Incarcerated fathers and their coparenting partners experience serious challenges to their health and well-being. Romantic involvement and coparenting suggests that mental health and consensus of coparenting may predict the physical health of not only the individual, but also their partner. Data from the Multi-site Family Study on Incarceration, Parenting and Partnering was used to examine 483 romantically involved coparents. Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling showed a significant link between mental and physical health for each dyad member as well as a significant link between perceived consensus of coparenting from men to women, indicating that women whose partners reported a higher perceived consensus of coparenting also reported better physical health.
A total of 2,162,400 adults were incarcerated in the United States in 2016. Sub-optimal health status, existing healthcare disparities, and fragmented healthcare delivery among incarcerated populations are concerning and warrant redress. This article highlights the need for and discusses the benefits of collaboration between healthcare professionals in incarcerated settings. The roles of primary care health professionals, pharmacists, and medical family therapists (MedFTs) in correctional facilities are outlined. Through integrated healthcare models, enhanced communication, improved continuity of care, and holistic treatment plans, existing gaps in healthcare delivery in correctional facilities can be filled. By working together and assuming nontraditional roles, medical professionals can help improve health outcomes of incarcerated individuals. Collaborative healthcare models in incarcerated settings can elevate public health in a cost-effective, yet positive manner.
Relationship satisfaction is a subjective and global evaluation of a romantic relationship based on a sense of happiness, contentment, and fulfillment felt by a partner. Prior research demonstrates that relationship satisfaction can help mediate difficult life situations and stress and may contribute to a partner’s well-being and health. However, the literature examining partner-specific sources of relational satisfaction are lacking. Through a medical family therapy lens, this study examined women’s reported physical health’s impact on relational satisfaction. A total of 555 women in romantic relationships completed a survey with questions from the Medical Outcomes Study 20-Item Short-Form Health Survey and the Relationship Assessment Scale. A hierarchical linear regression indicated that physical health, race, and financial status were significant predictors of relational satisfaction. Findings highlight the importance of physical health’s impacts on relational satisfaction and provide clinical implications and future directions on strengthening couples’ relational satisfaction.
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