Identifying Different Ways People Change: A Latent Basis Growth Mixture Model Example Identifying Nonlinear Trajectories of Binge Drinking.

Our field of couple and family therapy focuses on change, different ways people change, and how therapists can facilitate change. Change can be modeled as an average trajectory-growth curve model-or as multiple classes of trajectories-growth mixture model. The field of MFT has not yet fully embraced implementing more advanced longitudinal modeling procedures to study what we care about most, change across time.

Self-medication Hypothesis and Family Socialization Theory: Examining Independent and Common Mechanisms Responsible for Binge Drinking.

For many, binge drinking behaviors start early and become a persistent pattern of use throughout the lifespan. In an effort to strengthen understanding of etiology, this study considered the mechanisms from the self-medication hypothesis and family socialization theory. The goal was to identify whether emotional distress is a potential shared mechanism that accounts for the development of binge drinking in different developmental periods.

The Dyadic Effects of Supportive Coparenting and Parental Stress on Relationship Quality Across the Transition to Parenthood.

The transition to first-time parenthood can be challenging for couples. Using a sample of 848 ethnically diverse couples from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study across the first 3 years of parenthood, we investigated the longitudinal and dyadic associations of each parents' parental stress, supportive coparenting, and relationship quality. Results from an actor-partner interdependence model indicated that supportive coparenting significantly predicted higher relationship quality for both mothers and fathers.

Trajectories of Early Binge Drinking: A Function of Family Cohesion and Peer Use.

Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we tested latent growth models examining whether the number of friends using alcohol and family cohesion were linked with trajectories of binge drinking (N = 3,342) from adolescence (average age 15.06) into young adulthood (average age 27.93).

Associations Between Family of Origin Climate, Relationship Self-Regulation, and Marital Outcomes.

Using dyadic data from 961 married couples from the Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire project, the current study explored the direct association between family of origin climate and marital outcomes and the indirect association via relationship self-regulation (RSR). Results from the actor-partner interdependence model analysis indicated that family of origin climate was positively associated with marital stability directly and indirectly via the effects of RSR and marital satisfaction for both men and women. Results suggest that the experience one has in their family of origin is associated with their marital outcomes through their RSR.