Sarah W. Whitton, Ph.D. - US grants

The overall goal of the proposed research is to examine the association between sacrifice in romantic relationships, defined as foregoing one's immediate self-interest in order to promote the partner's interest or maintain a healthy relationship, and positive relationship factors (e.g., commitment and satisfaction). Specifically, this study will empirically test theoretical speculations that this association exists, at least in part, because individuals with greater commitment to their relationship perceive the performance of sacrifice behaviors (i.e., behaviors that most people define as sacrifice) as less detrimental to overall self-interest. To accomplish this goal, a new measure of sacrificial behavior within relationships and a new measure of perceptions surrounding behavioral sacrifices will be developed and validated. 130 participants who are currently cohabiting with their romantic partner will then complete these measure of sacrifice behaviors and perceptions, as well as several measures of commitment factors and relationship quality. Scores on these measures will be examined to test the relevant hypotheses. In addition, feminist theory suggesting that female sacrifice in relationships is harmful to women's mental health will be explored. Development of the self-report measures of sacrifice behaviors and perceptions regarding acts of sacrifice would represent a significant methodological gain for the field of intimate relationship research, as very few measures exist with which to explore the concept of sacrifice in relationships.

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): It is important to identify early risk factors for depression, given its high prevalence rates and costliness to society. Although depression is often thought to have developmental roots in the family-of-origin, the prospective effects of early family characteristics on depression have rarely been empirically tested. To address this gap in the literature, the proposed study will analyze data from an existing longitudinal study to assess prospective effects of observed family interactions during adolescence on major depression and depressive symptoms in adulthood. In addition, the hypothesis that continuity in interpersonal interaction patterns from the family-of-origin to adult marital relationships may account for this prospective effect will be tested. That is, observed marital interactions patterns will be tested as a mediator of the effect of adolescent-era family interactions on adult depressive symptoms. Alternate pathways, such as the continuity of depressive symptoms, which may negatively impact both family and marital interactions, will also be considered. The proposed study will lay the foundation to future independent research investigating the longitudinal effects of specific family and marital characteristics and interaction patterns on individual mental health. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]

? DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Young female sexual minorities (YFSM) are at exceptionally high risk for intimate partner violence (IPV), with over half of YFSM reporting physical or sexual abuse by a dating partner. These young IPV victims may be particularly vulnerable to the negative physical and mental health consequences of IPV, including substance abuse, depression, and suicide, due to minority stress and diminished protective resources (e.g., parent support, community connectedness). In addition, YFSM may be less likely to report and to seek or receive help for IPV because they are not out about their sexual orientation or they fear stigmatization and discrimination. Women who seek help for same-sex IPV are often denied services (e.g., two-thirds of LGBT IPV survivors were denied access to domestic violence shelters) and feel marginalized and unsupported by domestic violence service systems. Basic research is clearly needed to inform development of culturally sensitive, evidence-based interventions to prevent IPV in YFSM and to support female sexual minority IPV victims. The existing literature, however, has almost exclusively focused on IPV in heterosexuals. Because LGBT teens and young adults face unique issues surrounding their relationships and sexual behaviors (e.g., pressures to deny or conceal sexual identity and activities), the risk and protective factors for IPV, help-seeking behaviors, and consequences of IPV in sexual minority youth are likely quite different from those observed in heterosexual youth. The overarching goal of this project is to begin to address these disparities by conducting an innovative study of IPV in female sexual minority adolescents and young adults (YFSM). We propose a novel, minority stress-informed dynamic developmental systems perspective of IPV in YFSM, which we will test using a mixed-methods, accelerated longitudinal design. Building upon the longest running study of LGBT youth, we will collect quantitative data from two ethnically diverse cohorts of YFSM (N= 530; ages 16-26) every six months for two years, as well as qualitative data from 50 selected participants. We will accomplish the overarching goal with four primary specific aims: (1) Describe the nature and trajectories of IPV in YFSM across adolescence and young adulthood; (2) Identify risk and protective factors for IPV among YFSM, including factors that differentiate violent vs. non-violent/healthy relationships; (3) Examine factors that affect YFSM's reporting of IPV, help-seeking for IPV, and ability to benefit from help provided (e.g., cultural competence of providers); and (4) Evaluate the consequences of IPV in YFSM, identifying factors that raise risk for or protect YFSM victims from revictimization and negative health consequences of IPV. Integration of the resulting quantitative and qualitative data will be used to inform the development of evidence-based interventions to prevent IPV among YFSM and better serve those who experience IPV. 1