A substantial population of transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals is becoming parents. However, research on how TNB parents navigate parenthood, family dynamics, and couple functioning remains limited. This study investigated the association between parenting stress and relationship quality and tested the mediating role of discrepancy in the division of childcare labor (i.e., satisfaction with the current allocation of childrearing tasks) and the moderating role of gender identity (i.e., transgender man and woman vs. nonbinary) in an international sample of 228 TNB parents primarily from the United States. Results of structural equation modeling identified a conditional indirect pathway: Higher levels of parenting stress were negatively associated with lower couple relationship quality through greater discrepancy in the division of childcare labor only among nonbinary parents rather than transgender man and woman parents. The findings of this study shed light on the understudied intricacies of TNB parents' intersectional experiences of their gender identity, intimate relationships, and parenthood. The practical significance of this study lies in its potential to inform targeted intervention programs that ultimately enhance couple relationship well-being through the development of a more desirable division of childcare labor considering the nuanced experiences of TNB parents.

Interventive interviewing is a methodology that guides professionals in generating helpful questions for clients. It is grounded in systemic and social constructionist ways of thinking and has been useful in both clinical and organizational settings. The first part of this paper reviews the original work on this approach in systemic therapy and some adjustments that were made when it was applied in organizational consulting and coaching. The second part of the paper offers a revision of the framework based on several years of applying these ideas in therapy and organizational work. The proposed changes draw upon post-modern initiatives in professional interviewing, increase the breadth and applicability of the approach, and expand the interventive possibilities for systemic interviewers. Reflecting on these frameworks and adopting the methodology offers professionals options for systematically enhancing their interviewing skills. The paper concludes with examples of possible questions in each of the 12 cells of an updated framework.

Adolescent fragile connectedness with caregivers is a process in which, rather than experiencing a consistent sense of connection with caregivers, adolescents' feelings of closeness and connection are highly reliant on the day-to-day experiences with caregivers. In the current study, we hypothesized that fragile connectedness would be a risk factor for internalizing psychopathology outcomes (depression, anxiety) and positive well-being (flourishing, psychological well-being), either as a main effect or by moderating the relation between general caregiver-adolescent connectedness and long-term outcomes. This study presents a secondary analysis of data from a sample of 150 9th and 10th grade adolescents (61.3% girls) in 9th and 10th grade (Mage = 14.61) living in two-caregiver families in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. Adolescents and caregivers completed a baseline assessment, 21-day daily diary burst, and 1-year follow-up assessment. Adolescents reported on daily connectedness with caregivers, depression, anxiety, psychological well-being, and flourishing. Caregivers reported on daily positive parenting. Fragile connectedness was measured as individual differences in the within-person relations between daily variation in positive parenting and adolescents' connectedness with caregivers. Outcomes were regressed on fragile connectedness, average connectedness, baseline measures of outcomes, adolescent gender, family income, living with both biological caregivers and the interaction between fragile and average connectedness. Fragile connectedness was directly associated with decreases in psychological well-being and flourishing, but not with depression or anxiety. Average connectedness with caregivers was associated with decreases in adolescent depression over time. Implications for future research are in the emphasis on the importance of dynamic characteristics of the family (i.e., fragile connectedness) for adolescent well-being.

ABSTRACTIllnesses are often associated with fundamental changes in relationship dynamics. Yet, little is known about how different acute and chronic conditions distinctly impact both partners' well‐being. This study analyzed the reciprocal associations between different illnesses on life satisfaction and relationship satisfaction in partnerships. Based on data from the Family Demographic Panel (FReDA), 14,426 people were analyzed in a two‐stage analysis process. In the first step, a Welch‐ANOVA examined disease‐specific differences in life satisfaction as a function of partnership status, focusing on the well‐being of the ill individual. In the second step, an extended Actor–Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was applied to partnered dyads, shifting the focus to the healthy partner and analyzing how the illness of one partner and relational factors are associated with the partner's relationship and life satisfaction. The results revealed substantial crossover effects, with consistent partnership‐related patterns across illness types. Disease severity and duration were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction, whereas intimacy and constructive conflict resolution emerged as universal protective factors. These findings underscore the relevance of a systemic perspective in healthcare and show the need for partnership‐oriented interventions.

As intercultural marriages become increasingly common in the United States, it is crucial to examine the factors that affect their stability and satisfaction. This study explores how demographic factors, cultural orientation, and social support influence marital satisfaction in Eastern men-Western women couples. A total of 89 individuals participated in this study, with 48.3% male (69.7% Middle Eastern and 30.3% Asian) and 51.7% female (United Statesian-European). Cultural collectivism, social support, and level of education were significant positive predictors of marital satisfaction. Collectivism, particularly horizontal collectivism which reflects egalitarian interdependence, emerged as a significant positive predictor of marital satisfaction. While social support was the strongest predictor of marital satisfaction, collectivism was not a significant predictor when social support was included, although its association remained positive. Additionally, there were no significant gender differences in marital satisfaction. Findings suggest that clinicians working with Eastern-Western couples should examine how partners balance collectivistic expectations, including family involvement and relational interdependence, with individualistic preferences for autonomy and independence. This balance appears to meaningfully shape marital satisfaction. Future research should examine a wider range of intercultural couples to determine whether similar patterns emerge across different racial, religious, and socioeconomic groups. Understanding these intersections can help policymakers and practitioners develop culturally responsive relationship education and support programs tailored to the needs of diverse intercultural families.

ABSTRACTThis study explored the reciprocal associations between maternal physical discipline and children's externalizing problems across childhood, distinguishing between trait‐like (i.e., between‐person) and state‐like (i.e., within‐person) differences. We used data from 604 dyads in Singapore, a context where physical discipline is commonly accepted. We analyzed maternal physical discipline and children's externalizing problems at three timepoints between ages 4 and 10.5 using a random‐intercept cross‐lagged panel model, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. At the between‐person level, maternal physical discipline covaried positively with more externalizing problems in children, supporting extensive evidence in the literature. However, at the within‐person level, maternal physical discipline at age 4.5 predicted children's lower externalizing problems at age 7. These findings underscore the value of disentangling between‐ and within‐person effects and highlight the complex associations between physical discipline and externalizing problems in a setting where physical discipline is common.

Dementia is a global health concern often treated as an individual disease. Informed by the Dyadic Illness Management Theory, we posit that dementia is a relational condition that impacts the cognitive, physical, and emotional health of both spousal care-recipients and caregivers. We conducted a critical review of Western and East Asian literature on the dyadic effects of dementia in older couples and found several themes: First, spousal caregivers of those with dementia risk experiencing cognitive decline themselves, a phenomenon we refer to as reciprocal cognitive decline. Second, collectivist and patriarchal values disproportionately place caregiving burdens on East Asian women, contributing to gender differences in caregiving stress. Third, marital quality differentially relates to cognitive functioning among spousal caregivers and care-recipients, with marital loneliness, relationship satisfaction, and depression emerging as potential mechanisms. We underscore the necessity of culturally-relevant, dyadic dementia research and interventions in East Asia. We call for global research to clarify the mechanisms underpinning reciprocal cognitive decline. Clinical recommendations include considering dyadic ramifications of cognitive change in older couples throughout assessment, care-planning, and systemic health management. A case example illustrates key themes and gaps in research and practice.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are significant public health concerns with long-term consequences for children's mental health, physical well-being, and socioeconomic outcomes. This study examines whether younger maternal age at childbirth (≤ 24 years) is associated with children's exposure to any ACE and whether parental emotional support moderates this association. This study analyzed 2022 National Survey of Children's Health data for 32,092 children ages 6-17. Logistic models adjusted for child age, sex, US-born status, special health care needs, highest household education, family poverty level, partnered status, and any adult employment. Younger maternal age was associated with substantially higher odds of any ACE. With child-level covariates (M1), the OR was 3.20 (95% CI [2.98, 3.43]); with family-level covariates (M2), 2.14 ([1.98, 2.31]); and in the fully adjusted model (M3), 2.05 ([1.90, 2.21]). In the fully adjusted moderation model (M4), the main effect for younger maternal age remained strong (OR = 1.75, [1.49, 2.06]). This study highlighted that risk concentrates where structural disadvantage and early parenthood intersect. Emotional support did not reduce children's ACE risk. Interventions should prioritize caregiver support services and structural supports, such as income, housing, childcare, and behavioral health for young families.

ABSTRACTTo ensure continuity of care during the Covid‐19 pandemic, family therapy sessions were maintained via videoconferencing. Few studies evaluate the effectiveness of this modality. This exploratory qualitative study gathered the experiences of families who underwent videoconferencing family therapy during the first French lockdown and in‐person therapy before and after. This study was conducted in France, within a department of adolescent medicine and psychiatry. Ten semi‐structured interviews were conducted with eight families and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results show that the absence of travel constraints in videoconferencing limited engagement during sessions. At home, daily life disrupted immersion, close proximity censored conversations, and therapists' virtual presence was perceived as intrusive or alliance‐reinforcing. Patients described the sessions as a hiatus in therapy, citing therapists' exclusion from the family system, the paradox of being in therapy without full participation, and weak integration into the family narrative. However, videoconferencing provided crucial support during the crisis, encouraged initiative‐taking, enabled participation of typically absent members, and allowed for experimentation with new formats. Some patients proposed alternating between in‐person and remote sessions in the future. These challenges highlight the disruption of the therapeutic system during the abrupt transition. Therapists, shifting from active participants to observers, struggled to maintain a cohesive system. Yet, videoconferencing can redistribute control, fostering family initiative and balancing group and individual identities. This tool could complement traditional family therapy. Further research is needed to identify conditions, populations, and stages of therapy where videoconferencing is most effective.