This study assesses interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory’s (IPARTheory’s) prediction that adults’ (both men’s and women’s) remembrances of parental (both maternal and paternal) rejection in childhood are likely to be associated with adults’ fear of intimacy, as mediated by adults’ psychological maladjustment and relationship anxiety. The study also assesses the prediction that these associations will not vary significantly by gender, ethnicity, language, culture, or other such defining conditions. To test these predictions a sample of 3,483 young adults in 13 nations responded to the mother and father versions of the Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (short forms), Adult Personality Assessment Questionnaire (short form), the Interpersonal Relationship Anxiety Questionnaire, the Fear of Intimacy Scale, and the Revised Personal Information Form. Results of multigroup analyses showed that adults’ remembrances of both maternal and paternal rejection in childhood independently predicted men’s and women’s fear of intimacy in all 13 countries. However, remembered maternal rejection was a significantly stronger predictor of adults’ fear of intimacy than was remembered paternal rejection. Results also confirmed the prediction in all 13 countries and across both genders that both maternal and paternal rejection independently predicted adults’ psychological maladjustment and relationship anxiety, which in turn predicted fear of intimacy. In addition, psychological maladjustment partially mediated the relation between remembrances of maternal and paternal rejection, and adults’ fear of intimacy in all 13 countries and both genders.

Researchers and policymakers are engaged in an ongoing debate over the use of corporal punishment and how it potentially leads to short-term and long-term negative developmental consequences for children. In this comment on Gershoff et al. ( 2018), the authors provide evidence that children's perceptions of parental acceptanceϪrejection often partially-or even fully-mediate or moderate the reported effects of corporal punishment.

Social class is not often discussed or examined in-depth in couple and family therapy research and literature even though social class shapes familial relationships and is considered an important variable in marital satisfaction. In this qualitative study, we explored the perceptions of eight couples who made lasting commitments across class lines by asking them about the impact of their social class backgrounds on their relationships. Three categories of themes emerged including: (a) differences and similarities in values and attitudes toward education, work, money, and class awareness/classism, (b) relationship issues involving families of origin, friends, and class-based couple conflict, and (c) differences in economic resources, social capital and privileges/opportunities. Implications for assessment and treatment of couples are included.

No abstract

This study addresses the need for assessments to support clinical practice and research with survivors/victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). A total of 236 women who stayed in domestic violence shelters in a Northeastern state completed responses to 38 statements defining three categories of resistance to IPV: (a) yielding, (b) withdrawing, and (c) confronting. Content validity was established through interviews with survivors and reviews by a panel of experts. Results of an exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution. Subscale scores showed satisfactory internal consistency reliability coefficients. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed.