Jared A. Durtschi

Benefits of Expressing Gratitude Expressing Gratitude to a Partner Changes One’s View of the Relationship

This research was conducted to examine the hypothesis that expressing gratitude to a relationship partner enhances one’s perception of the relationship’s communal strength. In Study 1 (N = 137), a cross-sectional survey, expressing gratitude to a relationship partner was positively associated with the expresser’s perception of the communal strength of the relationship. In Study 2 (N = 218), expressing gratitude predicted increases in the expresser’s perceptions of the communal strength of the relationship across time. In Study 3 (N = 75), participants were randomly assigned to an experimental condition, in which they expressed gratitude to a friend, or to one of three control conditions, in which they thought grateful thoughts about a friend, thought about daily activities, or had positive interactions with a friend. At the end of the study, perceived communal strength was higher among participants in the expression-of-gratitude condition than among those in all three control conditions. We discuss the theoretical and applied implications of these findings and suggest directions for future research.

Structural Therapy With a Couple Battling Pornography Addiction

Pornography increasingly affects couples’ relationships commensurately with the increasing availability of pornographic material. Relationships can be adversely affected by the addictive influences of pornography, and therefore therapists are likely to encounter this concern with their clients. It is suggested that addiction to pornography can be characterized by withdrawal and tolerance, and can have neurological impacts and negatively influence relationships. However, clinicians sometimes fail to recognize pornography addiction to be equally as troublesome as other addictions. This paper explores the implementation of successful structural therapy treatment of pornography addiction using an actual case study with a married couple.

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.

Understanding Single Mothers’ Parenting Stress Trajectories

ABSTRACT Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we examined single mothers’ (n = 1,229) parenting stress trajectories across the years when their children were ages 1, 3, and 5. Analyses were based on a latent growth curve model incorporating time-invariant and time-varying covariates to better understand single mothers’ parenting stress trajectories. Single mothers’ initial level and rate of change in parenting stress trajectories were significantly predicted by the initial levels of infants’ negative emotionality. The time-varying covariates of work–family conflict and parental engagement were significantly associated with single mothers’ parenting stress when their children were ages 1, 3, and 5.

The Roles of Dominance, Jealousy, and Violent Socialization in Chinese Dating Abuse:

Attitude toward women and relationship violence in Chinese societies has been shaped by a history of Confucian patriarchy. Studies suggest that this patriarchal orientation continues to influence modern-day dating behaviors and rates of relationship violence. This study examined through the lens of the intergenerational transmission of violence theory the effects of dominance and jealousy on the likelihood of physical assault and how violent socialization moderates these effects. A maximum likelihood path analysis with robust standard errors was conducted for a total of 915 individuals from Beijing, Shanghai, and Taiwan who participated in the International Dating Violence Study from 2001 to 2006. Results revealed that dominance and violent socialization were significantly associated with assault victimization and perpetration. Violent socialization also significantly amplified the associations between dominance and both minor and severe assault victimization. Jealousy, however, was only associated with severe assault perpetration. Clinical implications and further research directions are discussed.

Exercise and Diet as Potential Moderators Between Trauma, Posttraumatic Stress, Depression, and Relationship Quality Among Emerging Adults

ABSTRACT Exercise and diet have not been examined as potential protective factors between trauma and trauma-related sequelae. Using data collected from emerging adults (N = 321), we tested a path analysis to determine if exercise and diet would moderate the association between the number of potentially traumatic life events experienced and posttraumatic stress, depression, and relationship quality. More exercise was directly associated with higher posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms. A healthier diet was directly associated with lower posttraumatic stress, lower depressive symptoms, and higher relationship quality. Results suggest there may be value in highlighting exercise and diet in family therapy.

The Role of Depression in the Relationship Between Psychological and Physical Intimate Partner Violence

Physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) are significant public health concerns often associated with negative consequences for individuals, families, and society. Because IPV occurs within an interpersonal relationship, it is important to better understand how each partner’s depressive symptoms, marital satisfaction, and psychological and physical IPV are interlinked. The purpose of this study was to identify actor and partner effects in a dyadic data analysis association between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms, its links to psychological IPV, and then to physical IPV. Guided by the social information processing model, this study has implications for understanding the processes leading to various types of IPV in people seeking couples therapy. Using cross-sectional data from 126 heterosexual couples, we conducted an actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) to test actor and partner effects. Indirect actor and partner effects were also assessed. More depressive symptoms were associated with lower marital satisfaction. More depressive symptoms were generally linked with increased perpetration of psychological and physical IPV. Psychological IPV was associated with an individual’s use of physical IPV. Effect sizes were moderate to large in magnitude. Four specific indirect effects were identified from depressive symptoms to psychological IPV to physical IPV. Depressive symptoms may be an important factor related to psychological and physical IPV for males and females. Implications include assessing for and treating depression in both partners, and discussing preferred ways of supporting each other that do not include psychological or physical IPV.

Army Soldiers and Suicidal Thoughts: The Impact of Negative Relationship Dynamics Moderated by the Dissolution of Romantic Relationships

Suicide among United States active-duty Army soldiers rapidly increased over the past two decades. Using a sample of 322 soldiers from the Army STARRS study, the researchers examined if romantic relationship factors (i.e., hostile disagreements and relationship distress) were linked with suicidal thoughts in Army soldiers, and if these associations were moderated by a recent separation or divorce. Hostile disagreements and relational distress were both significantly associated with higher rates of suicidal ideation. These associations were significantly amplified in magnitude when in the context of a recent separation or divorce. Implications include novel assessment, prevention, and treatment efforts focused on romantic relationships that may reduce the likelihood of soldiers experiencing thoughts of suicide.

Factors Related to College Students’ Decisions to Report Sexual Assault:

Sexual assault is a serious problem on college campuses. Using a sample of 266 survivors of sexual assault during their college years, results from a multinomial regression identified factors linked with the odds of making either a formal report to university officials, an informal disclosure, or telling no one of the assault. Survivors were more likely to formally report the sexual assault to university officials if they had received sexual assault training, if the assault included vaginal or anal penetration, and if the survivor had a positive perception of the overall campus climate. Survivors were less likely to formally report the assault to university officials if the perpetrator was an acquaintance, friend, or dating partner compared with a stranger. Racial or ethnic minorities were less likely to formally report or informally disclose the assault. Our findings suggest that universities can aid survivors in reporting their sexual assault through education, training, and improving the overall campus climate.

Understanding and predicting classes of college students who use pornography

Despite the widespread acceptance and use of pornography, much remains unknown about the heterogeneity among consumers of pornography. Using a sample of 457 college students from a mid-western university in the United States, a latent profile analysis was conducted to identify unique classifications of pornography users considering motivations of pornography use, level of pornography use, age of user, degree of pornography acceptance, and religiosity. Results indicated three classes of pornography users: Porn Abstainers (n=285), Auto-Erotic Porn Users (n=85), and Complex Porn Users (n=87). These three classes of pornography use are carefully defined. The odds of membership in these three unique classes of pornography users was significantly distinguished by relationship status, self-esteem, and gender. These results expand what is known about pornography users by providing a more person-centered approach that is more nuanced in understanding pornography use. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Three classes of pornography users were delineated using a latent profile analysis.Porn Abstainers (62%) had small porn acceptance, use, and motivations for porn use.Complex Porn Users (19%) had high reports of use and many reasons of porn use.Auto-Erotic Porn Users (19%) had high reports of use and used it for masturbation.