The Narratives of the Future (NofF) framework has drawn attention to the role of subjective well-being and uncertainty as key determinants of individual fertility intentions. We apply the NofF framework to the Traits–Desires–Intentions–Behavior (TDIB) model, arguing that perceptions of current and future well-being are aspects of traits and thus that desires—not intentions—would be most strongly related to perceptions. Further, although most research on subjective well-being and uncertainty has focused on economic aspects, a life course perspective suggests that other domains, such as health or relationship concerns, are also relevant. Finally, few studies consider the dyadic nature of fertility decision-making. We address these gaps by using the U.S.-based National Couples’ Health and Time Study (NCHAT), collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, to investigate how subjective concerns across economic, health, and relational domains relate to American couples’ agreement on wanting a(another) child and how men’s and women’s own fertility desires are related to their own stress and their partner’s relative stress across different domains. We find that couples’ higher levels of stress—across domains—is related to greater couple-level uncertainty and disagreement about fertility desires. Women’s own fertility desires are associated with their partner’s relative stress across domains, with less evidence that men’s fertility desires are related to their partner’s relative stress. Our findings point to the importance of considering stress and uncertainty across multiple domains, at least during the COVID-19 pandemic, as important for the formation of fertility desires as well as the need to incorporate both partners’ experiences as key factors in fertility decision-making.

Objective: We estimate the prevalence of suicidal ideation among partnered U.S. adults overall and by sexual identity using a population-representative sample of cohabiting and married adults. Background: Intimate partner problems and other aspects of intimate relationships are substantial precipitating factors to suicide. Even so, there are currently no family-based interventions targeting suicide risk among adults; this may be because little is known as to how prevalent suicidal ideation and behaviors are in the context of intimate relationships. Sexually diverse adults show higher proportions of suicidal ideation than heterosexual adults. Method: Weighted logistic regression was used to analyze data from a subsample of the National Couples' Health and Time Study (n = 3,618), a population-representative sample of cohabiting and married adults. Unadjusted and model-adjusted prevalence estimates for suicidal ideation (thoughts and plans) were calculated. Results: The model adjusted prevalence estimates for suicide thoughts and plans were similar to estimates among general population samples. Bisexual and queer+ respondents had double the odds of reporting suicide thoughts and plans compared with gay, lesbian, and heterosexual respondents. Conclusions: Cohabiting and married adults showed a similar prevalence of suicidal ideation as the general population. Bisexual and queer+ adults are a growing U.S. population and require unique attention because they confront higher suicide risk compared with not only heterosexual but also gay and lesbian adults. Implications: Family-based interventions are needed to target suicidal ideations and behaviors among adults, including those who are married or cohabiting. Sexually diverse adults should not be treated as a monolithic group when tailoring interventions for sexually diverse populations.

The National Couples’ Health and Time Study (NCHAT) is the first fully-powered, population-representative study of couples in America containing large samples of sexual, gender, and racial and ethnic diverse individuals. Drawn from the Gallup Panel and the Gallup Recontact Sample, when weighted, the data are population representative of individuals in the United States who 1) are married or cohabiting, 2) are between 20 and 60, 3) speak English or Spanish, and 4) have internet access. The data were collected between September 2020 and April 2021 in the midst of a global pandemic as well as racial and political upheaval. NCHAT includes surveys of 3,642 main respondents and 1,515 partners along with time diaries. We describe the sampling process, challenges weighting a diverse population-representative samples, and sociodemographic characteristics of the NCHAT. These data will provide opportunities for new research on the health and well-being of American families.

There is both the necessity and the capacity for unification across the discipline of family science. This article offers another step toward a comprehensive, integrated body of theory and research shared across our discipline. Specifically, we address how family systems thinking has been reflected in attachment, parenting, and adolescent identity literature, and we present bidimensional models and integrated spectrums emphasizing how levels of differentiation, adolescent internal working models of attachment, parenting styles, and adolescent identity statuses are conceptually intertwined as systemic intrapsychic and interpersonal processes. These theories and concepts, when considered as an integrated whole, invite theoretical complexity that advances the understanding of family processes and guides new research questions. We propose that family systems theory is a holistic framework that is ideal for integrating these concepts in a way that goes beyond highlighting their common factors. We conclude with the benefits and barriers to comprehensive integration across family science.