Abstract Romantic relationships are a key health determinant. Partners influence each other's psychological, behavioral, and biological trajectories in ways that can foster longevity or fuel disease risk early mortality. A romantic relationship's impact is considerable yet has historically garnered limited recognition from government agencies, healthcare providers, policymakers. World‐wide public organizations increasingly attending to the importance of social connection calling for action...

Using a minority stress framework, we examined changes in personal well-being among individuals same-sex relationships during the transition to federal marriage recognition. Longitudinal panel data from 279 were collected once before and at three time points after U.S. Supreme Court decision Obergefell vs. Hodges case that resulted recognition of marriage. Prior ruling, levels internalized homonegativity, isolation, vicarious trauma positively associated with psychological distress. Levels...

We examined the ways that federal, state, and local marriage recognition influence multiple domains of personal well-being individuals in same-sex (n = 279) different-sex 266) relationships. Longitudinal data were collected across transition to equality (i.e., U.S. Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges [2015] case decision, which resulted federally). Prior ruling, levels stigma psychological distress higher family support was lower for who (vs. different-sex) Levels life satisfaction those...

Given Black couples live in an environment pervaded by social stress that can compromise relationship integrity, romantic partners' use of effective coping resources is paramount to maintaining function. Culturally relevant (CRC) strategies-salient, contextually appropriate for Americans deal with living a racially hostile society-may directly promote adjustment and relational resilience even the face racial stressors such as discriminatory encounters. John Henryism (JH; high-effort...

Informed by ecological and intersectional perspectives, this study examined how Black Americans’ reflections on the historical context of slavery experiences with discrimination shaped their understandings within own relationships. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted 14 individuals in romantic Findings thematic analysis covered five themes: comparing social climates, assumptions about relationships, triad, an opportunity to respond, valuing celebrating love. Contemporary a...

Abstract Longitudinal dyadic research provides significant benefits for our understanding of romantic couple relationships. In this systematic review, we begin by providing a broad overview topical trends and approaches in longitudinal relationships from 2002 through 2021. Then, narrow review to relationship quality articles, highlighting key themes as well noting important gaps the research. Using an intersectional perspective that acknowledges multiple ways disadvantage, power, oppression...

A core idea of attachment theory is that security develops when figures are responsive to a person's connection needs. Individuals may be more or less secure in different relationships. We hypothesized individuals who perceive current relationship partner as being their needs will feel specific relationship, and the benefits perceived responsiveness would pronounced for generally insecure. The study included 472 (236 couples) romantic Consistent with our predictions, from displayed lower...

How partners handle conflict may be transmitted across generations and contribute to relationship quality. Using a sample of 220 newlywed couples ( N = 440) we examined the associations between destructive family-of-origin patterns discrepancies in current behaviors (e.g., engagement, withdrawal, negative problem solving) with marital Destructive mediated subsequent We found actor partner effects for association behavior Moreover, spousal use solving was associated lower quality husbands,...

Background: Close relationships in older adulthood are characterized by heightened interdependence, which has implications for health and well-being as partners age together. Purpose: We describe a novel method that uses partners’ spatial proximity to examine the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Research Design: In sample 10 adult couples over 14-day study period, we linked continuous measure with heart rates—a physiological marker arousal. Results: Cross-correlations showed was...

Discrimination is a chronic stressor for Black Americans that occurs alongside other social positions and has implications personal relational well-being. Using data from the Survey of Midlife in United States, this study examined relative multiplicative effects gender financial strain on links between discrimination well-being among romantic relationships (

Abstract Guided by Allen's (2023) call for developing a critical consciousness, this paper applies feminist reflexive practice to uncover the personal curiosities and contradictions that have motivated my research program on diverse romantic relationships. Specifically, I examine faith, race, heterosexism as root of an unresolved collision privilege oppression undergird burgeoning program. begin reviewing own positionality before sharing how experiences with family identity collided...

Heterosexism represents a pervasive minority stressor for sexual individuals; however, the research presents mixed findings on association between heterosexism and relational dynamics....

Abstract The field of relationship science began with understanding the role attraction and has expanded to examine factors associated initiation, development, maintenance. Despite growth field, recent reviews topics present in have revealed a dearth literature examining sociocultural contexts that may impact relational processing, especially for traditionally underrepresented groups science. Notably, given theories, frameworks, methods applied these disciplines, counseling psychology are at...