Couple relationship education (CRE) programs are intended to prevent negative couple outcomes, however, some evidence suggests couples in greater distress may still benefit. The current study examined pre- and postchanges in relationship functioning of 362 low-income African American and Hispanic couples. Outcomes (dedication and communication) were assessed by examining differences between two distinct groupings of couples; distressed (both partners reporting clinically significant distress) and nondistressed (neither partner reporting clinically significant distress) couples. Distressed couples at predemonstrated large-sized gains in all outcome variables, as compared to nondistressed couples. Those who participated in the single-couple format demonstrated lower gains in positive communication as compared to those in the group format. Implications for distressed couples in CRE programs are offered.

It has been well supported that men underutilize mental health services (see Chapter 31, this chapter); however, this is not due to a lack of need for such assistance (Addis & Mahalik, 2003;Cochran, 2005). In fact, men and women are equally as likely to develop a mental disorder throughout their lifetime, with men having higher rates of substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder and women being more likely to experience affective disorders (Kessler et al., 1994). Additionally, the emotional expression by men when coping with distress (e.g., anger) may alter traditional ways of understanding some disorders, such as the blunted or sullen affect typically associated with depression. To complicate matters, for many men, asking for psychological help may be in conflict with how they were socialized to think of themselves (i.e., tough, silent), including socialization processes that promote the belief that men should be selfreliant as well as physically and emotionally tough (Addis & Mahalik, 2003). Consequently, there is general consensus among mental health professionals that significant social-cultural barriers inhibit men from seeking psychological help.Once men decide to begin psychotherapy, the socialization processes that inhibited their helpseeking behaviors do not cease (Owen, Thomas, & Rodolfa, 2013). For some men, the tendency to be emotionally restrictive and the fear of acting in an effeminate manner (Scher, 1990) can inhibit emotional engagement in therapy (Cochran, 2005;Levant, 1998). For instance, men who seek help are significantly less likely than women to ask questions about their treatment (Courtenay, 2000). This could be due to the internalized stigma toward receiving services, wherein men may feel inferior or inadequate for seeking help (Vogel, Wade, & Haake, 2006). In turn, clients endorsing higher levels of self-stigma toward seeking help have been associated with low-quality working alliances and fewer session outcomes (Owen et al., 2013). Clearly, there are several components of masculine socialization that may present barriers during the treatment process for those men who do seek help.Despite advances to better understand how best to work with men (see Mahalik, Good, Tager, Levant, & Mackowiak, 2012), the empirical support for therapeutic interventions with men remains limited (Levant, Halter, Hayden, & Williams, 2009). As such, in this chapter, we attempt to cover three important issues. First, we provide a review of the literature on empirical treatments that include samples focusing on men. This was done within the tradition of systematic review and meta-analysis, with some clear limitations noted below. Second, we provide an explication of therapists' multicultural orientation (Owen, 2013) as a framework for working with the cultural norms of men. In doing so, we highlight particular masculine norms that have garnered empirical attention. Third, we provide an integration of current psychotherapy approaches within the lens of masculine norms. Providing a current, empirically supp...

Hooking up is defined as a physical encounter between two people who are not romantically committed. This study explored whether there were subgroups of young adults with unique reactions to hooking up (N = 879). Psychosocial predictor variables (gender, depression, loneliness, intoxication level, college adjustment, and hope for a committed relationship) were investigated along with emotional reactions as the outcome variables. Through the use of cluster analysis, four distinct clusters were identified: Happy Hopeful, Content Realist, Used and Confused, and Disappointed and Disengaged. The majority (62 %) of the sample reported mostly positive reactions to hooking up and fell within the Happy Hopeful or Content Realist clusters. Protective factors in these two clusters included hope for a committed relationship, having realistic expectations, and healthy psychological adjustment. The Used and Confused and Disappointed and Disengaged clusters reported the most negative hooking up reactions and consisted of 38 % of the overall sample. These two groups reported increased depression and loneliness symptoms and lower levels of social adjustment as compared to those clusters with more positive reactions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many individuals suffering from “connection deficit disorder” given changes to the way we work, go to school, socialize, and engage in daily activities. Young adults affected by cancer between the ages of 18–39 have known this connection deficit long before the pandemic. Being diagnosed and treated for cancer during this time can significantly disrupt engagement in important educational, career, social, and reproductive pursuits, and contribute to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative outcomes. Experiencing meaningful connection—with nature, with peers who understand, and with oneself, may help assuage this adverse effect of disconnect. A single arm within-subjects program evaluation was conducted to examine outcomes following participation in immersive, multi-night, mindfulness-based treks in nature in a sample of young adults (n = 157) and caregivers (n = 50) affected by cancer from 2016–2021. Pre to post-trek changes included significant (p < 0.001) self-reported improvements in feeling connected to nature (d = 0.93–0.95), peers (d = 1.1–1.3), and oneself (d = 0.57–1.5); significant (p < 0.001) improvements on PROMIS Anxiety (d = 0.62–0.78), Depression (d = 0.87–0.89), and Sleep Disturbance (d = 0.37–0.48) short forms; and significant (p < 0.05) changes in pro-inflammatory biomarkers (d = 0.55–0.82). Connection-promoting experiences like this have the potential to improve health and wellbeing in this population and serve as a model for others.

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Romantic attraction is commonly studied in the scientific literature, with countless theories providing hypotheses for why we find particular characteristics attractive. This study focused on psychodynamic theories to investigate the attraction process, particularly regarding the influence of parental figures on romantic attraction through the psychoanalytic theory of partner selection (i.e., template matching hypothesis used interchangeably), attachment theory, and Core Conflictual Relational Themes theory. With previous research often relying solely on self-report measures of parental figures and romantic partners, this study contributed to the field through capturing the attraction phenomenon through the ratings and selection of simulated online dating profiles. Participants (n = 88) completed two survey administrations, first providing selfreport data of parental figures (e.g., parental personality traits, attachment styles) and personal characteristics (e.g., relationship status, depression symptomology, family environment). Information from the first survey was used to create two idiosyncratic dating profiles, one profile imitating personality and relational characteristics similar to vi one's opposite-gender parent (titled the Alike profile) and one profile depicting dissimilar qualities of one's opposite-gender parent (titled the Unalike profile). Two additional standard profiles representing a neutral and unbecoming option were also presented (titled the Neutral and Jerk profile respectively). Participants were asked a series of questions assessing the attractiveness of each profile option and then asked to rank the four profiles based on attractiveness. Results indicated that the Neutral profile was the most favorable among our sample, with the Alike profile being deemed the second most attractive option. Participants who reported experiencing betrayal trauma before age 18 were significantly less likely to select the Alike profile as the most attractive. In addition, participant reports of unfinished business (i.e., lingering feelings of disappointment or resentment) was the most salient predictor variable for Alike profile attraction ratings, suggesting that as unfinished business towards parental figures increased, attraction ratings for the Alike profile decreased. Perceived similarity to one's parental figure also influenced attraction ratings for the Alike profile, potentially indicating that participants may have identified personal similarities with characteristics described in the profile. Limitations and implications are provided to highlight areas of future research.