Is Touch in Romantic Relationships Universally Beneficial for Psychological Well-Being? The Role of Attachment Avoidance.

Affectionate touch is crucial for well-being. However, attachment avoidance is associated with negative attitudes toward touch. We tested two preregistered hypotheses about how attachment avoidance influences the association between touch in romantic couples and psychological well-being. We examined whether greater attachment avoidance is associated with a reduced link between touch and well-being, and/or whether reduced touch mediates the relationship between attachment avoidance and lower well-being. Across three studies, including two dyadic ones, we measured retrospective self-reports (Studies 1 and 2), laboratory observations (Study 2), and daily experiences (Study 3) of touch. Touch and well-being were positively associated, and attachment avoidance was associated with lower well-being and less frequent touch. Touch was associated with greater well-being regardless of level of attachment avoidance, and less frequent touch mediated the negative association between attachment avoidance and well-being in most analyses. This underscores the importance of touch, even for those valuing distance and autonomy

A longitudinal study of dispositional compassion in Syrian origin young adults resettling in the Netherlands

Background: Dispositional compassion is regarded as a facet of Agreeableness, an emotional driver of prosociality, and a primary marker of adjustment. We examined changes in dispositional compassion in Syrian young adults resettling in the Netherlands, as well as the role of migration-related and demographic variables in this change. Methods: We analyzed data from a 4-wave (T1-T4), 13-month longitudinal study (N = 168; T1 Mage = 28.1 years, 70% male) using Latent Growth Curve Modelling (LGCM) in Mplus. Results: Bivariate correlations indicated moderate test-retest correlations across the four waves of dispositional compassion and several correlations with the migration-related and demographic variables. A LGCM indicated a high initial level and small linear decrease in compassion over the four waves. Except for a link between pre-migration adversity and the intercept, the migration-related and demographic variables were not related to either the intercept of the slope of dispositional compassion. Conclusion: Results suggest that high levels of dispositional compassion may be common for Syrian young adults with refugee backgrounds, but on average, slowly decreases over time. The cross-sectional associations between migration-related and demographic variables and dispositional compassion in the absence of a prospective one emphasize the importance of longitudinal research for understanding trajectories of adjustment

A longitudinal study of dispositional compassion in Syrian origin young adults resettling in the Netherlands

Background: Dispositional compassion is regarded as a facet of Agreeableness, an emotional driver of prosociality, and a primary marker of adjustment. We examined changes in dispositional compassion in Syrian young adults resettling in the Netherlands, as well as the role of migration-related and demographic variables in this change. Methods: We analyzed data from a 4-wave (T1-T4), 13-month longitudinal study (N = 168; T1 Mage = 28.1 years, 70% male) using Latent Growth Curve Modelling (LGCM) in Mplus. Results: Bivariate correlations indicated moderate test-retest correlations across the four waves of dispositional compassion and several correlations with the migration-related and demographic variables. A LGCM indicated a high initial level and small linear decrease in compassion over the four waves. Except for a link between pre-migration adversity and the intercept, the migration-related and demographic variables were not related to either the intercept of the slope of dispositional compassion. Conclusion: Results suggest that high levels of dispositional compassion may be common for Syrian young adults with refugee backgrounds, but on average, slowly decreases over time. The cross-sectional associations between migration-related and demographic variables and dispositional compassion in the absence of a prospective one emphasize the importance of longitudinal research for understanding trajectories of adjustment