One year of COVID-19: A longitudinal study of individual and relational factors of psychological adjustment of individuals living in a romantic relationship in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This longitudinal study explored the impact of COVID-19 on individuals in romantic relationships. The sample spans three waves: first confinement (n = 52), deconfinement (n = 49), and second confinement (n = 26). The study tested sociodemographic factors, psychological adjustment (anxiety, depression, stress, well-being), COVID-19 threat perception, dyadic coping, and relationship quality. Results from repeated measures ANOVA and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) models revealed a decline in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms, coupled with improved relationship quality over time. Well-being and dyadic coping remained stable, while COVID-19 threat perception increased. QCA models emphasized the predictive power of initial mental states (anxiety, depression, stress, and well-being at W1) on subsequent adjustment. Notably, shorter relationship duration, healthcare worker status, and not having children, when combined with prior mental states, explained increased symptoms and diminished well-being. The study underscores the significance of addressing these factors in individuals navigating romantic relationships during the pandemic.

YES, WE COPE: Dyadic Coping as a Mediator Between Perceived Relationship Quality and Emotional Representation of COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about social changes that have impacted the functioning and dynamics of couples in a romantic relationship, arising from the overwhelming amount of added stress they have endured. Specifically, the divorce rate in Portugal has increased after lockdown, which underscores the adverse consequences of COVID-19 on couples. A lower quality of the couple's relationship may worsen the emotional representation of COVID-19; however, the literature suggests that perceived partner dyadic coping responses have a great influence on adverse events. The aim of the present study was to assess the mediating role of partner coping in the association between relationship quality and emotional representation of COVID-19. We also sought to observe whether the length of the relationship moderates this association. Methods: Participants (N = 528) were adults living in Portugal (84.7% female) currently in a romantic relationship with their current partner for at least 1 year. Online data collection. Results: We found that relationship quality predicted COVID-19 emotional representation, but this association was fully mediated by total dyadic coping. This association was especially significant in couples with a shorter length of time in the relationship. Conclusions: We point out the importance of dyadic coping as a protective factor against emotional distress to cope with the ongoing stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. These data suggest the need for relationship education programs that promote positive coping between partners. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10608-023-10379-4.

Cohesion and conflict for mothers during the pandemic: Results of the Portuguese version of the COVID-19 Household Environment Scale.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a worldwide event that has caused significant changes in the daily lives of individuals and families. The combined effect of the pandemic and the stress associated with major life cycle changes, such as the transition to parenthood, is yet to be understood. The aim of the current study was to validate the Portuguese version of the recently developed COVID-19 Household Environment Scale (CHES) and examine its psychometric properties in a sample of mothers who had given birth during the pandemic. The CHES is a self-report measure assessing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in household cohesion and conflict and includes two sections. Section 1 contains 25 descriptive items pertaining to sociodemographic and household characteristics and COVID-19 stressors. Section 2 encompasses household cohesion and conflict, assessing any change in household experiences and activities following the onset of social distancing. The participants consisted of 342 mothers, aged between 19 and 50 years (M = 31.43; SD = 4.38). A confirmatory factor analysis supported the original CHES bifactor structure of household cohesion and conflict, which obtained an acceptable fit (CFI = 0.900, RMSEA = 0.065). Correlations between household cohesion and conflict and family cohesion and dyadic coping contributed to developing the construct validity of this scale. Furthermore, both CHES subscales demonstrated very good internal consistency. Further research is warranted to assess the CHES in other cultural contexts. This is a useful tool to assess change in family households due to the unprecedented adverse pandemic experience.

Emerging adulthood and parent-child communication: a validation study with perception scale of parenting communication

Emerging adulthood has been described in literature as a new phase of individual and family life cycle. This new stage (18-25 years old) is characterized by identity configuration, instability, self-focused and feeling in between of emerging adults. Notwithstanding the theoretical relevance of this topic, there is a research gap about parent-child communication in this stage, perhaps because of the lack of appropriate measures. The purpose of this study was to validate a scale originally developed to assess parent-adolescent communication (Perception Scale of Parenting Communication) to this new stage of life cycle. A cross-sectional and descriptive design was used to explore the perception of 217 emerging adults (68.2% females) about communication with their parents. A new version of Perception Scale of Parenting Communication was designed with 17 items distributed by four factors (parental confidence/sharing, children confidence/sharing, emotional support/affective expression, and negative communication patterns), according to confirmatory factor analysis. Results showed that Perception Scale of Parenting Communication is a valid and consistent measure (α= .934 mother version; α= .923 father version) to assess parent-emerging adult communication. This study provides important implication for research and practice such as the design of a new tool to assess family communication in emerging adulthood stage

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[Characterization of parent-adolescent communication: a study of socio-demographic variables]. / Caracterização da comunicação entre progenitores e filhos adolescentes: estudo das variáveis sociodemográficas.

Parent-adolescent communication seems to depend largely of some socio-demographic characteristics. The main goal of this research is the analysis of parent-adolescent perception about their communication considering some socio-demographic variables: sex, residence, socioeconomic status, education and family composition. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used to analyze the perception of 336 parents and 268 children about the quality of communication using the Perception Scale of Parenting Communication.: It was revealed that: boys tend to share their problems mostly with fathers; mothers have better perception of communication; there weren't statistical differences on communicational conflict in the sex variable; members of high socioeconomic classes and urban contexts have better perception about communication; and adolescents of post-divorce families tend to share their problems mostly with mothers than adolescents of intact nuclear families. Considering the influence of some socio-demographic variables on parent-adolescent communication, it is possible design concrete clinical interventions. It suggests the need to pay attention to particular contexts (rural places and low socioeconomic classes). These results demystify the belief that post-divorce families have more difficulties than nuclear intact families.

Caracterização da comunicação entre progenitores e filhos adolescentes: estudo das variáveis sociodemográficas / Characterization of parent-adolescent communication: a study of socio-demographic variables

A comunicação estabelecida entre progenitores e filhos adolescentes parece depender, em grande medida, de algumas características sociodemográficas. Objetivo: Análise da comunicação em famílias com filhos adolescentes, considerando as variáveis: sexo, área de residência, nível socioeconómico, escolaridade e estrutura familiar. Método: Através de um desenho quantitativo/transversal, aplicou-se a Escala de Avaliação da Comunicação na Parentalidade a 336 pais e 268 adolescentes. Resultados: Verifica-se que: os rapazes tendem a partilhar os seus problemas com os progenitores do sexo masculino; as mães destacam-se na perceção de maior expressão do afeto/apoio emocional; não se registram diferenças significativas ao nível do sexo no conflito comunicacional; membros de classes socioeconómicas altas e de contextos urbanos percepcionam melhor comunicação; e filhos de famílias pós-divórcio revelam partilhar mais os seus problemas com as mães do que filhos de agregados monoparentais. Conclusões: A influência de algumas variáveis sociodemográficas sobre a comunicação permite o desenho de intervenções clínicas concretas, sugerindo a necessidade de se prestar maior atenção a contextos particulares (classes rurais e socioeconómicas baixas). Estes resultados desmistificam a crença de que as famílias pós-divórcio têm mais dificuldades do que famílias nucleares intactas.

Parent-adolescent communication seems to depend largely of some socio-demographic characteristics. The main goal of this research is the analysis of parent-adolescent perception about their communication considering some socio-demographic variables: sex, residence, socioeconomic status, education and family composition. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used to analyze the perception of 336 parents and 268 children about the quality of communication using the Perception Scale of Parenting Communication.: It was revealed that: boys tend to share their problems mostly with fathers; mothers have better perception of communication; there weren't statistical differences on communicational conflict in the sex variable; members of high socioeconomic classes and urban contexts have better perception about communication; and adolescents of post-divorce families tend to share their problems mostly with mothers than adolescents of intact nuclear families. Considering the influence of some socio-demographic variables on parent-adolescent communication, it is possible design concrete clinical interventions. It suggests the need to pay attention to particular contexts (rural places and low socioeconomic classes). These results demystify the belief that post-divorce families have more difficulties than nuclear intact families.

Caracterização da comunicação entre progenitores e filhos em idade escolar: estudo com uma amostra portuguesa / Characterization of parent-child communication in school-age children: study with a portuguese sample

A comunicação parento-filial é uma dimensão central do exercício da parentalidade. O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar e comparar as percepções de 467 progenitores e 329 crianças (entre 7 e 11 anos) sobre a comunicação parento-filial, através da Escala de Avaliação da Comunicação na Parentalidade (COMPA). Os testes t de Student, ANOVA e correlação de Pearson revelaram alguns resultados estatisticamente significativos: destaque positivo de mães/filhas na comunicação, relação positiva entre dimensões metacomunicação e partilha/confiança da intimidade por parte das crianças, e influência das variáveis sociodemográficas (níveis socioeconómico e de escolaridade baixos, contexto rural) sobre a comunicação. De uma forma geral, os resultados sugerem a necessidade de dar atenção às relações parento-filiais em contextos escolares e socioeconómicos desfavorecidos.

Parent-child communication is a central dimension of the parenting task. The main goal of the present study was to identify and compare the perceptions of 467 parents and 329 children (ages between 7-11 years) related to parent-child communication, using the Perception Scale of Parenting Communication. Student's t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlations revealed some statistically significant results: a positive emphasis of mothers/daughters on communication, a positive relationship between meta-communication and sharing/confidence dimensions for children, and the influence of sociodemographic variables (low levels of financial income and education, rural context) on the quality of communication. In general, these results seem to indicate the necessity of paying attention to the parent-child relationship in disadvantaged school and socioeconomic contexts.

Caracterização da comunicação entre progenitores e filhos em idade escolar: estudo com uma amostra portuguesa / Characterization of parent-child communication in school-age children: study with a portuguese sample

A comunicação parento-filial é uma dimensão central do exercício da parentalidade. O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar e comparar as percepções de 467 progenitores e 329 crianças (entre 7 e 11 anos) sobre a comunicação parento-filial, através da Escala de Avaliação da Comunicação na Parentalidade (COMPA). Os testes t de Student, ANOVA e correlação de Pearson revelaram alguns resultados estatisticamente significativos: destaque positivo de mães/filhas na comunicação, relação positiva entre dimensões metacomunicação e partilha/confiança da intimidade por parte das crianças, e influência das variáveis sociodemográficas (níveis socioeconómico e de escolaridade baixos, contexto rural) sobre a comunicação. De uma forma geral, os resultados sugerem a necessidade de dar atenção às relações parento-filiais em contextos escolares e socioeconómicos desfavorecidos.(AU)

Parent-child communication is a central dimension of the parenting task. The main goal of the present study was to identify and compare the perceptions of 467 parents and 329 children (ages between 7-11 years) related to parent-child communication, using the Perception Scale of Parenting Communication. Student's t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlations revealed some statistically significant results: a positive emphasis of mothers/daughters on communication, a positive relationship between meta-communication and sharing/confidence dimensions for children, and the influence of sociodemographic variables (low levels of financial income and education, rural context) on the quality of communication. In general, these results seem to indicate the necessity of paying attention to the parent-child relationship in disadvantaged school and socioeconomic contexts.(AU)

A comunicação parento-filial: estudo das dimensões comunicacionais realçadas por progenitores e por filhos / Parent-child communication: study about communicational dimensions highlighted by parents and children

A comunicação desempenha um papel central na relação progenitores-filhos, particularmente no exercício da parentalidade. Assim, foi desenhado um estudo misto (qualitativo/quantitativo) com o intuito de identificar as dimensões da comunicação mais destacadas por pais e filhos (7-16 anos). Para atingir este objetivo entrevistaram-se dez progenitores e realizaram-se dois grupos focais com dez filhos, sem correspondência de parentesco. A análise de conteúdo revelou sete dimensões (Metacomunicação, Problemas Comunicacionais, Partilha de Situações Problemáticas, Atitudes Filiais, Atitudes Parentais, Afeto e Estabelecimento de Regras e Limites). Cada uma destas dimensões é composta por sub-dimensões revelando consistência e coerência com a literatura teórica que tem conceptualizado a comunicação na relação parento-filial. Estes dados estarão na base do desenvolvimento de uma escala de avaliação da comunicação...

Communication seems to play a central role in the parent-child relationship, especially in parenting exercise. This mixed study (qualitative/quantitative) was designed to identify the most referred communication dimensions in the perspective of both parents and children (7-16 years old). To achieve this goal, 10 individual interviews with parents and 2 focus groups with ten children, without matching relationship, were carried out. The content analysis revealed seven parent-child communication dimensions (Metacommunication, Communication Problems, Child Attitude, Parental Attitude, Problematic Situations, Affective Expression and Rules/Limits Establishment). Each of these dimensions was composed by subdimensions, revealing consistence and coherence with theoretical literature. These findings will underpin the development of a parent-child communication scale...

A comunicação parento-filial: estudo das dimensões comunicacionais realçadas por progenitores e por filhos / Parent-child communication: study about communicational dimensions highlighted by parents and children

A comunicação desempenha um papel central na relação progenitores-filhos, particularmente no exercício da parentalidade. Assim, foi desenhado um estudo misto (qualitativo/quantitativo) com o intuito de identificar as dimensões da comunicação mais destacadas por pais e filhos (7-16 anos). Para atingir este objetivo entrevistaram-se dez progenitores e realizaram-se dois grupos focais com dez filhos, sem correspondência de parentesco. A análise de conteúdo revelou sete dimensões (Metacomunicação, Problemas Comunicacionais, Partilha de Situações Problemáticas, Atitudes Filiais, Atitudes Parentais, Afeto e Estabelecimento de Regras e Limites). Cada uma destas dimensões é composta por sub-dimensões revelando consistência e coerência com a literatura teórica que tem conceptualizado a comunicação na relação parento-filial. Estes dados estarão na base do desenvolvimento de uma escala de avaliação da comunicação.(AU)

Communication seems to play a central role in the parent-child relationship, especially in parenting exercise. This mixed study (qualitative/quantitative) was designed to identify the most referred communication dimensions in the perspective of both parents and children (7-16 years old). To achieve this goal, 10 individual interviews with parents and 2 focus groups with ten children, without matching relationship, were carried out. The content analysis revealed seven parent-child communication dimensions (Metacommunication, Communication Problems, Child Attitude, Parental Attitude, Problematic Situations, Affective Expression and Rules/Limits Establishment). Each of these dimensions was composed by subdimensions, revealing consistence and coherence with theoretical literature. These findings will underpin the development of a parent-child communication scale.(AU)