Negative interactions between romantic partners, such as when one partner criticizes another about their weight, are associated with poor relationship outcomes. The purpose of the study was to examine associations between romantic partner weight criticism, romantic relationship quality, gender, and Latinx young adults’ romantic relationship instability. Participants were recruited from a Qualtrics panel and completed 30-minute surveys online. The sample included 475 Latinx young adults (60% women; M age = 24.80 years, SD = 3.22; 66% Mexican) who reported on their experiences of romantic partner weight criticism, positive romantic relationship quality (e.g., intimacy, affection, nurturance), negative romantic relationship quality (e.g., conflict, antagonism), and relationship instability. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the study goals. Overall, weight-related criticism was more strongly associated with romantic relationship instability for men than for women. Further, for men, associations between weight criticism and romantic relationship instability were also particularly strong in the context of low levels of negative romantic relationship quality compared to high levels of negative romantic relationship quality.

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Objectives: Racial/ethnic discrimination is a common and salient stressor for many individuals. Although discrimination can impair personal and relational well-being, little is known about its influences on the process of considering dissolution (i.e., relationship instability). In two studies of Latino/a young adults, we examined associations among discrimination, psychological distress, relational uncertainty, and relationship instability. Method: Study 1 assessed self-reports of 475 participants aged 18-29 (60.2% female, M age = 24.8, SD = 3.22). Study 2 examined self-reports of 462 participants aged 18-29 (40.9% female, M age = 25.9, SD = 2.72). Structural equation models evaluated direct and indirect associations among study variables. Results: Discrimination was associated with relationship instability, both directly and indirectly via its associations with psychological distress and, in Study 1, relational uncertainty. Conclusions: Overall results suggest that racial/ethnic discrimination is associated with romantic relationship instability through its associations with psychological distress and uncertainty about the future of a relationship. Prior research demonstrates the resilience of Latino/a communities, and our findings reinforce the need for policies and clinical resources that reduce discrimination and support mental health and relationships. Public Significance StatementAcross two studies, we found that perceived racial/ethnic discrimination is related to psychological distress, uncertainty about one's romantic relationship, and considerations to end that relationship in Latino/a young adults. Psychological distress was a mechanism that explained the associations between discrimination and relationship outcomes.

Research shows that family members are important for young women's body image. Using the sociocultural model, I explored associations between negative eating and weight messages from fathers, mothers, and sisters and Latinas' internalized and externalized body image shame and the moderating role of Latinas' sociocultural attitudes (i.e., internalization of US Western beauty standards) on those associations. I conducted hierarchical linear regression analyses and found positive associations between negative eating and weight messages from fathers and mothers and Latinas' internalized body image shame. Additionally, I found positive associations between negative eating and weight messages from fathers, mothers, and sisters and Latinas' externalized body image shame. Lastly, Latinas' sociocultural attitudes was positively associated with both internalized and externalized body image shame, but was not a significant moderator. My findings reveal that family members' negative comments are harmful for Latinas' body image. Further, my findings have important clinical implications for practitioners working with Latinx families.