Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of dyadic coping on the quality of life of couples during pregnancy and to explore the potential mediating role of marital adjustment on this association. Background: According to the systemic transactional model, pregnancy can be characterised as a situation of dyadic stress because it affects both members of the couple. However, the impact of dyadic coping on couples’ quality of life during pregnancy is unexplored. Also, the potential mediating role of marital adjustment on this association remains understudied. Methods: Participants were 320 pregnant women and their partners (N = 640) who completed the Dyadic Coping Inventory, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life instrument. Data were analysed using the actor–partner interdependence mediation model. Results: Results showed that there was an intrapersonal indirect effect of dyadic coping on quality of life through marital adjustment. Moreover, an interpersonal indirect effect was found with fathers’ dyadic coping being associated with mothers’ quality of life through mothers’ marital adjustment. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of assessing dyadic coping strategies of couples during pregnancy and targeting them in the psychological support offered to couples as a way of improving their marital adjustment, and consequently, their quality of life.

Perinatal research has focused essentially on maternal outcomes leaving paternal outcomes unexplored. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the intrapersonal and interpersonal effects of mothers' and fathers' anxiety and depressive symptoms on their own and their partners' antenatal attachment to the fetus. Additionally, it aimed to explore the mediating role of dyadic adjustment on these associations. Participants, 320 pregnant women and their partners, completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Maternal and Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale. Data were analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. Mothers' (ß = -.16, p < .01) and fathers' depressive symptoms (ß = -.38, p < .001) were associated with their levels of antenatal attachment to the fetus. These relationships, however, were mediated by levels of dyadic adjustment (ß = -.08, p < .05; ß = -.09, p < .05, respectively). Fathers' anxiety symptoms were associated with their levels of antenatal attachment to the fetus (ß = .16, p < .05). This relationship was partially mediated by their levels of dyadic adjustment (ß = -.05, p < .05). Finally, fathers' depressive symptoms were associated with mothers' levels of antenatal attachment to the fetus through the mothers' dyadic adjustment levels (ß = -.06, p < .05). Results indicated that anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as lower levels of dyadic adjustment during pregnancy seem to negatively impact the levels of antenatal attachment to the fetus, especially for fathers. Results highlight the need to adopt a dyadic perspective to understand mothers' and fathers' outcomes during pregnancy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

This longitudinal study evaluated the mediating role of sense of control during labour in the association between anxiety and depression levels during pregnancy and postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Participants were 57 women. Anxiety and depression were assessed during pregnancy; sense of control and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were collected 6–8 weeks after childbirth. Higher levels of anxiety and depression were associated with more postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms through lack of perceived control. For depression, this happened only for primiparous. Interventions targeting mechanisms enhancing perceptions/feelings of control should be offered to these women to prevent/minimize childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder.

Coparenting conflict and triangulation after separation or divorce are associated with poorer child adjustment when parenting gatekeeping and conflict occur. Fewer studies reported psychosocial adjustment of children under three. We explored the effects of authoritarian and permissive parenting styles and negative coparenting on child adjustment in a purpose sample of 207 Portuguese newly separated/divorced parents (50.2% mothers/49.8% fathers) with sole or joint (49.8%/50.2%) physical custody processes ongoing in court. Parents filled out the Parenting Styles Questionnaire—Parents’ report, the Coparenting Questionnaire, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Parenting and coparenting moderations path analysis to predict child adjustment were tested for two groups (2/3-year-old child/>3-year-old-child) and showed a good fit, followed by multigroup path analysis with similarities. Findings suggest harsh parenting and interparental conflict and triangulation as predictors for poor early child adjustment. The ongoing custody process could contribute to increased interparental conflict. The families’ unique functioning, parenting, and conflict should be considered in young children custody decisions made in a particularly stressful period when the parental responsibilities’ process is still ongoing and conflict may increase to serve the best interest of the child and promote healthy development. Future directions and practical implications are discussed.

Introduction Since the first reported case of Sars-Cov-2, studies show the negative impact on mental health, with high levels of fear, anxiety and depressive symptoms. In Portugal, the percentage of mental morbidity is high. Having low income, being young and female increases the risk of psychosocial vulnerability. Few studies address the subjective experience and adaptation processes in different pandemic stages; Objectives To access the psychological impact of COVID-19 lockdown and adaptation process in Phases I and III of the pandemic (April/2020-January/2021) by conducting online semi-structured interviews; Methods Interviews of ten Portuguese teleworkers were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using the IPA methodology and Lexical Analysis with Alceste®, allowing to compare findings attesting the validity of the consensual themes; Results The classes of lexical analysis corroborate the IPA’s emerging themes. In telecommuting, participants experience work, family and social impact, negative feelings, and difficulties in work-life balance, adopting, efficient coping strategies since the beginning of the pandemic. In the second lockdown, participants show less anxiety, but more stress, frustration, adapting self-regulation strategies over time; Conclusions By identifying the difficulties and negative impact of the lockdown, participants intuitively coped by adopting different adaptive cognitive, behavioral and emotional self-regulation strategies over time for their mental health and well-being. We present a model for the evolution of psychological impact and adaptation processes in two lockdowns, which may help to design more humanistic measures and outreach psychological prevention/intervention programs. Introdução Desde o primeiro caso de Sars-Cov-2 reportado, os estudos realizados, indicam o impacto negativo na saúde mental, com níveis elevados de medo, ansiedade e sintomas depressivos. Em Portugal, a percentagem de morbilidade mental é elevada. Ter baixo rendimento económico, ser jovens e mulher aumenta o risco de vulnerabilidade psicossocial. Poucos estudos focam as vivências subjetivas e os processos de adaptação em diferentes fases da pandemia; Objetivos Aceder ao impacto psicológico do confinamento devido à COVID-19 e processo de adaptação na I e III Fases da pandemia (Abril/2020-Janeiro/2021) mediante a realização online de entrevistas semiestruturadas; Métodos As entrevistas de dez portugueses em teletrabalho foram gravadas, transcritas e analisadas recorrendo à metodologia IPA e análise Lexical com Alceste®, permitindo cruzar os resultados atestando a validade das temáticas consensuais; Resultados As classes da análise lexical comprovam os temas emergentes da IPA. Os participantes em teletrabalho, experienciam impacto laboral, familiar e social, sentimentos negativos e dificuldades no equilíbrio trabalho-vida/família, adotando estratégias de adaptação psicológica eficazes desde o início da pandemia. No segundo confinamento, relevam menor ansiedade, mas maior desgaste, frustração, adaptando as estratégias de autorregulação ao longo do tempo; Conclusões Ao identificarem as dificuldades e impacto negativo do confinamento, os participantes adotaram intuitivamente estratégias adaptativas de autorregulação cognitiva, comportamental e emocional diferentes ao longo do tempo, em prol da sua saúde mental e bem-estar. Apresentamos um modelo da evolução do impacto psicológico e processo de adaptação em dois confinamentos, possivelmente relevante no delineamento de medidas mais humanizadas e programas de prevenção/intervenção psicológica de proximidade.