Rachel Francois-Walcott

Coeliac disease, affecting 1 in 100 children in the UK, is an autoimmune. Strict adherence to a lifelong gluten-free diet is essential but poses significant social and emotional challenges. Children with coeliac disease often face social stigma, frustration, isolation, and impaired wellbeing, emphasising the need for holistic family support.This eBook is a self-help psychological intervention to support families with the psychosocial aspects of living with coeliac disease. The development of this eBook was led by the University of Surrey, with funding from Coeliac UK. Consultations with caregivers and children ensured comprehensive public and patient involvement throughout the development of this eBook. The anticipated outcome is a self-help guide that supports both the dietary management and psychological well-being of families living with coeliac disease.

Coeliac disease, affecting 1 in 100 children in the UK, is an autoimmune. Strict adherence to a lifelong gluten-free diet is essential but poses significant social and emotional challenges. Children and young people (CYP) with coeliac disease often face social stigma, frustration, isolation, and impaired wellbeing, emphasising the need for holistic family support.This eBook is a self-help psychological intervention to support families with the psychosocial aspects of living with coeliac disease. The development of this eBook was led by the University of Surrey, with funding from Coeliac UK. Consultations with caregivers and CYP ensured comprehensive public and patient involvement throughout the development of this eBook. The anticipated outcome is a self-help guide that supports both the dietary management and psychological well-being of families dealing with coeliac disease.

Recent advancements in AI have led to chatbots, such as ChatGPT, capable of providing therapeutic responses. Early research evaluating chatbots' ability to provide relationship advice and single-session relationship interventions has showed that both laypeople and relationship therapists rate them high on attributed such as empathy and helpfulness. In the present study, 20 participants engaged in single-session relationship intervention with ChatGPT and were interviewed about their experiences. We evaluated the performance of ChatGPT comprising of technical outcomes such as error rate and linguistic accuracy and therapeutic quality such as empathy and therapeutic questioning. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis which generated four themes: light at the end of the tunnel; clearing the fog; clinical skills; and therapeutic setting. The analyses of technical and feasibility outcomes, as coded by researchers and perceived by users, show ChatGPT provides realistic single-session intervention with it consistently rated highly on attributes such as therapeutic skills, human-likeness, exploration, and useability, and providing clarity and next steps for users’ relationship problem. Limitations include a poor assessment of risk and reaching collaborative solutions with the participant. This study extends on AI acceptance theories and highlights the potential capabilities of ChatGPT in providing relationship advice and support. •Users interacted with GPT-4 in a single session intervention for relationship difficulties.•GPT-4 provided realistic single-session intervention that was rated high on technical outcomes.•Most users described GPT-4 as human-like, helpful, and empathic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been stuck indoors with their partners for months. Having a supportive partner is likely to be especially important during this time when access to outside sources of support is limited. The present mixed-methods study aimed to investigate how partner support is associated with goal outcomes during COVID-19. The survey participants (n = 200) completed a daily diary for a week and five weekly longitudinal reports, and 48 participants attended a semi-structured interview. The quantitative results showed that higher relational catalyst support (i.e., support for growth opportunities) predicted better goal outcomes; qualitative analyses revealed partners use direct and indirect forms of emotional and instrumental support toward goal pursuit. This is important because most studies to date have not differentiated between direct and indirect forms of support. Overall, the findings suggest that having a supportive partner is important for not only surviving, but also thriving through the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic led many couples to stay at home together with minimal contact with others. As social distancing measures reduced contact with outside households, many partners could seek support only from one another. In two studies using a sequential mixed methods design, we investigated support-seeking behaviors in romantic relationships during COVID-19. In the qualitative study, semi-structured interviews (n = 48) showed differences in how and why partners seek support with an initial consideration of the role of attachment. We identified the following themes: direct support-seeking, indirect support-seeking, (in)dependence, and gender dynamics. In the quantitative study (n = 588), high COVID-19 worry, high attachment anxiety, and low attachment avoidance were associated with more support-seeking. Interestingly, we also found that when COVID-19 worry was high, individuals high in attachment avoidance were more likely to report seeking support. The paper provides a unique insight into the impact of COVID-19 on support-seeking behaviors in romantic relationships.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many couples are staying at home together for an extended period. This is likely to impact couples as they navigate their responsibilities while maintaining a healthy relationship during uncertain times. We conducted qualitative research to investigate participants' perception on how relationships changed considering COVID-19 and social distancing measures. Data were collected through open-ended surveys (n = 200) which were completed weekly for 5 weeks and by semi-structured interviews (n = 48). Overall, 28.6% of relationships had gotten better, 28.6% worse, 29.9% stayed the same, and 8.0% were mixed. Both methods highlighted similar themes (communication, space, togetherness, sharing responsibilities, quality time, and support networks) including 15 sub-themes in the interviews. The study provides a unique insight into the impact of COVID-19 on relationships and provides techniques that have been identified by couples to increase relationship satisfaction for their own and others' relationships.

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the global economy and affected millions of people's work and personal lives across the world. The purpose of the present study was to better understand how individuals' work and personal goals have been affected by the pandemic and how they have adapted to these changes. We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews (n = 48) and surveyed participants (n = 200) weekly for 5 weeks. Both methods revealed similar themes regarding the adaptation and pursuit of goals (social support, handling unpredictable situations, logistics, solving problems creatively, goal postponement, and no changes). Survey responses also showed that most individuals experienced their goals as more difficult (79%; 13% easier; 9% no change) and found that many had had to adapt or postpone their work and personal goals, often due to logistical difficulties. Businesses and governments should do more to help individuals adapt their goals to the new circumstances.

When romantic partners' personal goals conflict, this can negatively affect personal goal outcomes, such as progress. In a concurrent mixed methods study, we investigated whether goal conflict and negation of goal conflict were associated with goal outcomes (progress, confidence, motivation) and what strategies partners used during the COVID-19 pandemic to negotiate goal conflict. Survey participants (n = 200) completed a daily diary for a week and weekly longitudinal reports for a month and interview participants (n = 48) attended a semi-structured interview. Results showed that higher goal conflict was associated with lower goal outcomes, and successful negotiation of goal conflict was associated with better goal outcomes. Qualitative analyses identified three goal conflict negotiation strategies (compromise, integration, concession). Conversations focused on both practical and emotional needs and included respectful communication and space from conflict (timeout or avoidance). The mixed methods results suggest that goal conflict was low during the pandemic and participants were often able to negotiate goal conflict resulting in better goal outcomes.