Field of study

It starts from the premise that health and well-being must be studied from a broader relational context. And, according to Family Psychology and Psychotherapy, the family constitutes the most relevant context in the promotion, prevention and recovery of health. Misaligned family relationships can have a powerful negative impact, causing or favoring various psychopathological manifestations. The situations that can generate these manifestations are diverse: domestic conflict and violence, addictions, situations, infertility, immigration, lack of parental skills, etc.

Therefore, alarming phenomena such as destructive interparental and intrafamily conflict (partner, child-parent), or the increase in physical and mental health problems associated with relational patterns, but also, the understanding of the conditions that favor the well-being of family members and their evaluation in processes of assigning custody, guardianship, violence, and psychotherapeutic interventions. And all this, throughout the family life cycle, from prenatal periods to late adulthood.
 

Specific objectives

1. Analyze risk and protection factors in adverse or complex family situations and the impact of these situations throughout life
2. Develop and validate assessment tools.
3. Design, develop and evaluate evidence-based intervention programs applicable to community and clinical contexts, and evaluate their efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency.
4. Disseminate the results of research in congresses or magazines, hold national or international meetings with professionals from other associations or institutions, generate knowledge networks, etc.
    

Research lines

1. INTERPARENTAL AND INTRAFAMILY CONFLICT. Adjustment and adaptation, Emotional regulation. Family security. Fraternal relationships. Destructive conflict. Interventions evidence-based. Therapeutic Alliance.
2. ADOPTION. Communication about origins, health, attachment, well-being child-juvenile, emotional parenting, psychological well-being of children adults, etc. Family intervention.
3. PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL ATTACHMENT AND BONDING. Pregnancy, 0-6 years, bond, mentalization, attachment, parenting skills, gender differences between parents, intervention based on evidence.
4. FAMILY AND HEALTH. Migrant families, mindfulness, substance use, families at psychosocial risk, work-family balance, somatization and family relationships, etc. It presents two areas: 1) relational patterns and family well-being; 2) Impact on adolescence of relational patterns.

Main Researcher
Ana Martínez

Research Team
Mireia Sanz
Leire Iriarte
Irati Alvarez
Leire Gordo
Iñigo Ochoa de Alda
Laura Merino
Txemi Santamaría
Susana Cormenzana
Nerea Martín
Susana Corral
Inés Pellón
Iñigo Aguinaga
Estefanía Mónaco