Early relationships with parents and caregivers play an important role in shaping how children regulate emotions, manage disagreements, and build connections with peers. In the MRI-funded project Family Interaction Training: Supporting the Parent–Child Relationship to Foster Strong Peer Relations During Early Childhood, Dr. Jamie Ostrov of the University at Buffalo examines whether strengthening parent–child interactions through a structured parenting intervention can improve children's social and emotional functioning in preschool settings.

The study will involve approximately 80 children ages three to four and their parents across four Head Start classrooms in Buffalo, New York. Through Family Interaction Training (FIT), participating parents will receive training focused on fostering positive interactions, establishing clear expectations, and responding constructively to challenging behaviors. Researchers will collect parent and teacher assessments to examine changes in parent–child relationship quality, aggression, cooperation, and peer interactions.

By exploring how changes within the family may extend to children's relationships with classmates, the project seeks to better understand the connections between early caregiving experiences and social development. Findings may inform future family-centered interventions aimed at reducing early aggression, strengthening peer relationships, and supporting children's social and emotional well-being.

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Discussing stressful experiences with a romantic partner can provide emotional support and strengthen intimacy, but repeatedly revisiting problems and negative emotions may also contribute to psychological distress. In the MRI-funded project Tracing Co-Rumination in Couples’ Conversations Through Language-Based Models: Understanding the Costs and Benefits of Co-Rumination at Scale, Yunzhi Zheng of Florida State University examines how co-rumination develops during conversations between romantic partners and how these patterns relate to emotional well-being and relationship quality.

The study will recruit 40 romantic couples who will participate in recorded discussions about stressful experiences. Using natural language processing, researchers will develop and evaluate the Co-Rumination Dyadic Language Index (CORDLI), a computational tool designed to identify repetitive problem discussions, mutual encouragement, continued speculation, and negative emotional expression. Participants will also assess their emotional experiences and communication patterns to help evaluate the automated measurements.

By examining how partners mutually shape and reinforce conversational patterns, the project seeks to better understand when discussing problems may foster emotional connection or contribute to prolonged distress. Findings may advance methods for studying couples' interactions and inform future research on emotional regulation, relationship functioning, and interpersonal communication.

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Academic success is often attributed to individual abilities, motivation, and perseverance, but the relationships students develop may also influence their educational experiences. In demanding fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), friendships, peer support, and a sense of belonging may help students navigate academic challenges and remain engaged with their studies.

In the MRI-funded project Building STEM Students’ Social Networks: A Relational Approach to Fostering Academic Success, Dr. Kate Turetsky of Barnard College examines whether strengthening students’ social connections can improve academic persistence and achievement. Building on earlier research suggesting that a brief values affirmation exercise may influence classroom friendships and subsequent course enrollment, the project investigates how interpersonal relationships contribute to educational outcomes.

Through three complementary studies involving undergraduate and doctoral students, the research explores whether psychological interventions and changes to classroom structure can encourage the development of supportive social networks. The studies examine friendships, social belonging, academic engagement, and persistence while considering how educational environments may create opportunities for meaningful connection.

By approaching academic achievement as both an individual and relational process, the project seeks to identify strategies that may help colleges and universities foster more supportive learning environments. The findings may contribute to a broader understanding of how social relationships influence students’ ability to navigate challenges and pursue their educational goals.

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Sexual violence on college campuses remains a significant public health concern, yet the role of family relationships in shaping perpetration risk is not fully understood. In the MRI-funded project Addressing Campus Sexual Violence: The Role of Family as a Protective Factor in Preventing Perpetration Behavior, Dr. Lisa Eaton of the University of Connecticut examines how family communication, emotional support, and relational experiences may serve as protective factors against sexual violence perpetration among college students.

The study will collect survey data from approximately 3,000 undergraduate students across the United States, examining family relationships alongside peer attitudes and campus norms surrounding consent, intimate relationships, and alcohol-related social situations. Researchers will explore how these interconnected influences may contribute to patterns of risk and protection.

By considering family, peer, and institutional influences together, the project seeks to identify relational conditions associated with lower perpetration risk. Findings may inform more comprehensive prevention strategies that extend beyond individual behavior to consider the broader social environments shaping interpersonal relationships during emerging adulthood.

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Community stressors such as economic hardship, neighborhood crime, and limited access to resources can affect mental health while also shaping family relationships. In the MRI-funded project Neighborhood Stress and Mental Health: The Protective Role of Couple Relationship Functioning in Rural African American Communities, Dr. Man-Kit Lei and Dr. Steven R. H. Beach of the University of Georgia, together with Graduate Research Assistant Rachael D. Weaver, examine whether strong couple and family relationships can help buffer the effects of neighborhood adversity among rural African American families in the Southern United States.

Using longitudinal data from 346 couples who participated in the Protecting Strong African American Families (ProSAAF) randomized trial, the researchers integrated neighborhood-level indicators with measures of relationship functioning, mental health, and family interactions. An early analysis found that higher neighborhood crime was associated with lower parental involvement in children's education among control families, but this association was not observed among ProSAAF participants. Among control families, lower parental involvement was also associated with weaker academic orientation and greater delinquency among youth, a pattern not observed among families who participated in the intervention.

The findings suggest that strengthening family relationships may help interrupt pathways through which neighborhood stress affects parents and children. Ongoing analyses are examining whether couple communication, satisfaction, confidence, and partner support similarly buffer associations between community disadvantage and mental health. By considering how neighborhood conditions and family relationships operate together, the project may inform relationship-centered approaches to supporting resilience in communities experiencing persistent stress.

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Smartphones can help romantic partners communicate, coordinate, and stay connected, but they can also interrupt face-to-face interactions and divide attention during meaningful moments. In the MRI-funded project Disrupted Connection: A Daily-Diary Study of Technointerference, Intimacy, and Partner Dynamics in Long-Term Romantic Relationships, Dr. Andrea Meltzer of Florida State University examines how everyday technology use shapes intimacy and relationship functioning among long-term romantic partners.

The project will include 180 cohabiting couples from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Couples will participate in a recorded discussion about an important relationship concern, followed by 14 days of nightly assessments measuring smartphone and social media use alongside closeness, satisfaction, commitment, conflict, perceived partner responsiveness, and communication.

By considering how each person’s technology use relates to both partners’ experiences, the project moves beyond an individual understanding of screen time to examine technology as part of an ongoing relational process. Findings may contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how couples navigate technology and how everyday patterns of attention and responsiveness may shape intimacy over time.

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The transition to parenthood can reshape fathers’ identities, relationships, social networks, and caregiving responsibilities. For fathers who misuse alcohol and cannabis, this period may involve additional challenges—but the relationships and resources surrounding them may also offer important forms of support. In the MRI-funded project Supporting At-Risk Fathers: Examining Multilevel Forms of Social Support for Fathers With Substance Misuse Across the Transition to Parenthood, Dr. Kristin Perry of the University of Oregon examines whether social support can serve as a protective resource as men become fathers.

The mixed-methods project begins with interviews exploring how first-time fathers experience emotional, informational, practical, and affirming support across their relationships, communities, and social systems. These findings will inform a longitudinal study following fathers from pregnancy through nine months postpartum and integrating psychological, relational, and biological measures.

By considering support from partners, family members, friends, healthcare providers, workplaces, recovery communities, and other social systems, the project moves beyond an individual understanding of substance use and adjustment to parenthood. Findings may help inform prevention and intervention approaches that build on fathers’ existing strengths while identifying areas where additional support is needed.

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Social relationships can shape how young adults experience psychological distress, make sense of their mental health, and decide whether to seek support. In the MRI-funded project Social Connectedness and Mental Health Help-Seeking Among Black and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Emerging Adults, Dr. Hans Oh of the University of Southern California examines how families, friendships, faith communities, neighborhoods, and digital networks influence mental health and help-seeking among Black and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) emerging adults.

The study draws on survey data collected in 2025 from 2,800 emerging adults across the United States, including 1,600 Asian American participants and 1,200 Black or African American participants. Researchers are examining how emotional and practical support, close relationships, religious participation, comfort discussing private concerns, and loneliness are associated with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and the perceived need for mental health care.

The project also considers whether supportive relationships can buffer the psychological effects of online racism—or whether loneliness and limited support may intensify them. Approximately 100 in-depth interviews with Black and AANHPI emerging adults will provide additional insight into participants’ experiences with identity, discrimination, stigma, community relationships, and decisions about seeking care.

By integrating survey and interview data, the project aims to develop a culturally grounded understanding of how social connection can serve as a source of support, a barrier to care, or both. The findings may help inform more culturally responsive approaches to mental health outreach, support, and treatment.

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Parenting patterns can extend across generations, but they are not necessarily fixed. In the MRI-funded project Parent–Infant Group Therapy to Interrupt Intergenerational Patterns of Abuse: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Resilient Roots, Dr. Adi Rosenthal, Dr. Maria-Ernestina Christl, and Dr. Galena Rhoades are evaluating a trauma-informed group intervention through Thriving Families and the University of Denver that helps caregivers examine how their own childhood experiences and trauma histories may influence relationships with their children.

Across ten sessions, Resilient Roots combines trauma processing, parenting education, child-safety strategies, and opportunities for caregivers to reflect on patterns they want to carry forward or change. The randomized waitlist-controlled study examines whether participation is associated with increased child safety, stronger parent–child relationships, and improved caregiver well-being.

During the MRI grant period, 59 caregivers were randomized and five Resilient Roots groups were conducted in English and Spanish, with 112 pre- and post-program surveys completed. Because the trial remains underway, conclusions about the intervention’s efficacy cannot yet be drawn. Ongoing quantitative and qualitative research will help researchers better understand how caregivers experience the program and whether supporting reflection, safety, and connection can help interrupt harmful patterns across generations.

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Political differences within families can shape more than conversation, with potential implications for closeness, relationship quality, and a sense of belonging at home. In the MRI-funded project The Effects of Political Difference on Parent-Child Relationships, Jason R. Folmsbee, in collaboration with Allison K. Farrell at Miami University, examined how political issue differences between college-aged children and their parents relate to everyday family relationships.

Using surveys and seven days of daily diary data collected from 195 college students over Thanksgiving week, the researchers examined political issue differences with mothers and fathers alongside relationship quality, daily political conversations, and feelings of belonging at home. Greater political differences with both parents were associated with lower relationship quality and reduced belonging, while differences with fathers were especially relevant on days when political conversations occurred. Greater day-to-day agreement with fathers also appeared to lessen some of the impact of broader political differences.

By examining political disagreement as part of everyday parent-child interactions, the project contributes to a more relational understanding of how differences in beliefs may affect family connection. The findings highlight the importance of looking not only at whether family members disagree, but also at how those disagreements unfold in daily life and how moments of agreement may help preserve a sense of closeness and belonging.

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Early caregiving relationships can shape health and well-being long after childhood, with potential implications for how individuals eventually care for their own children. In the MRI-funded project Early Life Caregiving and Health: Testing the Impact of Parenting Across Two Generations, Dr. Elysia Poggi Davis of the University of Denver, together with Dr. Melissa Nevarez-Brewster and Dr. Jessica A. Marino, examined how mothers’ childhood caregiving experiences relate to maternal stress physiology during pregnancy and caregiving in the next generation.

Using longitudinal data from the Care Project, the researchers examined childhood unpredictability and positive childhood experiences alongside maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy and observed mother–infant interactions at six months postpartum. Greater childhood unpredictability was associated with higher maternal cortisol during mid-to-late pregnancy, while more positive childhood experiences were associated with lower cortisol during late pregnancy. Lower prenatal cortisol also predicted greater maternal sensitivity during mother–infant interactions.

By bringing together early relational experiences, prenatal biology, and observed caregiving, the project contributes to a multigenerational understanding of how relationships may be connected across developmental periods. The findings highlight the importance of considering both instability and supportive childhood experiences when examining pathways that may shape caregiving and relationships across generations.

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Trauma can extend into the everyday interactions that shape family relationships, influencing communication, emotional connection, and family functioning. In the MRI-funded project Daily Impacts of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Sleep on Family Functioning among Asian Indians in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence, Dr. Ateka A. Contractor and Dr. Danica C. Slavish of the University of North Texas examined how daily PTSD symptoms and sleep relate to family functioning among U.S. Asian Indian adults with a history of intimate partner violence (IPV).

The study followed participants over seven consecutive days, using daily surveys to assess PTSD symptoms, sleep health, and family functioning. Among the 90 participants included in the final analyses, lower daily PTSD symptom severity and better sleep quality were associated with better family functioning. Better sleep quality also remained associated with better next-day family functioning after accounting for the previous day’s family functioning.

By examining trauma, sleep, and family relationships as interconnected daily processes, the project contributes to a more relational understanding of the effects of IPV. Findings may also help inform culturally responsive approaches that address PTSD symptoms and sleep health while considering how trauma-related distress may extend into everyday family interactions.

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Addiction and recovery unfold within family relationships, shaping how parents and children communicate, regulate emotion, and experience connection. In the MRI-funded project Connection-Enhancing Emotions in Parent–Child Dyads Impacted by Addiction, Dr. Andrea Hussong of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill examines how trauma influences the development and socialization of gratitude, generosity, and affection among children in families affected by addiction.

The study follows 150 mother–child dyads from families in which a parent has received treatment for an alcohol or drug use disorder within the previous five years. Through surveys, interviews, recorded parent–child interactions, and physiological measures, the research team examines how parents and children influence one another’s emotional regulation and expressions of connection-enhancing emotions.

By taking a reciprocal, strengths-based approach, the project explores how everyday moments of gratitude, generosity, and affection may contribute to healthier family relationships, social skills, prosocial behavior, and emotional regulation. Findings may also help inform adaptations to existing parenting resources designed to support conversations about gratitude for families navigating trauma and addiction.

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Feeling safe enough to be vulnerable can depend not only on what we choose to share, but also on how another person responds. In the MRI-funded project Perceived Partner Responsiveness as a Scaffold for Vulnerable Disclosures in Avoidantly Attached Relationships, Dr. Elina Ruiqi Sun of Syracuse University examined whether feeling understood, validated, and cared for during relatively low-risk interactions could make people more willing to engage in vulnerable disclosure.

The study included 697 participants who identified a close relationship in which they experienced difficulty depending on the other person. Participants who imagined receiving highly responsive reactions while sharing positive experiences subsequently reported greater willingness to disclose vulnerable information. Among those higher in attachment avoidance, responsiveness was also associated with less emotional withholding.

The findings suggest that interpersonal security may develop incrementally through sequences of supportive interactions. Dr. Sun’s research highlights how everyday experiences of responsiveness may help shape patterns of trust, openness, and vulnerability within close relationships.

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Growing independence can signal a developing capacity for emotional regulation, even when it means a parent and child become less synchronized. In the MRI-funded project Mapping Maternal–Child Relational Dynamics in Early Childhood, Dr. Nicole Perry of the University of Texas at Austin examines how behavioral and physiological synchrony between mothers and children changes between ages 2.5 and 3.5, and how these changes relate to relationship quality and children’s emotional adjustment.

The study follows 103 mother–child pairs across two developmental assessments, combining behavioral observations, physiological measures, and caregiver reports. During a shared problem-solving task, researchers assess reciprocal engagement, shared attention, and relational warmth alongside respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a measure of heart-rate variability associated with physiological regulation. Children also participate in frustration tasks that capture strategies such as help-seeking, distraction, and persistence. Caregiver questionnaires provide additional information about children’s adjustment and mothers’ own emotional and psychological functioning.

By examining the same relationships over time, this project advances a systemic understanding of how children develop emotional regulation through repeated interactions with caregivers. Greater synchrony may support co-regulation, while decreases in synchrony may sometimes reflect growing autonomy rather than diminished connection. Dr. Perry’s work explores how these patterns relate to stronger relationships and adaptive emotional functioning, while considering how mothers’ own regulatory capacities shape this process. The study may clarify how parent–child relationships adapt to provide both connection and opportunities for independence during early childhood.

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Adolescent depression is often viewed through the experiences of young people themselves, but these challenges also unfold within family relationships. In the MRI-funded project Offspring Distress as a Threat to Health: Adolescents’ Depressive Symptoms as Predictors of Parents’ Chronic Disease Risk, Dr. Erika Manczak of the University of Denver examines how adolescent depressive symptoms may influence not only youth outcomes, but also parents’ physical health during midlife.

The study brings together adolescent mental health, family functioning, and chronic disease risk, using a dyadic and multimethod approach. Adolescents’ depressive symptoms are assessed through clinical interviews, while parents’ health is evaluated through biological indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation, heart rate, and glucose. These measures are paired with assessments of parent–child interaction to better understand how relational stress may be linked to parental health outcomes.

By examining adolescents and parents together, this project advances a systemic perspective on mental and physical health. Dr. Manczak’s work highlights how distress may extend beyond the individual, shaping communication, emotional tone, and family well-being. The study also considers how factors such as parental empathy, socioeconomic context, and social support may either heighten or buffer health-related strain within families.

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When a loved one experiences early psychosis, the entire family may find itself adjusting to new roles, unfamiliar systems of care, and significant emotional uncertainty. In the MRI-funded project Culturally Informed Therapy (CIT) for Families in an Early Psychosis Clinic, Dr. Olivia Altamirano of Stanford University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences explored how a culturally responsive, family-centered intervention could be adapted for use in an early psychosis setting.

Implemented within Stanford’s INSPIRE Clinic, the 15-session intervention incorporated family collectivism, psychoeducation, spirituality, communication training, and problem-solving. By placing families’ cultural values, beliefs, and meaning-making processes within the therapeutic framework, the project examined how relational and cultural resources may support families as they navigate the early stages of psychosis.

The study also highlighted the practical realities of delivering family-based care in clinical settings, including challenges related to recruitment, retention, hospitalization, and changes in care. Although full analyses are ongoing, preliminary findings have been presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies conference. The project contributes to a growing body of work focused on making early psychosis treatment more relationally grounded, culturally responsive, and attentive to the family systems surrounding recovery.

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What happens after a parent receives an alert that their child may be at risk for suicide or self-harm? For many families, that moment can bring fear, uncertainty, and an urgent need to know how best to respond.

In the MRI-funded project Helping Parents Navigate Child Suicide Risk, Dr. Kathryn Fox at the University of Denver, Dr. Taylor Burke at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Alex Bettis examined parents’ real-time responses to suicide and self-harm risk alerts. Partnering with MMGuardian, the research team surveyed 217 parents who had received an alert, exploring their emotional reactions, thoughts, interactions with their child, and needs for additional support.

The completed study found that for nearly one-third of parents, the alert was the first indication that their child might be experiencing suicide or self-harm risk. Many parents responded by expressing care, opening conversations about mental health, and validating their child’s emotions, although some also reported challenges related to trust. These findings are now informing an intervention designed to provide parents with evidence-based strategies for validation, safety planning, and suicide prevention. Pilot data from the MRI-funded project also helped the team secure an NIMH R34 grant to further develop and test the intervention with parents.

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When a loved one experiences early psychosis, recovery often becomes a shared family experience. Caregivers and primary supports may find themselves navigating uncertainty, emotional strain, and increased responsibility while also trying to maintain relationships that feel supportive rather than overwhelmed by stress.

In the MRI-funded project Fostering the Compassionate Mind: Implementing Compassion Training with Family Members of Individuals in Early Psychosis Recovery, Dr. Wendy Zhang of the INSPIRE Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine examines whether compassion-focused training can support both caregiver well-being and healthier family emotional dynamics during early psychosis recovery.

The project implements an eight-week Compassionate Mind Training group for family members and primary supports, combining guided compassion practices, educational content, and facilitated discussion. Using standardized assessments and qualitative interviews, the study examines whether the training can strengthen compassion toward self and others, reduce emotional distress and caregiver burden, increase positive affect, and reduce patterns of expressed emotion within the family.

By focusing on caregivers as part of the broader recovery environment, this work expands the conversation around early psychosis care beyond symptom management alone. The project may help inform family-centered approaches that support healthier emotional interactions and strengthen the relational context in which recovery unfolds.

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Feeling lonely does not always mean being alone. For older adults in long-term relationships, loneliness may develop within the partnership itself, shaping connection, support, and ultimately relationship stability.

In the MRI-funded project Dyadic Processes Underlying Loneliness and Risk of Divorce in Older Age, Dr. Jeffrey Stokes of the University of Massachusetts Boston, in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Foundation, examines whether loneliness experienced by one or both partners predicts the risk of divorce after age 50. Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, the project takes a dyadic approach to explore how each partner’s loneliness may influence the couple as a whole, including whether these patterns differ between husbands and wives.

By understanding loneliness as an interpersonal process rather than solely an individual experience, this research may help identify relational factors that contribute to gray divorce and inform approaches that strengthen connection and support among couples in later life.

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