Family Process最新文献

Research and theory document links between sacrifices and commitment in couples, yet the direction of effects remains unclear. Whereas interdependence theorists suggest that sacrifices help couples to build commitment, other scholars have suggested that being committed leads partners to sacrifice for each other. Nearly all research in this area has focused on men and women in different-gender relationships with each other. We contribute to this literature by using dyadic daily diary data to examine associations between sacrifices and commitment as they unfold in a sample of same- (n = 85 couples; 170 individuals) and different-gender (n = 100 couples; 200 individuals) couples. We use concurrent and lagged models to examine (a) proximity of effects (same day vs. carrying over to next day) and (b) direction of effects (i.e., do sacrifices predict changes in commitment, and/or vice versa). Results showed that effects were largely proximal—only one significant lagged effect emerged—and these were specific to actor effects. Furthermore, effects were bidirectional, and different patterns emerged for same- and different-gender couples. For same-gender couples, sacrifices and commitment were negatively associated. For different-gender couples, on days they reported performing more sacrifices they reported higher commitment, but when they reported higher commitment, they reported doing fewer sacrifices the following day. Results highlight the importance of examining diverse couples specific to questions of proximity and direction of effects for sacrifices and commitment.

The purpose of this article is to introduce Balanced Parenting, a differentiation-based parenting approach informed by Bowen family systems theory. It is aimed at countering today's anxious, child-focused parenting culture and deconstructing attachment theory, which has been identified as contributing to this culture. The approach includes four main pillars: (a) deconstructing attachment theory, (b) the five principles of balanced parenting, (c) shifting the paradigm, and (d) steps toward change. Pillar one explains how attachment theory feeds anxious, child-focused parenting by ignoring parent autonomy and codependency between parent and child and underestimating children's ability to self-soothe. It also explains that attachment theory's claims are problematic due to lacking systemic thinking and not aligning with empirical research. Pillar two seeks to communicate Bowen theory's parenting perspective through five principles: mutual respect for autonomy, focus on self, child's self-reliance, improving couple relationships, and letting go of blame. Pillar three can help guide individuals shift their thinking from the attachment paradigm toward the Bowen theory paradigm. Pillar four communicates the steps reset, refocus, and redefine, which can help parents apply a Bowen theory perspective. This approach is expected to relieve parent guilt and burnout, foster children's well-being and healthy development, and promote genuine, lasting connection between parents and children.

The effects of the intergenerational continuity of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on youth outcomes have been documented, particularly among mother-child dyads. Most literature has focused on the continuity of family-level ACEs (Traditional ACEs [T-ACEs]) and not community-level ACEs (Expanded ACEs [E-ACEs]) that disproportionately impact minoritized individuals. We aimed to (a) examine the effect of mothers' and fathers' T-ACEs and E-ACEs on youth's T-ACEs and E-ACEs, respectively, and on youth's depressive and anxiety symptoms; (b) examine whether youth's own ACE exposure explains the link between parental ACEs and youth depressive and anxiety symptoms; and (c) explore differential risks by mothers versus fathers. We collected cross-sectional data from a community sample of Mexican-origin youth (M_age, 13.5 years; 51.7% males; 93.0% US-born), mothers (M_age, 41.4 years; 7.2% US-born), and fathers (M_age, 44.0 years; 5.1% US-born) from the Seguimos Avanzando project (167 youth-mother-father triads, 177 youth-mother/father dyads). Results showed that (a) fathers', but not mothers', T-ACEs and E-ACEs were associated with youth's T-ACES and E-ACEs, respectively, (b) youth's T-ACEs explained the association between fathers' T-ACEs and youth's depressive symptoms, and (c) only youth's E-ACEs were associated with anxiety symptoms. These findings highlight the greater need to understand how fathers' childhood experiences may impact outcomes across generations and that targeting youth's ACEs can reduce the pervasive effects of intergenerational continuity of ACEs.

Family members of people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often experience high levels of psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or burden. Family Connections (FC) is a pioneer program designed for relatives of people with BPD, and it is the most empirically supported treatment thus far. The aim of this study was to carry out a randomized clinical trial to confirm the differential efficacy of FC versus an active treatment as usual (TAU) in relatives of people with BPD in a Spanish population sample. The sample consisted of 121 family members (82 family units) and a total of 82 patients who participated in a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT). The primary outcome was burden of illness. Secondary outcomes were depression, anxiety, stress, family empowerment, and quality of life. This is the first study to evaluate relatives and patients in an RCT design comparing two active treatment conditions of similar durations. Although no statistically significant differences were found between conditions. However, the adjusted posttest means for FC were systematically better than for TAU, and the effect sizes were larger in burden, stress, depression, family functioning, and quality of life in the FC intervention. Patients of caregivers who received the FC condition showed statistically significant improvements in stress, depression, and anxiety. Results indicated that FC helped both patients and relatives pointing to the importance of involving families of patients with severe psychological disorders.

Power dynamics, generally defined as the patterns of partners enacting or resisting influence, are inherent in all relationships. Power structures and processes play a role in people's perceptions of themselves and others, their feelings and emotions, and both their implicit and explicit behaviors. As such, understanding power dynamics is crucial for fully conceptualizing and intervening within relationships. Although power was not always given high priority in many of the early systemic family therapy models, that has changed over the years, with scholars working to address how power is manifested in relationships, how power imbalances affect relationships, and how power can be addressed more explicitly in treatment. Nonetheless, there is much additional work needed to ensure that systemic therapists have an appropriate depth of understanding regarding power dynamics to fully recognize their manifestations in relationships and then intervene appropriately. To help in these efforts, this paper aims to synthesize relational power research into a more complete description of what power is and how it is enacted in couple relationships. To do this, we introduce relevant perspectives of power not fully integrated with family therapy theories. Overall, we provide a brief history of power-oriented research in the fields of family therapy, outline couple research regarding the sources of power that can inform therapeutic case conceptualizations and interventions, describe how power is addressed in specific couple therapy models, and highlight some important clinical applications that can help systemic therapists more fully address power.

Clinicians working with people suffering from psychological disorders involving emotional dysregulation often focus on treating the patient. To some extent, this is logical given the urgency and severity of the patient's problems. However, caregivers of these patients experience high levels of burden, depression, and other types of distress. Therefore, not caring for family members means first, neglecting these people who are also suffering, and secondly missing the opportunity to help patients from other perspectives focused on the context around them that can be very helpful. Currently, there is growing interest in studying interventions to help relatives of people with severe mental disorders. This special section presents some studies that analyze several variables that may influence the course of treatment, such as the influence of personality traits of parents of people with eating disorders and affective disorders or the family alliance for therapeutic change, and the level of hopelessness in family members of people with borderline personality disorders. Second, empirically supported interventions are presented for psychological disorders involving emotional dysregulation, for example, in relatives of people with borderline personality disorder and eating disorders. It is essential to make progress in the psychological care of people with psychological disorders and we think a good way to do this is to integrate into our clinical practice the possibility of offering skills training and psychoeducation to family members. So far, good results have been obtained, and we believe it is essential to disseminate these interventions among clinicians and researchers.

Divorce and remarriage rates have increased dramatically in China, and more children live in stepfamilies. There remain valuable opportunities to understand the various family and school assets that support the well-being of Chinese youth amid family structural transitions, such as the transition to stepfamily life. Using latent profile analysis, the current study seeks to identify patterns of youth support using seven family-related variables and two school-related variables as indicators among a sample of Chinese youth (N = 269; $M_{\mathrm{age}}$  = 14 years; 129 females and 117 males) residing with a parent and stepparent. Four profiles were identified: low support, academic focus/low support, moderate support, and high support. Results further demonstrated that youth in the moderate support profile had significantly better well-being outcomes compared to youth in the low support or academic focus/low support profiles; demographic characteristics such as low SES families and parents with lower education backgrounds were associated with the low support profile; and stepfamilies with stepfathers were overrepresented in the moderate support profile, whereas stepfamilies with stepmothers were overrepresented in the low support and academic focus/low support profiles. These findings can inform the development of interventions intended to bolster the well-being of Chinese adolescents in stepfamilies.

This scoping review provides an overview of empirical research concerning the association between parents' mentalization and child mental health (0–12 years of age). Specifically, it aims at synthesizing the evidence regarding to what extent mentalization (a) is a protective factor for child mental health, and (b) moderates the transgenerational transmission of psychopathology. A total of 73 studies were selected out of 5112 identified (duplicates excluded). The results hint at a relation between parent's mentalization and child mental health: 88% of the studies showed significant associations between predictor and outcome dimensions across a variety of samples, research procedures, and assessment measures. About the direction of the associations, almost all of them behave as expected, supporting the statement that children of parents with healthy mentalization skills tend to have better functioning and show less psychopathology. The evidence indicates that parents' healthy mentalization strengthens children's well-being and helps them cope with stressors more effectively so it is acting as a protective factor against mental health problems. Eleven studies found moderating roles of parents' mentalization in the transgenerational transmission of psychopathology. In a context where mental ill-health is mostly addressed only once there is a problem, these results suggest that fostering parents' mentalization in clinical but also in non-clinical settings could help to improve child mental health in terms of symptoms, functioning, and well-being, and stop the growing incidence of mental disorders across development.

Infidelity is any behavior that breaks the implied agreement of exclusivity within a romantic relationship and is a leading cause of divorce. Previous literature has established a relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and infidelity perpetration. As experiencing childhood adversity does not guarantee an individual will engage in infidelity, mechanisms explaining this relationship should be explored. We investigated whether avoidant and anxious attachment styles mediate the relationship between ACEs and cheating frequency. A sample of 584 participants aged 18-82 years (M = 35.31, SD = 11.68, 67.0% female) was recruited and completed online versions of the Childhood Experiences Survey-17, the Relationship Structures Questionnaire, and frequency of cheating behavior in their current or most recent relationship. After dichotomizing gender and testing assumptions, data from 553 participants were available for analysis. A parallel mediation provided support for the first hypothesis, and partial support for the second. Specifically, ACEs were positively associated with anxious and avoidant attachment styles, but only avoidant attachment was significantly and positively associated with cheating frequency. As such, only avoidant attachment acted in a manner consistent with a mediator in the relationship between ACEs and infidelity. This result suggests a potential link between childhood adversity and the development of both avoidant and anxious attachment styles, but that individuals with an avoidant attachment style are more likely to engage in infidelity. These findings provide insight into the role attachment styles play in infidelity post-childhood adversity, and have the potential to guide therapeutic interventions for affected individuals.