Dyadic Adjustment Scale Research Articles

Assessing the Impact of the Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) on Relationship Satisfaction, Quality of Life, and Support Group Participation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background/Objectives: The Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) is a 6-month, home-based intervention aimed at enhancing mental health in men undergoing curative prostate cancer treatment. This exploratory secondary analysis evaluates PC-PEP's impact on relationship satisfaction, quality of life, and support group attendance among partnered participants. Methods: In a crossover randomized clinical trial ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03660085) of 128 men aged 50-82 scheduled for curative prostate cancer surgery or radiotherapy, 119 participants in relationships were included. Of these, 59 received the 6-month PC-PEP intervention, while 60 were randomized to a waitlist-control arm, receiving standard care for 6 months before starting PC-PEP. The intervention included daily emails with video instructions on mental and physical health, diet, social support, fitness, stress reduction, and intimacy. Outcomes were assessed using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P). Results: While relationship satisfaction remained stable, a significant improvement in emotional well-being was observed at 12 months in participants undergoing radiation therapy (p = 0.045). The PC-PEP intervention also led to significantly higher support group attendance at both 6 months (p = 0.001) and 12 months (p = 0.003), emphasizing its role in fostering social support and community engagement. Conclusions: The PC-PEP program effectively maintains relationship satisfaction and enhances emotional well-being, particularly in patients with fewer physical side effects. Its design promotes comprehensive care by integrating physical, psychological, and social support, making it a valuable resource for improving the quality of life in prostate cancer patients and potentially applicable to other cancer types.

Exploring attachment and couple relationships in endometriosis: A pilot study

Introduction: Endometriosis is the therapeutic and clinical complexity extends beyond its effects on the body’s organic system, with psychological and social impacts. However, studies analyzing the quality of attachment and couple adjustment, beyond the effects on sexuality and fertility, are currently lacking. Methods: The main objective of this study was to investigate the quality of past attachment by means of the Parental Bonding Instrument, current attachment through the Relationship Questionnaire, and the perception of couple quality and satisfaction by means of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, in a sample of 68 women aged between 23 and 54 years. Results: The analysis revealed that women with endometriosis reported experiencing greater paternal and maternal control, and less paternal care compared to those in the control group. Moreover, women in the endometriosis group exhibited a higher degree of insecure attachment in adult intimate relationships when compared to the predominantly secure control group. Regarding the DAS, women with endometriosis reported lower scores than the control group. Conclusion: Despite the limitations of a pilot study, it provides a foundational basis for future research aiming to explore endometriosis within the context of women’s relationships. It also contributes to the planning of prevention and support programs for significant figures in women’s lives.

The effectiveness of the in-person and online Gottman Seven Principles Couple Enhancement Program: A propensity score matching design.

This study investigates the effectiveness of the 12-h Gottman Seven Principles couple enhancement program delivered in person and online. In Norway, we recruited 490 participants and 242 people for a control group. All were in close relationships. The revised dyadic adjustment scale (RDAS)was used to assess the quality of their relationships before and after program participation, and at 6-month follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVA, t tests, reliable change, and multilevel multiple regression using propensity score matching to control for confounders were used to investigate the effectiveness of the course. The results demonstrate that the Gottman Seven Principles course improves couple relationships and is equally effective whether delivered in person or online. Furthermore, it does not matter whether there are therapists with a clinical background delivering the course, suggesting that the material itself is sufficient.

Between mourning and hope: A mixed-methods study of ambiguous loss and posttraumatic stress symptoms among partners of Israel defence force veterans.

Spouses of military combatants often experience adverse outcomes, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in the event of ambiguous loss (AL). AL refers to an uncertain situation regarding a person's status as alive or as cognitively present. The former ambiguity is categorized by the term physical AL (PAL), which refers to the continued psychological presence of a person, despite their physical absence. The latter ambiguity, categorized by the term psychological AL or ambiguous presence, refers to when a person is emotionally absent, despite their physical presence. Though AL has been widely researched, there are still gaps around the AL-posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) relationship, especially regarding dyadic variables that can moderate this relationship. Also, most of the AL military-related studies are qualitative, with only a few that combine qualitative and quantitative research methods. We address these gaps in an innovative mixed-methods study examining the emotional experience of Israeli veterans' spouses with a focus on the relationship between AL, PTSS, and dyadic adjustment (DA). The study included 63 participants, all spouses of Israeli veterans. We used self-report questionnaires (AL, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition) and a semistructured narrative interview. Our results revealed positive correlations between AL-PTSS and PAL-PTSS. Also, an interaction effect was found in which the lower the DA level, the stronger the PAL-PTSS correlation. Conversely, the higher the DA level, the stronger the ambiguous presence-PTSS correlation. Qualitative findings identified themes in the experience of these situations, including uncertainty and ambivalence. Our qualitative and quantitative results combined suggest that the way military couples deal with AL may be an important emotional experience requiring specific attention from mental health professionals. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Employing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as Individual Therapy for Couple Problems: A Case Study for Women with Marital Strife

ABSTRACT Despite promising recent progress in the couple therapy, the potential benefits of applying individual therapy for couple problems (ITCP) have rarely been investigated. The current case study explores whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be effective in improving marital adjustment and marital commitment among distressed women. Three distressed women were assigned to a single-subject design, and core ACT interventions were used to help participants improve their marital relationships. Data was collected using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and the Dimensions of Commitment Inventory (DCI). Percentage of non-overlapping data (PND), effect size (d), standard mean difference (SMDall), and visual analysis were used as the analysis strategy. The findings of ACT’s efficacy on dyadic adjustment were promising. Two participants demonstrated substantial improvements, while the third participant showed a slight improvement in marital adjustment and marital commitment. The study provides preliminary evidence that ACT can be an appropriate ITCP intervention to address marital issues for distressed women seeking therapy to improve their marital relationships.

Maternal Perinatal Depression, Alexithymia, and Couple Functioning: Which Relationship Exists with Prenatal Attachment.

Prenatal attachment refers to the affective investment that parents develop towards their unborn baby during pregnancy. Studies have identified depressive symptoms, affect dysregulation, and poor marital adjustment as potential risk factors for poor prenatal attachment. However, no research has concurrently examined these factors. This study aims to explore the simultaneous impact of depressive symptomatology, alexithymia, and couple functioning on prenatal attachment to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping the emotional bond between expectant mothers and their fetuses. This cross-sectional study involved 344 women (mean age = 34.1, SD = 4.6) in their last trimester of pregnancy recruited from the National Health System. The participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale. Regression analyses indicated that perinatal depression and alexithymia negatively affected the Quality of Prenatal Attachment, while Dyadic Cohesion served as a protective factor. The results emphasize the need for early identification of perinatal depression and alexithymia, along with targeted interventions aimed at supporting Dyadic Cohesion during pregnancy. These efforts are crucial for fostering positive prenatal attachment and enhancing maternal mental health.

Sexual dysfunction, depression, and marital adjustment in diabetic male patients

Background: Type 2 diabetes affects 10.5% of adults globally, with sexual dysfunction being one of the complications, of which erectile dysfunction is the most commonly reported one with the prevalence ranging from 35% to 90%. There are a few studies exploring links between sexual dysfunction, depressive symptoms, and marital satisfaction, which is the reason we undertook the study. Aim: To study the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, depressive symptoms, and marital satisfaction in male patients with diabetes and correlation between the three parameters. Methods: A total of 120 male patients with type 2 diabetes were assessed for sexual dysfunction using ICD-10 criteria and International Index of Erectile Function, depressive symptoms using Beck Depression Inventory, and marital satisfaction using Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). Results: The mean age of patients at diagnosis of diabetes was 42.32 ± 7.48 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 7.35 ± 3.76 years. Mean HbA1c was 9.05 ± 2.25% with only 22 patients having good glycemic control. Eight-eight patients reported sexual dysfunction with lack of genital response, premature ejaculation, and orgasmic dysfunction being common. Thirty-two patients had depressive symptoms, with borderline clinical depressive symptoms and moderate depressive symptoms in 14 patients each. Marital satisfaction was affected with the total mean DAS score being 93.95 ± 18.34. There was a negative correlation seen between sexual function and depressive symptoms and also between sexual function and increasing age, with a positive correlation seen between sexual function and marital satisfaction. Poor glycemic control was significantly associated with clinically diagnosed erectile and orgasmic dysfunction. Conclusions: Sexual dysfunctions, depressive symptoms, and marital distress are highly prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes, warranting timely detection and management. The three parameters are significantly correlated with each other, and poor glycemic control is significantly associated with sexual dysfunction. Psychiatric liaison would improve outcomes.

A Safe Haven Through Attachment: A Dyadic Perspective on the Association Between Cumulative Childhood Trauma and Relationship Satisfaction.

Cumulative childhood trauma (CCT) increases the risk of experiencing interpersonal problems and relationship distress in adulthood. However, not all CCT survivors experience such difficulties, and little research has investigated protective factors against relationship dissatisfaction in CCT survivors and their partners. Romantic attachment might be one such factor that could reduce the harmful effects of a CCT history on relationship satisfaction for both survivors and their partners. Using a dyadic perspective, this study aimed to examine the association between CCT and relationship satisfaction and to test the moderating effect of attachment avoidance and anxiety on this association. A sample of 501 couples was recruited through a Canadian survey firm. Canadian couples who had provided their telephone number were randomly selected to complete the short form of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, and the Childhood Cumulative Trauma Questionnaire. The actor-partner interdependence moderation model was used to guide the analyses. Results showed that individuals' and partners' higher CCT was correlated with both partners' lower relationship satisfaction. The analyses revealed a moderating effect of lower attachment avoidance on the link between individuals' CCT and their own relationship satisfaction. Specifically, individuals' CCT was significantly and negatively associated with relationship satisfaction at high levels of attachment avoidance, but unrelated to relationship satisfaction at low levels of attachment avoidance. The final model explained 31.4% of the variance in relationship satisfaction. Overall, the findings support the relevance of couple interventions that focus on romantic attachment to improve relationship well-being in couples where one or both partners have experienced CCT.

The Quality of Interpersonal Relationships, Intrusive and Deliberate Rumination and Adjustment to the Death of a Spouse.

The aim of the presented study was to gain a better understanding of relationships between the pre-loss quality of marriage, global attachment style, rumination, the severity of complicated grief and the level of posttraumatic growth among widowed individuals. After the researchers obtained the consent of the ethics board to conduct the study, they examined widowed individuals (n = 152) using the Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the Event Related Rumination Inventory, the Inventory of Complicated Grief, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Results show a positive relationship between attachment anxiety and complicated grief via intrusive rumination, as well as a positive relationship between attachment anxiety and posttraumatic growth via intrusive and deliberate rumination. Results also show that the greater the attachment avoidance the higher the severity of complicated grief, but only in the case of perceived low quality of the marriage. The presented research provides insight into the complex associations between the quality of interpersonal relationships, rumination and adjustment to loss among individuals who experienced the death of a spouse.

P-488 The importance of identifying and addressing sexual functioning in couples with unexplained infertility

Abstract Study question How is the sexual functioning of newly diagnosed unexplained infertile couples and which factors are associated? Summary answer At least 25% of couples are at risk of sexual dysfunction. Sexual functioning is associated with age, infertility duration, sperm quality, personal and relational wellbeing. What is known already A large proportion of unexplained infertile couples have the ability to conceive naturally over time. Sexual functioning is important for natural conception rates, but infertility is associated with reduced sexual functioning. Surprisingly, sexual functioning and its risk-factors are still understudied in unexplained infertility. Knowing the risk factors for reduced sexual functioning would enable fertility specialists to timely diagnose, prevent or treat sexual dysfunction, and in this way improve natural conception rates. The current literature is mainly based on individual-level data, neglecting the fact that observations, such as sexual functioning, arising from couples are not independent. Study design, size, duration Cross-sectional digital survey data and medical chart factors, which also served as the baseline assessment of a randomized controlled trial (Pleasure&Pregnancy, trial registration number NTR5709), were subjected to a dyadic analysis followed by linear regression. A total of 700 heterosexual couples recently diagnosed with unexplained infertility in secondary or tertiary fertility clinics were addressed between 2016 and 2021. Participants/materials, setting, methods Heterosexual couples (female age 18-38 year) with unexplained infertility and who were able to have coitus were eligible. Sexual functioning was assessed with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Determinants included demographic, lifestyle and diagnostic and wellbeing factors as assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (R-DAS). B represents the impact on sexual functioning when a factor changes 1 unit. Main results and the role of chance A total of 581 (83%) women and 478 (68%) men filled out questionnaires. Survey data and medical chart factors were available for 451 couples. About one in four women (24.3%) and one in fourteen men (7.3%) were at risk of respectively female sexual dysfunction and erectile dysfunction after fertility work-up. Couples had a mean coital frequency of 7 times per month (SD 2.7). Higher female and male sexual desire (B: 0.04, p<0.01 and B: 0.02, p<0.02) and satisfaction (B: 0.03, p<0.01 and B: 0.06, p<0.01), but not orgasm were significantly associated with increased coital frequency. Own age (B: -0.64), anxiety (B: -9.47), depression (B: -7.61) and relationship distress (B: -8.97), and partners’ relationship distress (B: -5.08) and total motility sperm count (B: -4.88) were associated with lower female sexual functioning. Own age (B: -0.17), anxiety (B: -5.03), depression (B: -3.65), relationship distress (B: -5.77), and partners’ age (B: -0.46) and relationship distress (B: -3.14) and couples’ duration of infertility (B: -0.24) were associated with lower male sexual functioning. Limitations, reasons for caution The study is prone to selection bias given the inclusion of couples seeking medical help, consenting to a RCT and were having coitus. Not all previous identified determinants of sexual functioning were studied due to factors as missing data, low case numbers or not being assessed in the Pleasure&Pregnancy RCT. Wider implications of the findings Clinicians advising couples with unexplained infertility to continue natural conception, need to be aware that at least 25% of couples are at risk of sexual dysfunction. Clinicians should consider risk factors of reduced sexual functioning, take a sexual anamnesis and advice sexual counselling and treatment if indicated. Trial registration number Baseline assessment of RCT (Pleasure&Pregnancy) with trial registration number NTR5709

Parent-Child Relationships: A Shield Against Maternal Depression in the Midst of Household Chaos.

Depression, a severe mental disorder, not only jeopardizes the health of mothers but also significantly negative impacts on families and their children. This study investigates the correlation between household chaos and maternal depression. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and used the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Parent-Child Relationship Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory to assess 1947 mothers of children in seven kindergartens in Shanghai, China. The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between household chaos, marital conflict, and maternal depression. Marital conflict also showed a significantly positively correlated with maternal depression. Marital conflict mediates the relationship between household chaos and maternal depression. Parent-child relationships moderated the direct effect of household chaos on maternal depression. When parent-child relationships were low, household chaos had a greater predictive effect on maternal depression. Conversely, when parent-child relationships were high, the predictive effect of household chaos on maternal depression was reduced. This study reveals that parent-child relationships play a protective role in the impact of household chaos on maternal depression. This study significantly contributes to enriching the social support buffering model.

Effects of integrative behavioral couple therapy on communication patterns and marital adjustment.

Couples experience maladjustment and serious problems in establishing and maintaining intimate relationships. Therefore, therapists employ different methods for helping couples experience more intimate and compatible relationships. Nowadays, professionals are more interested in using integrative approaches than ever before. Integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) is an exemplar of such methods. This study aimed to analyze the effects of IBCT on communication patterns and marital adjustment. This study included pretest and posttest steps with a control group. The statistical population included couples aged 20-45 years old visiting the counseling and psychological service centers of Tehran for marital conflicts in 2022. After the initial evaluation, 76 couples were selected as the sample through convenience sampling. They were then randomly assigned to the test and control groups. All participants were asked to fill out the Spanier Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and the Communication Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ) one week before the first intervention session and one week after the last intervention session. Participants in the test group attended eleven 90-minute sessions of IBCT, whereas those in the control group received no interventions in this period. The one-way ANCOVA was used for data analysis in SPSS 26. The results indicated that IBCT managed to significantly improve marital adjustment and constructive communication patterns. It reduced two communication patterns called "mutual avoidance" and "demand/withdraw" in the test group (P = 0.001). However, since the effect size of "demand/withdraw" was 0.26, this result should be interpreted cautiously. According to the research findings, Iranian couple therapists can employ IBCT to improve constructive communication patterns and mitigate destructive ones in couples. Given the effect size, IBCT increased dyadic cohesion, affection, dyadic satisfaction, and dyadic consensus as well as improving the marital adjustment of participants.

Factors effecting on health-promoting behaviors in iranian pregnant women and their husbands: the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM)

IntroductionPregnancy is an important period of life for women and their husbands as the couple’s health is essential. The present study evaluated the impact of some factors (marital adjustment with depressive symptoms) on health-promoting behaviors in pregnant women and their husbands based on the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM).Materials and methodsThis descriptive study examined 211 couples (pregnant women and their husbands) in pregnancy clinics of Babol University of Medical Sciences using a convenience sampling method. The participants completed Spanier’s Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) (1979), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (1987), and Walker’s Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII) questionnaire (1997). The relationships between women and their husbands were also evaluated using structural equation modeling with R software according to the Lavaan (latent variable analysis) package based on APIM-SEM.ResultsThe pregnant women’s marital adjustment positively affected their health-promoting behaviors (β = 0.456, 95% Cl: 0.491–0.998, p < 0.001) and their husbands’ (β = 0.210, 95% Cl: 0.030–0.726, p = 0.048). Pregnant woman’s depressive symptoms also negatively affected their health-promoting behaviors (β=-0.088, 95% Cl: -0.974–0.074, P = 0.236) and their husbands’ health-promoting behaviors (β=-0.177, 95% Cl: -0.281 – -0.975, P = 0.011). Furthermore, the husband’s marital adjustment only positively affected his studied behaviors (β = 0.323, 95% Cl: 0.0303–0.895, P < 0.001) but did not affect the pregnant woman’s health behaviors. The husband’s depressive symptoms had a negative impact on his studied behaviors (β = 0.219, 95% Cl: -0.122 – -0.917, P = 0.001) and did not affect the pregnant woman’s depressive symptoms. Our findings confirmed the mediating role of depressive symptoms in pregnant women and their husbands on the association of marital adjustment and health-promoting behaviors. According to the actor-partner study, a pregnant woman’s marital adjustment scores positively affected her studied behaviors and her husband (β = 0.071, 95% Cl: 0.042–0.278, P = 0.015) by decreasing her depression score. Therefore, the husband’s marital adjustment score positively affected his studied behaviors by decreasing his depression score (β = 0.084, 95% Cl: -0.053 -0.292, P = 0.005), and it did not affect his wife’s health-promoting behaviors.Discussion and conclusionThese findings suggest healthcare providers, obstetricians, and psychologists evaluate the husbands’ symptoms of depression and health-promoting behaviors in the routine pregnancy care of pregnant women. They also pay great attention to marital adjustment as a determinant of reducing depressive symptoms in pregnant women and their husbands.

The Mediator Role of Resilience and Rumination in the Relationship between Forgiveness and Marital Adjustment

In the current study, the mediator role of resilience and rumination in the relationship between forgiveness and marital adjustment was examined. The participants of the study are 494 married individuals and 357 (72.3%) of them are female and 137 (27.7%) are male. Their ages are between 18 and 65 (M = 40.49±7.96). The Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, The Resilience Scale-Short Form, the Ruminative Response Scale-Short Form and the Heartland Forgiveness Scale were used as the data collection tools in the study. In the analysis of the collected data, Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation model were used. As a result of the study, it was seen that resilience and rumination had a full mediator role in the relationship between forgiveness and marital adjustment. The obtained findings were discussed in reference to the literature.

Postpartum acute stress disorder symptoms, social support, and quality of couple's relationship associations with childbirth PTSD.

We aimed to examine the hypothesized negative associations between childbirth post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (using the two-factor model of birth-related and general symptoms), social support, and a couple's relationship quality at 8-12 weeks postpartum. This analysis considered the longitudinal positive shared variance with acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms measured shortly after birth, while accounting for obstetric and demographic variables. Participants included 246 mothers who gave birth at the maternity ward of a tertiary healthcare center. Self-report questionnaires were used 1-4 days postpartum (T1): Demographic information, the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R), and the National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Short Scale (NSESSS). At T2 (8-12 weeks postpartum), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS-7), and the City Birth Trauma Scale (BiTS). In partial support of our hypotheses, three hierarchical regression analyses revealed a significant positive contribution of ASD symptoms to childbirth PTSD general symptoms (β = .33, p <.001) and the total score (β=.29, p <.001), but not to birth-related symptoms. Social support (β = -.21, p = .003) and the quality of the couple's relationship (β=-.20, p = .003) showed negative associations with the BiTS general symptoms. Our study enhances understanding of the shared variance between childbirth ASD and PTSD, supporting the factor structure of general and birth-related symptoms as different aspects of childbirth PTSD and highlighting the negative association of social support and the quality of a couple's relationship with PTSD general symptoms, suggesting potential avenues for targeted interventions.

The impact of aphasia on the marital relationship from the perspective of people with post-stroke aphasia and their partners: a case-control study

ABSTRACT Introduction Aphasia is the result of neurological damage that leads to disorders in the individual’s expressive and/or receptive language. Communication difficulties adversely impact various aspects of the person’s life, and relationships are no exception. Marital relationships might be influenced by health conditions, and possibly by aphasia. Objectives This study aimed to compare marital adjustment between couples in which one of the people suffered a stroke and had aphasia with couples in which the person who had a stroke did not have aphasia. Methods and Procedures This is a cross-sectional case-control, quantitative and qualitative study, which included people affected by stroke and their spouses, in which one of the people in the dyad had post-stroke aphasia of expression (study group) or stroke without aphasia (control group). Data collection was carried out by applying the study’s own questionnaire and the Revised and Validated Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Portuguese version, (RDAS-P) in person or by phone. Results 35 participants were included, who were divided into a study group (n = 11) and a control group (n = 11); their marital partners were classified into partners of the study group (n = 7) and partners of the control group (n = 6). No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups regarding sociodemographic and clinical data, nor regarding the outcomes of interest. Different correlations were found into the groups. Qualitative results showed differences in the perception of changes in relationships in each group. Conclusions There was no difference in measures of marital adjustment between individuals who had a stroke with and without aphasia. However, the varying correlations and reports found suggest that the groups experience marital issues differently.

Adulthood's Marital Adjustment and Suicidal Ideation

The present study attempted an empirical investigation to the marital adjustment and suicidal ideation of adulthood. In order to collect data, participants were selected purposively; a total 108 respondents were selected. Out of these 108 respondents, 54 were of single family and 54 were of joint family. In the 54 single families, 27 were of rural areas and 27 were of urban areas. And in the 54 joint families, 27 were of rural areas and 27 were of urban areas. Again, each group consisted of 9 early adulthood, 9 middle adulthood and 9 late adulthood. Their age ranges were from 17 to 60 above years. The Bangla version of "Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) (Ilyas 2001)" and "Suicidal ideation scale (Uddin and Hossain 2007)" were used to measure marital adjustment and suicidal ideation. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation t-value, one- way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson product moment correlation. The findings of the present study showed that mean of marital adjustment of late adulthood shows more marital adjustment than middle and early adulthood (F=68.98,df=2,p&lt; 0.00); mean of marital adjustment of joint family was more than single family (F =14.24, df =1, p .&lt; 0.00); mean of marital adjustment of rural areas was more than the urban areas (F = 12.23, df = 1, p &lt; 0.00). On the other hand, early adulthood was more suicidal ideation than middle and late adulthood (F·=. 19.49, df =2, ·p &lt;0.00); single-family was more suicidal ideation than joint family (F = 6.08, df = l, p &lt;0.01); but residence had no significant on suicidal ideation. Result also 'showed negative correlation (r= - 0..32, p&lt;0.001 ) between marital adjustment and suicidal ideation of adults. The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci. 8(1&amp;2): 87-98.2013

Satisfaction with life and its predictive factors in a cohort of fathers 24-months postpartum

Satisfaction with life is considered an essential indicator of quality of life and has implications not only for parents but also for the general health of society. It is relevant to know the factors that could explain differences in parents’ satisfaction with life. The objectives of this study were to analyse the degree of satisfaction with life of a cohort of fathers 13–24 months after the birth of their child and to analyse the predictive capacity of sociodemographic, physical, psychological, and social factors on their long-term life satisfaction. This was a longitudinal study with follow-up at 6–12 months and at 13–24 months (n = 152 fathers). The Fatigue Assessment Scale, Athens Insomnia Scale, Parental Stress Scale and short version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale were completed online at 6–12 months. Finally, Satisfaction with Life Scale was assessed between 13 and 24 months after birth. The mean score of life satisfaction of the participants 13–24 months after the birth of their child was 18.72 (SD = 3.71) and was negatively correlated with fatigue, insomnia, and stress (p < 0.01), and positively correlated with dyadic adjustment (p < 0.01). The final hierarchical regression model showed that educational levels and insomnia were the main predictive variables for life satisfaction during the second-year postpartum. This work has important implications for clinical practice because it allows health professionals to understand the factors influencing satisfaction with life and health among fathers and to plan more effective antenatal and postnatal care.

Interpersonal Process of Dyadic Coping in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Perspective From the Australian Rheumatology Association Database.

Dyadic coping, the process of coping that transpires between couples challenged by one partner's illness, is an important predictor of disease adjustment and patient well-being. However, the extent of dyadic coping in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. This study examines the effect of dyadic coping on psychological distress and relationship quality from the perspectives of both participants with RA and their spouses. Participants and their spouses were invited to participate in an online survey study if they were aged ≥ 18 years and had lived together for more than a year. The survey included the Chronic Pain Grade Scale, Dyadic Coping Inventory, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Participants and spouses completed the survey independently. The actor-partner interdependence model was used to analyze the dyadic data. One hundred sixty-three couples participated. Our findings showed that participants who reported higher supportive dyadic coping reported lower depression, anxiety, and stress, and higher relationship quality, whereas participants who reported higher negative dyadic coping reported higher depression, anxiety, and stress, and lower relationship quality. Spouses who reported higher supportive dyadic coping reported higher relationship quality, but no effect on depression, anxiety, and stress was observed. In contrast, spouses who reported higher negative dyadic coping reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and lower relationship quality. Participants' and spouses' perceptions of supportive and negative dyadic coping closely influenced their psychological distress and relationship quality. Further, having a partner with RA also seemed to affect the spouse, especially when there was a negative dyadic coping pattern.

Assessing Relationship Satisfaction with Four Items? Psychometric Evaluation of the Ultra-short German Version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS-4)

The quality of an individual's relationship plays a central role in their personal well-being as well as their mental and physical health. Despite its great importance, there are only a few ultra-short self-report measures for the assessment of relationship quality. An exception is the four-item version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS-4), which is gaining increasing popularity internationally. In this study, the German version of the DAS-4 was evaluated for the first time with regard to its psychometric properties in a general population sample of individuals in a romantic relationship (N=1296). In addition to satisfactory item characteristics, the unidimensional measurement model showed sufficient goodness of fit and the internal consistency was satisfactory (ω=0.80). Measurement invariance was shown for men and women based on the latent construct of the DAS-4. In line with the hypothesis, associations of the DAS-4 with gender, general life satisfaction, psychopathology and attachment styles were found, which suggests construct validity. Despite the lack of application experiences and pending psychometric analyses of the DAS-4 in relevant target groups, such as individuals in couples counselling or therapy, the four-item version can be recommended for assessing relationship satisfaction.