Stronger together: the longitudinal relations between partner responsiveness, dyadic coping and PTSD recovery.

Background: Past research has primarily focused on negative associations between PTSD and relationships. Therefore, this investigation delves into the potential positive role of these relational aspects in aiding PTSD recovery during treatment.Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of dyadic coping and perceived partner responsiveness on treatment trajectories of PTSD patients.Method: The study included 90 participants, who were requested to complete online questionnaires twice, with a six-month gap between the measures.Results: The results from linear regression analyses indicated that perceived partner responsiveness had a positive effect on PTSD recovery, whereas dyadic coping had the opposite effect: higher levels of dyadic coping were associated with an increase in posttraumatic stress symptoms over time. Additional examination of the subscales indicated that heightened communication between clients and partners regarding stress was related with increased posttraumatic stress symptoms.Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance and complexity of effective and supportive communication between patients with PTSD and their partners. While existing literature supports both perceived partner responsiveness and dyadic coping as beneficial, this study indicates that only perceived partner responsiveness positively impacted PTSD recovery.

Perceived Partner Responsiveness and PTSD Recovery: the study reveals a significant positive impact of perceived partner responsiveness on PTSD recovery. Patients perceiving higher levels of understanding from their romantic partners experience enhanced recovery, possibly through increased social support and the development of new self-narratives.Dyadic Coping and PTSD Recovery: contrary to expectations, aspects of dyadic coping, particularly stress communication, were found to hinder PTSD recovery. Unhelpful disclosure and problematic interpersonal dynamics in discussing trauma within the relationship seemed to limit recovery, indicating the nuanced nature of communication's role in PTSD recovery.

Posttraumatic stress symptoms and interpersonal processes in burn survivors and their partners.

Background: A burn event can elicit symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors and their partners and may impact the way these couple members interact with each other. They may try to protect each other from further emotional distress by avoiding talking about the burn event, but they may also show concern towards each other.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate bidirectional relationships between survivor's and partner's PTSD symptoms and two interpersonal processes: partner-oriented 'self-regulation', which is avoidance-oriented, and 'expressed concern', which is approach-oriented.Method: In this longitudinal multi-centre study, 119 burn survivors and their partners participated. Measures of PTSD symptoms, self-regulation, and expressed concern were administered in the acute phase following the burns, and follow-ups took place up to 18 months postburn. Intra- and interpersonal effects were examined in a random intercept cross-lagged panel model. Exploratory effects of burn severity were also investigated.Results: Within individuals, survivor's expressed concern predicted later higher levels of survivor's PTSD symptoms. In their partners, self-regulation and PTSD symptoms reinforced each other in the early phase postburn. Between the two couple members, partner's expressed concern predicted later lower levels of survivor's PTSD symptoms. Exploratory regression analyses showed that burn severity moderated the effect of survivor's self-regulation on survivor's PTSD symptoms, indicating that self-regulation was continuously related to higher levels of PTSD symptoms over time within more severely burned survivors, but not in less severely burned survivors.Conclusion: PTSD symptoms and self-regulation reinforced each other in partners and possibly also in more severely burned survivors. Partner's expressed concern was related to lower levels of survivor's PTSD symptoms, whereas survivor's expressed concern was related to higher levels of survivor's PTSD symptoms. These findings emphasize the importance of screening for and monitoring PTSD symptoms in burn survivors and their partner and of encouraging couple's self-disclosure.

PTSD symptoms in burn survivors and their partners are related to both avoidance- and approach-oriented interpersonal processes.In partners, higher levels of self-regulation were bidirectionally related to higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms.Concern expressed by partners may mitigate posttraumatic stress symptoms in burn survivors.

A Longitudinal Examination of Common Dyadic Coping and Sexual Distress in New Parent Couples during the Transition to Parenthood.

New parents experience significant disruption to their sexual relationships such as lower desire and sexual frequency relative to prepregnancy. Little is known about the sexual distress new parents feel related to these changes, how sexual distress evolves over time, or how coping with stress relates to this distress. New parent couples who engage in more adaptive, joint coping with mutual stressors-common dyadic coping (CDC)-may be better able to manage distress related to their sexuality and thus, experience less sexual distress at 3-months postpartum and experience more marked improvement over time. In 99 first-time parent couples, we examined the link between CDC measured at 3-months postpartum and trajectories of sexual distress across 3-, 6-, and 12-months postpartum. Analyses used dyadic latent growth curve modeling informed by the actor-partner interdependence model. Mothers' sexual distress at 3-months postpartum was clinically elevated and higher than their partner's. Mothers' sexual distress declined significantly over time, whereas partners' sexual distress remained low and stable. An individual's higher perceptions of CDC was significantly associated with their own (but not their partner's) lower sexual distress at 3-months postpartum. No significant associations were found between CDC and change in sexual distress over time. How new parents jointly cope with stressors early in the postpartum period may lessen the distress they have about their sexuality at a time when most couples have just resumed sexual activity. Results identify CDC as a possible novel target for interventions aimed at helping couples manage sexual distress during the transition to parenthood.

Los padres recientes sufren una alteración significativa de sus relaciones sexuales, como menos deseo y frecuencia sexual, en comparación con el periodo anterior al embarazo. Se sabe muy poco acerca del distrés sexual que sienten los padres recientes en relación con estos cambios, cómo evoluciona el distrés sexual con el tiempo o cómo el afrontamiento del estrés se relaciona con este distrés. Las parejas de padres recientes que participan en un afrontamiento conjunto más adaptativo de los factores desencadenantes de estrés mutuos -afrontamiento diádico común - pueden ser más capaces de manejar el distrés relacionado con su sexualidad y, por lo tanto, sufrir menos distrés sexual tres meses después del parto, así como tener mejoras más marcadas con el tiempo. En 99 parejas de padres primerizos, analizamos la conexión entre el afrontamiento diádico común medido tres meses después del parto y las trayectorias de distrés sexual a lo largo de los 3, los 6 y los 12 meses después del parto. En los análisis se utilizó el modelo de curva de crecimiento latente diádico orientado por el modelo de interdependencia actor-pareja. El distrés sexual de las madres tres meses después del parto fue clínicamente elevado y mayor que el de sus parejas. El distrés sexual de las madres disminuyó considerablemente con el tiempo, mientras que el distrés sexual de sus parejas se mantuvo bajo y estable. Las percepciones más elevadas de una persona con respecto al afrontamiento diádico común estuvieron asociadas considerablemente con su propio distrés sexual más bajo (pero no con el de sus parejas) tres meses después del parto. No se hallaron asociaciones significativas entre el afrontamiento diádico común y el cambio en el distrés sexual con el tiempo. La manera en la que los padres recientes afrontan conjuntamente los factores desencadenantes de estrés a principios del periodo de posparto puede disminuir el distrés que tienen por su sexualidad en un momento cuando la mayoría de las parejas acaban de reanudar su actividad sexual. Los resultados reconocen el afrontamiento diádico común como posible objetivo nuevo para las intervenciones orientadas a ayudar a las parejas a manejar el distrés sexual durante la transición a la paternidad.

Cooperation or Tension? Dyadic Coping in Cystic Fibrosis.

Following a rise in the life expectancy of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, many adults with CF form couple relationships. Yet, dyadic coping has not been previously examined in people with CF. This study examined how adults with CF and their partners cope as a couple with the illness, and what meanings each partner and the couple as a unit attribute to the experience. Seventeen adult CF patients and their partners participated in separate semi-structured in-depth interviews. Two main patterns of dyadic coping with CF were identified as follows: cooperation and tension. For couples in cooperation, the marital relationship served as a resource for adaptive coping. These couples were characterized by similarities in their perception of the place of CF in their lives and of their roles in the marital relationship. Couples in tension described the couple relationship as strained by difficulty of accepting the disease, proliferation of negative emotions, and a sense of burden and loneliness in the process of coping. Findings point to the importance of mutual empathy, clear and accepted division of roles between the partners, and open communication for facilitating coping as a couple.

Después de un aumento de la expectativa de vida de los pacientes con fibrosis quística, muchos adultos con fibrosis quística forman relaciones de pareja. Sin embargo, no se ha analizado previamente el afrontamiento diádico en personas con esta enfermedad. Este estudio analizó cómo los adultos con fibrosis quística y sus parejas afrontan como pareja la enfermedad, y qué significados cada integrante de la pareja y la pareja como unidad atribuyen a la experiencia. Diecisiete pacientes adultos con fibrosis quística y sus parejas participaron en entrevistas individuales, detalladas y semiestructuradas. Se identificaron dos patrones principales de afrontamiento diádico de la fibrosis quística: la cooperación y la tensión. En las parejas del patrón de cooperación, la relación conyugal sirvió como recurso para el afrontamiento adaptativo. Estas parejas se caracterizaron por similitudes en su percepción del lugar que ocupa la fibrosis quística en sus vidas y de sus roles en la relación conyugal. Las parejas del patrón de tensión describieron la relación de pareja como deteriorada por la dificultad de aceptar la enfermedad, la proliferación de emociones negativas y una sensación de carga y soledad en el proceso de afrontamiento. Los resultados señalan la importancia de la empatía mutua, una división clara y aceptada de los roles entre los integrantes de la pareja y una comunicación abierta para facilitar el afrontamiento como pareja.

Use and Benefit of Dyadic Coping for Couple Relationship Satisfaction in Parents of Children with Autism.

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at increased risk for unsatisfying and conflict-ridden couple relationships (i.e., marital or romantic partner relationships). There is a critical need to identify the couple-level processes that contribute to this risk. The current study examined the use of dyadic coping, defined as the appraisals and behaviors that partners in relationships use and receive to manage stressors, and to examine whether dyadic coping mediated the association between parenting stress and couple relationship satisfaction in parents who have a child with ASD and in parents who do not have a child with ASD. In total, 184 couples that had a child with ASD (aged 5-12 years) and comparison group of 183 couples who have a child without a neurodevelopmental condition participated in the study. A multivariate analysis of covariance indicated that parents of children with ASD reported less positive and more negative dyadic coping than did parents in the comparison group. Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that dyadic coping mediated the association between parenting stress and couple relationship satisfaction. Findings have important implications for programs aimed at enhancing parent couple relationship in families of children with ASD.

Los padres de niños con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) corren mayor riesgo de tener relaciones de pareja insatisfactorias y conflictivas (p. ej.: relaciones de pareja o conyugales). Existe una necesidad imperiosa de reconocer los procesos a nivel de la pareja que contribuyen a este riesgo. El presente estudio analizó el uso del afrontamiento diádico, definido como las evaluaciones y las conductas que los integrantes de la pareja usan y reciben para manejar los factores desencadenantes de estrés, y si este afrontamiento sirvió como mediador de la asociación entre el estrés por la crianza y la satisfacción con la relación de pareja en los padres que tienen un niño con TEA y en los padres que no tienen un niño con TEA. Participaron en el estudio un total de 184 parejas que tenían un hijo con TEA (de entre 5 y 12 años) y un grupo comparativo de 183 parejas que tenían un hijo sin un trastorno del desarrollo neurológico. Un análisis multifactorial de la covarianza indicó que los padres de los niños con TEA informaron un afrontamiento diádico menos positivo y más negativo que los padres en el grupo de comparación. Los modelos lineales jerárquicos indicaron que el afrontamiento diádico sirvió como mediador de la asociación entre el estrés por la crianza y la satisfacción con la relación de pareja. Los resultados tienen consecuencias importantes para los programas orientados a mejorar la relación de los padres como pareja en las familias de niños con TEA.

Estilos de comunicación como predictores del estrés y el afrontamiento diádico en matrimonios puertorriqueños / Communication Styles as Stress Predictors and Dyadic Coping in Puerto Rican Marriages / Estilos de comunicação como preditores do stress e o afrontamento diádico em matrimônios porto-riquenhos

Resumen Objetivo. Evaluar la posible relación de los estilos de comunicación (positivo, negativo y reservado) con el estrés y el afrontamiento diádico en las relaciones de pareja. Método. Se empleó un estudio cuantitativo no experimental en el que participaron 121 personas casadas, seleccionadas por disponibilidad. La mayoría de los participantes estaban en su primer matrimonio, y tenían una edad promedio de 42 años. Aceptaron contestar los siguientes instrumentos: (a) inventario de estilo de comunicación marital (ECOM) y (b) escala de estrés en la relación marital. Resultados. El análisis mediante regresión múltiple evidenció que los estilos de comunicación positivo y reservado son predictores del afrontamiento diádico. Se observó también que el estilo de comunicación negativo es un predictor significativo del estrés en las relaciones de pareja. Conclusión. Se sustenta la importancia de la comunicación en las relaciones de pareja y de desarrollar estilos de comunicación positivos para afrontar las situaciones estresantes.

Abstract Objetive. To evaluate the possible relationship between the communication styles (positive, negative and reserved), stress and dyadic coping. Method. Considering this purpose, a non-experimental quantitative study was proposed in which 121 married people participated based on their availability. Most of the participants were in their first marriage, and averaged 42 years old. The participants agreed to answer the following instruments: (a) Marital Communication Style Inventory and (b) Marital Relationship Stress Scale. Results. Positive and reserved communication styles are predictors of dyadic coping. It was also observed that the negative communication style is a significant predictor of stress in relationships. Conclusion. These results support the relevance of communication in relationships and the importance of developing positive communication styles to cope with stressful situations.

Resumo Escopo. Avaliar a possível relação dos estilos de comunicação (positivo, negativo e reversado) com o stress e o afrontamento diádico nas relações de casal. Metodologia. Foi empregado um estudo quantitativo não experimental no que participaram 121 pessoas casadas, selecionadas por disponibilidade. A maioria dos participantes estavam no seu primeiro matrimonio, e tinham uma idade média de 42 anos. Aceitaram contestar os seguintes instrumentos: (a) inventário de estilo de comunicação marital (ECOM) e (b) escada de stress na relação marital. Resultados. A análise mediante regressão múltipla evidenciou que os estilos de comunicação positivo e reservado são preditores do afrontamento diádico. Foi observado também que o estilo de comunicação negativo é um preditor significativo do stress nas relações de casal. Conclusão. Foi sustentada a importância da comunicação nas relações de casal e de desenvolver estilos de comunicação positivos para afrontar as situações estressantes.

Individual and Dyadic Coping and Fear of Progression in Mothers and Fathers of Children with Hematologic Cancer.

This study investigated the association of individual and dyadic coping strategies with fear of progression (FoP) in mothers and fathers of children with hematologic cancer. Parental couples (N = 44) whose children had been diagnosed with hematologic cancer were recruited at a university hospital and a rehabilitation clinic in Germany between 03/2017 and 08/2017. Data included parents' self-report on FoP (Fear of Progression Questionnaire-parent version, FoP-Q-SF/PR), individual coping (Coping Health Inventory for Parents, CHIP-D), and dyadic coping (Dyadic Coping Inventory, DCI). Statistical analyses were carried out for mothers and fathers individually as well as for parental couples using dyadic data analyses (e.g., actor-partner interdependence model, APIM). Individual and dyadic coping strategies were significantly correlated with FoP in mothers, but not in fathers. Fathers' evaluation of the couple's dyadic coping significantly predicted mothers' FoP. The more frequent use of familial integration (CHIP-D FAM) and maintaining social support (CHIP-D SUP) as well as a better evaluation of their partners' dyadic coping was significantly associated with lower FoP in mothers. Differences in individual and dyadic coping in parental couples were not associated with FoP. Individual and dyadic coping strategies should be addressed in the psychosocial care of mothers and fathers of children with hematologic cancer. Study results support the benefits of involving fathers in psychosocial interventions, for example, in couple-based interventions that acknowledge interpersonal effects of coping on FoP. Future research should further explore coping strategies applied by fathers of children with hematologic cancer for the regulation of FoP.

Este estudio investigó la asociación de estrategias de afrontamiento individual y diádico con el miedo a la progresión (FoP por sus siglas en inglés) en madres y padres de niños con cáncer hematológico. Se reclutaron parejas de padres (N = 44) cuyos niños recibieron una diagnosis de cáncer hematológico en un hospital universitario y una clínica de rehabilitación en Alemania entre marzo de 2017 y agosto de 2017. Los datos incluyeron autoinformes de los padres sobre FoP (Cuestionario de miedo a la progresión, versión para padres, FoP-Q-SF/PR), afrontamiento individual (Inventario de salud de afrontamiento para padres, CHIP-D) y afrontamiento diádico (Inventario de afrontamiento diádico, DCI). Se realizaron análisis estadísticos para madres y padres de manera individual, así como para parejas de padres usando análisis de datos diádicos, (p.ej., Modelo de interdependencia actor-pareja, APIM). Las estrategias de afrontamiento individual y diádico tuvieron una correlación significativa con el FoP en las madres, pero no en los padres. La evaluación por los padres del afrontamiento diádico de la pareja predijo significativamente el FoP de las madres. El uso más frecuente de integración familiar (CHIP-D FAM) y mantenimiento de apoyo social (CHIP-D SUP), así como una mejor evaluación del afrontamiento diádico de sus parejas se asoció significativamente con un FoP más bajo en las madres. Las diferencias en el afrontamiento individual y diádico en parejas de padres no se asociaron al FoP. Las estrategias de afrontamiento individual y diádico deben ser enfrentadas durante el cuidado psicosocial de madres y padres de niños con cáncer hematológico. Los resultados del estudio respaldan los beneficios de involucrar a los padres en intervenciones psicosociales, es decir, en intervenciones basadas en parejas que reconocen los efectos interpersonales del afrontamiento en FoP. Investigaciones futuras deberán explorar más las estrategias de afrontamiento empleadas por los padres de niños con cáncer hematológico para regular el FoP.

The Role of Dyadic Coping on the Marital and Emotional Adjustment of Couples With Infertility.

Infertility is a challenging experience, affecting individual and couples' adjustment. However, the way the members of the couple support each other may affect the experience of infertility and their adjustment. This study aimed to investigate the role of dyadic coping by oneself and by the partner in the association between the impact of infertility and dyadic and emotional adjustment (anxiety and depression) to infertility. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 134 participants (67 couples with infertility) completed self-report questionnaires assessing infertility-related stress, dyadic coping, dyadic adjustment, and depression and anxiety symptoms. A path analysis examined the direct and indirect effects between the impact of infertility in one's life and dyadic and emotional adjustment. There is an indirect effect of the impact of infertility in one's life on dyadic adjustment through men's perceived dyadic coping efforts employed by the self (dyadic coping by oneself) and women's perceived dyadic coping efforts of the partner (dyadic coping by the partner). Regarding the emotional adjustment of infertile couples, infertility stress impact had an indirect effect only on depressive symptoms through men's dyadic coping by oneself. The results highlight the importance of men's dyadic coping strategies for the marital adjustment of couples as well as for men's emotional adjustment. Findings emphasize the importance of involving men in the fertility treatment process, reinforcing the dyadic nature of infertility processes.

La infertilidad es una experiencia difícil que afecta la adaptación de los individuos y de las parejas. Sin embargo, la manera en la que los miembros de la pareja se apoyan entre sí puede afectar la experiencia de infertilidad y su adaptación. Este estudio tuvo como finalidad investigar el papel que desempeña el afrontamiento diádico por parte de uno mismo y de la pareja en la asociación entre el efecto de la infertilidad y la adaptación diádica y emocional (ansiedad y depresión) a la infertilidad. En este estudio transversal, un total de 134 participantes (67 parejas con infertilidad) contestaron cuestionarios de autoinforme que evaluaron el estrés relacionado con la infertilidad, el afrontamiento diádico, la adaptación diádica y los síntomas de depresión y ansiedad. Un análisis de ruta analizó los efectos directos e indirectos entre la influencia de la infertilidad en la vida de uno y su adaptación diádica y emocional. Hay un efecto indirecto de la influencia de la infertilidad en la vida de uno sobre la adaptación diádica a través de los esfuerzos de afrontamiento diádico percibidos por los hombres empleados por el yo (afrontamineto diádico por uno mismo) y los esfuerzos de afrontamiento diádico percibidos por las mujeres empleados por la pareja (afrontamiento diádico por la pareja). Con respecto a la adaptación emocional de las parejas infértiles, la influencia del estrés por la infertilidad tuvo un efecto indirecto solo en los síntomas depresivos a través del afrontamiento diádico de los hombres por uno mismo. Los resultados destacan la importancia de las estrategias de enfrentamiento diádico de los hombres para la adaptación conyugal de las parejas así como para la adaptación emocional de los hombres. Además, los resultados enfatizan la importancia de hacer participar a los hombres en el proceso de tratamiento de la fertilidad, lo cual refuerza la índole diádica de los procesos de infertilidad.

Dyadic Coping in Couple Therapy Process: An Exploratory Study.

This study aimed at moving beyond previous research on couple therapy efficacy by examining moment-by-moment proximal couple and therapist interactions as well as final treatment outcomes and their reciprocal association. Seven hundred four episodes of dyadic coping within 56 early therapy sessions, taken from 28 married couples in treatment, were intensively analyzed and processed using a mixed-methods software (T-LAB). Results showed that negative dyadic coping was self-perpetuating, and therapists tended to passively observe the negative couple interaction; on the contrary, positive dyadic coping appeared to require a therapist's intervention to be maintained, and successful interventions mainly included information gathering as well as interpreting. Couples who dropped out of treatment were not actively engaged from the outset of therapy, and they used more negative dyadic coping, whereas couples who successfully completed treatment showed more positive dyadic coping very early in therapy. Results highlight the role of therapist action and control as critical to establishing rapport and credibility in couple therapy and suggest that dyadic coping patterns early in therapy may contribute to variable treatment response.