This preliminary study applied a computer-assisted quantitative linguistic analysis to examine the effectiveness of language-based classification models to discriminate between mothers (n = 140) with and without history of treatment for depression (51% and 49%, respectively). Mothers were recorded during a problem-solving interaction with their adolescent child. Transcripts were manually annotated and analyzed using a dictionary-based, natural-language program approach (Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count). To assess the importance of linguistic features to correctly classify history of depression, we used Support Vector Machines (SVM) with interpretable features. Using linguistic features identified in the empirical literature, an initial SVM achieved nearly 63% accuracy. A second SVM using only the top 5 highest ranked SHAP features improved accuracy to 67.15%. The findings extend the existing literature base on understanding language behavior of depressed mood states, with a focus on the linguistic style of mothers with and without a history of treatment for depression and its potential impact on child development and trans-generational transmission of depression.

BACKGROUND: Research has established the effects of romantic relationships on individuals\' morbidity and mortality. However, the interplay between relationship functioning, affective processes, and health behaviors has been relatively understudied. During the COVID-19 pandemic, relational processes may influence novel health behaviors such as social distancing and masking.
OBJECTIVE: We describe the design, recruitment, and methods of the relationships, risk perceptions, and cancer-related behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic study. This study was developed to understand how relational and affective processes influence romantic partners\' engagement in cancer prevention behaviors as well as health behaviors introduced or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS: The relationships, risk perceptions, and cancer-related behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic study used online survey methods to recruit and enroll 2 cohorts of individuals involved in cohabiting romantic relationships, including 1 cohort of dyads (n=223) and 1 cohort of cancer survivors (n=443). Survey assessments were completed over 2 time points that were 5.57 (SD 3.14) weeks apart on average. Health behaviors assessed included COVID-19 vaccination and social distancing, physical activity, diet, sleep, alcohol use, and smoking behavior. We also examined relationship factors, psychological distress, and household chaos.
RESULTS: Data collection occurred between October 2021 and August 2022. During that time, a total of 926 participants were enrolled, of which about two-thirds were from the United Kingdom (n=622, 67.8%) and one-third were from the United States (n=296, 32.2%); about two-thirds were married (n=608, 66.2%) and one-third were members of unmarried couples (n=294, 32%). In cohorts 1 and 2, the mean age was about 34 and 50, respectively. Out of 478 participants in cohort 1, 19 (4%) identified as Hispanic or Latino/a, 79 (17%) as non-Hispanic Asian, 40 (9%) as non-Hispanic Black or African American, and 306 (64%) as non-Hispanic White; 62 (13%) participants identified their sexual orientation as bisexual or pansexual, 359 (75.1%) as heterosexual or straight, and 53 (11%) as gay or lesbian. In cohort 2, out of 440 participants, 13 (3%) identified as Hispanic or Latino/a, 8 (2%) as non-Hispanic Asian, 5 (1%) as non-Hispanic Black or African American, and 398 (90.5%) as non-Hispanic White; 41 (9%) participants identified their sexual orientation as bisexual or pansexual, 384 (87.3%) as heterosexual or straight, and 13 (3%) as gay or lesbian. The overall enrollment rate for individuals was 66.14% and the overall completion rate was 80.08%.
CONCLUSIONS: We discuss best practices for collecting online survey data for studies examining relationships and health, challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, recruitment of underrepresented populations, and enrollment of dyads. Recommendations include conducting pilot studies, allowing for extra time in the data collection timeline for marginalized or underserved populations, surplus screening to account for expected attrition within dyads, as well as planning dyad-specific data quality checks.
UNASSIGNED: DERR1-10.2196/48516.

BACKGROUND: With changing cognitive abilities, individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia face challenges in successfully managing multidrug regimens. We sought to understand how individuals with MCI or dementia and their family caregivers manage multidrug regimens and better understand patient-to-caregiver transitions in medication management responsibilities.
METHODS: We conducted qualitative interviews among patient-caregiver dyads. Eligibility included: patients with a diagnosis of MCI, mild or moderate dementia, managing ≥3 chronic conditions, ≥5 prescription medications, who also had a family caregiver ≥18 years old. Semi-structured interview guides, informed by the Medication Self-Management model, ascertained roles and responsibilities for medication management and patient-to-caregiver transitions in medication responsibilities.
RESULTS: We interviewed 32 patient-caregiver dyads. Older adults and caregivers favored older adult autonomy in medication management, and individuals with MCI and mild dementia largely managed their medications independently using multiple strategies (e.g., establishing daily routines, using pillboxes). Among individuals with moderate dementia, caregivers assumed all medication-related responsibilities except when living separately. In those scenarios, caregivers set up organizers and made reminder calls, but did not observe family members taking medications. Patient-to-caregiver transitions in medication responsibilities frequently occurred after caregivers observed older adults making errors with medications. As caregivers sought to assume greater responsibilities with family members\' medicines, they faced multiple barriers. Most barriers were dyadic; they affected both the older adult and the caregiver and/or the relationship. Some barriers were specific to caregivers; these included caregivers\' competing responsibilities or inaccurate perceptions of dementia, while other barriers were related to the healthcare system.
CONCLUSIONS: To ease medication management transitions, balance must be sought between preservation of older adult autonomy and early family caregiver involvement. Clinicians should work to initiate conversations with family caregivers and individuals living with MCI or dementia about transitioning medication responsibilities as memory loss progresses, simplify regimens, and deprescribe, as appropriate.

BACKGROUND: People with dementia and their family carers may benefit from non-pharmacological interventions, including mind-body (MB-) practices, which can improve physical and mental health by inducing relaxation. This systematic review provides an overview of availability and effects of MB-practices.
BACKGROUND: The authors performed a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, Emcare, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Academic Search Premier on February 1, 2024. Research papers on MB-practices for people with dementia and/or their family carers in English, Chinese, Japanese, German, French and Dutch were included if a full text was available. Selection of included articles, data extraction and methodological quality assessments were conducted by two researchers.
CONCLUSIONS: Of the 130 included studies, 100 (77 %) were of high quality. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and touch interventions for people with dementia, and meditations for family carers resulted in improvements in respectively cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms, and mental health. Lack of evidence for other MB-practices is related to small numbers of studies, fragmented use of outcome measures and mixed findings.
CONCLUSIONS: MB-practices showed promising results. We recommend implementation and further research of TCM- and touch interventions for people with dementia as well as meditations for family carers. We suggest a cross-over of the promising results of one group to be studied in the other group.

The existing literature consistently finds that emotional experiences and cortisol secretion are linked at the within-person level. Further, relationship partners tend to covary in emotional experience, and in cortisol secretion. However, we are only beginning to understand whether and how an individuals\' emotions are linked to their relationship partners\' cortisol secretion. In this project, we harmonized data from three intensive measurement studies originating from Canada and Germany to investigate the daily dynamics of emotions and cortisol within 321 older adult couples (age range=56-87 years). Three-level multilevel models accounted for the nested structure of the data (repeated assessments within individuals within couples). Actor-Partner Interdependence Models were used to examine the effect of own emotional experiences (actor effects) and partner emotional experiences (partner effects) on momentary and daily cortisol secretion. Adjusting for age, sex, education, comorbidities, assay version, diurnal cortisol rhythm, time spent together, medication, and time-varying behaviors that may increase cortisol secretion, results suggest that higher relationship partner\'s positive emotions are linked with lower momentary cortisol and total daily cortisol. Further, this association was stronger for older participants and those who reported higher relationship satisfaction. We did not find within-couple links between negative emotions and cortisol. Overall, our results suggest that one\'s relationship partner\'s positive emotional experience may be a protective factor for their physiological responding, and that these more fleeting and day-to-day fluctuations may accumulate over time, contributing to overall relationship satisfaction.

Profile similarity measures are used to quantify the similarity of two sets of ratings on multiple variables. Yet, it remains unclear how different measures are distinct or overlap and what type of information they precisely convey, making it unclear what measures are best applied under varying circumstances. With this study, we aim to provide clarity with respect to how existing measures interrelate and provide recommendations for their use by comparing a wide range of profile similarity measures. We have taken four steps. First, we reviewed 88 similarity measures by applying them to multiple cross-sectional and intensive longitudinal data sets on emotional experience and retained 43 useful profile similarity measures after eliminating duplicates, complements, or measures that were unsuitable for the intended purpose. Second, we have clustered these 43 measures into similarly behaving groups, and found three general clusters: one cluster with difference measures, one cluster with product measures that could be split into four more nuanced groups and one miscellaneous cluster that could be split into two more nuanced groups. Third, we have interpreted what unifies these groups and their subgroups and what information they convey based on theory and formulas. Last, based on our findings, we discuss recommendations with respect to the choice of measure, propose to avoid using the Pearson correlation, and suggest to center profile items when stereotypical patterns threaten to confound the computation of similarity.

BACKGROUND: Cancer disproportionately affects Hispanic populations, yet the preparedness of Hispanic caregiver-patient dyads facing cancer remains understudied. This study aims to identify essential components of preparedness needs and inform future psychosocial interventions for this demographic.
METHODS: Secondary analyses were conducted utilizing focus groups to develop a communication intervention for Hispanic patients and caregivers. Transcripts were qualitatively analyzed using NVivo v12 (2020).
RESULTS: Analysis revealed symptom management and treatment comprehension as pivotal aspects of preparation. Additionally, preparedness among our sample emerged by addressing the multifaceted dimensions of preparedness, including psychological, emotional, educational, familial, practical, financial, and spiritual aspects.
CONCLUSIONS: Tailoring interventions encompassing diverse dimensions of preparedness can foster inclusivity and maximize their impact on supportive measures. This underscores the necessity for culturally sensitive approaches when delivering interventions supporting Hispanic individuals navigating the challenges of cancer.

BACKGROUND: Receiving a diagnosis of cancer is a profound and often very stressful experience. Few studies have prospectively recruited patients prior to receiving a new diagnosis of cancer and included spouses or partners.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the Couples Cope Study is to understand the impact of undergoing a diagnostic biopsy and receiving a new cancer diagnosis on quality of life (QoL) in both patients and their spouses or partners, as well as on the quality of their relationship. This protocol paper describes the study design and assesses the feasibility of recruitment and retention.
METHODS: Study staff reviewed the schedules of collaborating physicians using specific encounter codes to identify patients scheduled for breast or prostate biopsies. Potential participants were prescreened via the electronic health record and sent a recruitment letter at least 2 to 3 weeks prior to their biopsy procedure. Patients subsequently underwent a phone screening to determine eligibility. Patients who enrolled provided study staff with contact information for their spouses or partners. All consent forms were completed online. Surveys were completed online prior to receiving the biopsy results (baseline), and at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after the biopsy. Study staff engaged in ongoing, personalized contact with participants and sent assessment completion reminders via phone and email.
RESULTS: A total of 2294 patients undergoing a breast or prostate biopsy were identified and 69% (n=1582) were eligible for phone screening following electronic health record prescreening. Of the 431 patients who underwent phone screening, 75% (n=321) were eligible to participate. Of the eligible patients, 72% (n=231) enrolled and 82% (n=190) of enrolled patients had an accompanying partner or spouse who also enrolled. A total of 77% (34/44) of patients who received a cancer diagnosis and 72% (26/36) of their spouses or partners were retained through 9 months, while 80% (53/66) of patients who received a benign diagnosis and 68% (42/62) of their partners were retained.
CONCLUSIONS: Prospective recruitment of patients undergoing diagnostic biopsy and their partners is feasible and requires both strategic collaboration with providers and concerted prescreening and recruitment efforts by study staff. Importantly, this study was able to conduct all study activities online without disrupting clinical workflow and without requiring patients and their spouses or partners to come into the laboratory. Consideration should be given to the ratio of biopsies to cancer diagnoses, which can vary significantly by cancer type. Prospective studies are needed and can inform our ability to provide effective support earlier to couples facing a possible cancer diagnosis. Future studies should examine other tumor types that have received less attention in QoL studies, include behavioral and neurobiological assessments beyond self-report measures, and follow couples beyond 9 months in order to examine long-term effects on QoL.
UNASSIGNED: DERR1-10.2196/52361.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesise the qualitative evidence on dyadic relationships between informal caregivers (ICs) and older adults with chronic heart failure (HF).
RESULTS: A systematic review and meta-synthesis were conducted. Eight databases were searched for English peer-reviewed studies and grey literature published from inception to 27 February 2024. Qualitative and mixed-method studies involving older adults ≥ 55 years old with chronic HF and discussing patient-caregiver relationships in community settings were included. Data were synthesised using Sandelowski and Barroso\'s 2-step framework. A meta-summary was developed using thematic analysis, and findings were synthesised using the Theory of Dyadic Illness Management. Twenty-four studies from 2008 to 2024 were included (n = 580 participants). The meta-summary consisted of four themes and nine subthemes: (1) Characteristics of dyad relationships, (2) How both parts of the dyad care for each other, (3) Chronic HF and dyad relationships, (4) Knowledge of managing chronic HF. These were reorganised into the meta-synthesis: dyadic appraisal, dyadic management behaviours, dyadic health, contextual factors affecting dyadic relationships and management behaviours, and illness management as a dyadic phenomenon.
CONCLUSIONS: Investigating relationship dynamics and their impact on dyads and chronic HF self-care is vital. Where possible, healthcare providers should prioritise dyadic care when caregivers are involved and deliver individualised care to improve patient and caregiver outcomes. Assessing and optimising dyadic relations, addressing individual perceptions and needs as part of clinical care, and before implementing self-care interventions in research may help ensure that self-care is appropriately tailored and would not be hindered by relationship conflicts.

Low-dose app-based contemplative interventions for mental health are increasingly popular, but heterogeneity in intervention responses indicates that a personalized approach is needed. We examined whether different longitudinal resilience-vulnerability trajectories, derived over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, predicted differences in diverse mental health outcomes after mindfulness and socio-emotional dyadic online interventions. The CovSocial project comprised a longitudinal assessment (phase 1) and an open-label efficacy trial (phase 2). A community sample of 253 participants received 12 min daily app-based socio-emotional dyadic or mindfulness-based interventions, with weekly online coaching for 10 weeks. Before and after the intervention, participants completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing mental health. Stress reactivity profiles were derived from seven repeated assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2020 to March/April 2021) and were categorized into resilient (more plasticity) or vulnerable (less plasticity) stress recovery profiles. After both interventions, only individuals with resilient stress reactivity profiles showed significant improvements in depression symptomatology, trait anxiety, emotion regulation, and stress recovery. Those with vulnerable profiles did not show significant improvements in any outcome. Limitations of this study include the relatively small sample size and potential biases associated with participant dropout. Brief app-based mental interventions may be more beneficial for those with greater levels of stress resiliency and plasticity in response to stressors. More vulnerable individuals might require more intense and personalized intervention formats.