Actor Effects Research Articles

Perceived Social Support Mediates the Relationship Between Benefit Finding and Depressive Symptoms Among Young and Middle-Aged Stroke Survivors and Their Spouse Caregivers

Background Existing literature indicates that benefit finding and social support play protective roles against depressive symptoms. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the interplay between benefit finding, social support, and depressive symptoms within the dyadic context of stroke survivor-spousal caregiver relationships. Objective The objective of this study is to investigate the relationships among benefit finding, social support, and depressive symptoms in young and middle-aged stroke survivors and their spouse caregivers. In addition, the mediating role of social support in the association between benefit finding and depressive symptoms is explored. Methods A total of 203 pairs of stroke survivor-spouse caregiver were included in the study. Depressive symptoms, social support, and benefit finding were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Benefit Finding Scale, and the Caregiver Benefit Finding Scale. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model was used to assess direct and indirect effect. Results The findings revealed a significant negative association between higher levels of benefit finding and lower depressive symptoms in both stroke survivors (actor effect, −0.126) and spousal caregivers (partner effect, −0.044). Perceived social support emerged as a significant mediator in the relationship between benefit finding and depressive symptoms in spousal caregivers (indirect effect, −0.024). Furthermore, spousal caregivers' perceived social support served as a mediating variable between caregiver benefit finding and depressive symptoms in stroke survivors (indirect effect, −0.023). Conclusion The study underscores the interdependence between stroke survivors and spousal caregivers, highlighting the mutual influence they have on each other. Consequently, targeted interventions addressing both members of the dyad, with a focus on enhancing benefit finding and social support, could prove beneficial in ameliorating depressive symptoms in stroke survivor-spousal caregiver.

Associations between caregiver-adolescent emodiversity and internalizing symptoms.

Relationships between adolescents and primary caregivers play an important role in the development of internalizing (depressive and anxious) symptoms. We examined associations among caregiver-adolescent emotions and their emodiversity (their breadth and frequency) with adolescents' and caregivers' internalizing symptoms. A total of 181 adolescents (aged 13-17 years old) and their primary caregivers participated in a 14-day daily diary study between 2022 and 2023 where they reported their emotions at the end of each day. We used actor-partner interdependence models to examine whether positive and negative emotions and their emodiversity predicted each individual's and their family member's internalizing symptoms. Primary results concentrated on the actor effects of adolescents' and caregivers' mean levels of positive and negative emotions and their own internalizing symptoms. Greater negative emotion and lower positive emotion were associated with greater internalizing symptoms, for both caregivers and adolescents. Caregivers who showed greater positive emodiversity also showed greater internalizing symptoms. In contrast, relatively few partner effects were observed. Our findings point to the need for more research on the role of interpersonal emotions in daily life as they relate to internalizing symptoms. Although our sample captured diversity in ethnicity, results may not generalize across levels of socioeconomic status, gender identity, and caregiver education.

Couples’ psychological resources and marital satisfaction: The mediating role of marital support

The aim of this study was to assess the interdependent relations among psychological resources, marital support, and marital satisfaction in married couples from the perspective of both dyad members, using the Actor-Partner-Interdependence-Model (APIM) approach. One hundred and fifty-one heterosexual married couples (N = 302) completed questionnaires assessing psychological resources (dispositional optimism and sense of mastery), marital support, marital satisfaction, social desirability, and demographic variables. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test a proposed mediation model adopting the dyadic approach. It was found that husbands’ and wives’ own psychological resources contributed positively to their own perceptions of marital support and that marital support mediated the effects of these resources on their own (actor–actor effect) and on their spouses’ marital satisfaction (actor–partner effect). The results highlight the important contribution of each dyad member’s own psychological resources, as well as the valuable role of perceived support as a mediator, regardless of gender. Hence, clinical practice should encourage individuals to invest in maintaining their personal assets and abilities because of their positive effect on expanding intra- and inter- processes of well-being within the marriage.

Towards eco-political becoming: Planning rural livelihoods in a more-than-human world

Emerging works within planning invite scholars to engage with a more-than-human approach. However, scholars note that such an approach is yet to gain broader acceptance within planning communities. I argue that the issue of acceptance is rooted in a lack of clear focus on how a more-than-human approach can have concrete effects on accepted domains of planning. Therefore, I introduce the analytic of eco-political becoming, which foregrounds the complex effects of the ecological on the sociopolitical . I present a case of eco-political becoming in planning rural livelihoods, where Indigenous communities engaged in rearing silk, find themselves entangled with crows. As the communities attempt to deter the crows from eating silk moth larvae, the crows in-turn disrupt two key sociopolitical categories and processes in the village—gender and caste. The case highlights sociopolitical outcomes of human-nonhuman entanglement that emerge out of economic planning. I propose that the analytical tool of eco-political becoming enables scholars to focus on the complex effects of nonhuman actors on the socially constructed identities and hierarchies considered important by the larger planning community.

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.

A dyadic analysis of family adaptation among breast cancer patients and their spouses based on the framework of family stress coping theory

BackgroundThe active coping strategies of family members can help breast cancer patients better handle the crisis, and family adaptation is a manifestation of the family's active coping with the crisis. In the study of breast cancer, a disease that predominantly affects women, we explored the influence of spouses on patients' family adaptation. This aspect has not been explored in previous studies.PurposeIn recent years, with the development of family stress coping theory, cancer coping styles have shifted from an individual focus to a whole-family approach. This shift has the potential to help families of cancer patients adapt to the crisis. This study aimed to explore the correlation between dyadic coping, family adaptation, and benefit finding in couples with breast cancer.MethodsUsing convenience sampling, the study included 325 pairs consisting of breast cancer patients and their spouses who attended breast surgery, oncology, and chemotherapy sessions between April and November 2023. The survey utilized the General Information Questionnaire for patients and spouses, the Dyadic Coping Scale, the Benefit Finding Scale, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0 and Amos 24.0 software.ResultsIn the actor effect of dyadic coping on family adaptation, the benefit finding of patients and their spouses played a mediating role. Regarding the partner effect (B = 0.019, 95% CI = 0.003–0.045, P < 0.05), the dyadic coping of spouses indirectly affected the family adaptation of patients through the benefit findings of patients. The patient's dyadic coping can directly affect the spouse's family adaptation. The spouse's dyadic coping can influence the patient's benefit finding.ConclusionThere is a partial interaction between breast cancer patients and their spouses' dyadic coping, benefit finding, and family adaptation. Therefore, clinical staff should promptly identify patients and spouses with poor coping abilities and provide them with positive psychological interventions to enhance the dyadic coping abilities of both partners and assist them in overcoming the problems encountered during the treatment process, ultimately helping them better cope with family crises.

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.

Racial Discrimination and Trauma Symptoms Among Black Adolescent-Caregiver Dyads

ABSTRACT Objective Research to date has produced compelling evidence of the potentially traumatic consequences of racial discrimination among Black adolescents and adults. Seldom explored, however, is how the potentially traumatic effects of racial discrimination may be shared across the family context. To clarify the relevance of racial trauma across the family system, the current study examined the relationship between racial discrimination and trauma symptoms among a sample of Black adolescent-caregiver dyads. Method Data were drawn from a larger self-report survey study examining Black family life experiences. For this study, data from 202 Black adolescents (Mage = 14.50, 52% female) and their caregiver (Mage = 41.63, 83% female) were used to test actor-partner interdependence models examining the associations of racial discrimination and trauma symptoms. Results Significant actor effects revealed that racial discrimination was positively associated with self-reported trauma symptoms among adolescents and caregivers. Additionally, partner effects were found, such that adolescent and caregiver experiences of discrimination were positively associated with the trauma symptoms of their family member. Analyses also revealed that the association between racial discrimination and trauma symptoms among caregivers was dependent upon youth experiences of racial discrimination. Conclusion The current study lends credence to theories linking racism and trauma-related symptomatology across the life course and family system. Collectively, study findings highlight the importance of understanding the effects of racism beyond the individual and underscores the value and need for family tailored interventions that can repudiate the shared impact and potential intergenerational effects of racial discrimination across Black families.

Actor, partner, and similarity effects of attachment anxiety and avoidance on well-being and health in romantic couples

Actor, partner, and similarity effects of attachment anxiety and avoidance on well-being and health in romantic couples

Predictors of Decisional Capacity in Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker Test Candidates.

Deciding to learn one's Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarker status is a high-stakes endeavor that requires comprehending and deliberating about complex and nuanced information. Assessing capacity to consent to AD biomarker testing and disclosure is further complicated when candidates have cognitive impairment and present with family care partners. The objective of this analysis was to identify predictors of decisional capacity for an amyloid Positron Emission Tomography (PET) disclosure study among persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their family care partners. This analysis used an analytical correlational design, using baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of amyloid PET results disclosure. Simple linear regression was used to examine predictors of decisional capacity. Focusing on persons with MCI, the predictor variables of interest were sociodemographic characteristics, level of knowledge of MCI/AD, global cognition, and neuropsychological tests of language and executive functioning. Dyadic analyses were conducted with data from 82 dyads of persons with MCI and care providers using the Actor Partner Interdependence Model to assess for presence of actor and partner effects among key variables. Capacity to consent scores demonstrated sufficient capacity for all participants to consent to the study. For persons with MCI, lower age, higher mental status scores, MCI/AD knowledge scores, and better performance on measures of language and executive functioning were predictors of decisional capacity. The model revealed positive actor relations for MCI/AD knowledge with decisional capacity for both persons with MCI and family care partners and negative partner relationships for family care partners MCI/AD knowledge with the decisional capacity of persons with MCI. Assessment of decisional capacity is imperative when considering participation in AD research, including studies with high-stakes procedures like biomarker results disclosure. Our findings highlight that not only do individual characteristics put persons with MCI at risk for lower decisional capacity, but dyadic effects from family care partners may also be present.

The association between marital satisfaction and perceived coparenting in infancy: A longitudinal dyadic approach.

Healthy marital relationships and coparenting are vital elements of a well-functioning family, serving as the foundation for promoting optimal child development. By analyzing four waves of dyadic data collected from 236 Chinese parents during the early years of their child's life, our study sought to (a) examine the links between marital satisfaction and coparenting and (b) explore the actor and partner effects between fathers and mothers by constructing corresponding time-averaged and time-specific components of these two variables. Our study revealed that there might be bidirectional associations between marital satisfaction and coparenting. Furthermore, we found that fathers and mothers influence each other in terms of their marital satisfaction and coparenting, both at the average level over time and to some extent at specific time points. This highlights the need for interventions and support programs that address both marital satisfaction and coparenting, as improving one aspect can potentially have a positive impact on the other.

Application of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model in Parent-Adolescent Mental Health Knowledge and Depression.

To explore the individual and interpersonal association between mental health knowledge (MHK) and depression in adolescents and one of their parents, and to explore whether gender differences exist between fathers and mothers in these associations. Participants were 3456 father-adolescent dyads and 4478 mother-adolescent dyads, recruited from eight middle schools in Wuhan, who completed self-report assessments of MHK and depression from September to October 2021. With the application of the actor-partner interdependence model, A positive actor effect between MHK and depression in adolescents was found. Adverse partner effects from fathers' MHK and mothers' MHK to adolescent depression were noted and showed no significant difference. Adolescents' depression was significantly associated with parental depression in both fathers and mothers. It is implied that milder adolescent depression was associated with lower levels of adolescent MHK, along with higher levels of MHK in both fathers and mothers. For parents, it is important to emphasise the improvement of their own MHK and increase their attention to adolescent mental health problems, as this may contribute to enhancing the mental health of adolescents. This study is instructive and related to family-based nursing interventions for mental health, emphasising the potential influence of parents in the family on adolescent depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that parental involvement should be encouraged and that the family's role in supporting the child's mental health should be recognised, contributing to the development of relevant policies. This study highlights that higher parental MHK is associated with lower levels of adolescent depression, with no gender differences between fathers and mothers. Family-based nursing interventions that emphasise mental health education for parents may have an impact on improving depression in adolescents. Guidelines were followed using the STROBE reporting method. None.

The Interaction of Positive and Negative Relationship Characteristics and Their Association with Relationship and Individual Health Outcomes in Older Couples.

The purpose of this study was to examine how positive and negative relationship characteristics and their interaction were predictive of global relationship happiness, psychological symptoms, and physical health in a large sample of older couples. The NSHAP Wave 2 partner data n = 955) were used to estimate both actor (within person) and partner (between person) effects using the Actor Partner Interdependence Model with Moderation. Global relationship happiness was predicted by the interaction of positive and negative characteristics, suggesting that more positive characteristics are only predictive of greater happiness in the presence of some negative characteristics. Male partners' depressive symptoms were predicted by the female partners' interaction of positive and negative characteristics, suggesting that negative characteristics were only associated with male partner depressive symptoms when positive characteristics were rated very low by their partner. Positive and negative characteristics were predictive of anxiety and stress but not their interaction, and only the male partner's perception of positive characteristics was predictive of the female partner's physical health. These results are discussed in the context of controversy over the measurement of relationship satisfaction in the field.

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).

The Association Between Mutuality and Quality of Life in Adults With Chronic Illnesses and Their Nurses: Actor-Partner Interdependence Model Analysis.

To examine the association between mutuality and quality of life in nurse-patient dyads. A cross-sectional multi-centre study was conducted. The study was conducted in five tertiary hospitals in Italy. We enrol both inpatients and outpatients with chronic diseases and their nurses with a convenience sampling. One-hundred ninety-two dyads participated to the study. A self-assessment instrument including the Short-Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12), and the Nurse Patient Mutuality in Chronic Illness scale (NPM-CI scale), in the two versions-one for patients and one for nurses, was administered. The effects of nurse-patient mutuality on the physical and mental quality of life of nurses and patients were estimated with a series of actor-partner-interdependence models (APIM). Patients' and nurses' perceptions of their mutuality were positively correlated. For patient mental quality of life, there was a statistically significant actor effect both for patients, and for nurses. There was also a consistent statistically significant partner effect for patient mental quality of life. There were no statistically significant actor or partner effects for the nurses' and patients' physical quality of life. This construct may be influenced by additional components, further studies are needed. Mutuality between nurses and patients in chronic diseases influence both patient and nurse quality of life. Our results support the importance of taking a dyadic perspective when considering mutuality and quality of life in nurse-patient dyads. Nurse-patient mutuality is an indicator of a high-quality relationship, which allows shared goals and shared decision-making. Quality of life is one of the most important outcomes for chronic conditions patients and is an indicator of well-being. Quality of life is also an important variable in healthcare professionals' lives. Little is known about the association between mutuality and quality of life in nurse-patient dyads. Mutuality has an actor effect on patient's and nurse's quality of life and has a negative partner effect on patient's quality of life. The understanding of mutuality and interdependence within the dyad, could increase mental quality of life in nurse-patient dyads. STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was followed in this study. Patients were involved in the sample of the study.

Associations between school engagement and mental well-being among Finnish parent-child dyads

Abstract Background To understand how individual differences in mental well-being emerge for children and adolescents, it is important to understand the amenable factors in the context in which the development takes place - that is, for children, primarily in the family and in school. There is a notable gap in the research exploring the positive impacts of school factors on parent-child dyads and their mental well-being, and if there are any associations between school engagement and the mental well-being of parents and their children. Methods Data from 307 parent-child dyads were included in the study, the data stemming from a Finnish l research project (CONSENSUS) encompassing longitudinal survey data collection among both children in grades 4-6 and their parents. By exploring bivariate correlations and using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), the present study aims to investigate actor and partner effects of school engagement and mental well-being among parents and their child in grade 4-6. Results Preliminary results show that there are statistically significant correlations between parents’ and their children’s mental well-being, but that there are no significant correlations between children’s school engagement and parental school engagement. Further, statistically significant actor effects emerge between children’s school engagement and mental well-being, and between parental school engagement and mental well-being. Conclusions By clarifying the interaction between school engagement and mental well-being in parent-child dyads, this study not only contributes to the theoretical understanding of these constructs but also offers insights that can inform future development of mental well-being promotion interventions aimed at families and educational settings in Finland and elsewhere. Key messages • This study offers an innovative exploration of the links between mental well-being and school engagement among 274 Finnish parent-child dyads. • Results show various interactions between school engagement and mental well-being among the parent-child dyads, with implications for interventions intended to support well-being in families.

Exploring the effectiveness of virtual reality in combating misinformation on climate change

AbstractOur research examines the potential of immersive virtual reality (VR) in countering climate change misinformation. By creating VR simulations of future climate scenarios, we visually depict the potential impacts of rising temperatures and sea level rise on communities and ecosystems. Our objective is to determine whether immersive VR can achieve more effective correction outcomes compared to social media. We employ a mixed experimental design, manipulating the provision of correction through either VR or social media. We measure the impact of these interventions on belief in and skepticism toward climate change, and on inferential reasoning at three different points over a month. Furthermore, we explore the effectiveness of human actors and the level of presence in the VR experience as strategies to combat climate change misinformation. We find that VR conditions might lead to increased certainty in the belief that climate change is really happening and lowered skepticism toward the clarity of the effects of climate change. Moreover, we find significant differences in the heart rate (HR) of the participants in the VR conditions. The use of avatars in VR environments may contribute to heightened HR variability during misinformation correction, potentially due to increased emotional engagement and cognitive load.

Shared care in heart failure management is linked with physical and mental health by perceived control in patient-caregiver dyads

Abstract Background Patients with heart failure (HF) and their family caregivers have interdependent relationships in managing HF. Shared care within dyads refers to interpersonal interactions characterized by exchanging care and support in chronic illness management. High levels of shared care improve patients’ health outcomes, but it is unclear if shared care is equally beneficial for caregivers. Also unknown is how shared care contributes to the outcomes of both dyad members. We propose that perceived control may be critical in the link between shared care and health status for dyads. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether perceived control over one’s health mediates the association between shared care and physical and mental health in patients with HF and their caregivers. Method Patients with HF and their primary caregivers (N=151 dyads) completed questionnaires in this cross-sectional study. Shared care, perceived control over one’s own health, and health status were assessed using the three subscales of the Shared Care Instrument (i.e., communication, decision-making, and reciprocity), the Cardiac Attitudes Scale-Revised, and the Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey-36, physical and mental health scales, respectively. A series of actor-partner interdependence models with mediation dyadic analyses were conducted. Results Patients with HF (mean age 60.3 Years, 64% male) and their caregivers (mean age 56.6 years, 75% female) reported similar levels of communication and reciprocity in shared care, but patients reported higher scores of decision-making in shared care than their caregivers (P &amp;lt; .001). Perceived control over one’s own health significantly mediated the association between communication and physical health (indirect actor effect = .1487; 95% CI: 0.0478 to 0.2759) and between communication and mental health (indirect actor effect = .1650; 95% CI: 0.0454 to 0.3260) for patients, not caregivers (Figures A1 &amp; A2). Similarly, perceived control significantly mediated the association between reciprocity and physical and mental health for patients, not caregivers (Figures B1 &amp; B2). Perceived control mediated the association of decision-making with physical health and mental health for caregivers, not patients (Figures C1 &amp; C2). Conclusion Higher levels of communication and reciprocity increased patients’ perceived control, ultimately improving their physical and mental health, whereas caregivers’ decision-making improved their health by enhancing their perceived control over their health. The different patterns of shared care are linked to the health of patients and caregivers by enhancing perceived control over one’s health.Figure A &amp; BFigure C

The Relationship Between Dyadic Coping and Mental Health in Stroke Survivors and Their Spouse Caregivers: An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model.

To investigate the relationship among dyadic coping, mental health and the individual and mutual influences on stroke survivors and their spouse caregivers. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in China from November 2019 to August 2020. The STROBE checklist was used to report the present study. The analysis included 224 dyads of stroke survivors and their spouse caregivers in China. Data on stroke survivors and their spouse caregivers were collected using the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), the Patient Health Questionnaire nine-item scale (PHQ-9) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder seven-item scale (GAD-7). The dyadic analysis was conducted based on the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). Regarding actor effects, spouse caregivers' dyadic coping and perceived dyadic coping had a negative predictive effect on their own anxiety and depression. Stroke survivors' perceived dyadic coping had a negative effect on their own depression. Regarding partner effects, spouse caregivers' perceived dyadic coping also had a negative predictive effect on the depression of the patients. In contrast, stroke survivors' perceived dyadic coping was positively associated with spouse caregivers' anxiety and depression. These findings suggested that mental health of stroke survivors and their spouse caregivers was affected by various dyadic coping dimensions. Our research has the potential to contribute to the understanding dyadic coping and mental health of stroke survivor-spouse caregiver dyads. The findings reveal that the coping strategies employed by stroke couples are closely related to the mental health of both partners. This study provides evidence for the significant impact of dyadic coping on the psychological well-being of stroke survivors and their spouse caregivers. Therefore, dyadic interventions aiming at strengthening dyadic coping may have positive effects on their mental health. This study directly involved the patients and family caregivers in hospital settings.

Informing Psychosocial Care for Young Couples Coping with Early-Onset Breast Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Examination of Unmet Service Needs and Their Association with Psychological Distress in the First Year Post-Diagnosis.

Objective: Young women diagnosed with breast cancer report greater psychological and physical morbidity than both older women and healthy peers. Similarly, young partners experience elevated cancer-related distress. Psychosocial oncology programs are not frequently attuned to the needs of young adult patients and may exclude their social networks. This marks a critical gap in psychosocial care delivery. The study investigated unmet service needs, psychological distress, and care preferences of young couples managing breast cancer in the first year post-diagnosis. Methods: Forty dyads (n = 80) of women aged 18-45 and their partners completed measures of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and a service use questionnaire adapted from previously published Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) literature. The resulting 25 items assessed perceived care needs and service utilization across three domains: informational, emotional/supportive, and practical issues. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and bivariate correlations were computed. Actor and partner effects of unmet needs on mental health outcomes were investigated with generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results: Patients and partners were in their late thirties, mostly non-Hispanic White, married, highly educated, and employed. Approximately 60% of patients and 43%-66% of partners presented one or more unmet service needs, which correlated with greater distress. Unmet needs about information related to exercise, recurrence, nutrition, and symptom management were prevalent. Unmet supportive service needs of both patients and partners included age-appropriate programs, sexual health, and family counseling. Women reported practical needs for work/school accommodations, integrative care, financial issues and health coverage; while financial concerns, health insurance, and caregiving demands were priorities for partners. Conclusion: Young couples facing early-onset breast cancer experience large proportions of unmet service needs. These challenges were exacerbated by the lack of developmentally targeted psychosocial programs pertaining to informational, supportive, and practical care needs. Enhancing providers' understanding of the psychosocial issues affecting young couples' well-being, and the implementation of systematic procedures to detect and respond to their distress, is urgently needed.