Female Norms Research Articles

Health complaints and work experiences among adults with neurofibromatosis 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a rare genetic disorder with usually benign nerve tumours, skin problems, pain and cardiovascular problems among common complications. To examine work participation and experiences in relation to health complaints among adults with NF1. We conducted a cross-sectional self-reported survey among 142 persons with NF1 (mean age = 50.3 years, SD = 12.0; 62% females). We measured physical and social dimensions of work experiences with eight items from the third wave of the epidemiological survey 'Nord-Trøndelag Health Study' (HUNT3). We compared NF1 data to 27 036 HUNT3 controls. We measured health complaints with the 29-item Subjective Health Complaints Inventory (SHC; subscales musculoskeletal pain, pseudoneurology and gastrointestinal problems) and compared NF1 data to norms. Compared to controls, significantly more persons with NF1 reported workplace bullying (13% versus 5%) and work as physically exhausting (74% versus 44%), whereas fewer reported work autonomy (64% versus 80%). Women with NF1 reported significantly more SHC than female norms (99% versus 86%). Men with NF1 reported significantly more pseudoneurology and gastrointestinal problems compared to male norms (76% versus 58%). SHC explained 9% of the variance in physical work experiences (β = -0.47; 95% CI -0.76 to -0.19) and 8% of the variance in social work experiences (β = 0.48; 95% CI 0.18-0.78). Persons with NF1 experience more physical and social work problems, and both work domains were related to health complaints. Individualized assessment and information to co-workers and managers may represent ways to increase work participation among persons with NF1.

Self-reference is a fast-acting automatic mechanism on emotional word processing: evidence from a masked priming affective categorisation task

ABSTRACTThis study examined the impact of self-referential information at early stages of emotional word processing using an affective masked-priming paradigm in which positive (e.g, espetacular[awesome]) and negative (e.g., horrível[awful]) trait-adjectives were preceded by briefly primes that could be self-related (Eu sou[I am]), other-related (Ela é[She is]), or a control (%%%%%). Trait-adjectives were selected from female norms and only females participants were used to control for sex differences. Results showed that positive words were categorised faster when preceded by self-related primes than by other-related primes, though not control primes. Negative trait-adjectives were not modulated by the type of prime, even though participants were slower when they were preceded by other-related than by control primes. These findings demonstrate that taking the other-perspective entails a cost, and that the amount of priming produced by self-related and control primes was virtually the same, thus suggesting that assuming the self-perspective is a cognitively effortless process.

Power of the Peer and Parent: Gender Differences, Norms, and Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use Among Adolescents in South Central Kentucky.

This study examined risk factors of nonmedical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) among adolescents and how risk factors differ by gender. In the fall of 2017, adolescents attending 6th through 12th grades across 44 schools in 10 south central Kentucky counties were invited to participate in an anonymous, school-based survey. A total of 11,761 adolescents completed the survey. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between NMPOU and constructs of the Theory of Reasoned Action (i.e., attitudes and subjective norms), descriptive norms (i.e., peer use), and parental control of prescription medications in the home. There were 297 (2.7%) adolescents who reported NMPOU in the past 12months. In the adjusted multivariate logistic regression model, for both males and females, the adolescents who perceived that more of their peers engaged in NMPOU were significantly more likely to endorse NMPOU, whereas male and female adolescents who perceived their peers disapproved of use were significantly less likely to report NMPOU. Parent disapproval was significantly associated with decreased NMPOU for females only. Moderated regression analyses revealed that gender moderated the relationship between parental disapproval and NMPOU. We found that during adolescence, NMPOU is influenced by peer norms for both genders and parental norms for females. These results indicate that prevention efforts should focus on changing adolescents' peer and parental norms related to NMPOU.

The Importance of Being Acceptable – Psychiatric Staffs’ Talk about Women Patients in Forensic Care

Currently, women comprise about ten percent of those sentenced to psychiatric forensic clinics in Sweden. Those who are sentenced to forensic care because of offending and violent behaviour have already taken a step away from the usually expected female behaviour. On the other hand, there are many women in forensic care who have not committed crimes, but who instead self-harm. Studies have identified a gender bias in diagnosing and care in psychiatric settings, but there are few studies conducted on women in forensic care. The present study therefore examined how the situation of women patients and female norms are expressed in the staff’s talk about these women during verbal handovers and ward rounds at a forensic clinic in Sweden. The aim was to explore how psychiatric staff, in a context of verbal handovers and ward rounds, talk about women who have been committed to forensic psychiatric care, and what consequences this might have for the care of the patients. The content of speech was examined using audio recordings and a method of analysis that was inspired by thematic analysis. The analysis identified that the staff talked about the women in a way that indicates that they expected the women to follow the rules and take responsibility for their bodies in order to be regarded as acceptable patients.

Nativity/language, neighborhoods, and teen pregnancy norms among U.S. Hispanics

ABSTRACTThis study examined the relations of nativity, language, and neighborhood context to pregnancy norms among U.S. Hispanic teens. We used data from a sample of 972 Hispanic females and 960 Hispanic males from Waves I and II (1994–1996) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) collected in eighty high schools and fifty-two middle schools across the country. Results indicated that nativity, language, and neighborhood context were related to Hispanic teen pregnancy norms, although these relationships varied by gender. Specifically, foreign-born, non-English speaking females and those who lived in immigrant neighborhoods held stronger norms against unmarried teen pregnancies compared to English speakers and/or lived elsewhere. Yet, no relationship was demonstrated for males. The results of this study suggest an immigrant advantage related to female teen pregnancy norms, and that context matters in the formation of pregnancy norms for Hispanic females.

Chronic pelvic pain - pain catastrophizing, pelvic pain and quality of life.

Background and aims Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) impacts significantly on the lives of women. Negative coping responses such as pain catastrophizing are thought to be significant in predicting both pain severity and outcome. The combined effect of the individual's response to pain and its severity on their quality of life (QoL) has not been well studied in women with CPP. Aims were to determine the prevalence of pain catastrophizing in women with CPP and to examine the associations between pain catastrophizing and levels of dysmenorrhea, non-cyclical pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dysuria, dyschezia and QoL. Methods A cross-sectional study including women aged 18-50 years, referred to a tertiary gynecology outpatients department at an Australian women's hospital in 2015. Participants completed questionnaires including: pain catastrophizing scale (PCS); pelvic pain levels in the prior 3 months; and the World Health Organisation Quality of life - Bref Questionnaire (WHOQoL-Bref). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA (StataCorp, USA Version13). Results Participants (n = 115) had a median age of 29.0 [interquartile range (IQR): 23.0-38.0] years. The Pain catastrophizing score revealed that 60/113 [95% confidence interval (CI): 48.6, 71.2] of participants had a clinically relevant total score ≥30. There were statistically significant positive correlations between pain catastrophizing scores and pelvic pain levels in all five pain categories studied, dysmenorrhea (ρ = 0.37, p = 0.0001), non-cyclical pelvic pain (ρ = 0.46, p<0.0001), dyspareunia (ρ = 0.32, p = 0.0008), dysuria (ρ = 0.32, p = 0.0005) and dyschezia (ρ = 0.38, p = 0.0012). Participants who reported maximal pain levels (5/5) had significantly higher median pain catastrophizing scores when compared to those who reported no pain (0/5) in all categories. Overall QoL was considered as "good" in 71/113 (95% CI: 60.1, 81.0) participants and "poor" in 42/113 (95% CI: 32.0, 53.0) participants. Comparison to Australian female norms revealed significantly lower QoL scores in the physical domain, across all ages, and in psychological domain for those aged <30 and 30-40 years. There was a significant association between increased catastrophizing scores and reduced odds of good QoL. An increase in PCS by one point is associated with a 6.3% decrease in the odds of good QoL [odds ratio (OR) per one-point increase: 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89, 0.98), p = 0.008]. Conclusions Pain catastrophizing is prevalent at clinically relevant levels in women with CPP across all domains. It is associated with higher pain levels and decreased QoL. Implications There is potential for further studies to investigate the predictive nature of pain catastrophizing and management targeting catastrophizing to improve outcomes in women with CPP.

Abstract P251: Relationship Between Body Size of Social Network Members and Body Size Norms of South Asian Adults

Objective: Perceptions of a healthy body weight may be influenced by social norms within a social network. This study tested the hypothesis that social network body size is associated with body size norms in South Asian adults from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study. Methods: South Asian adults (n=700) were asked to list their personal social network members, defined as the “people who you regularly talk with about things that are important to you,” at the social network ancillary study examination (2014-2017). Participants’ perceptions of their network members’ body sizes, their own body size (self-body size), and a healthy body size (body size norm) for men and women were assessed using the Stunkard 9-figure scale. The Stunkard scale is a silhouette figure rating scale consisting of 9 male and 9 female figures of increasing body size (range 1-9). Participants’ height and weight were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The average body size of network members was the main independent variable. Body size norm was the dependent variable in a regression model that controlled for age, sex, gender of Stunkard figure, cultural identity, self-body size, participants’ measured BMI, and social network size. A random intercept term was included at the participant level to account for clustering of male and female body size norms within participants. Results: Participants’ average age was 59 years (SD+/-9 years) and 43% were female. The average body size norm for male and female Stunkard images was 3.6 (SD+/-1.0) and 3.4 (SD+/-0.8), respectively. Participants’ average self-body size was 4.7 (SD+/-1.5). There were 2,991 social network members identified (mean number of network members=4, SD=1), and the majority (70%) were kin. The average network body size was 3.9 (SD +/-1.1). For every unit increase in their networks’ average body size, participants’ perceptions of body size norms increased 0.31 points on the Stunkard scale (p&lt;0.01; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.36), independent of self-body size and BMI. Perception of a healthy body size norm was 0.25 points lower for female Stunkard figures than for male figures (p&lt;.01; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.20). Conclusions: Having social network members with larger body sizes was associated with a higher body size norm in South Asian adults. Norms for female body images were smaller than for male images. Long-term follow-up of the MASALA cohort will determine if network members’ body size and body size norms are associated with weight change and weight-control behaviors in South Asians.

Ready to Use Norms for Arnett Bergman Soft-Tissue Cephalometric Analysis for South Indian Population.

Context:Variability of the soft-tissue drape in humans has complicated the accuracy of evaluating soft tissue profiles in diagnosis and treatment planning.Aims:The objective of the present study is to establish soft-tissue cephalometric norms for South Indian population using Arnett Bergman Soft tissue analysis.Settings and Design:This study was conducted at the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics.Subjects and Methods:Lateral cephalograms of 60 individuals (30 males and 30 females), age ranging between 18 and 25 years, with orthognathic facial profiles were obtained in natural head position. True vertical line was drawn through subnasale parallel to the vertical reference plane. Measurements were done according to soft-tissue cephalometric analysis.Statistical Analysis Used:Student's t-test was used to compare the means between two groups.Results:The results of the study showed significant gender dimorphism, with men having thicker soft-tissue structures, larger vertical dimensions, deep-set midface structures, more upright incisors, and deeper inferior labial sulci than women. When compared with the standard norms, the South Indian population had significantly protruded dentition, thinner soft-tissue drape, shorter vertical face heights, prominent forehead and midface with retusive lower facial thirds and convex profiles as compared to Caucasians.Conclusions:Significant gender dimorphism was evident in the local population suggesting the need for separate set of norms for males and females. Distinct ethnic differences were found between Caucasians and the Indian population that were statistically significant, highlighting the importance of defining separate set of norms for ethnic groups. The norms obtained should be used as reference when planning treatment of a specific ethnic group.

The Asymmetric Effect of Sex Role Orientation on Japanese Family Purchase Decision Making

Family purchase decision making is driven by the bipolar gender stereotypes of husband and wife. However, relatively little is known about how individual perceptions of Sex Role Orientation (SRO) affect authority in an integrated decision. The present research is aimed to narrow the gap in the literature by dissecting the four dimensions of Sex Role Orientation and exploring the interplay among the elements of household decision making: SRO, gender, and purchase decision stage. The authors carry out a comprehensive analysis by utilizing representative empirical data collected from 500 demographically heterogeneous individuals who filled out a survey related to gender role orientation and automobile purchasing behavior. The analysis reveals asymmetric effects of females and males norm perceptions. While the fundamental relationship between SRO and decision making authority is predominated solely by the gravity of male values, the moderating effect of gender is primarily affected by female dimensions. The research breaks beyond the limitations of prior research by elucidating households’ decision making structure through isolating the dimensions of female and male gender norms, and contributes to the literature by providing a deeper and more comprehensive insight into the underlying factors of decision making mechanism between husband and wife. In addition, given the sparse research on gender roles and purchasing behavior in Japanese society, the results provide a basis for cross-cultural comparison and actionable items for immediate management implication by practitioners.

EVALUATING BAD NORMS

Abstract:Some norms are bad. Norms of revenge, female genital mutilation, honor killings, and other norms strike us as destructive, cruel, and wasteful. The puzzle is why so many people see these norms as authoritative and why these norms often resist change. To answer these questions, we need to look at what “bad” norms are and how we can evaluate them. Here I develop an integrative analysis of norms that aims to avoid parochialism in norm evaluation. After examining and rejecting several evaluative standards, I propose what I call a comparative-functional analysis of norms that is both operationalizable/testable and nonparochial, and that can sort better and worse norms. One conclusion of this approach is that norms are not so much “bad” and “good” as “better” and “worse.” This approach should be of interest to theorists and practitioners alike.

The Long-Term Effect of Demographic Shocks on the Evolution of Gender Roles: Evidence from the Transatlantic Slave Trade

How do demographic shocks affect the long-run evolution of female labor force participation and gender norms? This paper focuses on the emergence of a female biased sex ratio in Africa as a consequence of the transatlantic slave trade. This historical shock affected the division of labor along gender lines, as women substituted for the missing men by taking up areas of work that were traditionally male prerogatives. By exploiting variation in the degree to which different ethnic groups were affected by the transatlantic slave trade, I show that a temporary historical shock to the division of labor can have a persistent effect on the role of women in society: women whose ancestors were more exposed to the transatlantic slave trade are today more likely to be in the labor force, have lower levels of fertility, and are more likely to participate in household decisions. The marriage market and the cultural transmission of internal norms across generations represent important mechanisms explaining persistence.

The female tourist experience in Egypt as an Islamic destination

In Islamic destinations female tourists face the added challenge of negotiating their way through male constructed local norms. This paper fills the gap in gender and tourism research with a focus on female tourists’ experiences in Egypt as an Islamic destination, outlining the diverse ways in which gender shapes and influences their experiences. A qualitative approach was taken to explore women’s coping strategies with the male sexualised gaze that they encountered during their holiday in Egypt, and sheds light on measures taken towards safeguarding themselves. Their experiences were highly influenced and often involuntarily altered by unwanted male attention and sexual harassment, as the women felt the need to fit into local female norms of behaviour in order to safeguard themselves.

Bangladesh Norms for a Gender-Specific Functional Fine Dexterity Test (FFDT)

Background: Good psychometrics and cultural relevance are needed for evidence-based practice. Occupational therapy (OT) assessment tools in Bangladesh have been developed outside of Bangladesh and have not been validated or normed for Bangladeshis. This normative and psychometric study was to provide culturally relevant norms for in Bangladesh for bilateral fine motor. Method: The Functional Fine Dexterity Test (FFDT) consists of two functional/self-care gender-specific task instruments: a shirt with five buttons for males and a pinning board for females. Raters were trained in timing these tasks. Results: Intra-Class Correlation (ICC) scores were > .85 for all rater teams. Participants were timed three times while they completed the task. Convergent validity was examined using a Pearson’s Product-Moment correlation to compare the average of three trials of the FFDT and three trials of the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT). Male and female norms were developed for the FFDT using descriptive statistics. The sample included 180 Bangladesh participants. Convergent validity, when compared to the NHPT, ranged from r = .4 to .67 for males (ages 18-29 and 40-49), p < .05; and r = .53 to .76 for females (aged 18-39), p < .05. FFDT norms were developed for gender and age categories. Conclusion: The FFDT is a valid test to use for evaluating fine motor dexterity in Bangladesh. This is the first OT instrument to be studied for culturally relevancy.

‘They can’t report abuse, they can’t move out. They are at the mercy of these men’: exploring connections between intimate partner violence, gender and HIV in South African clinical settings

This qualitative study captured South African female health provider perspectives of intimate partner violence in female patients, gender norms and consequences for patients’ health. Findings indicated female patients’ health behaviours were predicated on sociocultural norms of submission to men’s authority and economic dependence on their partners. Respondents described how men’s preferences and health decision-making in clinics affected their patients’ health. Adverse gender norms and gender inequalities affected women’s opportunities to be healthy, contributing to HIV risk and undermining effective HIV management in this context. Some providers, seeking to deliver a standard of quality healthcare to their female patients, demonstrated a willingness to challenge patriarchal gender relations. Findings enhance understanding of how socially-sanctioned gender norms, intimate partner violence and HIV are synergistic, also reaffirming the need for integrated HIV-intimate partner violence responses in multi-sector national strategic plans. Health providers’ intimate knowledge of the lived experiences of female patients with intimate partner violence and/or HIV deepens understanding of how adverse gender norms generate health risks for women in ways that may inform policy and clinical practice in South Africa and other high-HIV prevalence settings.

Wideband Tympanometry Normative Data for Turkish Young Adult Population.

The aim of this study was to obtain norm values for a young adult Turkish group and to investigate the differences between female and male subjects in terms of wideband tympanometry. One hundred ten young adult volunteers (mean±SD: 21.1±1.9 years) participated in this study. The measurements of wideband tympanometry were performed at octave frequencies between 226 Hz and 8000 Hz using Titan version 3.1. The stimulus level was set at 100 dB peSPL. A cross-sectional study design was used. In total, 218 ears were tested. A significant relationship was found between gender and absorbance values for the frequency band from 3100 Hz to 6900 Hz. The difference between the middle ear resonance frequency and ear canal volume (ECV) of the male and female subjects was also found to be significant. The difference in ECV may result from the difference in body size between the male and female subjects because there was a significant relationship among ECV and the height and weight. According to these results, it can be concluded that using separate norms for males and females may increase test specificity and sensitivity for the diagnosis of disorders, such as ossicular discontinuity and tympanic membrane perforations, affecting the high-frequency region.

The Interplay of Mortality, Economics, and Female Empowerment in Fertility Transformations

Theoretical explanations for fertility transformations, such as the demographic transition, have primarily emphasized one of three influences: (a) decreasing mortality rates, (b) economic development, and (c) the transmission of female empowerment norms. Empirical tests suggest that the relative contribution of these factors on predicting fertility varies across populations and time periods. Identification of the factors underlying this variation will ultimately be aided by the pooling of cross-national and time-series data. To this end, the current study combines data from 167 countries across a 40-year time period (i.e., 1970-2010). A fixed effects model is specified to examine how the three factors predict within-country variability in adolescent and total fertility rates. Results indicate that all three variables are associated with fertility patterns in theoretically consistent ways, although the association is often non-linear. In addition, the level of association between economic development and female empowerment with fertility varies across levels of mortality. Results highlight that a “unified” theory of demography will develop through understanding how levels of the three factors may interact to transform global fertility patterns.

Eating Disorder Inventory-3, validation in Swedish patients with eating disorders, psychiatric outpatients and a normal control sample

Background: The Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) is designed to assess eating disorder psychopathology and the associated psychological symptoms. The instrument has been revised and has not yet been validated for Swedish conditions in its current form. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of this inventory and present national norms for Swedish females. Methods: Data from patients with eating disorders (n = 292), psychiatric outpatients (n = 140) and normal controls (n = 648), all females, were used to study the internal consistency, the discriminative ability, and the sensitivity and specificity of the inventory using preliminary cut-offs for each subscale and diagnosis separately. Swedish norms were compared with those from Denmark, USA, Canada, Europe and Australian samples. Results: The reliability was acceptable for all subscales except Asceticism among normal controls. Analysis of variance showed that the EDI-3 discriminates significantly between eating disorders and normal controls. Anorexia nervosa was significantly discriminated from bulimia nervosa and eating disorder not otherwise specified on the Eating Disorder Risk Scales. Swedish patients scored significantly lower than patients from other countries on the majority of the subscales. Drive for Thinness is the second best predictor for an eating disorder. The best predictor for anorexia nervosa was Interoceptive Deficits and Bulimia for the other diagnoses. Conclusions/clinical implications: The EDI-3 is valid for use with Swedish patients as a clinical assessment tool for the treatment planning and evaluation of patients with eating-related problems. However, it still exist some uncertainty regarding its use as a screening tool.

Exploring the Effect of Gender and Age on Stress and Emotional Distress in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

One hundred nine people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), and Stress Survey Schedule (SSS). Compared with Australian norms for DASS depression, anxiety, and stress, both males and females with ASD showed elevated scores. Females aged 25 to 44 years scored significantly higher on the DASS depression subscale than same aged males and younger males and females. Significant gender and age differences were evident on SSS subscales. In comparison with males, females were more stressed on Pleasant Events, Sensory/Personal Contact, and Social and Environmental subscales, and adult females in particular were more stressed on items around Change and Social Threats and Anticipation/Uncertainty. Young people were less stressed on seven of the eight SSS subscales than older people. It appears that emotional vulnerability in people with ASD varies according to gender and age, with adult females at particular risk.

Reliability of Beta Angle as an Indicator of Skeletal Base Discrepancy in Mysore Population – A Cephalometric Study

To evaluate the reliability of beta angle in Mysore population.The sample consisted of 100 patient records with an age range of 15–25 years, which included pretreatment lateral cephalometric radiographs. Subjects were divided into 3 groups with regard to criteria set for Class I, Class II and Class III.ResultsThe beta angle is 30.9 ± 2.57 for a Class I skeletal jaw base, 23.76 ± 2.86 for a Class II skeletal base and 39.2 ± 3.82 for a Class III skeletal base. There is no statistically significant difference between beta angle values of males and females. Correlation among ANB angle, beta angle and Wits appraisal shows that ANB angle and Wits appraisal are negatively correlated with beta angle. This indicates that as ANB and Wits appraisal increase, beta angle decreases. However, as ANB and Wits appraisal decrease, beta angle increases. ANB angle when correlated with Wits appraisal shows that as ANB angle increases with increase in Wits appraisal and vice versa, it indicates that ANB and Wits appraisal are positively correlated.Norms for the beta angle are comparable to that of Chong YB and Ververidou M1 there is no significant difference in the norms for males and females, there is a significant difference in Beta angle values between Class I, Class II and Class III groups and the three parameters studied can be used in conjunction or independently in Class II and Class III groups.

Evolution of age and length at maturation of Alaskan salmon under size‐selective harvest

Spatial and temporal trends and variation in life-history traits, including age and length at maturation, can be influenced by environmental and anthropogenic processes, including size-selective exploitation. Spawning adults in many wild Alaskan sockeye salmon populations have become shorter at a given age over the past half-century, but their age composition has not changed. These fish have been exploited by a gillnet fishery since the late 1800s that has tended to remove the larger fish. Using a rare, long-term dataset, we estimated probabilistic maturation reaction norms (PMRNs) for males and females in nine populations in two basins and correlated these changes with fishery size selection and intensity to determine whether such selection contributed to microevolutionary changes in maturation length. PMRN midpoints decreased in six of nine populations for both sexes, consistent with the harvest. These results support the hypothesis that environmental changes in the ocean (likely from competition) combined with adaptive microevolution (decreased PMRNs) have produced the observed life-history patterns. PMRNs did not decrease in all populations, and we documented differences in magnitude and consistency of size selection and exploitation rates among populations. Incorporating evolutionary considerations and tracking further changes in life-history traits can support continued sustainable exploitation and productivity in these and other exploited natural resources.