Corina Aguilar-Raab

Past research on how people evaluate and compare themselves in central characteristics focuses strongly on preconditions, processes, and consequences of such comparisons while neglecting individual differences. The current study bridges social and personality research by examining domain specificity, temporal stability, and age differences of social and past-temporal comparisons. Using lifespan samples from Germany ( N = 313, 18–84 years, 49.8% female) and the USA ( N = 302, 18–72 years, 52.0% female), participants reported the frequency and perceived usefulness of social and past-temporal comparisons concerning five domains: emotional stability, extraversion, physical appearance, professional success, and personal life. The results show that individual differences in comparison tendencies were rather domain-specific. Within a specific life domain, the usage of social and past-temporal comparisons was strongly correlated. Individual differences in comparison tendencies were moderately stable over four weeks (~ 0.60). With older age, participants indicated using comparisons less frequently and seeing them as less useful than young adults. We discuss that future research on social and temporal comparisons would benefit from a trait-state approach taking individual differences in domain-specific comparisons and the co-occurrence of social and temporal comparisons into account.

Previous research has identified state mindfulness as a key change mechanism in explicitly mindfulness-based interventions to increase trait mindfulness and reduce stress. This study extends previous work by examining trajectories of state mindfulness and their associations with trait indicators of mindfulness, self-compassion, and perceived stress when mindfulness practices are delivered within a Socioemotional Competence Training (SECT) without explicit mindfulness labeling. A sample of 166 healthy younger and older German adults (75.2% female; M _age = 46.26; SD _age = 18.70) participated in the 8-week SECT. State mindfulness was assessed weekly, whereas trait mindfulness, self-compassion, and perceived stress were assessed before, during, and after the training. Second-order latent growth models suggest significant pre-post improvements in all state and trait variables ( d = |0.38| to |0.62|), but trait changes were not predicted by changes in state mindfulness. These findings indicate that while state mindfulness increases during the Socioemotional Competence Training, these increases alone appear insufficient to drive changes in trait mindfulness and related outcomes. Results suggest that intervention framing could play a crucial role in facilitating explicit connections between state experiences and trait development, contributing to our understanding of mindfulness as a change mechanism in psychological interventions.

Compassion has been shown to improve well-being across multiple settings. While the link between self-compassion and well-being is well-established, findings on compassion for others have been more mixed. Using a multilevel approach, this meta-analysis of 54 effect sizes examined the relationship between compassion for others and well-being. The results revealed a moderate, statistically significant positive association (r = .26), suggesting that compassion for others contributes meaningfully to overall well-being. This relationship was consistent for psychological well-being, cognitive well-being, social well-being, and positive affect, whereas the results were weaker for negative affect. Furthermore, results showed that this relationship is not moderated by age, gender, or region. In addition, we examined if there is a causal relationship between compassion for others and well-being examining six effect sizes for state and trait compassion interventions. The results showed moderate improvements in well-being following compassion-based training, indicating promising but preliminary evidence for a causal effect. However, the absence of consistent control group comparisons limits firm conclusions about causality. This meta-analysis presents the first rigorous synthesis of evidence linking compassion for others to well-being, highlighting compassion for others as a distinct and meaningful contributor.

From a personality dynamic perspective, interpersonal dynamics are closely linked to both motivational conflicts and personality functioning and therefore highly relevant for the understanding and treatment of mental disorders. This article aims to provide insight into how the analysis of interpersonal dynamics can specifically be used to understand and optimize psychotherapeutic processes. For this, we first introduce structural models and assessment tools suitable for capturing complex relationship dynamics. In a second step, we present selected clinical concepts and empirical findings that address interpersonal dynamics in psychotherapy. Finally, we outline various ways of combining these clinical concepts with basic clinical psychological research methods to further improve the understanding of complex interpersonal dynamics. In our view, interpersonal theory is well suited as a common conceptual basis for this.

Many psychological interventions are designed to address specific characteristics of socioemotional functioning. This randomized controlled trial innovatively examined to what extent effects of such an intervention generalize to broader domains. The new socioemotional competence training (SECT), designed to improve social and emotional functioning and well-being in healthy adults, consists of eight weekly 2-hr sessions and was conducted in three cohorts. We collected data on both specific outcomes that were directly targeted during the training (i.e., mindfulness, perceived stress) and broader psychological indicators of emotional and social functioning (e.g., self-compassion, empathy, perspective taking, well-being) before, during, and after the training, with follow-ups after 3 and 12 months. Participants were 166 young (19-39 years, M = 28.16, SD = 4.7) and older (50-78 years, M = 63.55, SD = 7.2) healthy German adults (75.2% female). Of these, 73 and 54 participants were randomly allocated to the socioemotional competence training or to a waitlist control group, respectively. Thirty-nine participants were allocated to the last training cohort. Results of the mixed effects models showed significant Group-by-Time effects on mindfulness (b = 0.28, 95% CI [0.16, 0.40]), perceived stress (b = -0.36, 95% CI [-0.56, -0.16]), and well-being (b = 0.43, 95% CI [0.09, 0.78]), but no meaningful effects on the other broader outcomes. Training effects were stable across 3- to 12-months follow-up. The socioemotional competence training yielded specific improvements in characteristics that were explicitly and consistently addressed throughout the training. This underscores the importance of tailored interventions in promoting specific aspects of socioemotional well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: This study aimed at evaluating the effects of a minimal couple intervention focusing on positive aspects within the relationship (instructed partnership appreciation task; PAT) in daily life. We hypothesized a stress‐buffering effect of this intervention on perceived stress, salivary cortisol and alpha‐amylase. Methods: N = 40 couples were randomly assigned to either PAT or a no PAT (nPAT) condition. Self‐reports and saliva samples were assessed six times per day on five consecutive days. To account for couple interdependencies, multilevel modelling (MLM) approaches were used to test the effects of (a) group assignment (PAT vs. nPAT) and (b) practicing the PAT in everyday life (PAT group only). Results: Overall perceived stress was lower for women in the PAT group as compared with women in the nPAT group ( b = −.380, p = .0098). Within the PAT group , daily positive interaction (PAT) significantly reduced cortisol ( b = −.127, p = .02) and alpha amylase ( b = −.122, p = .037). Sex‐specific analyses of within‐participants effects in daily life indicate that these results were driven by the men in the sample: Practicing the PAT led to a decrease in perceived stress ( b = −.271, p = 001) and sCort ( b = −.226, p = .006) in men, but not in women (all p > .05). Conclusions: The findings suggest that a minimal couple intervention can improve individual health‐related outcomes in a sex‐specific manner, and that effects depend on actually practicing the positive exchange in daily life. Trial Registration: The analysis of the present study is based on a sub‐sample (placebo group) of a larger neuropharmacological intervention and longitudinal trial ‘Oxytocin, Couple Interaction and Wound Healing’ (clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT01594775).