Academic AbstractPopular lay theories shape how millions of people understand and communicate about romantic relationships, yet they are rarely examined scientifically. Rather than dismissing these frameworks as misconceptions, this review argues that engaging with lay theories can advance a science of relationships that is both empirically rigorous and publicly resonant. Using the love languages as a case study, this review introduces a bidirectional framework in which lay theories inform scientific inquiry and scientific insights are translated back to the public. Engaging with lay theories can refine theory, clarify core relational processes, and reveal contextual and cultural blind spots in lay theories. In turn, examining why lay theories resonate highlights unmet public needs, opportunities for improved scientific communication, and implications for clinical practice, relationship education, and public policy. The result is a science of relationships that is rigorous and resonant with the lived experiences of those it aims to serve.Public AbstractPopular ideas about relationships-such as the love languages-shape how millions of people understand love, communicate needs, and decide whether their romantic relationships are working. Yet these ideas are rarely examined by scientists, even though they influence real-life relationship decisions. This article argues that popular relationship theories should not simply be dismissed as wrong, but carefully studied as windows into what people need, value, and struggle with in their relationships. Using the love languages as an example, this review shows how engaging with popular ideas can help scientists improve theories of love, communicate research more clearly, and design guidance that better fits people's lives and relationships. This review also highlights potential risks of oversimplified frameworks, especially when they ignore cultural context. By building a science of relationships that is both rigorous and relatable, researchers can offer guidance that is more inclusive, useful, and responsive to the public.
Problematic love behaviors (PLB) represent a growing concern in relationship research, yet the field lacks a systematic synthesis that clarifies their conceptual and correlational landscape. This study addressed the pronounced conceptual heterogeneity in the literature by reviewing and meta-analytically integrating findings on PLB correlates across distinct conceptual domains. A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, sourcing studies from Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Medline. A total of 102 studies met the inclusion criteria and were categorized into three conceptual domains: manic love (ML; n = 55), emotional dependence (ED; n = 34), and love addiction (LA; n = 13). Quality assessment and narrative synthesis were performed, followed by subgroup meta-analyses for correlates supported by at least three studies within each domain. A subsequent moderation analysis by percentage of female participants was conducted to explain residual heterogeneity. Correlates were grouped into three categories: individual psychological, psychosocial, and partner-related factors. The meta-analyses revealed distinct correlational profiles: five significant correlates for ML, eleven for ED, and two for LA. Low self-esteem emerged as a shared correlate of ML and ED, whereas behavioral addictions were shared by ED and LA. The associations between ML and jealousy, as well as between ML and relationship satisfaction, were more pronounced in female-predominant samples. Conversely, the link between LA and anxious attachment was stronger in samples with a higher proportion of men. The systematic differentiation provided by this review has practical implications for establishing more consistent assessment criteria for PLB and advancing the understanding of their predictive factors.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO; identifier: CRD42024513446.
This manuscript, co-created by researchers and people living with dementia and their care partners, explores how engagement with lived experience can transform conventional, deficit-based understandings of dementia-often defined by what is lost. While clinically useful, this framing can obscure the richness, resilience, and relational depth present in the lives of people living with dementia. Drawing on a collaborative and reflective process inspired by participation in Walking the Talk for Dementia 2025-a global immersive event that brought together people with lived experience of dementia, researchers, advocates, clinicians, and artists-the paper challenges traditional narratives of dementia. Through in-person and virtual discussions and documented reflections, the team conducted a qualitative thematic analysis to identify key insights. Three themes emerged: (1) 'Dementia Reimagined', highlighting personal and professional transformation and new identities; (2) 'Flourishing through Creativity and Resilience', illustrating humor, creativity, leadership, and authentic connection; and (3) 'Dementia as a Catalyst for Love and Understanding', emphasizing enduring love and deepened empathy within families and communities. These findings demonstrate that living with dementia can foster resilience, creativity, and meaningful human connection. This experiential, co-produced approach reframes dementia beyond deficit-based models, offering transformative insights that can inform person-centered care practices, policy development, and increase awareness.
Love,possibly the very heart and soul of nursing, has only occasionally been addressed as a phenomenon in nursing. However, in our current stress-filled time of change and challenges to nursing and healthcare, it seems more appropriate now than ever to examine the concept. What does the word love mean, and how is it applied and manifested in nursing? This paper begins to address this question by reviewing the descriptions of some major nurse theorists and describing a sample of qualitative studies on the concept. The paper aims to stimulate more discussion and research.
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a rare genetic epilepsy syndrome, characterized by refractory seizures, delayed development, intellectual disability and behavioural difficulties. Caring for a child with DS can negatively affect parents' mental well-being. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) explore experiences of parents caring for a child with DS; and (2) assess distress and empowerment in these parents and the interplay between these aspects. We used a sequential exploratory mixed-method design. We conducted focus groups with parents of children/adults with DS, analysed these data through iterative coding to identify themes and used the Distress Thermometer for parents (DT-P) and the Dutch Family Empowerment Scale (FES) for quantitative measures. Results were validated in a final focus group. Twenty parents participated in focus groups and 65 completed questionnaires. Four themes emerged: handling the unpredictable behaviour of a child with DS, attending to one's mental health needs and well-being, adjusting life and accepting changes to meet the child's needs and struggles navigating the (health)care system. Quantitative analyses showed a significant correlation between higher parental empowerment and lower distress, and more behavioural difficulties in their child with DS and higher parental distress. Parental distress is high, especially for those parenting a child with DS and behavioural difficulties. Effective management of these issues and enhancing empowerment can improve overall family well-being.
The intentional use of psychoactive substances to enhance sexual experiences, known as chemsex, is associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, psychological distress and social isolation among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). While research has predominantly focused on high-income countries, gaps remain in our understanding of the dynamics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where structural homophobia, restrictive drug policies and limited healthcare access uniquely shape chemsex-related risks. There is limited research on how chemsex engagement evolves over time. This study aimed to identify the stages of chemsex engagement and examine how social, psychological and structural factors shape transitions between these stages among GBMSM in Kazakhstan. This study is a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional qualitative study conducted in Almaty, Kazakhstan, between July and September 2023. Twenty-one GBMSM who had engaged in chemsex within the past 12 months participated in semi-structured interviews lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. All participants reported using mephedrone and/or alpha-PHP (α-Pyrrolidinohexiophenone). Deductive reflexive thematic analysis, guided by Life Course Theory, was used to reconstruct chemsex trajectories from retrospective participant accounts. Five distinct themes related to different trajectory stages were developed. Initiation occurred through trusted social networks in intimate settings, taking the form of unplanned encounters that fulfilled emotional needs for connection and belonging. Maintenance was characterised by self-imposed temporal and dosage limits; however, participants reported a decline in satisfaction with sober sex. Escalation involved a breakdown of protective boundaries, an increased frequency and quantity of use and a deeper involvement in chemsex social networks, despite mounting physical and psychological consequences. Dependence was characterised by a narrowed agency under escalating constraints, with substance use shifting from enhancing pleasure to coping with withdrawal, resulting in substantial impairment across life domains. Disengagement attempts described recursive trajectories with diverse recovery goals ranging from cessation to managed use. Sustained abstinence was rare and dependent on affirming care and supportive resources. Throughout all stages, structural stigma constrained individual agency, while chemsex networks provided crucial emotional safety that was unavailable in mainstream environments. Chemsex trajectories among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Kazakhstan represent dynamic processes shaped by the interaction between individual agency and structural constraints, in which substance use functions as an emotional regulation strategy and a social survival strategy in contexts of high stigma.
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This study aimed to identify key risk factors and predict digital intimate partner violence (DIPV) exposure and perpetration among university students using machine learning (ML) algorithms. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 1,764 university students (age range = 18-41 years, M = 20.8; 87.2% female, 12.8% male) selected through snowball sampling from a large public university in Türkiye. The survey included sociodemographic, lifestyle, and relationship variables, along with the Digital Intimate Partner Violence Scale. Six ML models were used: Logistic Regression (LR), XGBoost, Gradient Boosting (GB), Random Forest (RF), LightGBM, and Support Vector Machines (SVM). Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and receiver operating characteristics-area under the curve (ROC-AUC). XGBoost achieved the highest performance (AUC = 0.996), followed closely by RF and LightGBM (AUC = 0.995). LR and GB also performed well (AUC = 0.992), while SVM had slightly lower performance (AUC = 0.989). SHapley Additive exPlanations analysis revealed that domestic violence history, urban residence, father's low education, short relationship duration, and frequent digital communication were risk factors. High income perception and non-smoking reduced DIPV risk. ML models, particularly XGBoost, effectively predict DIPV. Socioeconomic and psychosocial factors should be targeted in prevention efforts, alongside digital literacy and support services.
This study investigated the relationship between guilt induction (GI) in parental psychological control (PPC) and children's interpersonal relationships outside the family, as well as the chain mediating effects of parent-child dependence and conscience in this relationship. Data were collected from 1312 Chinese children using five scales to assess the dimensions of PPC: GI; the two dimensions of parent-child attachment, namely mother-child dependence (MCD) and father-child dependence (FCD); conscience; and two dimensions of children's interpersonal relationships outside the family: peer relationships (PR) and teacher-student relationships (TSR). Two important results were obtained: (1) In the model mediated by MCD and conscience, GI showed no significant direct effect on PR but had significant total and indirect effects. (2) In the model mediated by FCD and conscience, GI had significant total, direct, and indirect effects on teacher-student relationships. In summary, GI is an effective predictor of children's interpersonal relationships outside the family. On the surface, GI does not appear to affect children's PR in the short term, but gradually alienates children from their mothers in the long term, thereby hindering the development of conscience and PR. Additionally, GI directly affects teacher-student relationships, further alienates children from their fathers, and hinders conscience development, resulting in a further negative impact on teacher-student relationships.
Studies examining quality of life outcomes have shown that Autistic people experience lower scores across domains (e.g., physical, psychological) compared to other groups, with their lowest scores consistently reported in social functioning. However, to date, little is known about different adult life experiences that Autistic adults have beyond the typically tested outcome of living independently in the community, which may not be a desired outcome culturally for all Autistic people, particularly outcomes that could lead to improved social functioning, like being in relationships. Survey data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 272 U.S. residents with autism. Respondents were asked about secondary school transition activities, support, and later life experiences of moving into their own home, falling in love, getting married, pregnancy, becoming a caregiver, and being arrested. Logistic regression results indicated goal setting and psychological empowerment were significant predictors of all adult life experience outcomes tested, and autonomy/decision-making predicted moving into one's own home and falling in love. Social skills predicted both falling in love, getting married, and being arrested. For support, the number of people supporting the Autistic youth was related to increased odds of falling in love. While transition programs are typically focused on furthering education and employment success in later life, skills taught to students to support those outcomes also relate to a broader range of life experiences for Autistic youth and adults. Programs to support Autistic students and youth should include, at a minimum, activities that build goal setting and psychological empowerment skills in hopes that Autistic adults can experience a fulfilling life of their choosing.
Low positive affect (PA) and high negative affect (NA) are common features of depressive and anxiety disorders that have been linked to social disconnection. Prior research, however, has examined PA, NA, and social connectedness as global dimensions rather than as systems of interacting discrete emotions and connectedness indicators. This study used network analysis to: (a) examine interrelationships among discrete emotions to identify potentially influential emotions within and across positive and negative emotion communities, and (b) determine which emotions are most strongly linked to indicators of perceived social connection or disconnection. Data were derived from 359 adults with clinically elevated anxiety or depression who completed measures of discrete emotions and social connectedness. We estimated three networks: Model 1 examined associations among positive and negative emotions; Model 2 examined associations among discrete emotions and indicators of social connection; and Model 3 examined associations among discrete emotions and indicators of social disconnection. Model 1 revealed that hope, joy, and guilt/shame were the most central nodes within their respective communities while sadness emerged as a key node linking positive and negative emotions. In Model 2, cross-community links were observed between love and feeling understood, and between embarrassment and comfort around strangers. In Model 3, the node guilt/shame shared a positive association with poor belonging while love was negatively associated with lacking brother/sisterhood among friends. These findings inform how discrete emotions and social experiences relate in anxiety and depressive disorders, pointing to specific emotions and connectedness indicators that may represent promising treatment targets.
Verbal communication is a key aspect of parenting behaviour. However, phrases frequently used in parenting situations (e.g., "Stop crying", "I love you") have yet to receive focused attention in the research literature. This set of two online questionnaire studies investigated the use of parenting phrases within a German-speaking sample. The first study compiled an inventory of common parenting phrases, contextualized them within parenting style research on the dimensions of warmth and control, and examined their associations with self-esteem. A total of 309 phrases were collected, of which the 84 most frequently mentioned were further analysed in Study 2, which examined their ratings within a communication theory perspective and investigated socio-demographic influences on participants' evaluations. Participants reported hearing more negative and fewer positive phrases from their caregivers than they reported using towards their own children. Similarities between the frequency of negative or positive phrases heard during participants' upbringing and the frequency of phrases from those categories used with their own children could not be found. Neither parental warmth and control nor exposure to self-esteem-related phrases were significantly associated with self-esteem. Age differences in experienced parenting phrases and parenting phrase usage were observed, as younger participants reported hearing more positive phrases and using fewer negative phrases than older participants. In Study 2, the ratings of the parenting phrases were related to participants' age and experienced parenting during childhood, but no association was found with parental status. Exploratory results from both studies align with the Relational Framing Theory, suggesting it may serve as a useful addition to traditional parenting style theories in interpreting caregiver-child communication. These studies provide a foundation for investigating parenting phrases, thereby offering a novel perspective on parental communication - a crucial factor in shaping child development and family dynamics.
Colour-emotion associations seem consistent across cultures, but the question remains whether these associations depend on actual colour perception. We examined whether colour-emotion associations are invariant to colour presentation mode (colour terms vs. colour patches) and experimental setup (laboratory vs. online). In a 2 × 2 between-subjects design, 873 Arabic speakers in Saudi Arabia associated 20 emotion concepts with 11 basic colour categories presented as terms or patches, either in controlled laboratory conditions or online. Participants self-selected focal colours online, while we used pre-selected colours in the laboratory. The most frequent association was red-love (61.5%), with distinct patterns for warm colours (associated with high arousal) and cool colours (associated with low arousal). The correlation analyses revealed remarkably similar patterns of colour-emotion associations across all four conditions (all r > .90, p < .001). While participants associated more positive emotions in the laboratory than online, no other significant differences were found for valence, arousal, or power biases between the experimental conditions. There were, however, differences for the number of associated emotions (higher online and for colour patches) and for emotion intensity (higher for colour terms), suggesting that participants exhibited somewhat different behaviours depending on the testing location and colour presentation mode. Overall, the patterns of colour-emotion associations seem largely independent of colour presentation mode and experimental setup, highlighting that these associations likely operate on an abstract representational level. Our results validate the use of both laboratory and online methodologies for studying colour-emotion associations, enabling more diverse and representative cross-cultural research.
The aim of this article is to conduct a comparative analysis of letters written by Paulinus of Nola, addressed to the faithful experiencing trauma, with the literature on the Conservation of Resources Theory (COR) by Stevan Hobfoll. The comparison focuses on the occurrence of the resilience paradox in the face of traumatic experience. The conducted comparative analysis leads to the conclusion that in the letters addressed to the faithful in trauma, Paulinus utilizes the resilience paradox (initiating resource gains after experiencing significant resource losses), mechanisms of which have been extensively described in the COR theory. Paulinus points out that resource gain spirals in traumatic situations should involve external resources (showing compassion, support, love, closeness, kindness, caring for the suffering person and being a role model for them), as well as internal resources (readiness to listen to the Word of God, reinforcing hope and faith, expressing joy and trust in God, pursuing significant life goals, adopting an ascetic way of life and ascetic attitude to life, experiencing grief in a constructive way while strengthening the sense of self-efficacy by engaging in life-serving pursuits). The resilience assets mentioned by Paulinus are consistent with the stress-reducing factors in the COR concept (sense of security, emotional tranquillity, sense of individual and/or collective efficacy, sense of connection, hope). This type of analysis is significant for two reasons. First, patristic literature lacks research concerning the psychological mechanisms encompassed within the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, including the occurrence of the paradox principle. Second, it seems worthwhile to initiate a series of publications that would present the ways in which the Church Fathers shaped psychological resilience among the faithful experiencing various forms of life trauma. Such knowledge-both theoretical and practical, developed in a certain sense over the centuries-may be utilized by specialists, including clergy, psychologists, and therapists, to foster constructive strategies for coping with contemporary traumas.
Pregnancy is a significant event in a woman's life. However, it also presents challenges due to physiological and psychological stress and changes in appearance, roles, and lifestyle. Lack of social support is recognized as a risk factor affecting pregnant women's well-being. In this study, we aim to investigate Kuwaiti women's perceptions of social support (emotional, instrumental, and informational) during pregnancy and lifestyle changes and whether cultural factors influence their perception. This cross-sectional qualitative study of 31 Kuwaiti pregnant women utilized a constructivist approach to emphasize participants' active role in knowledge construction, acknowledging the influence that social and cultural factors have on their narratives. We chose reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) due to its capacity to offer comprehensive analysis and reveal hidden themes. The semi-structured interview collected data on lifestyle changes and the types of social support women experienced during pregnancy (emotional, instrumental, and informational). RTA revealed three main themes and two subthemes. The first theme, 'The Female Community as a Double-Edged Sword,' encompasses two subthemes: the sense of belonging and connection and the pressure to be perfect, in connection with Kuwaiti social norms. The second theme highlights the impact of traditional gender and family roles on women's pregnancy experiences, limiting support. The third theme focuses on the importance of the marital relationship in providing stability, security, love, and support during pregnancy. However, many women expressed dissatisfaction with their husbands' lack of understanding and emotional support during pregnancy. This research fills gaps in the existing literature, providing valuable cultural insights and advocating for context-specific support measures in the Gulf region, paving the way for further exploration in this field.
Policies promoting work-active ageing assume that extending working lives improves later-life well-being. Among migrants, late-life employment is shaped by migration-related selection and labour-market stratification, which may inflate associations with work well-being. We test whether an apparent work-active immigrant paradox (older migrants appearing both more likely to remain in paid work and more likely to report higher happiness) reflects benefits of work or selection into employment and residence. We analysed cross-sectional data from the European Social Survey Round 11 (2023/24), including 12,989 adults aged ≥65 years (847 foreign-born; 12,142 native-born). Paid work was defined as respondents' main activity in the last 7 days; happiness was measured on a 0-10 scale. We estimated naïve linear regression models and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) models to balance workers and non-workers with respect to pre-exposure demographic, socioeconomic, and health indicators (age, gender, education, partnership status, financial strain, self-rated health, and health limitations/conditions). Extreme weights were trimmed at the 99th percentile, and post-weight balance was assessed using standardised mean differences and a Love plot. We also tested effect modification by migration status using an interaction term (Paid work and migrant status) and ran a migrant-only sensitivity analysis. Older migrants were more likely than native-born respondents to report paid work (11.0 % vs. 6.6 %) and reported higher mean happiness (7.54 vs. 7.18). In naïve models, paid work was associated with higher happiness (β = 0.33, 95 % CI 0.21-0.45). After IPTW adjustment, the work-happiness association attenuated to a small, non-significant estimate (β = 0.06, 95 % CI: -0.09-0.22). The migrant advantage in happiness persisted in IPTW models (β = 0.45, 95 % CI 0.21-0.69). In later life, the apparent well-being benefits of paid work largely reflect selection on measured health and demographic factors, consistent with healthy-worker selection. The migrant happiness advantage is not explained by employment participation. Population health strategies should prioritise health protection and the quality and voluntariness of later-life work, alongside broader supports for inclusion and security.
Although caring can be a rewarding experience, family carers of older adults frequently report isolation, stress, anxiety, and burden, which may hinder their ability to cultivate compassion for self and others. Cultivating compassion is associated with better psychological health and wellbeing and may therefore act as a protective factor against the adverse emotional impacts of caregiving. This review aims to: (1) understand carers' experiences, including the barriers and facilitators to cultivating and maintaining compassion when caring for older adults; (2) identify the tools that have been used to assess the experience of compassion in carers and to determine if they have been developed with this population; (3) explore if compassion as experienced by carers is related to other health and wellbeing outcomes. We conducted a search across five electronic databases from inception to December 2025. Eligible peer-reviewed studies reported qualitative and/or quantitative data on experiences of compassion among family carers of older adults (aged > 65 years), or people living with dementia. Study quality was appraised using the Hawker tool. We used a narrative approach to synthesise the qualitative and quantitative data. Twenty-nine papers reporting 28 studies were included. Qualitative synthesis identified compassion as primarily other-directed, relational, and grounded in love, moral obligation, and identity. Compassion was facilitated by attachment, meaning, and alignment with carers' values, but undermined by emotional over-identification, chronic responsibility, fatigue, guilt, and limited support. Quantitative studies used a wide range of compassion-related constructs and measures, none of which were developed with carers. Quantitative evidence showed consistent associations between higher self-compassion and better psychological wellbeing, adaptive coping, and lower burden. Findings for compassion directed toward others were mixed, with emotionally over-engaged forms associated with distress, while motivational or value-based compassion was linked to more positive caregiving appraisals. Compassion in caregiving is a complex and relational phenomenon that can be both sustaining and burdensome. While self-compassion and receiving compassion from others appear protective, unbuffered compassion for others may increase vulnerability to distress. Future research should prioritise longitudinal designs, carer-specific measures of compassion, and interventions that support sustainable, relationally grounded compassion. PROSPERO CRD42019134233, registered 22 May 2019.
Junior military officers and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) in South Korea are exposed to high levels of occupational and relational stress, placing them at increased risk for depression, burnout, and hazardous drinking. This study examined the effects of a family-based emotional intervention on these psychological outcomes among military personnel. Participants consisted of 59 officers and NCOs who voluntarily enrolled following unit-level recruitment and were assigned to either a treatment group (n = 30) or a comparison group (n = 29) using a preference-based allocation procedure. The treatment group participated in the Thank-You - Sorry - Love (TSL) program, while the comparison group received no intervention. Depression, burnout, and hazardous drinking were assessed at pretest and posttest using validated Korean versions of the PHQ-9, MBI-GS, and AUDIT, respectively. Mixed-design analyses indicated significant time × group interaction effects across outcomes, with participants in the treatment group demonstrating greater reductions over time compared to the comparison group. These findings suggest that family-based emotional interventions may contribute to improvements in psychological well-being and reductions in maladaptive coping behaviors among military personnel.