Thomas Ledermann
Taking a Closer Look at the Relationship between Stress, Communication, and Marital Quality in Intimate Relationships
Authors
Thomas Ledermann (University of Fribourg)
Guy Bodenmann (University of Fribourg)
This study examines the interplay of relationship external and internal daily stress, dyadic communication and marital quality in couples. It is assumed that (a) internal daily stress mediates on the individual level the relationship between external daily stress and marital outcomes including marital quality and dyadic communication, and that (b) the relationship between internal daily stress and marital quality is partially mediated through dyadic communication on the dyadic level. Using the Actor-Partner Mediator Model and Common Fate Mediator Model (Ledermann, Macho, & Bodenmann, 2007) the findings based on data from 198 heterosexual couples support our hypotheses and reveal that relationship internal daily stress plays a crucial role in marital relationships. Moreover, analyses based on the Mutual Influence Model (Kenny, 1996) provide evidence for the existence of reciprocal influences between spouses in terms of internal daily stress and dyadic communication. Implications are drawn for the prevention of marital stress in intimate relationships.
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Melanie Wight
Dyadic and individual problem solving in old age
Authors
Melanie Wight (University of Zurich)
Melanie Wight, University of Zurich, Institute of Psychology, Department of Gerontopsychology
Mike Martin, University of Zurich, Institute of Psychology, Department of Gerontopsychology
Collaboration with the spouse may be an important resource for successful problem solving, especially in old age. To examine individual versus dyadic problem solving performance of older adults, we present first data from an ongoing study of elderly spouses (N = 40; minimum age 60 years). We use an adapted version of the “Black Box” problem solving paradigm (Krems & Johnson, 1995) for individual and dyadic testing. The task can be optimally solved when dyads distribute and manage responsibilities between memory demands and the reasoning demands of the task. Therefore, the comparison of individual versus dyadic problem solving abilities provides a better understanding of older couples’ dyadic adaptation processes when faced with a problem solving task. Our results demonstrate that dyads consisting of old adults outperform old individuals on the Black Box task, and that relationship characteristics moderated the older dyads’ performance. Overall, our results suggest that older familiar dyads are expert collaborators who might be able to compensate for individual cognitive deficits through dyadic cognition.
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Daniel Zimprich
A New Look on Dyads Using Latent Change Models
Authors
Daniel Zimprich (University of Zurich)
Thomas Ledermann (University of Fribourg)
During the last few years, some new and intriguing models for analyzing dyadic data have appeared. The present talk will add still another one which is based on latent change models as detailed by McArdle and Nesselroade (1994). Briefly, differences between the two members of the dyad are measured on the latent level, which is supposed to be more reliable and less ambiguous than simple difference scores. The application of the new model is demonstrated using data on neuroticism from 442 dyads. Results show that, on average, the male partner is significant less neurotic, but that the dyadic difference in neuroticism differs reliably across pairs. The model also allows for including explanatory variables accounting for dyadic differences. Moreover, it is straightforward to extend the model to longitudinal dyadic data.
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Melanie Braun
Dyadic exchange and well-being in couples with one spouse suffering from dementia
Authors
Melanie Braun (University of Zurich)
Urte Scholz (University of Zurich)
Rainer Hornung (University of Zurich)
Mike Martin (University of Zurich)
Due to increased life expectancy, many couples face the transition to a caregiving relationship when the partner develops dementia. Although dementia research mainly focuses on caregiver health status, little is known about the impact of dementia on the marital relationship and the dyadic exchange.
Perceived equity and a balanced social exchange are predictors of relationship quality and marital satisfaction. Hence, it is assumable that the balance between give and take in afflicted couples is impaired by a modified dyadic exchange. This study focuses on the development of social exchange in 40 couples (N=40) with a husband suffering from dementia. Three measurement points within 12 months are used to analyze dyadic exchange, communication, and potential adaptation processes over time. We aim to investigate how dyadic exchange relates to spousal well-being and health decline. We expect important information for interventions to support afflicted couples
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Kathrin Widmer
Effects of the coping-oriented marital therapy in the treatment of unipolar depression
Authors
Kathrin Widmer (University of Fribourg)
Guy Bodenmann (University of Fribourg)
Barbara Gabriel (University of Fribourg)
Nathalie Meuwly (University of Fribourg)
Martin Hautzinger (University of Tübingen (D))
Elisabeth Schramm (University of Freiburg (D))
Actual hypotheses concerning risk factors, performance and relapse factors for unipolar depression focus the role of interpersonal and family conditions for onset and relapse-probability of unipolar depression. Coping-oriented marital therapy helps couples to improve dyadic competences (i.e. communication, dyadic coping, dyadic problem solving), which predict both partners relationship quality and satisfaction on a long-term basis. The goal of this longitudinal study was to compare the effectiveness of the Coping-oriented marital therapy to the Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and to the Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) over a period of 1,5 years. 60 patients and their partners were randomized to one of the three treatments. Standardized selfreport data, interview data (EE) and observational data of the patient's and partner's conversations have been assessed. Selfreport data over 1,5 years show that the Coping-oriented marital therapy is comparably effective to CBT and IPT in the reductions of the depressed symptoms. In all three approaches BDI-Scores decreased significantly over 1.5 years, which indicates a comparable effectiveness of all three approaches on a long-term basis. Differential effects are also presented and discussed with regard to clinical implications.
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