Parent-child role reversal based on “Amae” theory consists of four phenomena: (1) a parent displaying “Amae” to his or her child (denoted here as RR1), (2) the parent not meeting the child’s need for “Amae” which the child has (denoted here as RR2), (3) the child not displaying “Amae” to his or her parent (denoted here as RR3) and (4) the child’s attempting to meet the parent’s need for “Amae” (denoted here as RR4). The former two were considered to be a parent’s role reversal, and the latter two were considered to be a child’s role reversal. The purpose of this study was to empirically verify causal relationships among factors for role reversal and the psychological process by which role reversal harmed a child’s mental health. Previous studies cited in developmental psychopathology, attachment theory and family systems theory contended that a parent’s role reversal was a preceding factor, causing a child’s role reversal. However, the current study assumed that there are two causal relationships, one where a parent’s role reversal is a preceding factor and a child’s role reversal is a subsequent factor, and the other where a child’s role reversal is a preceding factor and a parent’s role reversal is a subsequent factor. In addition, another causal relationship between factors in a parent’s role reversal was also assumed; RR1 caused RR2. A survey was conducted, and 259 high school students responded regarding their mother-child relationship. Focusing on whether the parent’s role reversal or the child’s role reversal was the preceding factor and whether RR1 was causally related to RR2, four models were designed and verified using structure equation modeling (SEM). Based on those results, the following three insights were gained. First, both a parent’s role reversal and a child’s role reversal might cause the other; there was a relatively close association between RR1 and RR4 and between RR2 and RR3. Second, RR1 tended to cause RR2. Third, role reversal in the form of RR3 tended to cause relatively more harm to a child’s mental health.

　　When couples face difficulties in their relationships, third-party support is often essential. One such form of support is two-session contextual couples therapy. This study aimed to describe the process of change in couples’ relationships before, during, and after participation in contextual couples therapy. Interviews were conducted online with each partner in seven couples. The data obtained were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. Results indicated that before therapy, conversations between partners often reached an impasse. During therapy, partners were able to express their emotions and communicate in greater depth. After therapy, couples began to make efforts to improve their relationships and rebuild mutual trust. However, the existence of unresolved issues after therapy has also been reported, suggesting the need for ongoing support for couples.

　　This study aimed to identify the process leading to marriage and attitudes toward marriage in young adulthood. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six couples (n = 12) who had been married for less than a year. The interviews were then analyzed using Trajectory Equifinality Modeling (TEM). Results indicated that young adults’ attitudes toward marriage were based on their perceptions of their parents’ attitudes toward marriage. Moreover, they considered their partner’s uniqueness to be an essential factor in the marriage process. Many couples experienced various difficulties before marriage, which they overcame through coping behavior. In addition, some couples experienced difficulties in terms of altering their conflicting attitudes toward marriage. Moreover, the marriage process was impacted by financial circumstances and living conditions, which were factors in choosing a partner.

　　This study focused on the formation of attitudes toward marriage in young adulthood and the process of marrying a specific person. Young adults’ attitudes toward marriage were found to be based on their perceptions of their parents’ attitudes toward marriage, and the uniqueness of one’s partner was considered to be an essential factor when marrying. When experiencing difficulties before marriage, such as conflicting attitudes toward marriage, couples engaged in appropriate coping behavior. This coping behavior included waiting for the right opportunity, reconciling feelings and opinions, and reaffirming the uniqueness of one’s partner.

　　The aim of this study was to examine the process of overcoming regrets of motherhood from the perspective of mothers who overcame those feelings. Participants were 11 mothers, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the modified grounded theory approach (M-GTA). Interpretation of the results led to a model consisting of four categories. The categories are “sensing regrets of motherhood,” “tending toward greater regret,” “tending toward less regret,” and “sensing that one has overcome those feelings,” Twenty-four concepts were summarized into these 4 categories.

　　First, mothers sense certain factors that will remain semi-permanently as a result of being a parent; they experience new emotions and become aware of feelings of regret. At the same time as they realize this, many mothers have greater regret due to the difficulty of confiding in others or a lack of support from those around them. Under these routine circumstances, mothers try to find someone they can consult and they attempt to use resources on their own. Such self-driven efforts can lead to opportunities for mothers to obtain support from those around them, causing changes in external circumstances. Mothers gain the understanding of those around them, they realize that they have acquired coping strategies, and they sense that they have overcome their regrets. In other words, self-driven efforts by mothers themselves and interaction as a result of changes in circumstances are required in order to overcome the regrets of motherhood.

　　Therefore, an effective approach in clinical settings would be to provide support that focuses on interaction, such as encouraging mothers to acquire coping strategies through their own efforts and encouraging them to take note of their growing child and the support they receive from those around them.

　　Father-father interactions positively influence fathers themselves and their family. This study aimed to develop scales to measure father-father interactions. One hundred and five fathers were preliminarily surveyed, and the actual state of father-father interactions was identified using the bottom-up method. Three hundred and twenty fathers participated in the main survey. Exploratory factor analysis yielded two subscales: a Father-Father Activities Scale (FFAS) with the two factors of “leisure activities” and “school activities” and a Father-Father Topics Scale (FFTS) with the 3 factors of “child-rearing topics,” “personal topics,” and “family topics.” The internal consistency of each subscale was confirmed. A significant correlation between the subscales and a belief in cooperation, an affiliative tendency, and friendships was noted. In addition, differences in FFAS and FFTS scores by the father’s basic attributes were examined. In conclusion, the FFAS and FFTS measure father-father interaction, and their reliability and construct validity were confirmed.

　　Couples are influenced by their respective families of origin, and these influences can cause marital conflicts. Differentiation of self is the ability to acquire a sense of self as an individual while maintaining the connection with one’s family of origin. This study examined the case of a woman who felt like a victimizer because she unleashed “angry outbursts” on her husband from the perspective of self-differentiation. The woman acquired a self in relation to her family of origin and current family by sorting out her experiences and unresolved conflicts with her family of origin. With the acquisition of self and progress in self-differentiation, she was able to objectively perceive her relationships with others and her feelings. She also decreased her angry outbursts on her husband. These results underscore the importance of considering unresolved issues in one’s family of origin. Results also suggested that interaction between the interpersonal dimension and the mental dimension promotes differentiation of self. Thus, this study discussed the importance of a therapist attending to a client’s feelings of discomfort and protecting a stable relationship.

　　This study reviewed the research on family resilience among families of children/adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities to discuss findings from previous studies and issues for future research. We conducted a literature search using PsycINFO and Google Scholar, and we also analyzed 16 articles on family resilience based on Walsh’s theory from four perspectives: “family resilience factors and factors related to family resilience,” “the impact of family resilience on parents,” “the impact of family resilience on children/youth with developmental disabilities and intellectual disabilities,” and “support to promote family resilience.” Results indicated that (1) a positive view of disability, resource mobilization, family cohesion, and family communication were components of family resilience among such families and that social support and family communication promoted family resilience; (2) greater family resilience was associated with better parental mental health and less parenting stress; (3) greater family resilience reduced the risk of behavioral problems and mental health problems in children/youth with developmental disabilities; and (4) support to promote family resilience might be useful for families of children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Issues for the future are that the process of promoting family resilience needs to be elucidated and that specific forms of support need to be developed to promote it.