Quality Of Intimate Relationships Research Articles

The role of self-compassion in the association between childhood maltreatment and marital quality: An actor-partner interdependence model.

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a significant risk factor for intimate relationship and marital quality. However, there has been limited research exploring the underlying mechanisms of this link, with most studies focusing on individuals, while not considering the dyadic context and reciprocal influences within intimate relationships. Intimate relationships entail mutual processes, where each partner's abusive experiences can affect the partner's marital quality. In this study, we aimed to examine whether self-compassion is an underlying factor in the dyadic associations between CM and one's own and one's partner's marital quality. A convenience sample of 115 heterosexual couples completed self-report questionnaires. Utilizing an actor-partner interdependence model, we found partial support for our hypotheses, indicating that each partner's CM was indirectly associated with their own marital quality through their self-compassion. However, CM did not significantly impact their partner's marital quality through self-compassion. These findings contribute to the existing evidence supporting the mediating role of self-compassion as a transdiagnostic protective factor associated with increased marital quality for individuals with a history of CM. Nevertheless, the results suggest that this mediating effect may be specific to one's own marital quality and may not extend to the partner's marital quality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Childhood maltreatment and the quality of marital relationships: Examining mediating pathways and gender differences

Background: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is considered a traumatic experience with long-term adverse effects on the quality of adult intimate relationships. Research on the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon among Arab societies is scarce. Objective: This study investigated the impact of childhood physical abuse (PA) and emotional abuse (EA) on the quality of marital relationships. Additionally, it examined the mediating roles of two dimensions of insecure adult attachment (i.e., avoidant and anxious) to a romantic partner and psychological distress within gender-specific models. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a representative sample of 604 married Arab adults ( M age = 33.5, SD = 6.52; 50.1% women) in Israel using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Childhood PA was significantly related to low levels of relationship quality among men and women. For men, childhood PA was positively related to psychological distress and both patterns of romantic attachment styles, which in turn were negatively associated with relationship quality. For women, childhood PA was positively associated with psychological distress and avoidant attachment, correlating with low levels of relationship quality. Conclusion: A retrospective assessment of childhood PA is associated with decreased levels of marital relationship quality for men and women. This association is mediated by psychological distress and romantic attachment styles. Implications: Implementing interventions focused on improving mental health and promoting a secure romantic attachment style can enhance the quality of marital relationships for adults with CM experiences.

Patient Perspectives on Intimate Relationship Outcomes After Labiaplasty: A Preliminary Qualitative Analysis.

The popularity of labiaplasty has increased over the last decade and patients consistently report high levels of satisfaction with outcomes. Specifically, patients generally experience improved sexual satisfaction, but there is very limited research on the impacts on intimate relationships more broadly, even though these experiences are often crucial to women's lives. The aim of this study was to conduct an in-depth qualitative exploration of the impacts of labiaplasty on intimate relationship quality. Qualitative semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with adult women (n = 15), who had undergone labiaplasty between 1 and 72 months previously (mean [standard deviation], 28.1 [24.3] months). Participants were asked about any perceived changes to their intimate relationships and how labiaplasty may have influenced those changes (if any). Thematic analysis of the transcribed interview data was performed. The results showed that most women reported greater confidence engaging in new relationships, and partaking in subsequent sexual experiences was also commonly reported. However, other women reported no changes to their intimate relationship quality after labiaplasty. Over half of the women reported concerns that their current or a future partner may perceive their postsurgery genital appearance as not "natural." The current study adds some novel depth and nuance to the impacts of labiaplasty on intimate relationship quality. Although most women experience improved sexual confidence in their intimate relationships, a proportion may also experience concerns around their partner's reactions to the surgery.

An examination of relationship satisfaction as a predictor of outcomes of brief couple therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The pretreatment quality of intimate relationships can promote or interfere with couple therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment response. We tested whether baseline relationship satisfaction predicted clinical and process outcomes in two dyadic treatments for PTSD. Using data from a randomized trial comparing brief cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy (bCBCT) for PTSD to PTSD family education (PFE) among 137 military veterans and their partners (N = 274, Mage = 42.3 years, 46.7% White, 81.0% male veteran partner), we examined whether baseline relationship satisfaction (Couples Satisfaction Index; CSI-32) predicted change in PTSD symptom severity (Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5; CAPS-5), psychosocial functioning (Brief Inventory of Psychosocial Functioning; B-IPF), and relationship satisfaction at posttreatment and 6-month follow-up. We also explored associations with process outcomes (working alliance, treatment satisfaction, dropout). In both treatment conditions, neither partner's baseline CSI-32 score moderated change in veteran CAPS-5 or B-IPF score or any process variable. However, baseline CSI-32 scores moderated both partners' CSI-32 score change during bCBCT and PFE; participants who scored in the distressed range at baseline (n = 123) experienced significant improvements in relationship satisfaction, β = .199, whereas there was no change among those in the nondistressed range at baseline (n = 151), β = .025. Results suggest bCBCT and PFE are effective in improving PTSD symptoms and psychosocial functioning regardless of whether a couple is experiencing clinically significant relationship distress; further, these treatments improve relationship satisfaction for the most distressed individuals.

Gender Directionality of Intimate Partner Violence and Relationship Quality Among Chinese Couples.

Gender symmetry is a long-standing controversy in intimate partner violence (IPV) research. This study explored the gender directionality of IPV and differences in the quality of relationships between different dyadic patterns. IPV experiences and relationship quality of 371 heterosexual couples were examined. Results indicate that females reported more IPV perpetration than males. Generally, the male-only IPV and bidirectional IPV couples showed lower levels of relationship quality compared with female-only IPV and no-IPV couples. Future studies should realize that different dyadic types of IPV may have different mechanisms and consequences, and more attention should be paid to gender directionality.

Pathways from childhood maltreatment to the quality of adult intimate relationships: Inquiry into mindfulness, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and attributions.

Pathways from childhood maltreatment to the quality of adult intimate relationships: Inquiry into mindfulness, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and attributions.

Postdeployment mental health concerns and family functioning in veteran men and women.

Despite growing numbers of veteran women, it is unclear whether the impact of common postdeployment mental health concerns on key aspects of family functioning varies by gender. We examined whether associations between PTSD, depression, and problematic alcohol use and intimate relationship quality and parenting self-efficacy differed among men and women in a large, gender-balanced sample of post-9/11 veterans. Participants included 2,348 veterans (51.49% women) of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who were part of a larger study of gender differences in effects of wartime deployment. Veterans who were married or in a relationship (n = 1,536, 49.09% women) reported overall relationship quality. Veterans with children under age 18 (n = 1,049; 51.57% women) self-reported on their sense of efficacy as parents. All participants reported symptoms of PTSD, depression, and problematic alcohol use. We used a series of hierarchical linear regressions to test gender as a moderator of each postdeployment mental health concern and the family functioning constructs of interest. Each postdeployment mental health concern was associated with reduced relationship quality and parenting self-efficacy, and these associations were largely consistent across gender. However, links between reduced parenting self-efficacy and increased PTSD and depressive symptoms were stronger in women compared with men. Postdeployment mental health concerns are associated with impairment in key family relationships for both veteran men and women. This impact may be particularly profound for parenting self-efficacy among female veterans, highlighting the potential importance of targeted interventions in this domain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Coping Together or Separate: Attachment and Dyadic Coping as Mediators Linking Childhood Maltreatment to Intimate Relationship Quality

Childhood maltreatment is associated with poorer quality relationships and attachment theory has proffered an influential framework. The role of dyadic coping remains unclear and may play an integral role linking attachment insecurity and relationship quality among adults who experienced maltreatment. Using a sample of 177 adults (56.6% racial minority) were recruited from a southern university a serial mediational model was examined using structural equation modeling. Childhood maltreatment was linked with relationship quality through greater attachment avoidance and lower levels dyadic coping. Focusing on dyadic coping among avoidantly attached individuals from a trauma-informed perspective may be a point of clinical intervention.

Psychological characteristics and sexual correlates of the resolution experience

ABSTRACT Introduction Resolution is least researched phase of the sexual response cycle. There is lack of knowledge of its psychological characteristics and correlates. Objectives To develop a measure of depth of the resolution experience and explore its correlations with sexual functioning and intimate relationship quality. Method The sample consisted of 475 respondents to an online survey (303 women, 172 men, mostly Portuguese). We used the Sexual Resolution Scale (SRS), which has eight items elaborated from the literature on resolution; the items refer to 1) experiencing profound peace, 2) deep relaxation, 3) heart rate acceleration, 4) intensified body awareness, 5) intensified emotions, 6) intensified imagination, 7) willingness to talk about emotionally charged subjects, 8) willingness to listen to emotionally charged subjects. Participants were asked to rate how intensely they had these experiences immediately after their last sexual encounter. Additionally, participants reported the intensity of desire, arousal, and orgasm, during the last sexual encounter, and completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Female Sexual Distress Scale – Revised, and the Perceived Relationship Quality Components Inventory Results A confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the SRS has two dimensions: Internal Experience (items 1 to 6) and Openness to Communication (items 7, 8). Both present good reliability. Invariance was confirmed between sexes. In women, Internal Experience and Openness to Communication correlated significantly with desire (rIE = .52, rOC = .24) and arousal (rIE = .48, rOC = .21) during last sexual encounter. Women's orgasm intensity during last sexual encounter correlated significantly with Internal Experience (rIE = .28), but not with Openness to Communication (rOC = .08, p = .148). Women's Internal Experience and Openness to Communication correlated significantly with better relationship quality (rIE = .27, rOC = .21), better sexual functioning (FSFI total score) (rIE = .49, rOC = .27), and less sexual distress (rIE = -.35, rOC = -.16). Men's Internal Experience and Openness to Communication correlated significantly with desire (rIE = .38, rOC = .26), arousal (rIE = .40, rOC = .32), and orgasm intensity, during last sexual encounter (rIE = .46, rOC = .26). Men's Internal Experience correlated significantly with better relationship quality (rIE = .32) and IIEF-15 dimensions of intercourse satisfaction (rIE = .41), sexual satisfaction (rIE = .32), orgasmic function (rIE = .20), and desire (rIE = .20), but not with erectile function (rIE = .06, p = .438). Men's Openness to Communication correlated significantly with better relationship quality (rIE = .31), intercourse satisfaction (rIE = .31) and sexual satisfaction (rIE = .19), but not with erectile function (rIE = -.08, p = .291), orgasmic function (rIE = .10, p = .178), and desire (rIE = .10, p = .211). Conclusions The SRS has good psychometric properties and is valid for both sexes. This study emphasizes the twofold nature of resolution encompassing internal and relational experiences that are psychologically richer than a mere transition to an unaroused state, and subject to individual differences. Deeper resolution correlated with better sexual function and relationship quality. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no.

Intimate Relationships and Coronary Heart Disease: Implications for Risk, Prevention, and Patient Management.

Purpose of ReviewResearch and clinical services addressing psychosocial aspects of coronary heart disease (CHD) typically emphasize individuals, focusing less on the context of intimate relationships such as marriage and similar partnerships. This review describes current evidence regarding the role of intimate relationships in the development, course, and management of CHD.Recent FindingsHaving an intimate partner is associated with reduced risk of incident CHD and a better prognosis among patients, but strain (e.g., conflict) and disruption (i.e., separation, divorce) in these relationships are associated with increased risk and poor outcomes. These associations likely reflect mechanisms involving health behavior and the physiological effects of emotion and stress. Importantly, many other well-established psychosocial risk and protective factors (e.g., low SES, job stress, depression, and optimism) are strongly related to the quality of intimate relationships, and these associations likely contribute to the effects of those other psychosocial factors. For better or worse, intimate partners can also affect the outcome of efforts to alter health behaviors (physical activity, diet, smoking, and medication adherence) central in the prevention and management CHD. Intimate partners also influence—and are influenced by—stressful aspects of acute coronary crises and longer-term patient adjustment and management.SummaryEvidence on each of these roles of intimate relationships in CHD is considerable, but direct demonstrations of the value of couple assessments and interventions are limited, although preliminary research is promising. Research needed to close this gap must also address issues of diversity, disparities, and inequity that have strong parallels in CHD and intimate relationships.

Psychosocial burden of recurrent uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a leading cause of bacterial infections in women. Despite acute treatment, 30–50% of women who have a UTI will experience a recurrence within 6–12 months. In this review, the focus will be on the personal psychosocial impacts of recurrent UTI.Methods: A PubMed/MEDLINE literature search was carried out from 2000 to 2020 in order to identify any recent high-quality meta-analyses or systematic reviews on these topics.Results: One systematic review was found appropriate for this manuscript. Concerning impact on quality of life (QoL) and daily activities, a reduced quality of both intimate and social relationships, self-esteem, and capacity for work was found due to recurrent UTI. Social function was substantially more reduced than physical function. In one study, the greatest reduction overall was in mental role functioning, whereas in another study, mental health reductions were not substantially greater than those of physical health. About one third of women suffered from UTI very often or often after sexual intercourse, and more than half of the patients stated that sexual relations were negatively influenced by UTI. Data from the GESPRIT study suggest that prophylaxis for recurrent UTI is underutilized, because less than 40% of the study population were offered prophylaxis after experiencing three UTI per year, despite all surveyed participants being willing to undertake at least one of the prophylactic measures listed in the survey.Conclusions: Little data on the psychosocial impact of recurrent UTI are available. Therefore, future studies must also incorporate QoL assessments as key outcome measures.

Initial Impacts of COVID-19 on Sex Life and Relationship Quality in Steady Relationships in Britain: Findings from a Large, Quasi-representative Survey (Natsal-COVID)

ABSTRACT Intimate relationships are ubiquitous and exert a strong influence on health. Widespread disruption to them may impact wellbeing at a population level. We investigated the extent to which the first COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020) affected steady relationships in Britain. In total, 6,654 participants aged 18–59 years completed a web-panel survey (July–August 2020). Quasi-representativeness was achieved via quota sampling and weighting. We explored changes in sex life and relationship quality among participants in steady relationships (n = 4,271) by age, gender, and cohabitation status, and examined factors associated with deterioration to a lower-quality relationship. A total of 64.2% of participants were in a steady relationship (of whom 88.9% were cohabiting). A total of 22.1% perceived no change in their sex-life quality, and 59.5% no change in their relationship quality. Among those perceiving change, sex-life quality was more commonly reported to decrease and relationship quality to improve. There was significant variation by age; less often by gender or cohabitation. Overall, 10.6% reported sexual difficulties that started/worsened during lockdown. In total, 6.9% reported deterioration to a ”lower quality” relationship, more commonly those: aged 18–24 and aged 35–44; not living with partner (women only); and reporting depression/anxiety and decrease in sex-life quality. In conclusion, intimate relationship quality is yet another way in which COVID-19 has led to divergence in experience.

Predictors of negative psychosocial and health behavior impact of COVID-19 among young adults.

Given the global impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on mental and physical health, we examined young adults’ changes in mental health, intimate relationship quality, alcohol use and weight-related behaviors during COVID-19 and their correlates (depressive symptoms, resilience, social context and COVID-19-related factors). We analyzed data from a longitudinal study of 1082 young adults across six metropolitan areas (Mage = 24.76 ± 4.70; 51.8% female; 73.6% White and 12.5% Hispanic), using multivariate linear regressions for continuous outcomes (magnitude of mental health impact) and logistic regressions for categorical outcomes (decreased relationship quality, physical activity and nutrition and increased alcohol use and sedentary behavior). Of five negative mental health impacts assessed, participants reported experiencing an average of 3.54 (SD = 5.46), experiencing more correlated with increased childcare responsibilities and lower resilience. Additionally, 23.6% of those in relationships experienced negative relationship impact, 41.3% increased alcohol use, 47.2% decreased physical activity, 74.0% were more sedentary and 34.7% experienced poorer nutrition, all of which was predicted by greater depressive symptoms. Additionally, lower resilience predicted negative relationship impact and poorer nutrition and social context/roles correlated with various outcomes (e.g. relationships and alcohol use). Interventions to reduce negative health behaviors given societal stressors should address key psychosocial and situational factors, including depressive symptoms and resilience.

Trajectories of adolescent stressful life events and young adults' socioeconomic and relational outcomes: Weight and depressive symptoms as mediators.

Little is known about how biological and psychological consequences of adolescent stressful life events (SLEs) are jointly associated with socioeconomic and relational outcomes in adulthood. To address this gap, the present study involved testing a model based on the life course perspective that posits adolescent SLE trajectories produce parallel trajectories of depressive symptoms and weight status, which are jointly associated with socioeconomic status and intimate relationship quality in adulthood. Prospective data over 13years from a nationally representative sample of 11,677 US adolescents was utilized. The results demonstrated that trajectories of BMI and depressive symptoms, which showed contemporaneous and longitudinal comorbidities over the early life course, were influenced by adolescent SLEs. Both BMI and depressive symptoms trajectories are additively and jointly associated with socioeconomic status and intimate relationship quality in adulthood. Additionally, adolescent SLE trajectories are directly associated with these adult outcomes. These observed associations persisted even after controlling for early family socioeconomic adversity and race/ethnicity. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

A tangled start: The link between childhood maltreatment, psychopathology, and relationships in adulthood

BackgroundAdults with a history of childhood maltreatment are more likely to experience distrust, feel distant from others, and develop an insecure attachment style which may also affect relationship quality. Furthermore, childhood maltreatment has been linked to several mental health problems; including, depression, anxiety, and alcohol dependance severity, that are also known to relationship quality. ObjectiveThe current study was designed to investigate to what extent childhood maltreatment is associated with adult insecure attachment and intimate relationships and whether this association is mediated by psychopathology. Participants and MethodIn a study comprised of 2035 adults aged 18–65, we investigated whether childhood maltreatment was associated with insecure adult attachment styles and the quality of intimate relationships and whether this was mediated by depression, anxiety, and alcohol dependence severity (based on repeated assessments of the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report, Beck Anxiety Index, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test respectively). ResultsThe path model showed an acceptable fit, RMSEA = 0.05, and suggested full mediation of the association of childhood maltreatment with quality of intimate relationships by depression severity and a) anxious attachment (β = −4.0 ∗ 10−2; 95% CI = −5.5 ∗ 10−2, −2.7 ∗ 10−2) and b) avoidant attachment (β = −7.2 ∗ 10−2; 95% CI = −9.6 ∗ 10−2, −4.9 ∗ 10−2). Anxiety and alcohol dependence severity were not significant mediators. Conclusions: Childhood maltreatment is associated with a lower quality of intimate relationships, which is fully mediated by depression severity and insecure attachment styles.

Genetically informative analysis of the association between intimate relationship adjustment and health.

Prior research has found a positive association between the quality or adjustment of an individual's intimate relationship, such as marriage, and their physical health. However, it is possible that this association may be due, at least in part, to confounding variables (i.e., variables that are causally associated both with relationship adjustment and health and could account for their covariation), including genetically influenced confounds. This study was conducted using a genetically informative sample of twins to examine the association between intimate relationship adjustment and self-rated health, accounting for unmeasured genetic and environmental confounds. A Swedish sample of 539 monozygotic and dizygotic twins (321 male twin pairs and 218 female twin pairs) and their spouse or long-term partner completed self-report measures of relationship adjustment and health. Relationship adjustment was positively associated with self-rated health in male and female twins. For male twins, nonshared environmental influences largely accounted for the association between relationship adjustment and health; for female twins, this association was generally explained by shared and nonshared environmental influences. For male twins, results obtained from partners' reports of relationship adjustment were largely consistent with those obtained from twins' reports. Results suggest that the association between relationship adjustment and self-rated health remains after accounting for shared genetic influences, and that nonshared environmental influences, such as partners' characteristics, account for the association between relationship adjustment and self-rated health in men. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Editorial: Individual versus Dyadic Processes: Health and Relationship Outcomes

Building strong relationships is a fundamental human need, and finding an intimate partner is evolutionary important for survival and procreation (Buss and Schmitt, 1993). Once established, intimate relationships entail interpersonal support processes that are fundamental to growth, development and coping with life's adversities (Feeney and Collins, 2015). Intimate partners have a strong mutual influence over on each other's health and stress experiences (Randall and Bodenmann, 2017; Sbarra and Coan, 2018). The number and quality of intimate relationships are associated with many health outcomes including immunological and endocrine responses (Hostinar et al., 2014), cardiovascular disease and cancer (Farrell and Stanton, 2019) as well as length of life (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2017). At the same time, discord in intimate relationships is involved in the onset, severity, and progression of a wide range of diseases, as well as in the severity, progression, treatment, and recovery from mental health disorders (Dunkel Schetter, 2017). Research consistently indicate that individual processes and conditions may also affect health. Most often studied, the big five personality traits interact to predict sexual health (Allen and Walter, 2018) or mental treatment outcomes (Bucher et al., 2019). Considering illness as an individual cognition, Singer and his colleagues (Singer et al., 2010) found that one-third of the cancer patients in acute care hospitals is suffering from mental health disorders, depression being the most common psychiatric condition (Singer et al., 2010). Moreover, individual processes and conditions may also affect relationship outcomes. For example, self-reported and partner-perceived reported personality traits (Weidmann et al., 2016), attachment insecurity (Candel and Turliuc, 2019), emotional regulation (Bloch et al., 2014) or emotional intelligence (Malouff et al., 2014) were found to play important roles in predicting relationship satisfaction. Finally, various dyadic processes are important predictors of relationships outcomes. Yoo et al. (2014) found that sexual satisfaction significantly predicted emotional intimacy, and that both variables mediated the association between spouse's communication and their own relationship satisfaction, for both husbands and wives. Relationship stress is a mediator between external stress and marital communication or marital quality (Ledermann et al., 2010). Further, marital communication mediates the association of relationship stress with marital quality. Also, dyadic coping strongly predicts relationship satisfaction regardless of gender, its aggregated positive forms being a stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction than the aggregated negative ones (Falconier et al., 2015). Systematically analysing both individual and dyadic processes, Joel and her colleagues (Joel et al., 2020) used machine learning techniques to predict relationship quality across 43 dyadic longitudinal datasets of 11,196 romantic couples (Joel et al., 2020). Their findings indicate that the top individual-difference predictors of relationship quality were life satisfaction, negative affect, depression, attachment avoidance, and attachment anxiety, and the top relationship-specific predictors of relationship quality were perceived-partner commitment, appreciation, sexual satisfaction, perceived-partner satisfaction, and conflict (Joel et al., 2020).

Securing Your Relationship: Quality of Intimate Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic Can Be Predicted by Attachment Style.

The COVID-19 pandemic along with the restrictions that were introduced within Europe starting in spring 2020 allows for the identification of predictors for relationship quality during unstable and stressful times. The present study began as strict measures were enforced in response to the rising spread of the COVID-19 virus within Austria, Poland, Spain and Czech Republic. Here, we investigated quality of romantic relationships among 313 participants as movement restrictions were implemented and subsequently phased out cross-nationally. Participants completed self-report questionnaires over a period of 7 weeks, where we predicted relationship quality and change in relationship quality using machine learning models that included a variety of potential predictors related to psychological, demographic and environmental variables. On average, our machine learning models predicted 29% (linear models) and 22% (non-linear models) of the variance with regard to relationship quality. Here, the most important predictors consisted of attachment style (anxious attachment being more influential than avoidant), age, and number of conflicts within the relationship. Interestingly, environmental factors such as the local severity of the pandemic did not exert a measurable influence with respect to predicting relationship quality. As opposed to overall relationship quality, the change in relationship quality during lockdown restrictions could not be predicted accurately by our machine learning models when utilizing our selected features. In conclusion, we demonstrate cross-culturally that attachment security is a major predictor of relationship quality during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, whereas fear, pathogenic threat, sexual behavior, and the severity of governmental regulations did not significantly influence the accuracy of prediction.

Self-compassion mediates the link between attachment security and intimate relationship quality for couples navigating pregnancy.

Millions of couples navigate the transition from pregnancy to postpartum in a given year, and this period of change and adjustment in the family is associated with elevated risk for intimate relationship dysfunction. Self-compassion has the potential to promote skills that are essential for healthy adaptation (e.g., emotion regulation, greater openness and flexibility, and more awareness of the needs of oneself and one's partner). The overarching goal of the present study was to investigate the role of self-compassion in intimate relationship quality during pregnancy. A sample of 159 couples completed semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Parents engaging in more compassionate self-responding during pregnancy have higher-quality intimate relationships as measured across multiple facets-the degree of emotional intimacy and closeness in the relationship, adaptive conflict management and resolution, high-quality support in response to stress, and a high degree of respect and acceptance directed toward each other. Furthermore, compassionate self-responding emerged as a mediator of the link between attachment security and intimate relationship quality. Specifically, mothers who were higher in attachment anxiety reported lower levels of compassionate self-responding, which in turn undermined multiple dimensions of the intimate relationship. Furthermore, fathers who were higher in attachment avoidance practiced less self-compassion, which have deleterious consequences for the couple. These results provide implications that can inform conceptual frameworks of intimate relationship quality and clinical implications for interventions targeting the transition into parenthood.

Quality of intimate relationships, dyadic coping, and psychological health in women with endometriosis: Results from an online survey

ObjectiveTo explore the associations between intimate relationships, psychological health, and endometriosis-related variables such as pelvic pain and infertility. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, data were collected with an online survey delivered through Qualtrics and posted on the Facebook page and website of a patient association (Associazione Progetto Endometriosi—APE) in August 2020. The survey was composed of a researcher-made questionnaire and four validated questionnaires assessing relational satisfaction (adapted Quality of Marriage Index), dyadic coping (Dyadic Coping Questionnaire), and psychological health (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). ResultsParticipants were 316 women (age: 35.9 ± 6.7) with endometriosis, who reported being in an intimate relationship from at least one year. A greater perceived negative impact of the disease on past and current intimate relationships was associated with poorer psychological health, lower relational satisfaction and worse dyadic coping. Women who perceived their partner as more informed about endometriosis, more informed about and interested in their health conditions, and more likely to accompany them to the medical appointments, showed greater relational satisfaction and dyadic coping. Relational satisfaction and dyadic coping were associated with psychological health. A greater perceived negative impact of endometriosis on intimate relationships was associated with more severe pelvic pain (especially dyspareunia). ConclusionEndometriosis has a negative impact on intimate relationships, which is associated with poorer psychological health. For the women with the disease, partner's support is important, and our findings suggest that effort should be made to involve both members of the couple in multidisciplinary treatment.