Negative Relationship Quality Research Articles

Measurement of Social Strain in People with Dementia: A Preliminary Study of the Reliability and Validity of the Negative Relationship Quality Questionnaire in Indonesia.

People with dementia (PWD) may exhibit symptoms that negatively affect their relationships with their families or friends which could cause social strain. The Negative Relationship Quality (NRQ) questionnaire can be used to measure social strain in PWD. There has never been an Indonesian adaptation of the NRQ. This preliminary study aimed to measure the validity and reliability of the NRQ among PWD in Indonesia (NRQ-INA). This study used a cross-sectional design. Forward–backward translation methods were conducted first. Pearson’s correlation and factor analysis were employed for the validity test. Cronbach’s alpha and test–retest were used to determine reliability. The NRQ-INA has four parallel items related to social strain that are divided into three subscales and asked to spouse/partner, family members, and friends, leading to a total of 12 questions. The results of validity testing from 60 respondents showed that all items in the NRQ-INA were strongly valid with correlation coefficients (r) of >0.8 (p < 0.01). Factor analysis showed a convergence with the variance explained of more than 50% for all items in each subscale, which also indicated that NRQ-INA had acceptable construct validity to measure social strain. Cronbach’s alpha values (α) were 0.926, 0.942, and 0.938 for the subscales of spouse, friends, and family members, respectively. The correlations of test–retest reliability for all items were >0.7 (p < 0.01), demonstrating a reliable NRQ-INA measurement. In conclusion, NRQ-INA had a good validity and reliability to measure social strain in PWD. Further study of the concurrent validity among PWD is still needed.

Predictors of expressed, felt, and normative needs for informal caregiver counseling : Domestic care for people aged 65+ years.

Informal caregivers (CGs) often fail to recognize or express aneed for informal caregiver counseling (ICC) but ICC is an essential but relatively rarely used support service for CGs. Our aim is to identify predictors of CGs' need for ICC. Stirling etal.'s need model, which includes three needs (expressed, felt, and normative), serves as atheoretical basis. Analyses are based on cross-sectional data (n = 958) from the "Benefits of being acaregiver" study. Predictors of the need to use ICC were analyzed with binary logistic regression. Asensitivity analysis using multiple linear regression was performed for the metric value of normative needs. We found that 6.8% of CGs currently or have recently used ICC. This expressed need was related to higher education and higher effort in instrumental activities; 24.1% of CGs reported an intention to use ICC in the future. This felt need was related to male gender, lower care level, more problem-focused coping, and adesire for more informal help. Objective need for ICC (normative need), which was related to ahigher burden of care, less experienced benefits, and negative relationship quality, was reported by 21.4% of CGs. According to asensitivity analysis, higher education, adesire for informal help, and living in separate households also predicted anormative need for counseling. Current utilization is significantly lower than the subjectively perceived and objectively existing need for ICC. The identified predictors provide initial strategies for motivating more CGs to use ICC.

Lasting impact of relationships on caregiving difficulties, burden, and rewards

A burgeoning literature considers caregiving in a relationship context and examines how the quality of caregivers’ relationships with care recipients influences their own appraisals of caregiving. Yet, extant research has mostly relied on cross-sectional data and utilized a unidimensional approach to examining relationship quality. This study extended prior research by examining (a) how positive and negative relationship qualities are associated with changes in caregiving appraisals over time, and (b) whether these associations vary by care recipients’ age and disabilities. We examined a longitudinal cohort of caregivers ( N = 1,453, Mage = 62.11) from the National Study of Caregiving (wave 1: 2015, wave 2: 2017), in which caregivers rated positive and negative qualities of their relationships with care recipients aged 65+ ( N = 1,047, Mage = 82.89), and reported on difficulties, burden, and rewards while serving as caregivers. Path analyses revealed that negative relationship quality at wave 1 was associated with increased difficulties and burden of caregiving over time, whereas positive relationship quality at wave 1 was associated with increased caregiver rewards. The associations between relationship qualities and caregiving difficulties as well as rewards varied depending on care recipients’ age and disabilities. Having negative relationships with care recipients was only associated with increased difficulties for caregivers who had younger care recipients, whereas having positive relationships was only linked to increased rewards for those with older care recipients. We also found that positive relationships were significantly associated with increased rewards in caregivers whose care recipients had fewer disabilities. This study refines our understanding of the role relationship quality plays in caregiving and highlights the lasting effects of relationships with care recipients on caregivers’ appraisals. Findings may help identify caregivers at greater risk for negative outcomes and suggest incorporation of relationship therapies in interventions to facilitate affection and attenuate conflicts in caregiving relationships.

Assessing Children's Relationships with Pet Dogs: A Multi-Method Approach.

Relationships with pet dogs are thought to provide substantial benefits for children, but the study of these relationships has been hindered by a lack of validated measures. Approaches to assessing the quality of children's pet dog relationships have tended to focus on positive relationship qualities and to rely on self-report questionnaires. The aim of this study was to develop and test multiple measures that could be used to assess both positive and negative features of children's relationships with pet dogs. In a sample of 115 children ages 9-14 years who were pet dog owners, we assessed six qualities of pet dog relationships: Affection, Nurturance of Pet, Emotional Support from Pet, Companionship, Friction with Pet, and Pets as Substitutes for People. All qualities were assessed with child questionnaires, parent questionnaires, and child daily reports of interactions with pets. We found substantial convergence in reports from different observers and across different measurement approaches. Principal components analyses and correlations suggested overlap for many of the positive qualities, which tended to be distinct from negative relationship qualities. The study provides new tools which could be used to test further how relationships with pets contribute to children's development.

Financial Problems in Established Adulthood: Implications for Depressive Symptoms and Relationship Quality with Parents.

Using two waves of data from the Family Exchanges Study (2008 and 2013), this study examined changes in financial problems before and after the Great Recession and investigated the implications for adults’ depressive symptoms and relationship quality with parents. Participants in established adulthood (N = 170, age 30–46 in 2013) provided information about their financial difficulties and depressive symptoms, as well as negative relationship quality with each parent (parent–child tie; N = 316) at baseline and 5 years later. Results showed that a growing number of participants experienced financial problems between the two waves, rising from 16 to 72% of participants. Moreover, 14% of participants indicated continuing financial problems and 33% reported decreased income over the 5 year observation period. Financial problems at baseline, continuing financial problems across the observation period, and decreased income over time were associated with participants’ increased depressive symptoms, after controlling for their baseline depressive symptoms. Results from multilevel models also revealed that adult participants had more strained relationships with their parents if they experienced more financial problems at the follow-up interview. The harmful effect of financial problems on relationship quality with parents was partially explained by adult participants’ depressive symptoms. Findings of this study highlight the important role of financial hardship for persons in established adulthood and their intergenerational ties.

Negative messages from parents and sisters and Latina college students’ body image shame

Using the sociocultural model and risk and resilience theory, we examined the moderating role of Latinas’ family relationship quality on the associations between negative eating and weight messages from fathers, mothers, and sisters, and Latinas’ body image shame. Utilizing Amazon Mechanical Turk, we recruited a sample of 195 Latina young adults (Mage = 23.24, range = 18 −25; SD = 1.95; 67.4 % Mexican-origin) who reported retrospectively on negative appearance-related messages from each family member (i.e., fathers, mothers, and sisters), positive (e.g., parental warmth and sibling intimacy) and negative (i.e., parental psychological control and sibling negativity) relationship quality with parents and sisters, and current body image shame. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that negative eating and weight messages from fathers, mothers, and sisters and sibling negativity were positively and significantly associated with Latinas’ body image shame. Further, we found that under conditions of high paternal psychological control but not low, the associations between fathers’ messages and Latinas’ body image shame were strengthened. For mothers, under conditions of low maternal psychological control but not high, the associations between mothers’ messages and Latinas’ body image shame were strengthened. Our findings reveal that family members’ negative comments are harmful for Latinas’ body image.

Changes in Relationship Quality in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations with Pandemic Stressors and Couple Communication

Little is known about how positive relationship quality (PRQ) and negative relationship quality (NRQ) changed in the context of romantic relationships during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adults in relationships (N = 359) completed self-report measures between April and August of 2020. Participants experienced early increases in both PRQ and NRQ, followed by uniform decline in PRQ but a more variable trajectory of NRQ across couples. Higher NRQ was generally associated with greater pandemic impacts and greater fear of COVID (this latter association weakened over time). Supportive COVID-related communication was associated with higher PRQ and lower NRQ.

The role of sensory processing sensitivity in the longitudinal associations between relationship qualities with parents and peers and externalizing behavior in adolescence

Some adolescents may be more likely to be influenced by parents and peers in their development of externalizing behavior than others. Recent research indicates that sensory processing sensitivity may underlie such differences in sensitivity to environmental influences, and specifically that individuals with higher sensory processing sensitivity may be similarly highly reactive to both negative and positive social contexts. Data from a two-wave, two-year longitudinal questionnaire study with 177 adolescents ( M age = 13.34 years, SD age = 1.05) were used to test the hypothesis that the associations between negative relationship quality with parents and best friend and later increased adolescents’ externalizing behavior and between support from parents and best friend and later decreased adolescents’ externalizing behavior would be stronger for adolescents with higher sensory processing sensitivity. Our hypothesis was partly confirmed, with results showing that a stronger negative relationship quality with best friend was only predictive of a subsequent increase in externalizing behavior for adolescents who scored higher on sensory processing sensitivity. More research is needed to investigate whether sensory processing sensitivity functions as a trait that is associated with increased sensitivity to environmental stimuli regardless of valence, especially in the context of negative and positive social exposures such as peer and parent environments.

Adult Sibling Tension and Older Mothers’ Psychological Well-Being: The Moderating Role of Caregiving

The life course perspective concept of “linked lives” suggests that the lives of adult children and older parents are interconnected and consequential for the well-being of members of both generations. In this work, we consider the association between tension among adult siblings and older mothers’ psychological well-being. We focus specifically on tension in the adult sibling relationship because research has shown that negative relationship quality is especially consequential for well-being. We consider this association in the context of caregiving because this is a time when offspring are often required to coordinate with each other to provide assistance. We utilized data from 304 older mothers (average age = 78) and 736 of their adult children (average age = 49) from the Within-Family Difference Study (WFDS) II. First, we examined the direct association between adult sibling tension and mothers’ reports of depressive symptoms. Second, we examined whether the association between sibling tension and mothers’ depressive symptoms was moderated by mothers’ need for care. Preliminary results indicated no direct effect of sibling tension on mothers’ depressive symptoms. However, moderation analysis revealed that sibling tension was associated with an increase in mothers’ depressive symptoms among mothers who reported needing assistance. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the interconnected nature of adult family relationships especially in the context of later-life family caregiving. In particular, the findings reveal that older mothers in need of care are especially vulnerable to tension in the relationships among their adult children.

Adolescent Adjustment During COVID-19: The Role of Close Relationships and COVID-19-related Stress.

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, adolescents’ typical social support systems have been disrupted. The present study examined adolescent adjustment during the pandemic (summer, 2020) while controlling for pre‐pandemic adjustment (2017–2018) in 170 youth (ages 12–20) from Missouri and Florida. We also examined whether positive and negative relationship qualities with four close others (i.e., mothers, fathers, siblings, and best friends) interacted with COVID‐related stress to impact adolescent adjustment. In general, we found that close relationships impacted adolescent adjustment in expected directions (i.e., positive relationships better for adjustment, negative relationships more detrimental), but while mothers and fathers impacted adolescent adjustment in largely similar ways to pre‐pandemic studies, influences of relationships with best friends and sibling were more impacted by COVID‐related stress.

Romantic partners’ weight criticism and Latina/o/x young adults’ relationship instability

Negative interactions between romantic partners, such as when one partner criticizes another about their weight, are associated with poor relationship outcomes. The purpose of the study was to examine associations between romantic partner weight criticism, romantic relationship quality, gender, and Latinx young adults’ romantic relationship instability. Participants were recruited from a Qualtrics panel and completed 30-minute surveys online. The sample included 475 Latinx young adults (60% women; Mage = 24.80 years, SD = 3.22; 66% Mexican) who reported on their experiences of romantic partner weight criticism, positive romantic relationship quality (e.g., intimacy, affection, nurturance), negative romantic relationship quality (e.g., conflict, antagonism), and relationship instability. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the study goals. Overall, weight-related criticism was more strongly associated with romantic relationship instability for men than for women. Further, for men, associations between weight criticism and romantic relationship instability were also particularly strong in the context of low levels of negative romantic relationship quality compared to high levels of negative romantic relationship quality.

Associations between relationship quality and treatment-related stress among couples receiving methadone for opioid use disorder

BackgroundSocial relationships may buffer or exacerbate stress among patients receiving methadone treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Little is known, however, about how relationship quality is linked to treatment-related stress among couples in which both partners receive methadone. We considered the links between relationship quality and treatment-related stress among couples in methadone treatment for OUD. MethodsParticipants for this cross-sectional observational study included 60 heterosexual married or cohabiting couples aged 18 and older drawn from two opioid treatment programs in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Both partners completed a self-administered survey which assessed their sociodemographic information, relationship and treatment characteristics, and perceived treatment-related stress. We estimated actor-partner interdependence models to evaluate the links between each partner's perceptions of relationship quality (with their partner and their closest family member or friend) and treatment-related stress. ResultsWhen their partners reported a more positive partner relationship, women had lower treatment-related stress. When women reported a more positive relationship with their own closest family member or friend, both women and their partners had lower treatment-related stress. When men perceived a more positive relationship with their closest family member or friend, their partners reported greater treatment-related stress. Negative relationship quality was not significantly linked to treatment-related stress. ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of considering how social relationship quality might impact the experiences of couples receiving methadone for OUD. In particular, women's close relationships may help to mitigate treatment-related stress.

Mindfulness, perceived partner responsiveness, and relationship quality: A dyadic longitudinal mediation model

General and domain-specific (e.g., relationship-specific) mindfulness frequently predict salutary relationship outcomes. The present preregistered study examined whether general and relationship mindfulness predicted longitudinal change in positive and negative relationship quality via greater perceived partner responsiveness (PPR). One hundred couples completed a baseline lab session (Phase 1), a 14-day diary period (Phase 2), and a 2-month follow-up survey (Phase 3). Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model analyses revealed that actors’ Phase 1 relationship mindfulness—but not general mindfulness—predicted increases in their own positive relationship quality from Phase 1–3 and decreases in their own negative relationship quality from Phase 1–3 indirectly via their own Phase 2 PPR. An exploratory alternate model testing if Phase 1 PPR predicted changes in Phase 1–3 relationship quality via Phase 2 relationship mindfulness did not reveal significant indirect effects. All results held when controlling for gender, age, and relationship length, and no partner effects emerged in any analysis. These findings further elucidate the relationship-enhancing role of mindfulness in couples and highlight PPR as a critical mediator explaining the link between domain-specific mindfulness and relationship quality. Implications for mindfulness-based training programs for couples are discussed.

Dislocated College Students and the Pandemic: Back Home Under Extraordinary Circumstances.

ObjectiveThis research examines college students' experiences of dislocation during the COVID‐19 pandemic.BackgroundDue to governmental stay‐at‐home orders during the pandemic, families with “dislocated” (compelled to return home) college students would likely encounter unique stressors while also being limited in their normal ways of coping.MethodsUsing an online survey, the current study sought to discover how diverse individual characteristics and family living situations of 323 dislocated students associated with varying homelife experiences (e.g., intrusive parenting, students making an extra effort to spend time with family), and how such experiences associated with relationship changes during the quarantine.ResultsAnalyses detected some differences in the students' homelife experiences based on background and living situations, especially related to being a first‐year student, having been excited about returning home, and feeling accepted by parents about being home. Negative family relationship quality during the quarantine was most predicted by negative attitudes from students and parents about students being home, the student feeling less adultlike (based on treatment and own identity conception), and having low autonomy.ConclusionReturning home for quarantine was challenging for most students, and circumstances and attitudes appeared to contribute to how such challenges associated with family relationship changes.ImplicationsImplications for practitioners and universities are discussed in regard to preparing college students and their families for similar conditions.

Relating from the past or the Present: Relationship Mindfulness as a Mediator Linking Childhood Maltreatment to Adult Relationship Quality

Childhood maltreatment can leave adults vulnerable to relationship problems. Relationship mindfulness has been shown to promote relational wellbeing increasing the positive relationship quality and decrease negative relationship and may be a mediator. Using a sample of 106 adults, results of the structural equation modeling indicate that the indirect (mediated) effects from childhood maltreatment to both positive and negative relationship quality through relationship mindfulness were significant. Direct effects from maltreatment to positive and negative relationship quality were both non-significant. Based on the results of the study, clinicians are encouraged to use couple-based mindfulness interventions among adults with a history of maltreatment.

Longitudinal changes in HRV across pregnancy and postpartum: Effect of negative partner relationship qualities

During pregnancy, there are significant physiological changes to support a healthy fetus. Parasympathetic activity normatively decreases across pregnancy, and psychological stress can promote even further decreased heart rate variability (HRV). This study evaluated (1) changes in vagally-mediated HRV from pregnancy to postpartum, (2) changes in vagally-mediated HRV from pregnancy to postpartum based on negative partner relationship qualities, and (3) changes in depressive symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum based on negative partner relationship qualities. 78 participants in their 3rd trimester self-reported their relationship quality with their partner at the first visit. Depressive symptoms and vagally-mediated HRV were evaluated at rest at five time points from 3rd trimester to 12 months postpartum. On average, the only significant increase in vagally-mediated HRV occurred between the 3rd trimester and 4–6 weeks postpartum. However, those who reported more negative partner relationship qualities during their 3rd trimester of pregnancy maintained lower vagally-mediated HRV levels across all of the first year postpartum and significantly lower vagally-mediated HRV at both 4 and 8 months postpartum as compared to people who reported fewer negative partner relationship qualities. Across the first year postpartum, people reporting more negative partner relationship qualities experienced more severe depressive symptoms than their counterparts with fewer negative partner relationship qualities; however, there was no difference in the rate of change of depressive symptoms across the first year postpartum based on negative partner relationship qualities. Because lower vagally-mediated HRV is associated with depressive symptoms, future work should explore the temporal relationship between vagally-mediated HRV and depressive symptoms in the postpartum period.

Cool, Calm, and Collected: The Associations Between Self-Leadership and Adult Mental and Relational Health Outcomes

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an effective model of psychotherapy. The central concept of IFS is the Self, characterized by compassion, calm, and courage. The Self is theorized to reduce adult mental health problems and strengthen intimate relationships. The current study examined the associations between Self-Leadership and adult symptoms of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and dissociation as well as relational outcomes including positive relationship quality, negative relationship quality, and attributions. Results indicate that Self-Leadership was uniquely associated with of all mental and relational health outcomes. Helping clients increase Self-Leadership can reduce mental health symptoms and strengthen adult intimate relationships.

Online relationship education programs improve individual and relationship functioning: A meta-analytic review.

Online access to relationship enhancing educational resources are needed now more than ever, and there is a growing number of available programs for couples to choose. But, what is the evidence that these programs improve individual and relationship well-being? We conducted a meta-analysis, using random-effects, examining individual and relationship outcomes of online relationship education programs. We identified 12 publications included in the analysis, and found that online relationship education programs produced significant effects in increasing relationship satisfaction, communication skills, relationship confidence, positive relationship qualities, and decreasing negative relationship qualities. At the individual-level, we found that online relationship programs reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms, increased health satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Additionally, we found no differences related to gender, whether or not couples were identified as "distressed," whether or not the programs were "enhanced," or length of the program.

A Polish Adaptation and Validation of the Positive–Negative Relationship Quality (PN-RQ) Scale

The Positive–Negative Relationship Quality (PN-RQ) scale is used to test the quality of close relationships, taking into account their positive and negative dimensions. The aim of our study was to check the factor structure and criterion validity of the Polish version of this scale, and the possibilities offered by two-dimensional estimation of relationship quality. The validation study involved 740 people (369 female and 371 male) who were in romantic relationships. In addition to the PN-RQ scale, the respondents completed two other relationship quality measures: the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) and the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) attachment questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the bi-factor model is suitable for the multidimensional nature of PN-RQ. The results showed the following: high internal consistency of the subscales and the entire scale; compliance with the results obtained with RAS; the possibility of a nuanced assessment of the quality of close relationships, also taking into account the unique differences that arise as a result of anxious or avoidant attachment. The Polish version of the PN-RQ scale is characterized by good psychometric properties and measurement sensitivity; it could be useful in both research and clinical diagnostics.

Age Differences in Stress, Life Changes, and Social Ties During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Psychological Well-Being.

Background and ObjectivesExperiences of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its implications for psychological well-being may vary widely across the adult life span. The present study examined age differences in pandemic-related stress and social ties, and links with psychological well-being.Research Design and MethodsParticipants included 645 adults (43% women) aged 18–97 (M = 50.8; SD = 17.7) from the May 2020 nationally representative Survey of Consumers. Participants reported the extent to which they felt stress related to the pandemic in the last month, the extent to which their lives had changed due to the pandemic, as well as social isolation, negative relationship quality, positive relationship quality, and frequency of depression, anxiety, and rumination in the past week.ResultsResults showed that older people reported less pandemic-related stress, less life change, less social isolation, and lower negative relationship quality than younger people. Greater pandemic-related stress, life change, social isolation, and negative relationship quality were associated with poorer psychological well-being. Poorer social ties (i.e., greater social isolation and negative quality) exacerbated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (stress, life change) on psychological well-being.Discussion and ImplicationsResearchers have indicated that older adults may be more vulnerable to COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and social isolation, but this study indicates that young adults may be relatively more vulnerable. Because isolation and negative relationship quality appear to exacerbate the deleterious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being, reducing social isolation and negative relations are potential targets for intervention.