Savoring is as an emotion regulation process that moderates the effect of positive events on positive feelings and helps people to generate, maintain, and increase their positive emotional experiences. Savoring processes are expected to have an impact on romantic relationships, although no study has yet been conducted. Using self-reported data from 473 adults in a conjugal relationship, this study investigated the predictive value of savoring strategies regarding relationship quality and dyadic adjustment; and whether savoring responses moderate the relationship between positive events in couplehood and the relational outcomes. Counting blessings, feeling relieved, memory building, and kill-joy thinking strategies predict several relational dimensions. Moderation analyses highlight that the behavioral expression, counting blessings, and memory building strategies affect positive events’ impact on several relational outcomes. Given the suggested role of savoring strategies in partners’ relational well-being, we believe that this issue may be targeted in marital counseling or training programs.

This study comprised 467 adults in a conjugal relationship and examined dyadic coping and its moderating role between the family-of-origin retrospective experience and dyadic adjustment. While the contribution of family-of-origin variables to marital behaviors has long been a subject of interest, coping have only recently begun to be acknowledged as a relevant construct within the context of romantic relationships. Path analysis was used to examine both the direct and indirect effects of independent and moderator variables on dependent variables. Dyadic coping was a strong and positive predictor of dyadic adjustment dimensions. Dyadic coping behavior moderated the impact of family-of-origin retrospective experience on actual dyadic consensus and satisfaction, namely for women. Data highlight the significance of dyadic coping behaviors in a couple's intervention. Not only does stress have a role in relationship functioning, but also dyadic coping behaviors may serve as a vehicle through which couples may foster their relational adjustment.

This study presents the validation process of the Portuguese version of the short-form Dedication Scale (Rhoades, Stanley, & Markman, 2006; Stanley, 1986), with a sample of 924 participants in different relationship statutes. With 14 items, this short version is recommended by the authors for its simple use, when wanting to measure commitment in romantic relationships. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the instrument did not have a totally acceptable fit with the data so an exploratory factor analysis was conducted. This revealed a one-dimensional structure of the scale, and led to the exclusion of two items, which relate to a distinct meta-commitment dimension. In sum, the Portuguese version (ECP - Personal Commitment Scale) has 12 items, with good internal consistency (α = .82), correlations item-total between .36 and .60, and good criteria validity (p< .001). Its use for research is therefore appropriate. In a second study, significant differences were found between the participants' four relationship statuses (dating non-cohabiting and cohabiting relationships, formal unions and marriage) (p< .001; η²p= .03). Results showed that married participants were more committed than those in a formal union, even when controlling for several relational and socio-demographic variables. No differences were found between cohabiting and non-cohabiting dating participants. Men reported higher levels of commitment than women (p< .001; η²p= .02). Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Background: Violence legitimization has been associated with the myths of romantic love. In the Portuguese context, there are no available standardized tools to assess it. This study aimed to develop the adaptation and validation of the Portuguese version of the Scale of Myths of Romantic Love (SMRL) in youth and emerging adults. Also, the acceptance of myths of romantic love was described. Methods: The sample comprised 165 individuals (83% female) aged from 18 to 30 (M = 23.01; SD = 3.33). Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the two-factor correlated structure found in the original validation: Idealized Love (IL) and Distorted Love (DL). The selected nested model obtained acceptable good-of-fit indices. Reliability analysis indicated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.728; ω = 0.711) and the item-factor correlations were strong. Gender differences in the endorsement of romantic myths were found. Males obtained significantly greater acceptance of need for a couple and ambivalence myths. Females significantly endorsed the half orange myth. Conclusions: Our findings supported the two-factor related structure of the SMRL Portuguese version. Gender-based differences in romantic beliefs and their potential link to violence legitimization, gender stereotypes, and love perception are highlighted as in need of further studies. This research provides evidence regarding the psychometric properties of the Escala de Mitos do Amor Romântico (EMAR).

Pretende-se compreender como os jovens reportam a utilização de meios tecnológicos e conhecer a perceção que encarregados de educação e professores têm acerca dessa utilização. Propôs-se perceber se estes monitorizam a utilização que os jovens fazem dos meios tecnológicos e que práticas de sensibilização utilizam. Foram aplicados o Inventário de Incidentes Observados de Cyberbullying a 269 adolescentes e o Inventário sobre Segurança Online e Cyberbullying a 155 encarregados de educação e 28 professores. Evidenciam-se diferenças significativas entre a utilização reportada pelos alunos e as perceções dos encarregados de educação e professores.