Identity development in multicultural context: Multidimensional self exploration approaches employed by Modern Orthodox women.

The aim of this study is to examine identity development of Modern Orthodox women as they pursue their studies within a multicultural and multi-faith environment. Content analysis was used to analyze the final papers of undergraduate religious female students in Israel (N = 47) who participated in a semester-long dialogue course for Jewish students. The findings revealed three salient themes, suggesting that women's self-exploration developed noticeably within a rich multicultural context: (a) participants engaged in self-reflection by drawing comparisons between themselves and Arab students, leading to an exploration of their religious beliefs and group affiliations; (b) participants embraced their individuality within a multicultural context while balancing their religious duties; and (c) participants critically examined the status of Orthodox women in society, particularly within the family context. These findings highlight the process of identity exploration among Modern Orthodox women, complicated by intersections of religion, gender, and culture. In doing so, this study contributes to the understanding of identity development in multicultural societies.

Dyadic associations and prediction of maternal and paternal sexual satisfaction in couples-Findings from an 18-year longitudinal study.

Background: : Sexual satisfaction is one of many crucial factors for the long-term success of romantic relationships. Longitudinal studies examining the dyadic associations between maternal and paternal factors in middle adulthood for predicting sexual satisfaction in later adulthood are scarce. Method: The German longitudinal intervention study "Future Family" followed families with at least one child over 18-years (Pre: N = 477, mothers: M = 35.2 years, fathers: M = 38.8 years, children: M = 4.1 years). At the time of the 18-year follow-up, N = 150 mothers (M = 54.1 years) were still living together with the biological fathers (M = 56.1 years; mean relationship duration: 32 years). Dyadic associations between individual and dyadic factors at Pre were analyzed with Actor-Partner Interdependence models to predict sexual satisfaction 18 years later. Results: Higher relationship quality was significantly associated with higher levels of one's own sexual satisfaction 18 years later. Higher levels of maternal and paternal mental health problems were linked to lower levels of sexual satisfaction in both the individual themselves and their partner. General life satisfaction of mothers and fathers only predicted their own sexual satisfaction. The model for dysfunctional parenting yielded no significant effects. Conclusions: The results indicate that relationship quality, mental health problems, and general life satisfaction of both parents could be starting points for preventive and therapeutic interventions to achieve long-term effects in sexual satisfaction in married couples.

Bidirectional relationships between nicotine vaping and maladaptive eating behaviors among young adults.

Background: Past research indicates that young adult cigarette smokers are at risk of engaging in maladaptive eating behaviors (MEBs); however, whether this relationship extends to nicotine vaping is unclear. The current study assessed bidirectional associations between four types of MEBs and nicotine vaping among young adults. Methods: 1,303 young adults (20.5 ± 2.3 years; 63 % female) from a public, urban university were recruited and completed online surveys at six-month intervals from spring 2021 (W1) to spring 2023 (W5). Past 30-day nicotine vaping and four types of MEBs (susceptibility to external cues, emotional eating, routine restraint, and compensatory restraint) were evaluated. Results: Longitudinal cross-lagged models examined the bidirectional relationships between past 30-day nicotine vaping and each type of MEB across five waves. Nicotine vaping predicted both susceptibility to external cues (ß = 0.10, p <.05; Wave 2 to 3) and emotional eating (ß = 0.08, p <.05; Wave 1 to 2). A significant cross-lag regression (Wave 4 to 5) showed nicotine vaping predicted to routine restraint (ß = 0.08, p <.05), and routine restraint predicted to nicotine vaping (ß = 0.12, p <.05). Conclusions: Results indicated that nicotine vaping predicted MEBs; however, the type of MEB differed across waves, which may have been due to the COVID-19 pandemic context. Nicotine vaping predicted to MEBs reflecting vulnerability to the external environment and emotion regulation during a period of heightened restrictions, whereas later when pandemic restrictions had ceased nicotine vaping predicted only to routine restraint. Integrating research and practice on nicotine vaping and MEBs may inform public health efforts to decrease co-occurring health-risks in young adulthood.

Impact of parenthood on eating pathology in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies investigated parenthood as a predictor of eating pathology in young adulthood. We studied the association between parenthood, in the first year after becoming a parent and beyond, and eating pathology. Furthermore, we examined whether moving in together with a partner affected this association. METHOD: This study used data of four measurement waves from TRAILS (Tracking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey), a Dutch community cohort study (N = 2229) from preadolescence into young adulthood. The Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (EDDS), a measure to assess eating pathology, was assessed at ages 22, 26, and 29. Risk for eating disorder was assessed at age 19. Pregnant participants were excluded. RESULTS: Parenthood was not associated with an increase of eating pathology in the first year after becoming a parent and beyond. Instead, parents were more likely to report being free from eating pathology symptoms compared to childless individuals (OR 2.07, 95% CI: 1.11-3.84). Among those who reported experiencing at least one eating problem, parenthood was not associated with the number of eating problems. Moving in together with a partner did not alter the association between parenthood and eating problems and neither did this association differ between males and females. DISCUSSION: Parenthood in young adulthood was associated with a decreased risk of having eating pathology. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In this longitudinal study among young adults, parenthood was not associated with the development of eating pathology.

The development of racial wealth gaps in early adulthood.

While much research has documented stark racial gaps in total net worth, few studies have examined the development of racial gaps across different types of assets using longitudinal data. Drawing on data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1997), we study the emergence of Black-White and Hispanic-White wealth gaps across different types of assets and debt among a recent cohort of young adults. We find that the gaps in net worth, financial assets, home equity, and debt all increase over time. The racial gaps in financial assets widen at a rate that exceeds the corresponding gaps in other components of net worth. Indeed, a decomposition analysis reveals that financial assets contribute more than home equity to exacerbating net worth disparities. Our findings underscore the unique role that financial assets play in expanding racial wealth gaps in young adulthood.

Emotion Dynamics among Late Adolescents and Emerging Adults: The Role of Maternal Privacy Invasion Perceptions.

Prior research suggests that youth experience immediate emotional distress following privacy invasion, but it is unclear whether and how persistent privacy invasion over longer periods destabilizes the intrapersonal emotional regulatory functions that privacy serves. This study investigated whether late adolescents and emerging adults who reported different patterns of maternal privacy invasion over a full academic year showed differences in emotion regulation, as reflected by the frequency and lability of negative and positive emotional experiences. Participants were first-year university students (n = 349; 60.2% female) in Hong Kong, aged 17 to 24 (MT1 = 18.20, SDT1 = 1.10). They self-reported maternal privacy invasion perceptions and negative and positive emotions 16 times, at bi-weekly intervals. Latent class growth analyses divided participants into a Higher Invasion Perceptions group (24.9%), a Moderate Invasion Perceptions group (46.4%), and a Lower Invasion Perceptions group (28.7%). A one-way MANCOVA examined potential differences in negative and positive emotion dynamics across groups, indexed by frequency (means) and instability (mean square of successive differences and probability of acute change). In line with predictions, both the Higher Invasion and Moderate Invasion groups reported higher negative emotion frequency and instability, compared to the Lower Invasion group. However, groups showed no significant differences regarding positive emotion frequency and instability. The findings indicate that perceptions of maternal privacy invasion predict youth's negative emotion regulation processes over their first collegiate year. Prolonged, higher levels of maternal privacy invasion may disrupt the intrapersonal regulatory functions that privacy serves over time.

Brief Report: Self-Reported Medication Use in Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adulthood: A U.S. Clinic Sample from 2012 to 2022.

PURPOSE: As the understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the lifespan has increased, so has the number of individuals being identified with ASD for the first time in adulthood. Understanding co-occurring psychiatric conditions in this subset of the ASD population is a growing focus of research; however, little is known about the rate at which psychiatric medications are prescribed to adults with a first-time diagnosis of ASD. The purpose of this study was to examine self-reported medication use in persons diagnosed with ASD in adulthood in a clinic sample (2012-2022) in the United States. METHODS: The present study was a retrospective record review. Participants (n = 281) were drawn from an outpatient clinic specializing in the diagnosis of ASD in adults. Participants self-reported previous and current psychiatric medication prescription using a medication checklist. RESULTS: Approximately 50% of participants self-reported being prescribed at least one psychiatric medication at the time of their initial evaluation appointment. The most commonly prescribed psychiatric medications were antidepressants (23.8%), followed by stimulants (16.7%). CONCLUSION: Similar to individuals diagnosed with ASD in childhood, those identified with ASD for the first time in adulthood are prescribed psychiatric medication at a much higher rate than their same-age non-autistic peers. These results can inform future research and practice for improving outcomes for autistic adults, particularly those who were undiagnosed for much of their lives.

Behavioral pathways from sibling relationships in adolescence to romantic partnerships in adulthood.

Sibling relationships in adolescence provide rich and relevant socializing opportunities for developing early adult romantic relationships, but much less is known regarding the effect of siblings on future romantic partnerships. Using a prospective, longitudinal design, we investigated the association between observed positive behaviors (warmth, support, positive communication), sibling pairs during adolescence (7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grades), and the same observed behaviors between adult romantic partners nearly two decades later (M age = 31 years old). In structural equation models (SEMs), we tested four dyadic pathways of interest: (1) individual behavioral continuity; (2) evocative partner effects; (3) sibling modeling; and (4) sibling-to-partner matching. In multiple group analyses, we also investigated gendered socialization effects for different sibling dyads (i.e., brother-brother; sister-sister; and mixed-sex sibling pairs). Results showed strong continuity from adolescent behavior toward their sibling to the same behavior toward their romantic partner in early adulthood, but there was no evidence for sibling modeling effects nor for sibling matching. We also found significant differences between sister-sister sibling dyads compared to brother-brother and mixed-sex sibling dyads for the evocative pathway. Findings highlight the "long view" of positive adolescent behavior in sibling relationships for shaping future romantic partnerships in adulthood.

Decision-making under conditions of explicit risk and uncertainty in autistic and typically developing adolescents and young adults.

Adolescence has been characterized as a period of risky and possibly suboptimal decision-making, yet the development of decision-making in autistic adolescents is not well understood. To investigate decision-making in autism, we evaluated performance on 2 computerized tasks capturing decision-making under explicit risk and uncertainty in autistic and non-autistic adolescents/young adults ages 12-22 years. Participants completed the Game of Dice Task (32 IQ-matched participant pairs) to assess decision-making under explicit risk and the modified Iowa Gambling Task (35 IQ-matched pairs) to assess decision-making under uncertainty. Autistic participants overall made riskier decisions than non-autistic participants on the Game of Dice Task, and the odds of making riskier decisions varied by age and IQ. In contrast, the autistic group showed comparable levels of learning over trial blocks to the non-autistic group on the modified Iowa Gambling Task. For both tasks, younger autistic participants performed poorer than their non-autistic counterparts, while group differences diminished in older ages. This age-related pattern suggests positive development during adolescence on risk assessment and decision-making in autism but also implies differential developmental trajectories between groups. These findings also suggest differential performance by the risk type, with additional complex influences of IQ and fluid cognition, which warrants further investigations.

Does Employment Status Matter for Emerging Adult Identity Development and Life Satisfaction? A Two-wave Longitudinal Study.

Late emerging adulthood is pivotal for identity exploration and development and is interrelated with life satisfaction. In the development of identity and life satisfaction, it is important to have a stable employment status that supports the foundation of life. However, the interrelationships among identity, life satisfaction, and employment status in late emerging adulthood are unclear. Using a two-wave longitudinal survey, this study examined identity development and whether the relationship between identity and life satisfaction varies by employment status. Participants included 875 Japanese emerging adults (65.5% women, Mage = 24.74, SDage = 0.44). Multivariate analysis of variance showed that identity synthesis decreased for those who lost their jobs or those who changed from being full-time to part-time employment. Additionally, individuals with full-time employment had higher identity synthesis and lower confusion than those with part-time or no employment. Multi-group path analysis indicated that identity synthesis was positively associated with life satisfaction and confusion was negatively associated, and these relationships did not differ by employment status. These findings suggest that identity development in late emerging adulthood varies by employment status and that the association between identity and life satisfaction may not be moderated by employment status. Overall, this study contributes to elucidating the characteristics of identity development along employment status and its relationship to life satisfaction in late emerging adulthood.

Reimagining neuroscientific and andragogical principles for dementia care education.

This article aims to explore the integration of Louis Cozolino's (2013) andragogical strategies with the tenets of person-centered dementia care practices to enhance dementia care education. The article examines the multiple dimensions of learning in adulthood, highlighting the role of neural plasticity and lifelong brain adaptation in shaping learning and experiential strategies. This in-depth evaluation underscores the significance of tailoring andragogical approaches to the needs of adult learners, who, in this context, are care providers for persons with dementia. This is done through proper understanding of the neurobiological realities and the unique learning needs of adults. Such tailored approaches can be aligned with the brain's adaptive nature by recognizing the intricate interplay of cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions. Highlighting the need for including lessons on the person-centered approach in dementia care education, the paper argues that adult learners - who are essentially part of the dementia care workforce - first need to learn, appreciate, and embrace the approach before applying it in their caregiving practices. This article presents an overarching argument that integration of Cozolino's principles of adult learning with tenets of person-centered dementia care could provide a robust framework for dementia care education.

Being able to be myself: Understanding autonomy and autonomy-support from the perspectives of autistic adults with intellectual disabilities.

LAY ABSTRACT: Autistic young adults with intellectual disabilities want to be autonomous but are less autonomous than other people. However, they can be autonomous with appropriate support. We wanted to learn how we can support autistic adults with intellectual disabilities to be more autonomous. We designed our study with help from five autistic community partners to make sure the research was relevant to autistic people and would improve their lives. We talked with eight autistic young adults with intellectual disabilities about autonomy. We defined "talk" as verbal language, as well as non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, vocalizations, and laughter. We did art projects and played games while we talked. We met in small groups over multiple sessions. Our participants told us that being autonomous meant being able to be themselves. They told us three main ways to support their autonomy: (1) having choice and control, (2) being able to communicate in their own way, and (3) being in a safe environment. Families, support staff, and caregivers can use this information to help autistic young adults with intellectual disabilities to be autonomous.

A tale of two marital stressors: Comparing proinflammatory responses to partner distress and marital conflict.

Marital quality shares ties to inflammatory conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. For decades, research has focused on marital conflict as a primary mechanism given its potential to trigger inflammatory responses. However, longitudinal evidence suggests that marital conflict declines over time, and little attention has been paid to the inflammatory aftermath of other types of marital exchanges. A spouse's emotional distress is an important but overlooked marital context, as partners are exposed to each other's upsetting emotions throughout adulthood. To directly compare reactivity in proinflammatory gene expression to these two marital stressors and to examine differences by age and marital satisfaction, 203 community adults ages 25-90 (N = 102 couples) provided blood samples and rated their negative mood before and after they 1) watched their partner relive an upsetting personal memory and, in a separate visit 1-2 weeks later, 2) discussed a conflictual topic in their relationship. Controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, BMI, alcohol use, smoking, and comorbidities, increases in proinflammatory gene expression were significantly larger after the partner's upsetting disclosure than after marital conflict (B = 0.073, SE = 0.031, p = .018). This pattern paralleled emotional reactivity to the tasks, wherein negative mood rose more in response to the partner's disclosure than to marital conflict (B = 4.305, SE = 1.468, p = .004). In sum, proinflammatory and mood reactivity to spousal distress exceeded reactivity to marital conflict, a well-established marital stressor. Findings reveal spousal distress as a novel mechanism that may link marriage to inflammation-related diseases, and even pose risks for both happy and unhappy couples across adulthood.

Screening women in young adulthood for disabling dysmenorrhoea: a nationwide cross-sectional study from the CONSTANCES cohort.

RESEARCH QUESTION: How do different warning indicators help to identify disabling dysmenorrhoea among women in young adulthood? DESIGN: A nationwide cross-sectional study of women aged 18-25 years from the CONSTANCES cohort was constructed. Disability was assessed with the Global Activity Limitation Indicator question 'For the past 6 months, have you been limited in routine activities?Yes, severely limited/Yes, limited/ No, not limited'. Dysmenorrhoea pain intensity and other chronic pelvic pain symptoms (dyspareunia and non-menstrual pain) were evaluated according to questions from a specific questionnaire. Probability of disability was estimated using a logistic prediction model according to dysmenorrhoea intensity, other indicators of pelvic pain symptoms and other obvious covariates. The results of the predictive model of disabling dysmenorrhoea were presented on a nomogram. RESULTS: Among 6377 women, the rate of disability was estimated at 7.5%. Increased intensity of dysmenorrhoea (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.13), increased frequency of dyspareunia (from OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.33-2.14 up to OR 3.41, 95% CI 2.16-5.38) non-menstrual chronic pelvic pain (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.40-2.19), body mass index over 25 kg/m2 (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.17-1.80) and non-use of the hormonal contraceptive pill (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.05-1.59) were significantly associated with disability. According to the nomogram, a predicted probability of 15% or more could be chosen as a threshold. This represents almost 4.6% of young women in this sample being classified at risk of disabling dysmenorrhoea. CONCLUSIONS: Dysmenorrhoea pain intensity and associated pelvic pain symptoms are warning indicators that can be measured to help screen young women who may suffer from disabling dysmenorrhoea.

The relationship between social capital and inflammatory biomarkers in early adulthood: A longitudinal study.

Higher levels of social capital (SC) are associated with better health status. However, there is little evidence of the impact of SC on biological health outcomes in the early ages. To identify the association between SC in adolescence and inflammation levels in early adulthood. Prospective study using data from 2435 participants from the Epidemiological Health Investigation of Teenagers in Porto cohort. SC was assessed at age 17 through a self-administered questionnaire, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and leucocytes were measured in a fasting blood sample at 17 and 21 years-old. A principal components analysis was performed to identify the domains of SC. Simple linear regressions were performed to assess the association between SC components and inflammatory status at 17 and 21 years old. Pathway analysis was performed to assess the direct, indirect, and total effects of SC on hs-CRP and leucocyte levels. We did not find a significant total effect between SC at 17 years-old and hs-CRP at 21 years-old. However, the Trust/Reciprocity dimension showed a significant direct effect between SC and hs-CRP levels at 21 (ß = -0.065, 95% CI: -0.129; -0.001), as well as a significant total effect (ß = -0.075, 95% CI: -0.139; -0.011). Regarding leucocyte levels, total SC at 17 years-old was associated with leucocytes levels at 21 (ß = -0.115, 95% CI: -0.205; -0.024). Significant direct (ß = -0.104, 95% CI: -0.194; -0.014) and total effect (ß = -0.107, 95% CI: -0.199; -0.015) of Trust/Reciprocity on leucocyte levels were observed. Adolescents with higher SC have a low inflammatory level in early adulthood, especially those with greater levels of trust/reciprocity.

Cascading Effects of the Family Check-Up on Mothers' and Fathers' Observed and Self-Reported Parenting and Young Adult Antisocial Behavior: a 12-Year Longitudinal Intervention Trial.

Over a 12-year period, this study examined the effects of the Family Check-Up preventive intervention model on both observed and self-reported parenting behaviors of mothers and fathers as well as how those parenting behaviors were associated with young adult antisocial behavior. Teachers identified 641 early adolescent youth from school settings to be at elevated risk for the development of externalizing behavior and/or substance use. These youth and their families were randomly assigned to the Family Check-Up intervention model (consisting of an adaptive, multi-tiered model of support, including a school-based family resource room, the Family Check-Up, and targeted follow-up services) or a control condition. Using an intent-to-treat approach, the Family Check-Up intervention model positively impacted mothers' observed parenting approximately 5 years later in middle adolescence but was not associated with changes in fathers' observed or self-reported parenting. Mothers' observed adaptive parenting and fathers' self-reported adaptive parenting in middle adolescence were associated with lower risk for young adult antisocial behavior. The cascading effects of brief, family-focused interventions are discussed along with implications for the measurement of parenting in mothers and fathers in the context of preventive intervention trials.

The effects of auriculotherapy on depression among elderly people: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Given the high prevalence of depression in elderly people, appropriate interventions are essential. This study aimed to assess the effects of auriculotherapy on depression among elderly people. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2021. Fifty-two elderly were conveniently selected and randomly allocated to the sham (n = 26) and intervention (n = 26) groups through block randomization. The intervention group was subjected to four weeks of auriculotherapy at the Shen-Men, zero, heart, antidepressant, and master cerebral points using Vaccaria seeds fixed with adhesive tape. In the sham group, adhesive tapes were attached to the points with neither seeds nor compression. The elderly and data collector were blinded. The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depression before, immediately after, and four weeks after the intervention (T1-T3). The statistical methods used were repeated measures analysis of variance and covariance. RESULTS: Groups significantly differed concerning participants' gender, education, and employment (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding effects, the time-group interaction significantly affected the mean depression score (p < 0.0001, effect size = 0.54). There was no significant difference between the depression score in the sham and intervention groups at T1 (9.6 ± 2.5 vs 9.5 ± 2.5, p = 0.263); however, this difference was found to be significant at T2 (8.6 ± 2 vs 4.2 ± 1.2, p < 0.0001, effect size = 0.68) and T3 (9.3 ± 2.3 vs 4.3 ± 1.3, p < 0.0001, effect size = 0.65). Within-group analysis revealed significant differences in the depression scores of the intervention group at T1 compared with those at T2 and T3 (p < 0.05). In contrast, the mean depression score in the sham group at T2 was significantly lower than that at T1 (p = 0.003) and greater than that at T3 (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Auriculotherapy alleviates depression and can be used as a complementary therapy for elderly people with depression.

Older adults coping with critical life events - results of the revised demoralization scale in a representative sample of older adulthood.

Background: High suicide rates in older adults are a relevant public health concern. Social isolation or widowhood as well as physical decline play a crucial role for suicidality in older adulthood. Previous evidence suggested that demoralization is an important risk factor for suicide. Whether demoralization is a relevant phenomenon in older adulthood which possibly could account for high suicide rates remains unclear. Methods: Demoralization Scale II (DS-II) scores assessed in a survey of the German general population were investigated with respect to older adults (aged ≥ 65 years). DS-II scores were compared between older (≥ 65 years) and younger (< 65 years) adulthood and between young-old (65-74y), middle-old (75-84y), and old-old (85+y) individuals. We tested the impact of sociodemographic factors on DS-II scores within older adults. Results: The sample comprised N = 545 adults ≥ 65 years and N = 1922 adults < 65 years. DS-II scores increased in older compared to younger adults (F(1,2465) = 6.1; p = 0.013; d = 0.09) and further from young-old to old-old (Mdiff = 2.7; 95% CI 0.45, 5.46; p = 0.034). One-fourth of individuals ≥ 65 years and almost half of old-old individuals reported DS-II scores above the cut-off > 5. Living with a partner protected from demoralization in old-old individuals. Discussion: This study provides first evidence for an increased rate of demoralization in very old adults, in particular women, which is partly related to partnership status. We suggest that demoralization is considered as a crucial entity in older adulthood which can be missed by standard psychological screenings.

Marriage and motherhood: Insights on a crucial life course process from the perspective of female arab-palestinian undergraduate students.

Despite changes in women's status in recent decades in Arab-Palestinian society in Israel, marriage and motherhood still play a central role. Moreover, although the increase in the integration rates of young Arab-Palestinian women into the higher education system, as girls belonging to a minority group with traditional structures, they are expected to prioritize family and community expectations over personal aspirations. This study focuses on art projects of female Arab-Palestinian college students in Israel, which serve as a prism for detecting cultural perceptions of pathways to entering adulthood among this population today. These topics are central themes in the projects in question. Working on these projects forced the students to profoundly contemplate their life stage - being engaged or newly married and young mothers. The aim of the study was to decode the artworks in order to explore the students' feelings and thoughts on a topic rarely considered through the eyes of the young women themselves. The study provides a nuanced examination of the social processes that young educated Arab-Palestinian women experience in the current family structure. By analysing the projects using visual tools from semiotics and art history, along with verbal texts provided by the students, we assert that these projects serve as a crucial avenue for students' self-expression regarding topics seldom addressed. Even though the projects cannot be understood as critical of traditional gender expectations, we did find some interesting voices of unease regarding them. The move from their parents' home to their new one is widely described as difficult, where sadness and concern about the future are highly noticeable. In addition to accepting the stages of marriage and motherhood with joy and excitement, they also express fear and hesitation. This tension between fulfilling their expected roles and being unsure and hesitant about them exists in the projects. We claim that even if implicit and careful, these signs are important to recognize. However, it seems that higher education has failed to significantly undermine patriarchal and gender expectations.

Remote family education and support program for parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders based on interpersonal psychotherapy: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In cases of adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders, despite the importance of the patients' relationship with their parents, conflict and confusion frequently occur among them. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a present-focused psychotherapy that emphasizes the interpersonal context of symptoms. We developed a remote family education and support program exclusively for parents of patients with eating disorders, based on the principle of IPT. The use of IPT is expected to reduce conflicts in the patient-parent relationship. Consequently, parents will be better able to listen to patients, and patients will be better able to express their thoughts and desires. In this study, we describe the protocol for a randomized controlled trial designed to examine the effectiveness of this program in promoting effective communication in their home based on active listening skills of parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders. METHODS: Participants will be parents of patients aged 12-29 years with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders. Individually randomized, parallel-group trial design will be employed. Seventy participants will be allocated to one of two treatment conditions: (1) remote family education and support program (four, 150 min weekly group sessions) for parents plus treatment-as-usual for patients (consultation by physicians or no treatment), or (2) waiting for the control condition (parents will wait to start the program for 8 weeks) plus treatment-as-usual for patients. The primary outcome measure will be parents' active listening ability as measured by the Active Listening Attitude Scale at 8 weeks after randomization. Additionally, perception of social support (Social Provision Scale-10 item), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), mental health status (K6), family function (Family Assessment Device), and parent-evaluated eating disorder symptoms (Anorectic Behavior Observation Scale) will be assessed. Data from the intention-to-treat sample will be analyzed 8 weeks after randomization. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of a family education and support program for parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders based on IPT. If this type of intervention is effective, although indirect, it could be a new support method for this patient population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials. gov ID NCT05840614.

For patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders, although the relationship with their parents is an important interpersonal dynamic, conflicts and confusion often arise between patients and their parents. On the other hand, parents who live with individuals with eating disorders are frequently involved in interpersonal disputes, leading to a heavy psychological burden and elevated levels of depression and anxiety. It has been found that highly depressed or anxious parents tend to have difficulty listening carefully to their patients. Additionally, parental anxiety often promotes an overprotective response. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a present-focused psychotherapy that emphasizes the interpersonal context of symptoms. In IPT, the patient and therapist work within interpersonal therapeutic domains, such as interpersonal role disputes with different expectations and role transitions. We developed a remote family education and support program exclusively for parents of patients with eating disorders based on IPT principles. In the present study, we describe the protocol for a randomized controlled trial designed to examine the effectiveness of this program in promoting effective communication within their homes, focusing on the active listening skills of parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders.