Coordination of caregivers' (N = 50, five fathers and 45 mothers) and 9-month-old infants' (15 girls, 34 boys, one not reported) gaze during naturalistic play with a puzzle and activity board was examined using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model within a Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling framework. This approach allows for the simultaneous estimation of each partner's effect on their own subsequent looking and on their partner's subsequent looking. Analysis of gaze data from head-mounted eye trackers worn by North American, middle-class, racially and ethnically diverse caregivers and infants (21 infants and 25 parents were White and not Hispanic; the remaining identified as Asian, Black, Multiracial, or another race, and/or as Hispanic) revealed that infants' and caregivers' looks at a moment was related both to their own subsequent looks and to their partners' subsequent looks. Moreover, infants' looks to their parents' faces more strongly predicted parents' subsequent looks to their infants' faces than the reverse, suggesting that mutual gaze was primarily driven by infants' attention. In contrast, there was no difference in infants' or parents' influence on their partners' looking at objects, indicating that joint attention emerged through mutual coordination. Furthermore, there was a stronger effect of gaze on subsequent gaze for infants than for parents, suggesting that infants' attention was more sustained and less flexible than that of their caregivers. This work highlights the co-constructed nature of the moment-to-moment coordination of attention between caregivers and infants. SUMMARY: We applied the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model within Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling to capture second-by-second coordination of attention between caregivers and their 9-month-old infants. We replicated in two naturalistic play settings that infants rarely look at parents' faces and look more towards objects than caregivers. We demonstrated that parents and infants influence each other's subsequent in-the-moment attention during episodes of mutual gaze and joint attention. Mutual gaze was primarily infant-driven, whereas object-focused joint attention was reciprocal between partners; infants also showed "stickier" attention than caregivers.

Self-control in romantic dyads: Does my partner's self-control help my own goal pursuit?

Fear of fat may reflect concern regarding rejection one may experience at a higher weight. Peers play a major role in socialization and support during adolescence and young adulthood. While studies have highlighted peers as an important source of influence underlying disordered eating, it is unclear whether one's own fear of fat or peers' fear of fat is associated with concerns about weight, shape, eating, and eating behaviors. The present study used data from 94 female friend pairs (mean age = 20.18, SD = 1.77). Actor-partner interdependence models were conducted to explore the extent to which one's own fear of fat predicted their own dietary restraint, weight concerns, shape concerns, eating concerns, and thin-ideal internalization (actor effects), as well as the extent to which the individual's friend's fear of fat predicted the individual's dietary restraint, weight concerns, shape concerns, eating concerns, and thin-ideal internalization (partner effects). The Antifat Attitudes Questionnaire was used to assess fear of fat. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire was used to assess dietary restraint and weight/shape/eating concerns. The Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire-4 was used to assess thin-ideal internalization. BMI was included as a covariate. Findings demonstrated robust actor effects, whereas partner effects were small and/or non-significant. Results highlight that one's own attitudes about weight are stronger predictors of their dietary restraint, weight/shape/eating concerns, and thin-ideal internalization. These results might further suggest that an individual's perception of their peers may be a stronger predictor of their disordered eating than their peers' objective attitudes.

Background Schizophrenia is a chronic and relapsing mental disorder that is consistently associated with a severely diminished quality of life (QoL) for patients. Existing research has predominantly focused on how the stigma experienced by patients with schizophrenia relates to their own QoL. However, stigma among family caregivers has received considerably less attention, and its potential association with patients’ QoL, in particular, remains underexplored. Therefore, this study aims to systematically analyze the dyadic associations of stigma—as experienced by both patients with schizophrenia and their family caregivers—with QoL, utilizing an actor-partner interdependence model (APIM). Through this framework, this study seeks to explore the interdependence of stigma between patients and their family caregivers and its correlational links to their quality of life. Methods Two hundred and sixty-four pairs of schizophrenic patients and their family caregivers were included, and the subjects’ stigma was measured using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale and the Conjunctive Stigma Scale, respectively, and the quality of life was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Measurement Short Form. The actor-partner effect of stigma on quality of life was explored by constructing an actor-partner reciprocity model. Results The actor effect of stigma on quality of life was significant for people with schizophrenia and their family caregivers (β=-0.472, p < 0.001, β=-0.779, p < 0.001), and the partner effect of stigma on quality of life was significant for people with schizophrenia and their family caregivers (β=-0.128, p = 0.033, β=-0.419, p < 0.001). Conclusion In future research and interventions aimed at improving the quality of life for people with schizophrenia and their caregivers, it is important to consider not only the individual’s own stigma, but also how the other person’s stigma is associated with one’s quality of life.

Few studies have examined how new parents adjust to the daily challenges of the transition to parenthood. Attachment theory posits that the combined workings of the attachment, caregiving, and sexual systems underlie relationship quality. This theory could clarify why some new parents struggle more than others in their daily efforts to navigate the transition to parenthood. This dyadic study's aim was to investigate the moderating roles of daily perceived partner support and sexual satisfaction in the associations between prenatal attachment and daily relationship satisfaction in the early postpartum period. A sample of 195 new parent couples answered online questionnaires during the second trimester of pregnancy (prenatal attachment-related anxiety and avoidance), followed by 14 daily diaries at 4 months postpartum (daily perceived partner support, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction). Actor and partner effects were examined with multilevel moderation analyses. Results revealed negative direct associations between both prenatal attachment insecurities and postpartum relationship satisfaction, whereas postpartum sexual satisfaction and partner support each showed positive direct associations with relationship satisfaction. Four moderation effects of sexual satisfaction emerged in the associations between prenatal attachment insecurities and daily relationship satisfaction. One's own higher sexual satisfaction buffered the negative role of one's attachment avoidance and anxiety, whereas one's partner sexual satisfaction did not confer this protective effect. Partner support moderated the association between attachment-related avoidance and relationship satisfaction. These results highlight the importance of exploring partners' attachment orientations and needs and of routinely monitoring perceived support and sexual satisfaction when working with couples welcoming their first child. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Infidelity is a challenging presenting concern in couples therapy, yet relatively little outcome research has examined treatment effects using analytic approaches that account for interdependence between partners. The present study examined the pre–post changes in relationship, psychological, and infidelity-related outcomes among couples receiving Gottman Method Couples Therapy (GMCT) for infidelity, using a dyadic framework. Method: Data were drawn from 35 couples (n = 70 individuals) who completed GMCT following infidelity. Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling (APIM) for distinguishable dyads were estimated to examine associations between partners’ pre-treatment functioning and post-treatment outcomes, allowing estimation of actor effects, partner effects, and residual covariances. Results: Statistically significant pre–post improvements were observed for both partners. Partner effects emerged selectively, with IP baseline trust and commitment associated with UP post-treatment trust and commitment. Bidirectional partner effects were observed for conflict-related behaviors, including repair attempts and hostile communication. Significant residual covariances were observed for relationship satisfaction, indicating correlated change across partners. Conclusion: The observed patterns indicate that pre–post change following infidelity treatment includes both shared and partner-specific associations across relational, emotional, and behavioral domains. Dyadic analytic approaches provide a framework for characterizing treatment-associated change in couples therapy while accounting for partner interdependence.

BackgroundSouth Asian Americans are at high risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). South Asian populations are typically close-knit communities, with support networks that could be leveraged in lifestyle interventions.ObjectiveThis study was a single-arm, pre-post pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a culturally tailored telehealth intervention for South Asian adults with prediabetes or T2DM and their social partners (trusted household members) who agreed to complete preintervention and postintervention surveys.MethodsParticipants attended 5-hour-long health education sessions delivered in English and Bengali. Participant outcomes included pre-post changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), BMI, blood pressure (BP), self-reported minutes of physical activity, and dietary choices at baseline and at the 6-month follow-up. For social partners, outcomes included pre-post survey changes in physical activity and dietary choices. We used Pearson chi-square tests and paired 2-tailed t tests to compare baseline measures with postintervention outcomes.ResultsThis pilot study included 54 participants and 106 social partners in Atlanta, Georgia, between March 2021 and November 2023. All participants were Bangladeshi and spoke native Bengali. Social partners were most commonly participants’ children (39/106, 36.8%) or spouses (34/106, 32.1%). The participant baseline HbA1c level was 7.5% (SD 1.48%), which decreased by −0.83% (95% CI 0.42%-1.30%; P<.001). Participants also improved systolic BP by −5.8 mm Hg (95% CI 0.196-11.37; P=.04) with no change in diastolic BP (−0.451 mm Hg, 95% CI −1.49 to 2.39; P=.60) or BMI (−0.642 kg/m2, 95% CI −1.87 to 0.59; P=.17). Compared with baseline, 39% more participants exercised at least 150 minutes weekly (P<.001), but there was no difference in self-reported fruit and vegetable intake. However, the social partners increased fruit and vegetable intake (P=.02), decreased soda intake (P<.001), and increased daily moderate exercise (P=.003).ConclusionsIncluding social partners in T2DM prevention and management is feasible and potentially beneficial, but comparative studies are needed to determine the incremental effects of social partners’ participation vs individual-focused lifestyle interventions.

This study investigated the actor-partner effects of social well-being, financial well-being, marital satisfaction, and support on psychological well-being in husband-and-wife dyads with interfaith marriages. In this quantitative cross-sectional study, the study sample consisted of 127 interfaith couples from India. Dyadic data, collected separately from husbands and wives, were analyzed using the APIM_SEM. The APIM results identified that husbands’ and wives’ social and financial well-being, marital satisfaction, and support had an actor effect on their psychological well-being, while partner effects were observed only with men’s social support and men’s and women’s community support. This study underscores the multifaceted effects on psychological well-being in husband-wife dyads with interfaith marriages.

Healthy lifestyle synergy and its association with overweight and obesity among parent-child dyads.

Despite growing evidence of its role in individual well-being, little is known about how self-compassion influences parent-child interactions, particularly interpersonal and reciprocal processes. Integrative models that combine self-compassion, emotion regulation, and cognitive flexibility are needed to understand how these characteristics affect family dynamics. To cover theoretical and methodological gaps, this study analyzes longitudinal dyadic associations between self-compassion, emotion regulation difficulties, and cognitive flexibility in parent-child relationships. To this end, the Longitudinal Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (L-APIM) was employed as a dyadic analytic approach. The study sample comprised 248 adolescents and one of their parents (N = 496) residing in Türkiye. According to the analysis results, at the actor effects level, adolescents' self-compassion positively affects their cognitive flexibility, while parents' self-compassion negatively affects their own difficulties in emotion regulation. At the partner effects level, adolescents' self-compassion negatively affects their parents' difficulties in emotion regulation, while parents' self-compassion positively affects their children's cognitive flexibility. These results reveal that self-compassion has cognitive and emotional effects on the psychological functioning within the family and that an individual's internal resources play a decisive role not only for themselves but also for the psychological processes of family members with whom they have close relationships. These findings suggest that self-compassion intervention research should consider family psychological connections.

Relationship between anticipatory grief and dyadic coping in advanced cancer patients and their spouses: An examination based on the actor-partner interdependence model.

As with all types of relationships, romantic relationships will involve at least occasional instances of interpersonal harm. When one partner commits a transgression against the other, how they respond next may influence whether the situation resolves or escalates. Research has identified three main response patterns to interpersonal transgressions-self-forgiveness, self-exoneration, and self-condemnation-each with potential relationship consequences that may either support or hinder the relationship. We examined these three response tendencies with romantic partners to understand their dyadic effect on relationship quality. In our sample of 216 adults in 108 heterosexual romantic relationships of at least 1 year, we found actor and partner effects for both trait self-forgiveness and trait self-exoneration. One partner's level of trait self-forgiveness positively predicted both their own and their partner's relationship quality, and the level of trait self-exoneration negatively predicted both their own and their partner's relationship quality. Self-condemnation was not a significant predictor in our model. We did not find any sex differences in our models. We discuss the implications of these findings for couples counseling and other contexts. We also discuss the potentially complicated nature of self-condemnation in relationship functioning, addressing ways it could both help and hinder some aspects of the relationship. Overall, this study highlights the potential benefits of promoting self-forgiveness and reducing self-exoneration tendencies on relationship quality for both partners in romantic relationships where one partner has transgressed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

People in romantic relationships commonly engage in sex not only to pursue their own pleasure but also to meet their partner's sexual needs. Being motivated to meet a partner's sexual needs has been shown to be beneficial for relationships. However, this benefit can be limited if it comes at the cost of people neglecting their own needs. In this context, the role of sexual assertiveness, as a component of sexual autonomy, may be crucial, as it reflects one's ability to communicate sexual needs and to reject unwanted sexual acts. Across two studies conducted in China, including an individual study (N = 692) and a dyadic study (N = 470), we extended previous findings from Western research that sexual communal strength was generally associated with greater ego-centered and partner/activity-centered sexual satisfaction, while unmitigated sexual communion was associated with greater sexual distress. Importantly, people with higher levels of sexual communal strength exhibited higher communication assertiveness but lower refusal assertiveness, which was in turn linked to sexual well-being. In addition, those with higher levels of unmitigated sexual communion showed lower levels of both types of sexual assertiveness, resulting in greater distress. We also found some significant partner effects. Given the collectivist cultural context of China, where responsiveness to others is highly valued, our findings highlight the nuanced role of sexual assertiveness in shaping the relationship between sexual communal motivations and sexual well-being. Results highlight the importance of balancing sexual responsiveness to a partner with autonomy, contributing to more satisfying and fulfilling relationships.

ABSTRACTObjectiveWith increasing long‐term survival among brain tumor patients, greater attention has shifted to disease‐related physiological and psychological challenges. This study aimed to describe illness perceptions and psychosocial adjustment in brain tumor patients and their primary caregivers; analyze dyadic actor‐partner interdependence using the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model (APIM); and explore how illness perception influences psychosocial adjustment within patient‐caregiver dyads.MethodsFrom August 2024 to March 2025, 216 brain tumor patient‐caregiver dyads were recruited via convenience sampling from two tertiary hospitals in Jiangxi Province, China. Illness perceptions and psychosocial adjustment were measured using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, respectively. APIM was employed using AMOS 24.0 to examine both actor effects (impact of an individual's illness perception on their own psychosocial adjustment) and partner effects (impact on their partner's adjustment).ResultsPatients reported lower illness perception scores (indicating less negative perceptions of illness) compared with caregivers, while psychosocial adjustment scores were higher in patients than in caregivers. APIM revealed significant actor effects, patients' illness perceptions positively associated with their psychosocial adjustment (β = 0.594, p < 0.001), and caregivers' perceptions similarly correlated with their adjustment (β = 0.660, p < 0.001). A significant partner effect showed patients' illness perceptions positively influenced caregivers' psychosocial adjustment (β = 0.072, p < 0.05), but not vice versa. Additionally, caregiver monthly income was a significant negative predictor of caregiver psychosocial adjustment (β = −0.869, p < 0.001), indicating that higher income was associated with better psychosocial adjustment in caregivers.ConclusionThese findings reveal significant interdependent psychosocial interactions between brain tumor patients and their family caregivers in the dyad. Multilevel interventions integrating dyadic psychological support with targeted economic assistance may reduce emotional distress, promote adaptive coping, and ultimately improve quality of life in neuro‐oncology care.

This study aimed to examine the actor and partner effects of dyadic coping (DC) on marital quality in young and middle-aged couples coping with cancer and the potential moderating role of gender at the actor and partner levels using actor-partner interdependence moderation models. A total of 229 couples completed the Quality of Marriage Index and the Dyadic Coping Inventory. The results revealed the following: (a) Both patients' and their spouses' positive DC interacted with their own marital quality. (b) While positive DC showed actor/partner effects unaffected by gender, negative DC exhibited gendered asymmetry: Husbands' negative DC was associated with lower female patients' marital quality (b = -0.216, p = .035), with wives' negative DC having no similar effect on male patients. Our study highlighted the important role of gender in understanding the relationship between DC and marital quality, especially in the processes of young and middle-aged couples coping with cancer. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Pregnancy is a critical period for emotional adjustment in expectant couples. Antenatal depression in pregnant women is associated with significant risks to maternal and infant health and warrants research attention. The mental health of expectant fathers during this period, which is equally important, remains relatively overlooked. Antenatal stress and marital satisfaction may be associated with antenatal depression through interpersonal dynamics within couples. This study examined the relationships among antenatal stress, marital satisfaction, and antenatal depression within the couple dyad, and tested whether marital satisfaction mediates this association. This cross-sectional study enrolled 244 couples at a maternal and child health hospital in China. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and Quality of Marriage Index. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model extended to Mediation was employed to analyze dyadic data, assessing both actor and partner effects. Structural equation modeling with bootstrap resampling was used to estimate direct and indirect effects. Significant gender differences were found in antenatal stress, marital satisfaction, and antenatal depression (P < 0.001), with pregnant women reporting higher levels. The APIMeM revealed significant actor effects: individuals' antenatal stress was positively associated with their own depression (β = 0.361, P < 0.001) and negatively associated with their own marital satisfaction (β=-0.065, P = 0.008). Individuals' marital satisfaction was negatively associated with their own depression (β=-0.116, P < 0.001). A significant partner effect was observed between individuals' stress and partners' depression (β = 0.048, P = 0.009). Marital satisfaction mediated the actor effect of stress on depression in wives (indirect effect β = 0.008, P = 0.005) but not in husbands. Additionally, marital satisfaction significantly mediated the partner effect of husbands' stress on wives' depression (indirect effect β = 0.005, P = 0.023). Individual antenatal stress was directly associated with both one's own and one's spouse's antenatal depression (actor and partner effects). Marital satisfaction was associated with the actor effect of antenatal stress on depression for wives, as well as the partner effect of husbands' stress on wives' depression. These findings suggest that early identification of stressors, promotion of positive marital interactions, and attention to emotional exchanges between partners are relevant to better antenatal mental health outcomes.

Social interactions are ubiquitous in nature and have the potential to affect trait evolution, particularly in group-living animals such as cooperative breeders. Interactions among conspecific individuals can affect the amount of additive genetic variation for a trait when the phenotype of an individual is also affected by the genotype of its social partner(s) via indirect genetic effects. Thus, quantifying both direct and indirect genetic effects of social partners is critical for understanding and predicting evolutionary trajectories. While much is known about maternal indirect genetic effects, empirical estimates of indirect genetic effects from other social partners remain limited, particularly in wild populations. Here, we use animal models to assess the contribution of indirect genetic effects from all social partners in a family group (mothers, fathers, and helpers) on juvenile morphometric traits across ontogeny in the cooperatively-breeding Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). We found indirect genetic effects of helpers and fathers on nestling weight, but no indirect genetic effect of mothers. Across ontogeny, we found increasing additive genetic variation in both weight and tarsus length. Our study provides a comprehensive assessment of within-group indirect genetic effects in a cooperative breeder and highlights the importance of considering indirect genetic effects beyond maternal effects.

Background: Managing heart failure (HF) can be challenging for rural dyads, potentially contributing to depressive symptoms. Coping resources may be important components for dyadic interventions targeting depressive symptoms.Purpose: To explore actor and partner effects of coping resources on depressive symptoms in rural HF dyads.Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 42 rural HF dyads using the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12, Social Problem-Solving Inventory Revised-Short, Global Family Function, Family APGAR, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scales. Data were analyzed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model.Results: Patients were 66.42 and caregivers were 60.83 years old. No partner effects noted. Significant actor effects for patients and caregivers between their own social support and depressive symptoms and their own problem-solving and depressive symptoms were found. There was also a significant actor effect between the caregivers' family satisfaction and depressive symptoms.Conclusions: Dyadic interventions that enhance coping resources are needed.

Schizophrenia poses significant challenges to the lives of individuals and to society. However, limited research has explored the relationship between stigma and quality of life in both patients with schizophrenia and their family caregivers. Furthermore, the potential mediating role of social support in the association between stigma and quality of life remains underexplored in this dyadic context. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the mediating effect of social support on the relationship between stigma and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia and their family caregivers, using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM). A total of 284 pairs of patients with schizophrenia and their family caregivers were recruited for this study. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale and the Affiliate Stigma Scale (ASS) were used to measure stigma in patients and their caregivers, respectively. Social support and quality of life were assessed using the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scale. An actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) was constructed to examine the actor and partner effects of stigma on quality of life, as well as the mediating role of social support. In terms of actor effects, patients' (β=-0.385, p < 0.001)and family caregivers' (β=-0.471, p < 0.001) stigma significantly affected their own quality of life.For the partner effects, patient's stigma significantly affected family caregiver's quality of life (β=-0.124, p = 0.002) and family caregiver's stigma significantly affected patient's quality of life (β=-0.125, p = 0.004). In the mediation model: patients' stigma affected their own and family caregivers' quality of life through their own social support (β=-0.092, p = 0.026; β=-0.017, p = 0.026); family caregivers' stigma affected their own quality of life through their own and patients' social support (β=-0.250, p < 0.001; β=-0.044, p = 0.028); family caregiver's stigma affects patient's quality of life through self and patient's social support ( β=-0.056, p = 0.024; β=-0.234, p < 0.001). Stigma significantly affected the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia and their family caregivers, with significant actor-partner effects between patients and family caregivers. In mediation analyses, patients' stigma was indirectly associated with the QoL of both themselves and their caregivers through its association with their own social support, whereas caregivers' stigma was indirectly associated with the QoL of both parties through its association with their own and the patients' social support. Therefore, in future research on interventions to improve the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia and family caregivers, it is important to consider not only the role of one's own sense of stigma, but also the mediating role played by social support in the impact of stigma on quality of life.

Emotional distress is common among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their caregivers, potentially impairing illness management and daily functioning. The psychological mechanisms underlying how depression, anxiety, and stress influence self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care remain unclear in IBD dyads. This study examined the dyadic associations between emotional distress and self-care behaviours in IBD, testing the mediating role of self-efficacy in both patients and caregivers. A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted in accordance with STROBE guidelines across nine Italian IBD units. Emotional distress was assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), self-efficacy using the Self-Care Self-Efficacy Scale (SCSES) for patients and the Caregiver Self-Efficacy in Contributing to Self-Care (CSE-CSC) for caregivers, and self-care behaviours using the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory (SC-CII) and its caregiver version (CC-SC-CII). The Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) with Bayesian estimation was applied to test direct and indirect effects while adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates. A total of 274 patient-caregiver dyads were enrolled. Patient depression showed credible indirect associations with self-care through lower self-efficacy. Anxiety showed weak and inconsistent associations, with only one credible negative total association between patient anxiety and patient self-care monitoring. Patient stress showed credible positive direct associations with patient self-care outcomes. Caregiver-to-patient partner effects were generally non-credible. Depression undermines self-care in IBD primarily via diminished self-efficacy, whereas patient stress may be linked to adaptive vigilance in patient self-care. Strengthening patient self-efficacy and addressing depressive symptoms may represent relevant targets for supporting self-care in individuals with IBD, while caregiver-focused strategies require further investigation in longitudinal or interventional designs.