The role of emotional dysregulation in the association between family-of-origin conflict and romantic relationship maintenance.

Family-of-origin systems are consequential for the emotional well-being of offspring. These influences are likely to last into adulthood, affecting adult children's romantic relationships. The mechanisms by which family-of-origin environments influence adult romantic relationships are not fully understood. In a sample of 118 different-sex couples, we tested the effects of negative family-of-origin conflict on adult offspring's provision of relationship maintenance to their romantic partner using structural equation modeling. We evaluated emotional dysregulation as a mediator of this effect, using two measures of emotional dysregulation. Results from structural models demonstrated a negative effect of family-of-origin conflict on the provision of relationship maintenance via higher levels of emotional dysregulation. Our results highlight emotional self-regulation as a valuable intervention point for couple therapists.

Identifying Different Ways People Change: A Latent Basis Growth Mixture Model Example Identifying Nonlinear Trajectories of Binge Drinking.

Our field of couple and family therapy focuses on change, different ways people change, and how therapists can facilitate change. Change can be modeled as an average trajectory-growth curve model-or as multiple classes of trajectories-growth mixture model. The field of MFT has not yet fully embraced implementing more advanced longitudinal modeling procedures to study what we care about most, change across time. To support our field moving in this direction, we provide a step-by-step description and example in Mplus software. Our example analysis used N = 5,958 participants from the Add Health dataset, to identify unique classifications of trajectories of binge drinking. We discuss how these analytical methods provide increased options to advance family science and clinical research.

Self-medication Hypothesis and Family Socialization Theory: Examining Independent and Common Mechanisms Responsible for Binge Drinking.

For many, binge drinking behaviors start early and become a persistent pattern of use throughout the lifespan. In an effort to strengthen understanding of etiology, this study considered the mechanisms from the self-medication hypothesis and family socialization theory. The goal was to identify whether emotional distress is a potential shared mechanism that accounts for the development of binge drinking in different developmental periods. This study used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) dataset to examine binge drinking across time for n = 9,421 participants ranging in age from 11 to 18 (M = 15.39, SD = 1.62) at Wave I and ranging from 24 to 32 (M = 28.09, SD = 1.61) at Wave IV of the study. Using an autoregressive cross-lagged model, I examined how parent-child closeness, depressive symptoms, and binge drinking were related over three developmental periods. In examining cross-sectional and longitudinal relations, depressive symptoms were significantly related to binge drinking more often than parent-child closeness; however, results indicated the self-medication model may primarily account for concurrent drinking behaviors rather than long-term. The family socialization theory was indicated to account for some variability above and beyond the self-medication hypothesis. No indirect association between binge drinking and the parent-child relationship was detected through depressive symptoms, failing to support a shared mechanism between the two theories. The results provide support for a multifaceted assessment process for substance using clients, and support the use of Multisystemic Family Therapy, Multidimensional Family Therapy, and perhaps Attachment-Based Family Therapy.

Para muchos, las conductas de consumo de alcohol compulsivo comienzan temprano y se convierten en un patrón de uso persistente durante toda la vida. En un esfuerzo para fortalecer el entendimiento de la etiología, este estudio consideró los mecanismos desde el punto de vista de la hipótesis de automedicación y la teoría de socialización familiar. La meta fue identificar si la angustia emocional es un posible mecanismo compartido que explica el desarrollo de consumo de alcohol compulsivo en periodos de desarrollo distintos. Este estudio empleó el conjunto de datos del Estudio Longitudinal Nacional de Salud de Adolescentes a Adultos (conocido como Add Health) para examinar el consumo de alcohol compulsivo a lo largo del tiempo para n = 9.421 participantes con edades de 11 a 18 (M = 15.39, DE = 1.62) en la Fase I y de 24 a 32 (M = 28.09, DE = 1.61) en la Fase IV del estudio. Usando un modelo autorregresivo de correlaciones cruzadas, examiné como la cercanía padre-hijo, los síntomas depresivos y el consumo de alcohol compulsivo se relacionaban a lo largo de tres periodos de desarrollo. En un examen de relaciones transversales y longitudinales, los síntomas depresivos se asociaron significativamente al consumo de alcohol compulsivo con mayor frecuencia que la cercanía padre-hijo; sin embargo, los resultados indicaron que el modelo de automedicación podría ser una explicación principal de conductas concurrentes de consumo de alcohol en vez de a largo plazo. La teoría de socialización familiar se indicó con miras a explicar cierta variabilidad más allá de la hipótesis de automedicación. No se detectó ninguna asociación indirecta entre el consumo de alcohol compulsivo y la relación padre-hijo a través de síntomas depresivos, lo que no proporciona apoyo a un mecanismo compartido entre las dos teorías. Los resultados proporcionan apoyo a un proceso de evaluación multifacética para clientes consumidores de sustancias, y apoya el uso de Terapia Familiar Multisistémica, Terapia Familiar Multidimensional, y quizás Terapia Familiar Basada en Apegos.

The Dyadic Effects of Supportive Coparenting and Parental Stress on Relationship Quality Across the Transition to Parenthood.

The transition to first-time parenthood can be challenging for couples. Using a sample of 848 ethnically diverse couples from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study across the first 3 years of parenthood, we investigated the longitudinal and dyadic associations of each parents' parental stress, supportive coparenting, and relationship quality. Results from an actor-partner interdependence model indicated that supportive coparenting significantly predicted higher relationship quality for both mothers and fathers. Fathers' supportive coparenting significantly buffered the effects of mothers' parental stress on relationship quality. Also, the unique dyadic contexts of each parents' supportive coparenting, and also both partners' parental stress were significantly associated with relationship quality. Clinical implications from these findings are discussed through commonly used clinical theories.

Trajectories of Early Binge Drinking: A Function of Family Cohesion and Peer Use.

Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we tested latent growth models examining whether the number of friends using alcohol and family cohesion were linked with trajectories of binge drinking (N = 3,342) from adolescence (average age 15.06) into young adulthood (average age 27.93). Adolescents with higher family cohesion had lower rates of binge drinking in adolescence (b = -.07, p < .05), while those with more friends drinking alcohol were more likely to binge drink in adolescence (b = .51, p < .001), young adulthood (b = .22, p < .001), and had increasing trajectories of binge drinking across 14 years (b = -.29, p < .001). Clinically, we discuss Multiple-Family Group Interventions as a potential approach.

Associations Between Family of Origin Climate, Relationship Self-Regulation, and Marital Outcomes.

Using dyadic data from 961 married couples from the Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire project, the current study explored the direct association between family of origin climate and marital outcomes and the indirect association via relationship self-regulation (RSR). Results from the actor-partner interdependence model analysis indicated that family of origin climate was positively associated with marital stability directly and indirectly via the effects of RSR and marital satisfaction for both men and women. Results suggest that the experience one has in their family of origin is associated with their marital outcomes through their RSR. Actor-partner direct and indirect effects indicate that spouses' RSR may have important consequences for both partner's evaluation of the marriage. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.