating profiles may reveal differences in adults' goals. Theories addressing age-related changes in motivation suggest that younger adults are likely to emphasize themselves, achievements, attractiveness, and sexuality. Older adults are likely to present themselves positively and emphasize their existing relationships and health. METHOD We collected 4,000 dating profiles from two popular websites to examine age differences in self-presentations. We used stratified sampling to obtain a sample equally divided by gender, aged 18-95 years. We identified 12 themes in the profiles using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software (Pennebaker, Booth, & Francis, 2007). RESULTS Regression analyses revealed that older adults were more likely to use first-person plural pronouns (e.g., we, our) and words associated with health and positive emotions. Younger adults were more likely to use first-person singular pronouns (e.g., I, my) and words associated with work and achievement. DISCUSSION Findings suggest that younger adults enhance the "self" when seeking romantic partnership. In contrast, older adults are more positive in their profiles and focus more on connectedness and relationships to others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden M Davis
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin.
| | - Karen L Fingerman
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
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Inagaki TK, Muscatell KA, Irwin MR, Moieni M, Dutcher JM, Jevtic I, Breen EC, Eisenberger NI. The role of the ventral striatum in inflammatory-induced approach toward support figures. Brain Behav Immun 2015; 44:247-52. [PMID: 25459101 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Although considerable research has shown that inflammation leads to social withdrawal more generally, it is also possible that inflammation leads to social approach when it comes to close others. Whereas it may be adaptive to withdraw from strangers when sick, it may be beneficial to seek out close others for assistance, protection, or care when sick. However, this possibility has never been explored in humans nor have the neural substrates of these behavioral changes. Based on the role of the ventral striatum (VS) in responding to: (1) the anticipation of and motivation to approach rewarding outcomes and (2) viewing social support figures, the VS may also be involved in sickness-induced approach toward support figures. Thus, the goal of the present study was to examine whether inflammation leads to a greater desire to approach support figures and greater VS activity to viewing support figures. To examine this, 63 participants received either placebo or low-dose endotoxin, which safely triggers an inflammatory response. Participants reported how much they desired to be around a self-identified support figure, and viewed pictures of that support figure while undergoing an fMRI scan to assess reward-related neural activity. In line with hypotheses, endotoxin (vs. placebo) led participants to report a greater desire to be around their support figure. In addition, endotoxin (vs. placebo) led to greater VS activity to images of support figures (vs. strangers), and greater increases in inflammation (IL-6 levels) were associated with greater increases in VS activity. Together, these results reveal a possible neural mechanism important for sickness-induced social approach and highlight the need for a more nuanced view of changes in social behavior during sickness.
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40
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Fagundes CP, Jaremka LM, Glaser R, Alfano CM, Povoski SP, Lipari AM, Agnese DM, Yee LD, Carson WE, Farrar WB, Malarkey WB, Chen M, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Attachment anxiety is related to Epstein-Barr virus latency. Brain Behav Immun 2014; 41:232-8. [PMID: 24945717 PMCID: PMC4304069 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Attachment theory provides a framework for understanding individual differences in chronic interpersonal stress. Attachment anxiety, a type of relationship insecurity characterized by worry about rejection and abandonment, is a chronic interpersonal stressor. Stress impacts cellular immunity, including herpesvirus reactivation. We investigated whether attachment anxiety was related to the expression of a latent herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), when individuals were being tested for breast or colon cancer and approximately 1 year later. Participants (N=183) completed a standard attachment questionnaire and provided blood to assess EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgG antibody titers. Individuals with more attachment anxiety had higher EBV VCA IgG antibody titers than those with less attachment anxiety. The strength of the association between attachment anxiety and antibody titers was the same at both assessments. This study is the first to show an association between latent herpesvirus reactivation and attachment anxiety. Because elevated herpesvirus antibody titers reflect poorer cellular immune system control over the latent virus, these data suggest that high attachment anxiety is associated with cellular immune dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P. Fagundes
- Department of Health Disparities, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, United States, Corresponding author. Address: UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dept. of Health Disparities Research, Unit 1440, Rm. FCT 9.5016, PO Box 301402, Houston, TX 77230, United States. Tel.: +1 713 794 523. (C.P. Fagundes)
| | - Lisa M. Jaremka
- The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
| | - Ronald Glaser
- The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
| | - Catherine M. Alfano
- Office of Cancer Survivorship, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, United States
| | - Stephen P. Povoski
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
| | - Adele M. Lipari
- Department of Radiology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
| | - Doreen M. Agnese
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
| | - Lisa D. Yee
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
| | - William E. Carson
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States, Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
| | - William B. Farrar
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
| | - William B. Malarkey
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States, Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States, The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Department of Psychiatry, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
| | - Min Chen
- The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
| | - Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser
- The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States, The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Department of Psychiatry, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, United States
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Stanton SCE, Campbell L, Loving TJ. Energized by love: thinking about romantic relationships increases positive affect and blood glucose levels. Psychophysiology 2014; 51:990-5. [PMID: 24924647 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We assessed the impact of thinking of a current romantic partner on acute blood glucose responses and positive affect over a short period of time. Participants in romantic relationships were randomly assigned to reflect on their partner, an opposite-sex friend, or their morning routine. Blood glucose levels were assessed prior to reflection, as well as at 10 and 25 min postreflection. Results revealed that individuals in the routine and friend conditions exhibited a decline in glucose over time, whereas individuals in the partner condition did not exhibit this decline (rather, a slight increase) in glucose over time. Reported positive affect following reflection was positively associated with increases in glucose, but only for individuals who reflected on their partner, suggesting this physiological response reflects eustress. These findings add to the literature on eustress in relationships and have implications for relationship processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C E Stanton
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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