Showing papers in "Couple and Family Psychology in 2016"
TL;DR: In this article, a family stress-proximal process (FSPP) model is presented for examining the effects of parental incarceration on children, which situates parental incarceration as a stressor that influences psychological and proximal relational processes in the family.
Abstract: A Family Stress-Proximal Process (FSPP) model is advanced for examining the effects of parental incarceration on children, which situates parental incarceration as a stressor that influences psychological and proximal relational processes in the family. Proximal processes encompass person–environmen
83 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a systematic review of couples-based approaches for intimate partner violence is presented, highlighting the potential for conjoint treatment to better address a subtype of violence that is not motivated by power and control.
Abstract: Gender-specific men-only interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV) have had limited success beyond the effects of arrest alone. This review outlines current U.S. state-mandated treatments for IPV, acknowledges how conjoint treatment may better address a subtype of IPV that is not motivated by power and control, examines and reviews previously conducted couples-based treatments, and highlights policy implications and future directions. Empirical findings and theoretical support for the Duluth model, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and IPV typologies are presented, followed by a systematic review of selected quasi- and true experimental studies on couples-based approaches for IPV. U.S. state guidelines that absolutely exclude conjoint approaches are overly restrictive, considering the poor evidence of effectiveness for current gender-specific groups. Further, the theoretical foundations of most men-only groups assume unilateral, male-to-female violence, which does not fit at least one-third of court-involved cases and leaves treatment needs of couples experiencing problematic relationship dynamics unmet. For a carefully screened subset of couples that experience predominantly "situational violence," conjoint communication and relationship skills training groups may be a viable alternative to the Duluth model and cognitive-behavioral men-only groups. Language: en
52 citations
31 citations
TL;DR: This review asserts that substantive advances in mental health services and intervention research with low income families must move beyond a between-group, deficit-focused perspective to a more nuanced contemplation of how to Operationalize the "income" in low-income families.
Abstract: Children have been particularly vulnerable to the economic challenges of the past decade, with half (45 to 51%) of children under the age of 18 living in a low-income home and nearly 22% of those living in poverty. Low-income children are overrepresented in a range of statistics on psychosocial maladjustment issues, but their families are less likely than other socioeconomic groups to participate in mental health services and intervention research. Thus, this review asserts that substantive advances in mental health services and intervention research with low income families must move beyond a between-group, deficit-focused perspective to a more nuanced contemplation of how to: 1) Operationalize the "income" in low-income families; 2) Disentangle the interrelationship of low income, race, and ethnicity; and 3) Optimize recruitment, engagement and retention efforts via sensitivity to the culture of low-income status. Examples of mental health services and intervention research with low-income families will be discussed, and a summary, conclusions, and directions for future research are discussed in the context of these recommendations.
19 citations
14 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the mediational role of perceived partner support in the association between romantic attachment and the use of psychological aggression in 210 couples seeking couple therapy was examined, and it was found that perception of lower partner support was related to more frequent use of emotional aggression in both the self and the partner.
Abstract: This study examined the mediational role of perceived partner support in the association between romantic attachment and the use of psychological aggression in 210 couples seeking couple therapy. Following the first therapy session, partners completed the Conjugal Support Questionnaire, the Experiences in Close Relationships and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale individually. As expected, path analyses based on the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006) revealed that, for both men and women, higher avoidance predicted their perception of lower partner support. Results also indicate that perception of lower partner support was related to more frequent use of psychological aggression in both the self and the partner. No significant association was found between attachment insecurities and the use of psychological aggression and, therefore, perceived partner support did not mediate this association. Methodological and clinical considerations of these results are discussed.
13 citations
13 citations
TL;DR: Figueiredo et al. as discussed by the authors provided a doctoral grant from FCT Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/50241/2009) to the first author.
Abstract: Funding for this work was provided by a doctoral grant from FCT Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia(SFRH/BD/50241/2009) to the first author, and also by FEDER Funds through the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE and by National Funds through FCT Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia under the project PTDC/SAU/SAP/116738/2010 (PI Barbara Figueiredo). We thank the couples that collaborated in this study. We also thank the researchers involved in data collection, and Iva Tendais who assisted in data analysis.
12 citations
11 citations
TL;DR: Results suggest that MF-PEP may be impactful for families affected by pediatric mood disorders in the community, especially among youth with bipolar disorder and families novice to treatment.
Abstract: Several psychosocial, family-focused Evidence-Based Treatments (EBTs) for youth with disruptive behavior have proven effective in practice settings. However, limited research has examined community implementation of EBTs for pediatric depression and bipolar disorder. This pilot open trial evaluated Multi-Family Psychoeducational Psychotherapy (MF-PEP) with 41 children ages 7 to 12 (54% male, 92% Caucasian) with mood disorders and their parents in an outpatient setting. MF-PEP is an 8-session, adjunctive EBT with parallel child and parent groups. Fourteen community therapists facilitated six MF-PEP groups at three agencies over two years. Developed checklists were used to evaluate adherence. Clinical outcomes were measured via clinician assessment and self-report questionnaires at pre-treatment, post-treatment, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up, and analyzed via hierarchical linear modeling. Therapist group adherence ranged from 66.71% to 78.68% (M = 72.14%, SD = 4.85). Children experienced significant improvement in depressive and manic symptoms, and parents reported a significant increase in knowledge of mood disorders. Children with bipolar disorder and families with limited treatment history benefitted most from MF-PEP. Effect sizes (Cohen's d) ranged from small to large for mood outcomes (d = 0.34 to 1.18), knowledge (d = 1.02), and treatment beliefs (d = 0.04 to 0.41). Limitations included small sample, missing data, and open design. Results suggest that MF-PEP may be impactful for families affected by pediatric mood disorders in the community, especially among youth with bipolar disorder and families novice to treatment. Randomized controlled trials are needed to provide more definitive evidence for the effectiveness of MF-PEP in practice settings.
8 citations
TL;DR: For women but not men, sexual revictimization may occur in the context of a new marriage, and these experiences are associated with increased trauma symptoms, which have implications for understanding female survivors' perceptions of risk.
Abstract: The present study examines whether individuals with a history of child sexual abuse are at risk of sexual revictimization in marriage and, if so, whether these experiences are associated with increased trauma symptomatology. Two hundred heterosexual newlywed couples were recruited from marriage license records and completed self-report assessments of past sexual victimization and sexual coercion within the marital dyad. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models revealed that, compared to non-victims, women with a history of child sexual abuse (CSA) experienced more acts of sexual coercion by their husbands during the past year. Moreover, there was a significant interaction between CSA and sexual coercion such that, among women who experienced CSA, the relationship between marital revictimization and trauma symptoms was stronger. Findings suggest that, for women but not men, sexual revictimization may occur in the context of a new marriage, and these experiences are associated with increased trauma symptoms. These findings have implications for understanding female survivors' perceptions of risk, and are particularly concerning given the high degree of personal and legal commitment involved in marriage.