Stress and Relationships
How do couples deal with stress? What is the impact of COVID-19 on Dutch relationships and families? Stressful life events and relationship transitions require adaptation and the better couples are equipped to adapt, the better they will fare. For example, the transition to parenthood is generally seen as one of the most challenging events in the early stages of a relationship. But is it really that detrimental and do all couples go through the same changes? We consider the factors that explain why some couples fare better or worse than others during stressful times and transitions.
Pauw, L. S., Sun, R., Zoppolat, G., Righetti, F., &, Milek, A. (2024). May I help you? The relationship between interpersonal emotion regulation and emotional and relational wellbeing in daily life. Collabra, 10(1), 90797.
Salo, K. I., Pauw, L. S., Echterhoff, G., & Milek, A. (2022). Daily stress, closeness, and coping in romantic relationships: An experience sampling study. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 11(3), 217-231.
Pauw, L. S., Hoogeveen, S., Breitenstein, C. J., Meier, F., Rauch-Anderegg, V., Neysari, M., Martin, M., Bodenmann, G., & Milek, A. (2021). Spillover effects when taking turns in support provision: How lingering negative affect and perceived partner responsiveness shape subsequent support provision. Frontiers in Psychology, 12: 637534.
Salo, K. I., Pauw, L. S., Echterhoff, G., & Milek, A. (2022). Daily stress, closeness, and coping in romantic relationships: An experience sampling study. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 11(3), 217-231.
Pauw, L. S., Hoogeveen, S., Breitenstein, C. J., Meier, F., Rauch-Anderegg, V., Neysari, M., Martin, M., Bodenmann, G., & Milek, A. (2021). Spillover effects when taking turns in support provision: How lingering negative affect and perceived partner responsiveness shape subsequent support provision. Frontiers in Psychology, 12: 637534.
Kluwer, E. (2021). Relatie- en gezinsproblematiek, zorgmijding en preventie tijdens en na COVID-19. ZonMw. https://www.zonmw.nl/nl/over-zonmw/coronavirus/programmas/project-detail/covid-19-programma/relatie-en-gezinsproblematiek-zorgmijding-en-preventie-tijdens-en-na-covid-19/
ter Kuile, H., Finkenauer, C., van der Lippe, T., & Kluwer, E. (2021). Changes in Relationship Commitment Across the Transition to Parenthood: Pre-pregnancy Happiness as a Protective Resource. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, [622160]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.622160
ter Kuile, H., van der Lippe, T., & Kluwer, E. (2021). Relational Processes as Predictors of Relationship Satisfaction Trajectories Across the Transition to Parenthood. Family Relations, 70(4), 1238-1252. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12546
Kluwer, E. S. (2018). De transitie naar het ouderschap: veranderingen in de partnerrelatie. In K. Emmery, & D. Luyten (Eds.), Partners in tijden van ouderschap: ouders en relaties in gezinnen vandaag (pp. 177-188). (Reeks Gezinnen, Relaties en Opvoeding; Vol. 4). Garant-Uitgevers.
ter Kuile, H., Kluwer, E. S., Finkenauer, C., & van der Lippe, T. (2017). Predicting adaptation to parenthood: The role of responsiveness, gratitude, and trust. Personal Relationships, 24(3), 663-682. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12202
Ter Kuile, H., Kluwer, E. S., Keijsers, L. G. M. T., Finkenauer, C., Boom, J., & Van der Lippe, T. A. G. (2012). Van romantiek naar partnerschap: Het effect van de transitie naar ouderschap op de intieme relatie. In N. Van de Ven, M. Baas, L. Van Dillen, D. Lakens, A. M. Lokhorst, & M. Strick (Eds.), Jaarboek Sociale Psychologie 2012 (pp. 107-113). ASPO Pers.
Van Steenbergen, E. F., Kluwer, E. S., & Karney, B. R. (2011). Workload and the trajectory of marital satisfaction in newlyweds: Job satisfaction, gender, and parental status as moderators. Journal of Family Psychology, 25, 345-355.
Kluwer, E. S. (2010). From partnership to parenthood: A review of marital change across the transition to parenthood. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 2, 105-125.
Kluwer, E. S., & Johnson, M. D. (2007). Conflict frequency and relationschip quality across de transition to parenthood. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 69, 1089-1106.
Kluwer, E. S., Heesink, J. A. M., & van de Vliert, E. (2002). The division of labor across the transition to parenthood: A justice perspective. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 64, 930-943.
Relationship distress and help-seeking
Ample research has shown that relationship distress is associated with mental and physical health problems, yet many couples never seek professional help. What is the prevalence of help seeking in The Netherlands and which groups are more or less likely to seek help? Together with NVRG and EFT Nederland we study these questions.
Valor-Segura, I., Exposito, F., Moya, M., & Kluwer, E. (2014). Don´t leave me: The effect of dependency and emotions in relationship conflict. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 44(9), 579-587.
Defoe, I.N., Keijsers, L., Hawk, S.T., Branje, S., Dubas, J.S., Buist, K.L., Frijns, T., van Aken, M.A.G., Koot, H.M., Van Lier, P.A.C. & Meeus, W.H.J. (2013). Siblings versus parents and friends: Longitudinal linksages to adolescent externalizing problems. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54 (8), (pp. 881-889) (9 p.).
van der Giessen, D., Branje, S.J.T., Frijns, T. & Meeus, W.H.J. (2013). Dyadic variability in mother-adolescent interactions: Developmental trajectories and associations with psychosocial functioning. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42 (1), (pp. 96-108) (13 p.).
Branje, S., van Dijk, M.P.A., Hale III, W.W., Frijns, T. & Meeus, W.H.J. (2012). Longitudinale associaties tussen ouder-kind relaties en depressieve symptomen in de adolescentie: De modererende rol van sekse, leeftijd en persoonlijkheid. Pedagogiek, 32 (3), (pp. 199-216)
Defoe, I.N., Keijsers, L.G.M.T., Hawk, S.T., Branje, S.J.T., Dubas, J.J.S., Buist, K.L., Frijns, T., van Aken, M.A.G., ,, , & Meeus, W.H.J. (2012). Recipient Siblings versus parents and friends: Unique effects of sibling externalizing problems and negative interactions on adolescent externalizing problems Society for Research on Adolescents (SRA)
Hale III, W.W., Keijsers, L., Klimstra, T.A., Raaijmakers, Q.A.W., Hawk, S.T., Branje, S.J.T., Frijns, T., Wijsbroek, S.A.M., van Lier, P.A.C. & Meeus, W.H.J. (2011). How does longitudinally measured maternal Expressed Emotion affect internalizing and externalizing symptoms of adolescents from the general community?. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 52 (11), (pp. 1174-1183) (10 p.).
Eichelsheim, V.I., Buist, K.L., Dekovic, M., Cook, W.L., Manders, W.A., Branje, S.J.T., Frijns, T., van Lier, P.A.C., Koot, H.M. & Meeus, W.H.J. (2011). Negativity in problematic and non-problematic families: A multigroup Social Relations Model analysis with structured means. Journal of Family Psychology, 25 (1), (pp. 152-156) (5 p.).
Branje, Susan J. T., Hale, William W., Frijns, Tom & Meeus, Wim H. J. (2010). Longitudinal Associations Between Perceived Parent-Child Relationship Quality and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 38 (6), (pp. 751-763) (13 p.).
Eichelsheim, V.I., Buist, K.L., Dekovic, M., Cook, W.L., Manders, W.A., Branje, S.J.T., Frijns, T., van Lier, P.A.C., Koot, H.M. & Meeus, W.H.J. (2010). Negativiteit in gezinsrelaties van adolescenten met en zonder externaliserend probleemgedrag. Kind en adolescent, 31 (3), (pp. 131-145) (15 p.).
Eichelsheim, V.I., Buist, K.L., Dekovic, M., Wissink, I.B., Frijns, T., van Lier, P.A.C., Koot, H.M. & Meeus, W.H.J. (2010). Associations among the parent–adolescent relationship, aggression and delinquency in different ethnic groups: a replication across two Dutch samples. Social Psychiatry, 45, (pp. 293-300) (8 p.).
Keijsers, L., Frijns, T., Branje, S.J.T. & Meeus, W.H.J. (2010). We Moeten Praten! Ontwikkeling van ouder-kind communicatie en delinquentie: Moderatie door steun van ouders. Pedagogiek, 30, (pp. 192-210) (19 p.).
Kluwer, E. S., & Karremans, J. C. T. M. (2009). Unforgiving motivations following infidelity: Should we make peace with our past? Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 28.
Kluwer, E. S., Tumewu, M., & Van den Bos, K. (2009). Men’s and women’s reactions to fair and unfair treatment in relationship conflict. Personal Relationships, 16, 455-474.
de Dreu, C. K. W., Kluwer, E. S., & Nauta, A. (2008). The structure and management of conflict: Fighting or defending the status quo. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 11, 331-353.
Karremans, J. C. T. M., Lange, P. A. M., Ouwerkerk, J. W., & Kluwer, E. S. (2003). When forgiving enhances psychological well-being: The role of interpersonal commitment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 1011-1026.
Kluwer, E., de Dreu, C., & Buunk, B. P. (1998). Conflict in intimate versus non-intimate relationships: When gender role stereotyping overrides biased self-other judgment. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 15, 637-650.
Kluwer, E., Heesink, J. A. M., & van de Vliert, E. (1997). The marital dynamics of conflict over the division of labor. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 59, 635-653.
Kluwer, E., Heesink, J. A. M., & van de Vliert, E. (1996). Marital conflict about the division of household labor and paid work. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58, 958-969.
Children with a chronic disease
We collaborate with pediatricians from Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital. We examine how children and their parents deal with the stress associated with a chronic disease, and how stress responses of the parent influence stress responses and well-being of the child, and vice versa (i.e., parent-child dyadic coping).
Nap-van der Vlist, M. M., van der Wal, R. C., Grosfeld, E., van de Putte, E. M., Dalmeijer, G. W., Grootenhuis, M. A., van der Ent, C. K., van den Heuvel-Eibrink, M. M., Swart, J. F., Bodenmann, G., Finkenauer, C., & Nijhof, S. L. (2021). Parent-Child Dyadic Coping and Quality of Life in Chronically Diseased Children. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-8. [701540]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.701540