Relational uncertainty, interdependence and psychological distress during COVID‐19: A longitudinal study

Estlein, Roi; Segel-Karpas, Dikla; Elran‐Barak, Roni

doi:10.1002/smi.3155

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 82 publications

(129 reference statements)

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“…We used multilevel regression models to probe actor and partner effects (see Boman et al, 2012; Hong & Kim, 2019). Multilevel modelling (MLM) is also useful in accommodating missing data (Knobloch & Theiss, 2010), especially in longitudinal designs (Estlein et al, 2022). We used the Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM8.2) software, which is designed to accommodate nonindependent or nested data (Bryk & Raudenbush, 1992), for analyzing actor and partner effects in couples during the transition to parenthood.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Actor and partner effects of prenatal coparenting behavior on postpartum depression in first-time parents

Estlein

Shai

2023

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

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Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mental health complication of pregnancy and childbirth with long- and short-term consequences for the wellbeing and the functioning of parents. In particular, first-time parents seem to be at high risk for developing post-birth depressive symptoms as the transition to parenthood elevates stress and demands adjustment to significant changes. Prior research has mostly documented individual characteristics, such as prenatal depression and psychiatric history, as predictors of PPD, but much less is known about the potential contribution of interpersonal processes within relational contexts, such as the coparenting relationship, to PPD among first-time mothers and fathers. With evidence suggesting that coparenting dynamics start developing prior to the birth, it is imperative to consider characteristics of coparenting interaction behaviors as early as during pregnancy to identify such behaviors as risk or protective factors for PPD. In the current study, we explored one’s own (actor) and partner’s observed prenatal coparenting behaviors as predictors of mothers' and fathers' PPD. A mixed-method longitudinal study with 107 expectant couples provided both partners' self-report measures and observational data from interaction tasks prenatally, and at 3 and 6 months post-birth. APIM multilevel model analyses revealed that both negative (i.e., withdrawal and conflict) and positive (i.e., communication skills, support, and problem solving attempts) prenatal coparenting behaviors were uniquely predictive of PPD among first-time parents above and beyond other potential predictors of PPD, although several similarities and dissimilarities among fathers and mothers were detected.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Actor and partner effects of prenatal coparenting behavior on postpartum depression in first-time parents

Estlein

Shai

2023

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

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“…This study involves secondary analyses of data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic among cohabiting couples to examine the impact of the lockdown on couples' relationships, dynamics, and well-being [31,32]. The research project received university institutional review board approval.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Behaviors during the Early COVID-19 Containment Phase and Their Impact on Psychological Health

2023

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The COVID-19 lockdowns have brought significant changes to individuals’ daily lives, including their health behaviors and psychological health. Longitudinal studies exploring changes in health behaviors during the course of the initial containment phase are relatively scarce. Our aim is to understand how health behaviors have evolved during different phases of the early COVID-19 lockdowns and assess the impact of these changes on psychological well-being. By doing so, we hope to provide valuable insights that can enhance the understanding of the relationship between health behaviors and psychological health, with relevance not only to everyday life but to times of crises. A longitudinal study among 313 adults in Israel (44.5 ± 13.4 years old, 80% women) at three timepoints, beginning with the first COVID-19 lockdown (April 2020) and extending through June 2020. In each wave, participants were asked to report about exercising, eating fruits and vegetables, sharing family meals, and screen time. The BSI (Brief Symptom Inventory) was used to assess psychological health. There was an initial increase in the frequency of exercising (3.06 + 2.3 times a week) and shared meals (breakfast, 3.97 + 2.3; lunch, 5.30 + 1.9; dinner, 5.75 + 1.7 times a day) followed by a subsequent significant decrease in these behaviors (exercising, 2.84 + 2.0; breakfast, 2.63 + 2.1; lunch, 3.48 + 2.3; dinner, 4.75 + 2.0). The health behaviors of more exercising (r = −0.145, p = 0.43) and less screen time (r = 0.183, p = 0.010) had a positive impact on psychological health. External events, such as the first COVID-19 lockdown, may influence health behaviors which may, in turn, influence psychological health. While prior studies have mainly highlighted the negative impact of the pandemic on health behaviors, our analyses suggest that the first containment phase may have had an initial beneficial impact on several health behaviors, including exercising and family meals. However, this change was not sustainable.

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Testing relational turbulence theory in daily life using dynamic structural equation modeling

Goodboy,

Dillow,

Shin

et al. 2024

Journal of Communication

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Using dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM; Asparouhov et al., 2018), this study tests how partner disruptions of daily routines create a chaotic relational state through intensified emotions directed at partners, as posited by relational turbulence theory (RTT; Solomon et al., 2016). To test this affective process, individuals in dating relationships (N = 130) completed daily surveys for 30 days (T = 30; 3,478 total observations), measuring that day’s interference from their partner, anger experienced while interacting with their partner, and their relational turbulence. DSEM accounted for the intensive longitudinal aspects of the data while modeling three types of person-specific random effects: random intercepts to account for subject-specific averages; random slopes to account for subject-specific effects; and random variances to account for subject-specific volatility. RTT processes were supported, as greater than typical interference of routines in daily life predicted more relational turbulence that day via increased daily anger (controlling for the previous day’s levels). The use of DSEM allowed us to further test RTT by modeling person-specific inertia and volatility (for levels of interference, anger, and relational turbulence throughout a month). The use of a multilevel “location-scale” DSEM with random intercepts and random variances revealed that attachment avoidance and anxiety predicted a variety of person-specific features of the studied longitudinal processes: averages, inertia, and volatility over time. We provide our data and a supplemental primer to illustrate how to test communication theory with DSEM and model the intensive dynamics of daily life.

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Relational uncertainty, interdependence and psychological distress during COVID‐19: A longitudinal study

Cited by 3 publications

References 82 publications

Actor and partner effects of prenatal coparenting behavior on postpartum depression in first-time parents

Actor and partner effects of prenatal coparenting behavior on postpartum depression in first-time parents

Health Behaviors during the Early COVID-19 Containment Phase and Their Impact on Psychological Health

Testing relational turbulence theory in daily life using dynamic structural equation modeling

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