Patricia N. E. Roberson

How health behaviors link romantic relationship dysfunction and physical health across 20 years for middle-aged and older adults

RATIONALEnThere has been substantial research linking marital quality to physical health outcomes; however, the mechanisms linking marital quality and physical health have been studied less extensively, especially with longitudinal data. Of the hypothesized mechanisms, only psychological distress (anxiety/depression) and physiological mechanisms (inflammation) have been tested and confirmed. Health behaviors such as diet, exercise, smoking, drinking, and sleeping have not previously been examined as mechanisms linking marital quality and physical health.nnnOBJECTIVEnThe present study tests how the emotional influence of the marital relationship is linked to subsequent health outcomes through behavioral mechanisms. A biopsychosocial theoretical model, the Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM), is used to hypothesize the mediating paths between marital dysfunction and physical health.nnnMETHODnThe study hypotheses are tested with publicly accessible survey data, Midlife in the United States (MIDUS). We examined married or cohabiting participants (Nu202f=u202f5023) across the three time points of MIDUS, or 20 years. Specifically, we tested whether five health behaviors at Time 2 (smoking, alcohol, sleep, food to cope, and physical activity) function as mechanisms linking marital dysfunction (Time 1) to subsequent physical health (Time 3). We tested each health behavior as a mechanism in a series of mediating Structural Equation Models.nnnRESULTSnTwo health behaviors were significant mechanisms (food to cope and physical activity), while three were not (smoking, alcohol, and sleep).nnnCONCLUSIONnDiet and exercise are mechanisms linking marital dysfunction and health across 20 years because they may be linked to the emotional influence and not functional influence of the marriage context. According to the BBFM, diet and exercise may be part of the mediating construct of the model (i.e., biobehavioral reactivity), which explains how emotional stress from a marriage may produce declines in physical health over time. Implications for biopsychosocial healthcare interventions are discussed.

In Our Lives and Under Our Skin: An Investigation of Specific Psychobiological Mediators Linking Family Relationships and Health Using the Biobehavioral Family Model

The objective of this study was to use the Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM) to delineate which psychophysiological variables link romantic and family relationship satisfaction variables to health outcomes. Data from individuals who reported being partnered from the second wave of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS II), Project 4 (nxa0=xa0812) were used to test a structural equationxa0model which explored which psychophysiological variables potentially mediated associations between positive and negative family emotional climate variables and disease activity. This model found that current and past family variables had larger associations with the psychophysiological variables than romantic partner variables; depressive symptoms, anxiety, and inflammation partially mediated associations between family relationships and health; and, contrary to the hypotheses, romantic partner and family support were linked to worse health outcomes. However, the findings should be viewed with regard to the cross-sectional design of the study. Overall, the findings support the use of the BBFM as a model that can guide clinical interventions.

Does Role Balance Influence the Effect of Personality on College Success? A Mediation Model:

While the relationship between individual factors, including personality dimensions, and tertiary academic outcomes is well established, the mechanisms by which these factors influence academic success have been less fully explored. This study tested one potential mechanism, the developmental task of role balance, by which personality may influence college success. During emerging adulthood, young people simultaneously explore and establish both individual and relational role identities. As part of this process, these emerging adults work to balance their individual roles with their relational roles in order to maximize success and satisfaction across domains. Using a college student sample (N = 299), this study used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test role balance as a mediator between personality dimensions and multiple indicators of college success. Tests indicated that role balance partially mediates the relationship between conscientiousness and neuroticism and college satisfaction but is not associated with other traditional measures of college achievement (grade point average, intention to withdraw).

‘My family is making me sick’ – but, for both him and her?: examining the effect of gender on the association between close relationships and health

ABSTRACT Using a biopsychosocial health approach, we examine the role of close relationships on health for men and women. With a cross-sectional US sample (Nu2009=u2009872), we examine a structural model to determine how close relationships (family and romantic) influence number of chronic disease and number of prescription medication through physiological (allostatic load) and psychological (depression/anxiety symptoms) biobehavioural reactivity differently by gender. For both men and women, family/couple relationships impact health through depression/anxiety symptoms more so than allostatic load. However, for women, family relationships can both positively and negatively influenced health outcomes when considering both indirect and direct associations. Findings indicate that there may be unmeasured coping mechanisms (eg exercise, alcohol consumption) that can differentially impact health for men compared to women. Also, when examining family and couple dimensions of relationships simultaneously, couple relationships appear to have less of an impact on health.

The Effects of a Couples-Based Health Behavior Intervention During Pregnancy on Latino Couples’ Dyadic Satisfaction Postpartum

Many couples tend to report steadily decreasing relationship quality following the birth of a child. However, little is known about the postpartum period for Latino couples, a rapidly growing ethnic group who are notably underserved by mental and physical health caregivers in the United States. Thus, this study investigated whether a brief couples intervention focused on helping couples support each other while increasing healthy behaviors might improve dyadic functioning postpartum. This study presents secondary analyses of data regarding couple functioning from a larger randomized controlled trial with 348 Latino couples to promote smoking cessation. Portions of the intervention taught the couple communication and problem-solving skills to increase healthy behavior. Couples participated in four face-to-face assessments across 1xa0year starting at the end of the first trimester. Latent growth curve analyses revealed that the treatment group reported an increase in relationship satisfaction and constructive communication after the intervention, which diminished by 1-year follow-up, returning couples to their baseline levels of satisfaction. Results suggest that incorporating a brief couple intervention as part of a larger health intervention for Latinos may prevent postpartum decreases in relationship satisfaction.

An Implementation Study of Relationship Checkups as Home Visitations for Low-Income At-Risk Couples

Couples with the greatest need for relationship health maintenance and intervention are often least able to afford and access it; therefore, accessible, affordable, effective, and brief interventions are needed to improve relationship health for those who need it most. Consequently, this paper examined whether a brief relationship intervention could be effectively implemented with a low-income, underserved population. All enrolled participants (Nxa0=xa01,312) received the Relationship Checkup, which consists of an assessment and a feedback session delivered in their homes or at a local clinic at their request. Measures assessed relationship satisfaction, communication, psychological and physical aggression, and intimacy at baseline and 1-month follow-up, and program and relationship satisfaction at 6-month follow-up. All participants reported significant improvements on all outcomes with small effect sizes. However, moderation analyses suggested that distressed couples reported significantly larger effects across the board. Overall, participants reported that they were highly satisfied with the intervention both immediately after its delivery and 6xa0months later. Findings provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of this brief checkup and point to the utility of offering these kinds of low-cost brief interventions in flexible formats for those who might have the most difficulty accessing them.

Is relationship quality linked to diabetes risk and management?: It depends on what you look at.

Although the quality of marriage and marriage-like relationships (e.g., cohabitation) has been linked to the risk of developing diabetes and being able to effectively manage the disease once developed, it is unclear which aspects of marital quality drive these associations. Method: Using nationally representative data (Midlife in the United States, N = 800), the present study therefore examines how aspects of marriage (e.g., strain, support, marital risk, and constructive communication) are linked to diabetes outcomes and whether these links vary as a function of sociodemographic characteristics related to health (e.g., gender, race, and income). Results: Strain and marital risk were linked to an increased risk of developing diabetes and strain and poor communication were linked to an increased risk of poor diabetes management. Finally, marital support was linked to a lower risk of diabetes but only for those with lower income. Discussion: These findings inform prevention and intervention programs focusing on social support mechanisms to potentially reduce the risk of developing diabetes (e.g., reduced marital strain and marital instability) and improving diabetes control (e.g., improved communication and reduced marital strain).