Confirmation, Disconfirmation, and Communal Coping for Joint Physical Activity in Romantic Dyads.

Most people in the United States do not engage in sufficient physical activity (PA). However, certain communication behaviors from romantic partners can motivate PA. Research indicates that confirming communication and communal coping (CC) in romantic relationships can increase PA efforts, but less research has examined the role of explicitly disconfirming communication or relationships between confirmation, disconfirmation, and CC on PA outcomes. We examined models in which shared PA appraisals mediate relationships between (a) confirmation and (b) disconfirmation and joint PA behavior in heterosexual, romantic dyads. Sex differences in actor and partner effects were also considered. Partners (N = 144) in 72 dyads completed assessments of key constructs. Results indicated that shared PA appraisals were critical in the confirmation model, mediating relationships between perceptions of confirmation and reports of joint PA. Unexpectedly, both partners' reports of partner disconfirmation were positively associated with their partners' reports of joint PA. Only one statistically significant sex difference emerged. Theoretical and pragmatic implications are discussed.

Reactance to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Messages: Face Threat and Face Management Strategies in Memorable Daily Conversations Among Couples.

Most adults in the United States (U.S.) fail to meet guidelines for physical activity (PA) and nutrition outlined by the Centers for Disease Control. One important predictor of engagement in healthy behavior is support from one's romantic partner. However, messages from partners may fail to motivate healthy behavior if they threaten recipients' face and cause reactance. The present study examines face-threatening acts (FTAs) and face management strategies (FMSs) in conversations between romantic couples and their associations with reactance, healthy eating, and PA behaviors. Cohabitating couples (N = 70) were recruited, and one member of the couple completed a 10-day diary survey in which they reported on daily memorable conversations they had with their partner about PA and/or healthy eating. Participants completed measures of positive and negative face threat, as well as the extent to which they engaged in healthy eating and PA that day. Trained raters assessed reported conversations for positive and negative face threat as well as positive and negative FMSs. Results indicate that both participant and trained raters' reports of positive face threat were associated with increased reactance, whereas only participants' reports of negative face threat were associated with increased reactance. Both positive and negative FMSs were associated with reduced reactance. Reactance was negatively associated with healthy eating and PA. Results are discussed in terms of implications for reactance and politeness theories, as well as pragmatic implications for the millions of partnered individuals in the U.S. seeking to improve their health.

Family and Cultural Perceptions About Meat Consumption among Hispanic/Latino and White Adults in the United States.

The study examines the extent to which Hispanic/Latino Americans and non-Hispanic White Americans report that meat is an important aspect of their cultural beliefs and practices. An online national survey was completed using quota sampling to recruit approximately equal groups of U.S. Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic White Americans (n = 512). A path model predicting willingness to reduce meat consumption was estimated. Hispanic/Latino Americans viewed meat as a more integral aspect of their cultural food practices, and reported that meat dishes comprise a higher percentage of their culture's traditional foods. Cultural beliefs were associated with meat consumption and willingness to reduce meat consumption.

The Mediating Role of Family and Cultural Food Beliefs on the Relationship between Family Communication Patterns and Diet and Health Issues across Racial/Ethnic Groups.

Consumption of red meat has been linked to a variety of health issues, yet Americans are resistant to reducing their meat consumption. Family communication environments shape beliefs about food and meat consumption, and therefore are locations for potential interventions to change the way people think about food. Families are embedded in cultures, and both family and cultural norms shape beliefs about what people should eat. This study (N = 773) is interested in understanding how family communication is associated with food beliefs, meat consumption, and health issues across three racial/ethnic groups: Black/African American (n = 256), Hispanic (n = 260), non-Hispanic White (n = 257). Structural equation modeling results showed that conversation orientation was consistently associated with stronger endorsement of family cultural food beliefs across race/ethnicity groups. Family food beliefs were associated with either more health issues or more meat consumption depending on race/ethnicity and mediated the association between conversation orientation and health issues/meat consumption. Conversation orientation moderated the association between conformity orientation and food beliefs for Hispanic and non-Hispanic White participants. Implications for family communication patterns theory and health scholars are discussed along with recommendations for culturally tailored family-focused health interventions.

Multilayered social dynamics and depression among older adults: A 10-year cross-lagged analysis.

Depression in older adults is associated with decreased physical, cognitive, and social functioning, which in turn, are associated with increased mortality. Research has found that robust social networks can protect against depression, yet it is unclear whether the relationship between social ties and depression is reciprocal. Moreover, links between network connections at different social layers are not well understood. This study uses a representative sample with panel data collected between 2005 and 2016 to identify the influence of social network composition on subsequent depression and explore how various layers of human relationships (e.g., community vs. interpersonal level) influence one another. Results demonstrate multiple links between social connection and depression, and that the evolution of social networks in older adults is complex, with distinct mechanisms leading to positive and negative outcomes. Specifically, community involvement showed consistent benefits in reducing depression. In contrast, intimate partnerships appear to increase susceptibility to depression among older adults through exposure to the severe outcomes of partner loss. In addition, intimate partnerships reduce future interpersonal connections, whereas community involvement increases future interpersonal connections for older adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Confidant Network and Interpersonal Communication Associations with Depression in Older Adulthood.

Social networks contribute to the well-being and longevity of older adults, yet very little research to date has attempted to identify communicative mechanisms that explain the link between social networks and health. This study identified and tested two communicative mechanisms, openness and criticism, as mediators between confidant network size, confidant network density, and depression in a sample of 2,249 Americans over the age of 60. The data suggest that openness with friends and family mediate the relationship between network factors (size and density) and depression, while criticism from friends and family also mediate the relationship between network properties (size and density) and depression but less consistently (e.g., friend criticism only mediated the relationship with density). In general, network size appears to increase exposure to the positive outcomes of openness but also increase the negative outcomes of criticism; the role of network density is more complicated. The varied direction of the mediation associations are discussed along with implications for network and communication theorists and those who work with older adults.

Examining the Relationship Between Undergraduate Student Parent Social Support-Seeking Factors, Stress, and Somatic Symptoms: A Two-Model Comparison of Direct and Indirect Effects.

Approximately 4.8 million undergraduate students are also raising at least one child but only 26% of these student parents will graduate within six years. This study aimed to examine how academic and parenting stress influence the relationship between support-seeking factors (i.e., the costs of seeking support and communicated support availability) and somatic health symptoms such as headaches, sleep disruption, and exercise. Two parallel mediation models (n = 185 undergraduate student parents) are compared and revealed strong patterns of indirect effects. Intrapersonal and interpersonal costs indirectly influenced somatic symptoms through academic and parenting stress. Stress also mediated the relationship between support seeking factors and somatic symptoms. Theoretical implications and practical applications are discussed.