Actor-partner Interdependence Mediation Model Research Articles

The role of we-ness in Chinese serodiscordant male couples' coping with HIV: a mixed-methods study.

Men who have sex with men represent a significant portion of new HIV diagnoses in China. Guided by the systemic transactional model and interdependence theory, we examined the mediating role of 'we-ness' between dyadic coping and HIV-specific support among Chinese serodiscordant male couples, and how cultural interdependence shapes this we-ness. We employed a mixed-methods design which included a cross-sectional survey of 234 couples and qualitative interviews with 20 couples. Using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model, our quantitative analysis found that (1) both positive and negative dyadic coping had significant actor effects but nonsignificant partner effects on HIV-specific support, and (2) we-ness mediated both dyadic coping strategies and HIV-specific support, with significant actor-actor effects and partner-actor effects. Our qualitative inquiry identified that we-ness is fundamentally shaped by couples' negotiated pattern of interdependence, characterised by selective independence in HIV care alongside interdependence in HIV prevention. Our findings advance theoretical understanding by demonstrating we-ness as a critical mediating mechanism and reveal how couples' negotiated interdependence extends beyond the traditional continuum between dependence and independence. Findings suggest the need for culturally embedded interventions that recognise couples' shared we-ness and strategic negotiation in HIV management.

Examining associations among depressive symptoms, negative partner attributions, and relationship functioning in different‐gender couples using the actor‐partner interdependence mediation model

AbstractNegative attributions about the cause of and blame for relationship problems are highly predictive of relationship dysfunction and depression. Consequently, researchers have attempted to understand the role of negative relationship attributions in the association between depression and relationship functioning, with theory and research suggesting negative attributions may mediate the association between depression and relationship functioning. However, these studies were conducted on individuals, not couples. Including a couple of data and employing a dyadic design can provide a more holistic picture of the associations among these variables. The present study used the actor‐partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) to examine associations among depressive symptoms, relationship functioning, and negative partner attributions. Different‐gender couples (N = 200) seeking couples’ clinical services completed measures of negative relationship attributions, relationship distress, and depressive symptoms. Results revealed depressive symptoms to be indirectly related to one's own and one's partner's relationship functioning through one's own negative causal attributions. Actor and partner effects of responsibility attributions and depressive symptoms on relationship functioning were also observed. Results underscore the possible mechanistic role of negative attributions—particularly causal attributions—in maintaining the depression‐relationship dysfunction association.

Who is in control? Longitudinal connections between marital power and parental psychological control.

The present study explored longitudinal associations between marital power dynamics and parental psychological control and tested whether partners' sense of relational autonomy mediated these connections. Self-determination theory supports that harmful marital dynamics may spill into parenting practices, such as engaging in parental psychological control, and that parents' autonomy may mediate connections. Using an actor-partner interdependence model and an actor-partner interdependence mediation model, this study examined direct associations between marital power and parental psychological control, as well as indirect associations with autonomy as a mediator. Longitudinal dyadic data of 321 married, two-parent families were drawn from three waves of the Flourishing Families Project collected annually from 2009 to 2011. Results indicated that wives' perceptions of a power struggle in the marriage were associated with both partners' greater parental psychological control concurrently and were predictive of increases in their own parental psychological control across the span of 1 year. Although notable connections were found between marital power and autonomy, autonomy did not mediate pathways to parental psychological control. These findings highlight the importance of marital functioning in the use of certain parenting practices and suggest marital power as a potential intervention point when psychological control of children is present. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The prospective impact of extradyadic stress on depressive symptoms and the mediating role of intradyadic stress in parents-an actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

Stress outside of the couple relationship (extradyadic stress) can spill over into the couple relationship, increasing stress between the partners (intradyadic stress). Extra- and intradyadic stress are furthermore associated with depressive symptoms. Due to the interdependence of romantic partners, this study aimed to investigate the influence of the person's own and their partner's extra- and intradyadic stress on the person's depressive symptoms in parents of toddlers. The second aim was to evaluate whether intradyadic stress mediates the within-person and between-partner association between extradyadic stress and depressive symptoms. Longitudinal data of a community sample of 878 opposite-sex couples, participating in the prospective cohort study DREAM, were collected two and three years after birth. Extra- and intradyadic stress were assessed by the Multidimensional Stress Questionnaire for Couples and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. An actor-partner interdependence mediation model was applied to the data, while controlling for the confounder academic degree. The person's own extradyadic stress predicted their depressive symptoms one year later, partially mediated by their intradyadic stress. The partner's extradyadic stress and the person's own depressive symptoms one year later were only indirectly associated through the person's own intradyadic stress. In a sensitivity analysis, between-partner effects were no longer significant after including autoregressive pathways. Our findings highlight the importance of the extradyadic-intradyadic stress spillover for the mental health of women and men with young children. Early targeted interventions could help to prevent later depressive symptoms by reducing stress inside the couple relationship that results from both partners' stress from outside the couple relationship.

Dyadic coping, resilience, and posttraumatic growth in spinal cord injury patients and their spouses: An actor-partner interdependence mediation model analysis.

Despite the recognized importance of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in the recovery process, the mechanisms that promote PTG in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients and their spouses, especially the roles of dyadic coping (DC) and resilience, have not been fully explored. This study aimed to assess the PTG of patients with SCI and their spouses and to investigate the interrelationships among DC, resilience, and PTG within the dyadic context. A total of 154 SCI patient-spouse dyads were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital in China. All participants completed questionnaires about DC, resilience, and PTG. Our study was based on the actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM). SCI patients and their spouses experienced comparable PTG level, M(patients) = 56.05 ± 14.09, M(spouses) = 54.74 ± 15.31. In the APIMeM, the patients' and their spouses' DC exerted actor effects on their own resilience, β(patients) = .418, p < .001; β(spouses) = .409, p < .01, and their own resilience also exerted actor effects on their own PTG, β(patients) = .416, p < .001; β(spouses) = .431, p < .001. The mediating effects of resilience on the impact of patients' and spouses' own DC on their own PTG were confirmed. Our research offers new insight into the PTG of SCI patients and their spouses at the individual and dyadic levels. Resilience partially mediates the relationship between DC and PTG in couples coping with SCI. Specifically, DC between SCI patient-spouse dyads can not only directly influence the level of PTG but also impact PTG through resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Parents' perception of children's behaviors, self-compassion, and parenting stress: Actor-partner interdependence model.

This study explores how self-compassion mediates the relations between parents' perceptions of children's behaviors and parenting stress, as well as interactions between parents. We conducted a longitudinal actor-partner interdependence mediation model and assessed parents' perceptions of children's behaviors, self-compassion, and parenting stress. A total of 656 pairs of parents (fathers' Mage = 34.96 years, SDage = 5.62; mothers' Mage = 33.13 years, SDage = 5.77) participated in the study. Results revealed that parents' perceptions of children's problem behavior affected their own parenting stress through their self-compassion. Additionally, parents' perceptions of children's prosocial behavior directly influenced their own parenting stress and also affected it through self-compassion in both parents. Parents' perceptions of children's problem behavior directly influenced their partner's parenting stress and also indirectly through their own self-compassion. Similarly, parents' perceptions of children's prosocial behavior affected their partner's parenting stress via self-compassion in both parents. The findings highlighted the importance of parents recognizing and valuing their children's positive behaviors, thereby fostering a constructive "child effect" that improved the dynamics of the parental subsystem. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The associations between mothers’ and grandmothers’ self-control, mother-grandmother coparenting relationships and caregiver-child attachment: An actor-partner interdependence mediation model

More and more grandparents are involved in parenting and share the responsibility of raising children with parents in China. Less is known, however, regarding the mutual effects of caregivers on children in intergenerational coparenting families. This study aimed to examine how mothers’ and grandmothers’ self-control, mother-grandmother coparenting relationships, and caregiver-child attachment were associated and to investigate whether the pathways were different in mother-child and grandmother-child dyads. Participants were mothers and grandmothers from 501 intergenerational coparenting households. The results from Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Modeling (APIMeM) indicated that mothers’ and grandmothers’ self-control were indirectly related to their own caregiver-child attachment through their self-report coparenting relationships. Additionally, the effect of mothers’ self-control spilled over to the grandmother-child attachment through grandmothers’ self-report coparenting relationships. Overall, the findings indicated that mothers’ and grandmothers’ self-control, mother-grandmother coparenting relationships, and their attachment to the child significantly differed between mother-child dyads and grandmother-child dyads. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of women caregiver-child attachment processes and highlight the implications of using the dyadic approach in understanding and improving family functioning in intergenerational coparenting families, which provide implications for family interventions.

Associations between dyadic coping, marital satisfaction, and prenatal depression symptoms among couples with gestational diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT Aims/Background Coping with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) presents significant challenges for pregnant women and their partners, which may result in elevated prenatal depression symptoms. However, research has predominantly centred on pregnant women with GDM, with little involvement of their partners. To understand their dyadic interactions, it is imperative to involve GDM couples in the study. This study aims to examine the interplay between dyadic coping and prenatal depression symptoms among GDM couples and to explore the possible mediating role of marital satisfaction. Design/Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China. A total of 400 couples completed the Dyadic Coping Inventory, Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and sociodemographic data sheet. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was utilised for dyadic data analysis. Results Overall, 13.0% of pregnant women with GDM and 8.3% of partners experienced elevated prenatal depression symptoms. Dyadic coping was directly or indirectly related to their own and partners’ prenatal depression symptoms in GDM couples, with marital satisfaction acting as a mediator. Specifically, positive dyadic coping was associated with lower prenatal depression symptoms, while negative dyadic coping exhibited an opposite relationship. Conclusion The prevalence of elevated prenatal depression symptoms was high in GDM couples. It is important to view pregnant women with GDM and their partners as a dyad of a transactional system in prenatal clinical care. Couple-centred interventions targeting to enhance positive dyadic coping and mitigate negative dyadic coping might be beneficial to prevent and alleviate prenatal depression symptoms.

Perceived stress and prenatal depression symptoms among couples with gestational diabetes mellitus: The mediating role of dyadic coping

ProblemNo studies have been conducted to examine the relationships between perceived stress, positive/negative dyadic coping, and prenatal depression symptoms in Chinese couples with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). BackgroundGDM is a stressful event for pregnant women and their partners, which may result in clinically significant prenatal depression symptoms in couples. AimThis study aims to examine the relationships and differences in perceived stress, positive/negative dyadic coping, and prenatal depression symptoms between Chinese pregnant women with GDM and their partners and to explore the mediating role of positive/negative dyadic coping. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China, from January to October 2021. 402 pairs of GDM couples completed the questionnaires, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Chinese version of the Dyadic Coping Inventory, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Dyadic data was analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. Findings37.6 % of pregnant women with GDM and 24.6 % of their partners experienced clinically significant prenatal depression symptoms. Depression symptoms in couples mutually influence each other. Perceived stress was directly or indirectly related to their and partners’ prenatal depression symptoms in GDM couples, with negative dyadic coping acting as a mediator. Maternal negative dyadic coping was also a partner-mediator. DiscussionThe findings of the present study may provide healthcare professionals with a better understanding of the effect of the interpersonal interaction between the couples as a dyad on prenatal depression symptoms in Chinese context. ConclusionThere were intrapersonal and interpersonal associations among perceived stress, negative dyadic coping, and prenatal depression symptoms in pregnant women with GDM and their partners. It suggests a need for screening clinically significant prenatal depression symptoms and decreasing perceived stress and negative dyadic coping among couples with GDM with a focus on pregnant women with GDM.

Being One and Staying Two as a Couple: Turkish Married Couples’ Sense of We-Ness, Psychological Distress, and Common Dyadic Coping

This study was to investigate the mediating role of common dyadic coping in the relationship between partners’ psychological distress symptoms and sense of we-ness in a sample of 100 married couples. The Actor–Partner Interdependence Mediation Model revealed that psychological distress was negatively associated with common dyadic coping for wives and husbands. Additionally, significant results were found between common dyadic coping and sense of we-ness in couples living in Türkiye. Results indicated that wives’ common dyadic coping mediated the association between wives’ psychological distress and sense of we-ness. Implications of the current findings for couple relationships and therapy are discussed.

Relationship between Perceived Family Resilience, Emotional Flexibility, and Anxiety Symptoms: a Parent-Adolescent Dyadic Perspective.

Family resilience is crucial for individual's psychological health. Previous studies explored the protective factors of anxiety at the individual level, with less attention paid to the impact of family interaction from a dyadic perspective. This study utilized the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model to investigate the relationship between family resilience, emotional flexibility, and anxiety symptoms. A sample of 2144 Chinese parent-adolescent dyads (36% upper grades of primary school, 64% secondary school, 49.39% girls; 70.38% mothers) was recruited. Perceived family resilience was inversely related to anxiety symptoms, directly or indirectly, through the mediation of emotional flexibility at the individual level. At the dyadic level, adolescents' perceived family resilience was significantly associated with parents' anxiety symptoms through their own or parents' emotional flexibility. Parents' perceived family resilience was inversely link to adolescents' anxiety symptoms through parents' emotional flexibility. Parents emotional flexibility also mediated the association between adolescents' perceived family resilience and their anxiety symptoms. These findings contribute to understanding the intricate dynamics of family resilience and psychological outcomes in parent-child relationships under adversity, emphasizing the need for child-centered interventions to improve family members' mental health.

Dyadic effects of perceived stress, relationship satisfaction and distress disclosure on emotional distress in colorectal cancer patients and their family caregivers: An actor-partner interdependence mediation model

ObjectiveThis study adopted a dyadic analysis method to examine the effect of perceived stress on emotional distress and determine whether relationship satisfaction and distress disclosure act as mediators in colorectal cancer (CRC) enterostomy patient-caregiver dyads. MethodsA total of 312 patient-caregiver dyads completed measures assessing perceived stress, relationship satisfaction, distress disclosure, and emotional distress. The data were analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. ResultsThis study found that the perceived stress of patients and caregivers both had direct and indirect actor effects on emotional distress (through relationship satisfaction). Another important finding is that perceived stress had indirect actor-partner effects (through distress disclosure) on emotional distress. ConclusionsThis study highlights that perceived stress, relationship satisfaction, and distress disclosure of patients and their caregivers are key factors that can be considered for improving emotional distress. It also partially confirmed the interdependence of patients with CRC and their caregivers.

Parent-adolescent family resilience and psychological adjustment in chronically ill adolescents: An actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

This study explored the relationships between family resilience, dyadic coping and psychological adjustment among adolescents with chronic illnesses and their parents. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was used to validate the mediating role of dyadic coping in the relationship between family resilience and psychological adjustment. This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 318 parent-adolescents dyads were recruited from three paediatric hospitals in Wenzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai city, China, between June 2022 and August 2023. The parents had a mean age of 41.62 years, and the adolescents had a mean age of 12.66 years. Participants independently completed a self-report questionnaire assessed family resilience, dyadic coping and psychological adjustment. Data analysis was conducted using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. The findings suggest that in the actor effects, family resilience directly influenced psychological adjustment, and family resilience is related to psychological adjustment through positive dyadic coping. In the partner effect, parents' family resilience influenced adolescents' psychological adjustment through the parents' positive dyadic coping. Similarly, adolescents' family resilience influenced parents' psychological adjustment through both parents' positive dyadic coping and adolescents' negative dyadic coping. Additionally, there was a partner effect between parents' family resilience and adolescents' psychological adjustment. This study demonstrated the importance of developing effective dyadic interventions based on family resilience or positive dyadic coping strategies to improve the mental health of adolescents with chronic illnesses and their parents. The mediating role of dyadic coping in the relationship between family resilience and psychological adjustment among adolescents with chronic illnesses and their parents was demonstrated. Future psychosocial interventions should focus on increasing parents' positive dyadic coping strategies and improving adolescents' negative dyadic coping strategies. No patient or public contribution.

From stress communication to depressive symptoms among couples facing vision impairment: The mediating role of dyadic coping

Vision impairment is considered one of the most common disability worldwide, can induce considerable stress for both patients and their spouses and may subsequently affect couples' psychological functioning. This study examined whether dyadic coping (DC) mediated the association between stress communication (SC) and depressive symptoms among couples coping with one partner's vision impairment. A total of 99 Swiss couples completed questionnaires assessing SC, various types of DC, and depressive symptoms. An Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model was performed. Results showed that (1) the more one partner communicated stress, the less the other partner perceived negative DC and, consequently, the less the partner perceiving negative DC reported depressive symptoms; (2) the more partners communicated stress, the more they and their partners engaged in common DC and, consequently, the less the partner engaging in common DC reported depressive symptoms; (3) the more partners communicated stress, the less they and their partners engaged in protective buffering and, consequently, the less the partner engaging in protective buffering reported depressive symptoms. This pattern of associations occurred similarly for patients and their spouses. Our findings underline the interpersonal experience of vision impairment within couples and the importance of fostering explicit SC and common DC in psychosocial rehabilitation interventions directed at couples facing one partner's vision impairment.

The Congruence and Interrelationship: A Dyadic Perspective on the Subjective Cognitive Impairment in the Patients with Colorectal Cancer and Their Spousal Caregivers

ObjectivesPatients with colorectal cancer (CRC) reported experiencing subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), and their spousal caregivers perceived the patients’ SCI. This cross-sectional study assessed the congruence of SCI between the patients’ self-reports and the spousal caregivers’ perceptions and examined the factors affecting SCI from the dyadic perspective. MethodsA total of 200 dyads of patients with CRC and their spousal caregivers were invited to complete the survey, which evaluated the SCI, dyadic coping (DC), quality of life, anxiety, and depression for the dyads. Congruence was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and paired-sample t test. Impacting factors analysis was conducted using Pearson correlations, hierarchical multiple regression, and actor–partner interdependence mediation model. ResultsThe congruency of SCI between the patient-reported and the spouse-perceived ranged from moderate to good (ICC = 0.75 to 0.86). After controlling demographic variables (the patients’ gender and spouses’ work status), the DC of both patients and spousal caregivers, and the emotional health of patients were significant predictors for patients’ SCI (all P < .05). In the actor–partner interdependence mediation model, there was an actor effect between DC and SCI for both patients and spousal caregivers and a partner effect between DC and SCI for patients. Moreover, patients’ emotional health (anxiety and depression) had the mediating effect between DC and SCI for both patients and spousal caregivers. ConclusionSpousal caregivers played a vital role in assessment and management in the SCI of patients. The DC of patients and spousal caregivers and the emotional health of patients (eg, anxiety and depression) were major predictors for the SCI of patients. Implications for NursingNursing providers should consider the importance of patients’ and spousal caregivers’ perspectives in assessing and managing SCI. This study supports nurses focusing on the congruence and interrelationship of SCI to enhance DC for CRC patients and their spousal caregivers. This approach aims to reduce emotional distress and develop cognitive interventions from a dyadic perspective.

Dyadic effects of financial toxicity and social support on the fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients and caregivers: an actor–partner interdependence mediation model

PurposeIn this study, the actor–partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) was applied to breast cancer patients and their caregivers to assess the factors that affect the fear of cancer recurrence. In particular, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the mediating effect of social support on financial toxicity and the fear of cancer recurrence, providing an effective basis for developing plans to reduce the level of fear of cancer recurrence.MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional design, and 405 dyads of breast cancer patients and their caregivers were enrolled. Financial toxicity, social support, and fear of cancer recurrence were assessed by computing comprehensive scores for financial toxicity based on patient-reported outcome measures, the Social Support Rating Scale, and the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory Short Form, respectively. The data were analysed using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 23.0.ResultsThe results showed that the fear of cancer recurrence of breast cancer patients and their caregivers was significantly related to dyadic financial toxicity and social support. In addition, the financial toxicity of breast cancer patients and their caregivers had significant actor effects and partner effects on the fear of cancer recurrence through dyadic social support.ConclusionsThe financial toxicity of breast cancer patients and their caregivers could produce actor and partner effects on the fear of cancer recurrence through the mediation of social support, which provided empirical support for improving reducing the level of fear of cancer recurrence among patients and caregivers at the dyadic level.

PARENTAL STRESS, INCONSISTENT DISCIPLINE AND CHILDREN’S EMOTION REGULATION: A DYADIC ANALYSIS

The preschool period is one in which parents experience high levels of stress, with one of the main tasks of parenting being related to promoting children’s emotion regulation through appropriate parental practices. Previous studies focused mainly on investigating the effects of parental stress on children’s broader socio-emotional outcomes (Chazan-Cohen et al., 2009; Neece et al., 2012). Therefore, our study aims to explore the association between parental stress and children’s emotion regulation within a dyadic context, gathering data from both parents, while investigating the mechanisms underlying this association. This cross-sectional study involved 103 parental dyads, with at least one typically developed preschool children aged between three to six years. Parents completed self-reported scales regarding parental stress, inconsistent discipline as a parental practice, and children’s emotional regulation. Dyadic analysis was conducted using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM). Results showed that mothers’ and fathers’ stress had a direct negative effect on their perceptions of children’s emotion regulation (the actor effects), and mothers’ stress had a direct negative effect on fathers’ perceptions of children’s emotion regulation (the partner effect). Also, the results of mediation analysis revealed that only in fathers’ case, parental stress exerts an indirect actor effect on children’s emotional regulation through their inconsistent discipline. Fathers’ stress was positively related to fathers’ inconsistent discipline, which, in turn, decreased levels of mothers’ perception of children’s emotional regulation. Future intervention programs should focus on parents’ self-awareness regarding the damaging impact of inconsistent discipline. Also, reducing parents’ stress should constitute one of the main goals of parental-based interventions

COVID-19 impact, resilience, and child quality of life: A dyadic analysis.

COVID-19 public health measures caused significant disruptions to child and caregivers' mental and physical well-being, including quality of life (QoL). However, in samples outside the United States (U.S.), greater resilience has been linked to lower COVID-19 impact on child QoL. Thus, understanding individual and dyadic factors contributing to resilience and QoL during COVID-19 within the United States may provide important insight for points of intervention. This study aimed to characterize the interdependent effects of child and caregiver COVID-19 impact on child and caregiver resilience, as well as on child-reported and caregiver proxy-reported child QoL. U.S. caregivers (n = 231; 95.7% female) and their 8-17-year-old children (n = 231; 54.5% male; Mage = 11.87; SDage = 2.66) reported their COVID-19 impact between May and July 2020 (T1). Follow-up self-reports on resilience and child QoL occurred between November 2020 and January 2021 (T2). Two actor-partner interdependence models (APIM) and one actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) assessed associations among caregiver and child COVID-19 impact, resilience, and QoL. An APIM revealed significant negative actor and partner effects of COVID-19 impact on child self-reported and caregiver proxy-reported child QoL. Another APIM revealed an actor effect from COVID-19 impact to one's own resilience. The APIMeM revealed two indirect effects revealing that when children or caregivers reported greater levels of T1 COVID-19 impact, it was associated with lower levels of T2 child-reported resilience, which was subsequently associated with lower T2 child-reported QoL. Findings suggested that both child and caregiver perceptions of the pandemic were important for their own and the others' resilience, as well as child QoL. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The dyadic associations among self-efficacy, dyadic coping, and health-related quality of life between high-risk pregnant women and spouses: a cross-sectional study.

Health-related quality of life(HRQoL) is essential for high-risk pregnant women and their spouses. This study aimed to explore the dyadic associations (including actor and partner effects) among self-efficacy, dyadic coping, and HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses and examine the mediating effect of dyadic coping. This cross-sectional study recruited participants from two Grade A tertiary hospitals in China from October 2022 to September 2023. A questionnaire including the Chinese version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and 12 Short Form Health Survey Scales was used for the survey. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was constructed to test dyadic associations and mediating effects. In the actor effects, self-efficacy was positively associated with dyadic coping and HRQoL (P < 0.05). Regarding partner effects, pregnant women's self-efficacy was positively associated with spouses' dyadic coping and physical health (P < 0.05). Dyadic coping partially mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and HRQoL for both groups(P < 0.05). The HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses requires urgent attention. Enhancing self-efficacy and dyadic coping in these couples is related to their improved physical and mental health. Healthcare professionals should consider interactions between couples and include them together in perinatal care. Intervention programs for couples or families based on existing positive psychology and dyadic interventions may work together to improve the HRQoL of couples.

How expressive ties energize competitive performance in DanceSport dyads: unraveling the role of athlete engagement in an innovatively applied actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

This study explores the significant impact of expressive ties (EI) between DanceSport couples on their competitive performance (CP). Utilizing a dyadic approach, we examined the performance achievement processes of DanceSport couples in relation to their EI. Participants comprised 67 dyads of Chinese elite dancers aged between 16 and 30 years. The dyadic analysis was carried out using a structural equation model based on the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. With regard to actor effects, both male (β = 0.292, p = 0.012) and female (β = 0.443, p < 0.001) dancers' perceived quality of EI had a positive correlation with CP. The males' athlete engagement (AE) partially mediated the impact of EI on CP [indirect effect = 0.144, SE = 0.072, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.020, 0.283]. Regarding partner effects, females' perceived EI quality positively influenced the male's CP (β = 0.26, p = 0.023) and mediated this association through the male's AE [indirect effect = 0.086, SE = 0.041, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.003, 0.149]. Similarly, the females' AE mediated the effect of males' perceived EI quality on the females' CP [indirect effect = 0.152, SE = 0.074, 95% confidence intervals (CI) =0.002, 0.256]. We not only validated the propositions of the self-determination theory but also provided valuable insights to further enrich it. Our findings underscore that self-determination theory must account for individual gender characteristics.