Raffaella Iafrate

Dyadic coping responses and partners’ perceptions for couple satisfaction: An actor–partner interdependence analysis

Applying the actor–partner interdependence model to 114 couples’ data, we examined the link between partners’ change in reported dyadic coping responses from 6 months before marriage to 12 months after marriage and change in the perceptions of the other’s dyadic coping responses, the role of these associations for partners’ change in relationship satisfaction, and the role of gender in these relations. Results highlighted both accuracy and projection effects in partners’ perceptions. Moreover, one’s perceptions of the other’s dyadic coping responses mediated the effect of both one’s own and the others’ reported dyadic coping behaviors on one’s satisfaction. Findings are discussed in light of the implications for the study of dyadic coping and partner support as well as for intervention.

When good things happen: Explicit capitalization attempts of positive events promote intimate partners’ daily well-being

Sharing good news with the partner improves individual and relational well-being. While prior research has confirmed the benefits of such capitalization processes, knowledge on how the type of events that are shared, and the way they are shared, affects individuals and relationships is limited. We investigated diary data from 49 married couples to examine associations between the explicitness in the disclosure of events that were either internal or external to the couple, and individual and relational well-being, above and beyond the effects of the events and their disclosure. Multilevel analyses suggested that self-esteem and relationship quality increased as a function of women’s and men’s reports of internal and external positive events, but not as a function of the mere disclosure of the event. Being explicit when disclosing a positive event to the partner, however, was positively associated with individual and relational well-being in women and in men, beyond the effects of the event and its disclosure. We discuss how the current research contributes to the understanding of the capitalization process and its contribution to well-being, underscoring the importance of communication skills.

Preferred Interpersonal Distances: A Global Comparison

Human spatial behavior has been the focus of hundreds of previous research studies. However, the conclusions and generalizability of previous studies on interpersonal distance preferences were limited by some important methodological and sampling issues. The objective of the present study was to compare preferred interpersonal distances across the world and to overcome the problems observed in previous studies. We present an extensive analysis of interpersonal distances over a large data set (N = 8,943 participants from 42 countries). We attempted to relate the preferred social, personal, and intimate distances observed in each country to a set of individual characteristics of the participants, and some attributes of their cultures. Our study indicates that individual characteristics (age and gender) influence interpersonal space preferences and that some variation in results can be explained by temperature in a given region. We also present objective values of preferred interpersonal distances in different regions, which might be used as a reference data point in future studies.

Insofar as you can be part of me: the influence of intrusive parenting on young adult children’s couple identity

What is the role of family of origin in the formation of couple identity (i.e., considering couplehood as central to ones sense of self) among young adults? Two studies tested and supported the hypothesis that intrusive parenting hinders the couple identity of young adults. In Study 1, intrusive parenting was associated with weaker couple identity in a sample of 702 dating partners (351 couples). In Study 2, intrusive parenting was linked to a confused individual self-concept (i.e., lower self-concept clarity), which in turn was associated with weaker couple identity in a sample of 200 dating partners. Extra-relational factors, such as intrusive parenting, can and do predict the quality of couple identity.

Attractors and Barriers to Divorce: A Retrospective Study in Three European Countries

Abstract A total of 711 divorced individuals from Germany, Italy and Switzerland provided retrospective reports on their perception of at-tractors and barriers to divorcing. This study combines the evaluation of macro-level variables (represented by three different countries) and micro-level variables (psychological variables) to better understand attractors and barriers to divorce. Among attractors of divorce, alienation was found to be most relevant, while alternatives were less significant for the decision to divorce in all three countries. Among barriers, the presence of children (for all three countries) and financial strain (for German and Swiss women) was found to be of primary importance. In general among macro-level variables, economic assets seemed to be of greatest importance.

Is the Partner Who Decides to Divorce More Attractive? A Comparison Between Initiators and Noninitiators

Five hundred eighty divorced individuals from Germany, Italy, and Switzerland provided retrospective reports on the perceived similarities and differences between themselves and their former partner and on their own and their partners attractiveness. Initiators and noninitiators were compared with regard to these different variables. Results demonstrated that most divorcees perceived themselves to be quite similar to their former partner. Initiating women were more likely than noninitiating women to perceive themselves as different from their former partner in personality, norms, and needs and to evaluate their former partner to be less attractive. Initiating men were more likely than noninitiating men to perceive differences with regard to the personality between themselves and their partners.

Investigating the relation between shared stressors and marital satisfaction: The moderating effects of dyadic coping and communication

This study examined the role that communication and coping skills play in moderating the relation between shared stressors and marital satisfaction in a community sample of 119 married, heterosexual couples in Italy. Hierarchical regression models examined communication and coping skills as potential moderators of the association between two indicators of shared relationship stressors (sexual dissatisfaction and dissatisfaction with children) and overall relationship satisfaction. Findings showed there was a significant interaction effect of communication skills and sexual dissatisfaction on relationship satisfaction for both husbands and wives. There was also a significant interaction effect of coping skills and sexual dissatisfaction on relationship satisfaction for wives. For both husbands and wives, there were no significant interaction effects of communication skills nor dyadic coping and dissatisfaction with children on relationship satisfaction. Implications of these findings for prevention and intervention strategies for relationship distress and for further research are discussed.

Assessment of the Familial Relationships of Young Adult Children of Separated Parents

The aim of this work was the psychometric study of six scales designed to assess the familial relationships of young adult children of separated parents. The analyzed constructs are interparental conflict, loyalty conflict, coalition, parentification, childrens perceptions of the parent–child relationships, and young adult perception of the separation–individuation process. Internal consistency and factorial validity was studied through a sample of 535 Spanish young adults from disrupted and nondisrupted families who were between 20 and 30 years old. The confirmatory factor analyses showed a certain acceptability of the original structures of all scales, with Bentler–Bonett Nonnormed Fit Index, Bentler–Bonett Normed Fit Index, and comparative fit indexes above .90 in all cases, and root mean square error of approximation below .05 in the multifactorial scales and slightly higher in the unifactorial ones. The internal consistency values were between .89 and .94 in the unifactorial scales, and between .70 and .92 in the multifactorial ones. The estimations found for the factor saturation supported the acceptability of the original structures. It is concluded that all the scales within this set present acceptable properties, in terms of dimensionality and internal consistency. The limitations are pointed out.

A qualitative evaluation of a preventive intervention for parents: The Groups for Family Enrichment_Parent version (GFE_P)

ABSTRACT The traditional objective of parenting enrichment programs is to train parents’ abilities and specific competences, but less attention is paid to promoting participants’ reflection on their parental identity. These programs are generally delivered to groups of parents, though the group is rarely considered a specific tool to promote changes in participants’ relational functioning. The Groups for Family Enrichment_Parent version (GFE_P; Iafrate, Donato, & Bertoni, 2010; Iafrate & Rosnati, 2007) focus on parental identity in addition to parental competences and skills and purposely use the group of parents as an educational tool, adopting a semistructured format. In this article, we first introduce the characteristics of GFE_P, then we present the results of a qualitative evaluation of an application of this intervention to a group of Italian parents. Findings from the process evaluation showed that participants actively contributed to the development of themes during the intervention. Result evaluation suggested that the recognition of key aspects of parental identity can be an important prerequisite to the acquisition of better parenting skills. Implications for parenting programs design are discussed.

Free to love? The role of intrusive parenting for young adult children’s romantic relationship quality

ABSTRACT Intrusive parenting is a form of boundary disturbance in the parent-child relationship which has been consistently associated with children’s maladjustment. The present study examines the role of intrusive parenting for young adult children’s romantic relationship quality. Relying on data from a two-wave longitudinal study among young couples in transition to marriage in Italy, we investigated the link between young adults’ perceived intrusive parenting and change in their romantic relationship quality from 6 months before marriage to 18 months after marriage, as well as the mediating role of change in the capacity to include the partner in the self. Data were analyzed using actor-partner interdependence modeling. Perceived intrusive parenting negatively predicted change in inclusion of the other in the self and change in romantic relationship quality for both partners. For females, change in their capacity of inclusion of the other in the self fully mediated the association between their perceived intrusive parenting and change in their own and partner’s relationship quality. Limitations and implications for practice are discussed.