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The pathways between differentiation of self and health remain only partly elucidated. This cross‐cultural study sought to test Bowen's hypothesis about the associations between differentiation, stressful life events, and physical and psychological health, in a sample of 466 Spanish adults. Results show that people with higher levels of differentiation were less prone to physical ailments (e.g., heart disease, cancer, or blood disorders) and psychological symptoms (e.g., depression or anxiety). Further, differentiation mediated the association between stress (i.e., perceived negativity of stress in the past year and number of stressful events across the lifetime) and physical and psychological health. The current research provides cross‐cultural empirical evidence for the links between differentiation and mind and body health in a Mediterranean culture.

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This study seeks to validate the cross‐cultural effectiveness of emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT) training in a sample of Spanish‐speaking clinicians. The 28‐hr formalized training for EFT was offered in six different Spanish‐speaking countries, covering Europe, North America, Central America, and South America. Two hundred and seven therapists of 14 different Spanish‐speaking nationalities completed pre‐training assessments, 153 of them completed post‐training assessments, and 92 therapists also completed the follow‐up assessment. Using multilevel growth modeling (MLM), results indicated that therapists experienced significant and positive changes in terms of EFT competence (knowledge and skill acquisition), mature empathy, self‐compassion, and attachment over time. Implications for transnational EFT training, specifically in Spanish‐speaking countries, are discussed.

Introduction:In the field of adolescent development, meta-analysis offers valuable tools for synthesizing and assessing cumulative research evidence on the effectiveness of programs, practices, and policies intended to promote healthy adolescent development. When examining the impact of a program implemented across multiple primary studies, variation is often observed in the methodological attributes of those primary studies, such as their implementation methods, program components, participant characteristics, outcome measurement, and the systems in which programs are deployed. Differences in methodological attributes of primary studies represented in a meta-analysis, referred to as complexity, can yield variation in true effects across primary studies, which is described as heterogeneity. Methods: We discuss heterogeneity as a parameter of interest in meta-analysis, introducing and demonstrating both graphical and statistical methods for evaluating the magnitude and impact of heterogeneity. We discuss approaches for presenting characteristics of heterogeneity in metaanalytic findings, and methods for identifying and statistically controlling for aspects of methodological complexity that may contribute to variation in effects across primary studies. Results: Topics and methods related to assessing and explaining heterogeneity were contextualized in the field of adolescent development using a sample of primary studies from a large meta-analysis examining the effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions for youth. We highlighted approaches currently underutilized in the field and provided R code for key methods to broaden their use. Conclusions: By discussing various heterogeneity statistics, visualizations, and explanatory methods, this article provides the applied developmental researcher a foundational understanding of complexity and heterogeneity in meta-analysis.

Aims To estimate effects of brief substance use interventions delivered in general medical settings. Methods A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized trials conducted since 1990 of brief substance use interventions in patients of any age or severity level recruited in general medical settings. Primary outcomes were any measure of substance use or substance‐related consequences (indexed with Hedges’ g and risk ratios). Mixed‐effects meta‐regressions were used to estimate overall effects and predictors of effect variability. Analyses were conducted separately by brief intervention (BI) target substance: alcohol only or drugs. Findings A total of 116 trials (64 439 participants) were identified; 111 (62 263 participants) provided effect size data and were included in the meta‐analysis. Drug‐targeted BIs yielded significant small improvements in multiple drug/mixed substance use (Hedges' g true(trueg¯) = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.002, 0.15), but after adjusting for multiple comparisons, they did not produce significant effects on cannabis use ( trueg¯ = 0.06; 95% CI = 0.001, 0.12), alcohol use ( trueg¯ = 0.08; 95% CI = −0.0003, 0.17), or consequences ( trueg¯ = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.10). Drug‐targeted BIs yielded larger improvements in multiple drug/mixed substance use when delivered by a general practitioner ( trueg¯ = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.187, 0.193). Alcohol‐targeted BIs yielded small beneficial effects on alcohol use ( trueg¯ = 0.12; 95% CI 0.08, 0.16), but no evidence of an effect on consequences ( trueg¯ = 0.05; 95% CI = −0.04, 0.13). However, alcohol‐targeted BIs only had beneficial effects on alcohol use when delivered in general medical settings true(trueg¯ = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.24); the findings were inconclusive for those delivered in emergency department/trauma centers ( trueg¯ = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.00, 0.10). Conclusions When delivered in general medical settings, alcohol‐targeted brief interventions may produce small beneficial reductions in drinking (equivalent to a reduction in 1 drinking day per month). There is limited evidence regarding the effects of drug‐targeted brief interventions on drug use.

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Participants were grouped on the basis of theological beliefs about divine-human and female-male dynamics using cluster analysis. We then explored whether these subgroups might differ on (a) hierarchical social expectations, (b) commitments to social justice and intercultural competence, (c) religious exploration, (d) existential defensiveness, (e) views of psychology -theology integration, and (f) perspectives on women's leadership. The sample consisted of graduate students (N = 227) at an Evangelical seminary in the Midwestern United States. Results yielded a four-cluster solution. Individuals scoring high on both Calvinist theological beliefs and complementarian gender role beliefs scored significantly higher on hierarchical relationship expectations and existential defensiveness, and preferred a Christian psychology view of integration and a male headship perspective of leadership, compared to those scoring low on Calvinism and complementarianism. In contrast, individuals scoring low on both theological dimensions scored higher on Arminianism, gender egalitarianism, social justice commitment, intercultural competence commitment, religious exploration, and they preferred an integration view of psychology and theology and a "no restrictions" perspective on women's roles. Findings highlight implications for theological training and spiritual formation.