Marital Family Research Articles

Are there differences in perceptions, preferences and attitudes towards disclosure of genetic testing for Stroke? A qualitative study among stroke-free SIREN-SIBS genomics study participants

ObjectiveThis study explored perceptions, preferences and attitudes towards disclosure of genetic testing results for stroke among stroke-free controls (and their family members) in the SIREN-SIBS Genomics Study, healthcare providers and policymakers. Materials and MethodsWe conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of key informant interviews with 61 participants recruited from community advisory boards (30) and health care providers (31) across seven sites in Nigeria and Ghana. ResultsMajor findings illustrate differences in the knowledge of genetic testing with superior knowledge among health care professionals. Relatives and religious leaders were opined as the best to receive the disclosure as they would be able to break the news to the patient in a culturally sensitive manner to reduce the likely resultant emotional outburst. Poor level of awareness of national guidelines for disclosing genetic results exist. Key facilitating factors for disclosure are education, enabling environment, involvement of religious and community leaders, campaigns, and possible treatment options. Disclosure inhibitors include inadequate information, fear of marital break-up or family displacement, fear of stigmatization, fear of isolation, religious beliefs, health worker attitude, and lack of preparedness to accept results. ConclusionsThese necessitate culturally sensitive interventions for continuing education, increased awareness and sustained engagement to equip all stakeholders in genetic testing disclosure process.

How does domestic violence stigma manifest in women’s lives in Afghanistan? A study of survivors’ lived experiences of help-seeking across three provinces.

ABSTRACT Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world, with an estimated 46% women reporting lifetime violence. Survivors of domestic violence experience significant stigma from their families and communities, often in the form of blame, shame, gossip, and dismissal. While the manifestations of stigma are often the same across cultural settings, the drivers may be different. We conducted sixty semi-structured interviews with survivors of domestic violence in three provinces of Afghanistan. Data were analysed using thematic network analysis. Our analysis highlights stigma as a structural phenomenon in Afghanistan underpinned by mutually reinforcing structural elements (including community, government authorities, marital and natal families, other survivors and the self). In a country with a deeply patriarchal social structure, the main manifestation of stigma was the silencing of survivors of violence, as domestic violence was considered a private affair. Notions of honour were paramount in fuelling stigma against survivors of violence, as any action to report or leave violent relationships was considered dishonourable. Our findings have implications for the design of services to help survivors of violence seek help for the violence they experience, especially at a time when such services are increasingly constricted for women in Afghanistan.

Predicting family resilience based on family communication patterns and marital commitment with the mediation of differentiation

Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between marital commitment and family communication patterns with family resilience through the mediation of self-differentiation. Method: the current research is descriptive of the correlation type; For this purpose, a random sample of 296 people was selected from the statistical population of married men and women in Shahratkab (from West Azarbaijan province). In this research, in order to collect data from McCubbin et al.'s family resilience questionnaire (1986), Koerner and Fitzpatrick's family communication patterns questionnaire (2002), Stanley and Markman's marital commitment questionnaire (1992), Drake's self-differentiation questionnaire (2011) was used. The data obtained from the research were analyzed with SPSS-23 and AMOS-23 software. Results: The results showed that there was no relationship between self-differentiation and family resilience, so self-differentiation is not a mediator between the relationship between communication patterns and marital commitment with resilience. The Pearson correlation results showed that between the communication pattern of dialogue orientation and resilience, there is a direct and meaningful relationship at the 0.05 level, and between the communication pattern of conformity orientation, there is an indirect and significant relationship at the 0.05 level, and between marital commitment and family resilience. There was a significant and direct relationship at the 0.01 level. Conclusion: The results of structural equation modeling showed that marital commitment and family communication patterns can predict family resilience.

The effectiveness of emotion regulation protocol on family functioning and marital commitment in couples with low resilience

Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of emotional regulation protocol on family functioning and marital commitment in couples with low resilience. Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group and a follow-up period. The statistical population of the research was made up of all the couples referring to education counseling centers in Kermanshah city in 2021 who had low resilience. 30 couples were selected as a sample using available sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. In order to collect data, Sikby's resilience questionnaires (2005), Epstein and Baldwin Bishop's family functioning (1983) and Adams and Jones' marital commitment (1997) were used. The experimental group received the emotional regulation protocol for 12 sessions (one session per week, each session 45 minutes). The meetings were held in groups. Results: During this time, the control group did not receive any intervention. Using analysis of covariance in the SPSS-25 software, the effectiveness of emotion regulation protocol on family functions and marital commitment was confirmed. Conclusion: Based on the results of this research, it is suggested to use the protocol of this research to improve marital commitment and family functions in family counseling centers.

The effectiveness of emotion regulation protocol on family functioning and marital commitment in couples with low resilience

Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of emotional regulation protocol on family functioning and marital commitment in couples with low resilience. Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group and a follow-up period. The statistical population of the research was made up of all the couples referring to education counseling centers in Kermanshah city in 2021 who had low resilience. 30 couples were selected as a sample using available sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. In order to collect data, Sikby's resilience questionnaires (2005), Epstein and Baldwin Bishop's family functioning (1983) and Adams and Jones' marital commitment (1997) were used. The experimental group received the emotional regulation protocol for 12 sessions (one session per week, each session 45 minutes). The meetings were held in groups. Results: During this time, the control group did not receive any intervention. Using analysis of covariance in the SPSS-25 software, the effectiveness of emotion regulation protocol on family functions and marital commitment was confirmed. Conclusion: Based on the results of this research, it is suggested to use the protocol of this research to improve marital commitment and family functions in family counseling centers.

Introduction to In Defense of the Marital Family

Introduction to In Defense of the Marital Family

Latent transitions across perceived parental marital conflict and family cohesion profiles in high school students.

This study aimed to explore the latent profiles across perceived parental marital conflict and family cohesion, as well as the transition patterns within-person and within-sample profiles over time. We conducted a 1-year follow-up study with a sample of first-year high school students from China. A total of 453 participants were included in the present analysis. We identified the following three latent profiles: high parental conflict and poor family cohesion profile, moderate parental conflict and family cohesion profile, and low parental conflict and good family cohesion profile. Female students and those who not lived with parents together were more likely to perceive more parental marital conflict and less cohesion in the family. The majority of students with high transition probability remained in the same profiles over time. The counts of latent transition pattern also demonstrated that students remaining in the primary profile over time accounted for the large proportion. The present study advances empirical bases for confirming the family system theory's notion that the family is not static, but dynamic. Findings provide the optimal timing of interventions toward healthy transition.

Adaptive modes of adult men during COVID-19: qualitative analysis under Roy's model.

This study aims to understand how adult men adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative study involving 45 adult men residing in Brazil in 2020. Data were obtained from a Web Survey and treated using Reflective Thematic Analysis and interpreted in the light of Callista Roy's Adaptation Model. The COVID-19 pandemic mobilized in men the ways of adaptation that are configured in: mobilization of the physiological-physical and regulatory dimension: adjustments in the sleep pattern, dietary pattern, and maintenance of physical activity; group self-concept identity: managing emotions; role function: self-knowledge and self-care; interdependence: adjustments in the marital relationship, family ties and paternity, investment in training and studies and control of excessive consumption of content on cell phones. The perception of the own vulnerability favored the entry of men into ways of adaptation in search of balance during the pandemic, motivating them to move through practices of taking care of themselves and taking care of others. Markers of psycho-emotional distress alert to adherence to new modes of care capable of promoting healthy transitions in the face of disruptions and uncertainties generated by the pandemic. This evidence can support the establishment of goals for nursing care aimed at men.

Temporal Trends and Differences in Sexuality among Depressed and Non-Depressed Adults in the United States.

This study aimed to examine temporal trends and differences in sexuality between depressed and non-depressed adults aged 18-59 in the United States from 2005 to 2016. A total of 21,437 people (5432 with depression) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. From 2005-2008 to 2013-2016, the average age at first sexual intercourse decreased, while the proportion of normal frequency of sexual activity and heterosexual sexual orientation increased among all the participants. Some differences in sexuality were found between the depressed and non-depressed groups. The average age at first sexual intercourse (p < 0.001), the proportion of normal frequency of sexual activity (p < 0.001), and heterosexual sexual orientation (p < 0.001) were lower in depressed participants, and the differences did not change over time (pfor trend = 0.926 of average age at first sexual intercourse, pfor trend = 0.823 of normal frequency of sexual activity, pfor trend = 0.926 of heterosexual sexual orientation). Moreover, these differences were associated with marital status (pfor interaction < 0.001 by average age at first sexual intercourse), employment status (pfor interaction < 0.001 by average age at first sexual intercourse), education status (pfor interaction = 0.023 by heterosexual sexual orientation) and family income status (pfor interaction = 0.013 by average age at first sexual intercourse and pfor interaction = 0.017 by normal frequency of sexual activity). In conclusion, the study found that the age at first sexual intercourse decreased and the frequency of sexual intercourse increased in all the participants, and differences in sexuality between depressed and non-depressed participants were present; however, these differences had no further increase or decrease during the 12-year period. These differences were associated with marital status, employment status, education status, and family income status. These findings show differences in sexuality between depressed and non-depressed patients but are somewhat different from previous studies; the results may provide directions for future research and social work.

Menstrual kinship: Bonds of Intimacy and Care Work of Women in Central Kerala

ABSTRACT This paper explores menstruation as a domain of kinship within and across three generations of women in central Kerala, India. Based on fieldwork, it shows that certain gendered practices of intimacy and care work in the context of menstruation produce kinship bonds among them, which the authors enunciate as ‘menstrual kinship.’ In the past, it was shared chiefly among consanguineal and affinal kinswomen and same-caste women, and became conspicuous only during public menarche rites and the separation of menstruating women. Presently, menstrual kinship extends to women outside the natal and marital family, often overturns the traditional perspectives of menstruation and actively contributes to maintaining the contemporary ‘invisibility’ of menstrual phenomena. The paper posits that regardless of its gendered nature and time-tethered transformations, ‘menstrual kinship’ has always existed as a realm that can release menstruation from conventional discourses of patriarchy and caste and aid in retrieving women’s phenomenological experiences and voices.

Nuclear family and social capital of refugees in Austria

AbstractThis article provides insights into the role of the nuclear family for refugees' social capital in Austria, with a focus on gender‐specific differences. We use a multimethod approach, based on quantitative data from a survey with 548 refugees from Syria and Afghanistan and semi‐structured group discussions (N = 17 informants). In our analysis, we study frequency of contacts in first language and in German, as proxies for the bonding and bridging social capital. Marital status, childlessness and family work were identified as important factors: Frequency of contact substantially varied by gender and family context. Of all surveyed groups, married childless women and married men with children had the least contacts in both languages. Although an unequal distribution of childcare may limit women's time resources, we observed a positive association between motherhood and frequency of contact in German.

Disparities in cardiovascular disease prevalence among middle-aged and older adults: Roles of socioeconomic position, social connection, and behavioral and physiological risk factors.

IntroductionCardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of premature death globally and a major contributor to decreasing quality of life. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of social, behavioral, and physiological determinants of CVD and their different patterns among middle-aged and older adults.MethodsWe used harmonized data from 6 nationally representative individual-level longitudinal studies across 25 countries. We restricted the age to ≥50 years and defined cases as a self-reported history of CVD. The exposure variables were the demographic status (age and sex), socioeconomic position (education level, employment, and household income level), social connections (marital status and family size), behavioral factors (smoking, alcohol drinking, and frequency of moderate to vigorous physical activity), and physiological risk factors (obesity, presence of hypertension, and presence of diabetes). Mixed logistic regression models were fitted to investigate the associations, and dominance analysis was conducted to examine the relative contributions.ResultsIn total, 413,203 observations were included in the final analysis, with the CVD prevalence ranging from 10.4% in Mexico to 28.8% in the United States. Physiological risk factors were the main driver of CVD prevalence with the highest dominance proportion, which was higher in developing countries (China, 57.5%; Mexico, 72.8%) than in developed regions (United States, England, 10 European countries, and South Korea). Socioeconomic position and behavioral factors also highly contributed but were less significant in developing countries than in developed regions. The relative contribution of socioeconomic position ranged from 9.4% in Mexico to 23.4% in the United States, and that of behavioral factors ranged from 5.7% in Mexico to 26.1% in England.ConclusionThe present study demonstrated the different patterns of determinant contributions to CVD prevalence across developing and developed countries. With the challenges produced by different risk factors, the implementation of tailored prevention and control strategies will likely narrow disparities in the CVD prevalence by promoting health management and enhancing the capacity of health systems across different countries.

EVALUATION OF STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS AND SUICIDAL INTENT IN PATIENTS WITH DELIBERATE SELF HARM

Background: Deliberate Self Harm (DSH) is a psychiatric emergency. Stressors in life, suicidal intent and social variables like marital status, family, and social support are among the many determinants of DSH and have shown to be strongly associated with suicide. Aim was Methodology to evaluate stressful life events and suicidal intent in those who attempted DSH. Sixty consecutive patients admitted with attempted suicide were interviewed. Deliberate Self Harm Inventory, Beck Suicidal Intent Scale and Presumptive Stressful Life Event Scale were used along with a semi structured proforma during interview. Data was analysed using appropriate statistical tests. The demographical mean age of the Results participants was 25.2 years and 63% of participants were females.71.1% of the patients had stressful life event score between 101 and 200. About 66.7% had medium intent and 88.3% participants had self harm through poisoning. Patients of a Conclusion ttempted suicide had medium suicidal intent and poisoning was the commonly preferred method of self harm. This study implies that suicide attempters should be specically looked for suicidal intent and their coping styles, so as to plan appropriate psychiatric therapy to prevent future suicide attempt.

Marital satisfaction, parenting stress, and family alliance: Parental perspective taking as a moderator.

Research has shown that family alliance (FA), operationalized as the quality of mother-father-child triadic interactions, is important for child socioemotional development. However, few studies have investigated the predictors of FA, and there are few longitudinal studies available. Accordingly, this study first examined whether mothers' and fathers' marital satisfaction and parenting stress during infancy predicted FA five years later, when their children entered kindergarten. Second, the moderating role of both parents' perspective-taking capacity as a moderator of these longitudinal associations was examined. The study was conducted with 113 intact families (mother-father-child). Marital satisfaction, parenting stress, and perspective taking were reported by both parents and FA was assessed by observation. Contrary to expectations, neither parent's marital satisfaction or parenting stress was directly related to family alliance. However, significant moderating effects were found for both parents' perspective taking, such that higher paternal and maternal parenting stress predicted poorer FA only among parents with relatively lower perspective-taking capacities. These findings suggest that some aspects of the quality of family interactions when children enter school can be predicted by mothers' and fathers' personal dispositions assessed as early as five years prior.

Do adversities experienced over the early life course predict mental illness and substance use behaviour in adulthood: A birth cohort study

A range of adult health outcomes have been linked to early childhood adversities. These early adversities include parental marital breakdown and family economic disadvantage. Childhood experiences of maltreatment have also been linked to a variety of adult health outcomes. As both childhood adversities and child maltreatment often co-occur, we examine whether childhood adversities at 3 stages of the child's early life course predict any of nine adult mental health outcomes controlling for past experiences of child trauma (maltreatment).Data are from a long running birth cohort study, the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP). We use bivariate and multinomial logistic regression with adjustment for confounding, to predict adult outcomes.Experiences of recent life events in pregnancy appear to be unrelated to adult mental health. Recent life events experienced at the 5-year follow-up independently predicts lifetime ever depression and cannabis use disorder. Experiences of recent life events at 14-years of age predict lifetime ever depression, cannabis and amphetamine use in adulthood.Our findings support early childhood interventions which should be supplemented with a focus on later childhood and the adolescent period of development. Interventions should also focus on the broader social and demographic context within which children are born. Efforts to reduce the occurrence and consequences of childhood maltreatment should be given primary attention in order to reduce the childhood factors contributing to adult mental illness.

Strategies in obituary announcements of married Igbo women: a review

Death is a necessary end for every mortal. Conveying the news of a married woman’s death to her ancestral home in Igbo land is a delicate task that requires tact and skills. This work sets out to investigate how the message of the passing of a married woman is conveyed to her ancestral home to find out who breaks the news, the strategies involved in doing so, and the reason(s) behind employing such strategies. Five communities were purposively selected in Anambra State for the study. A mixed-method was used to source data. Face and Politeness theory propounded by Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson serves as a guide for the study. Findings reveal that a spokesman from the deceased’s marital family or the deceased’s children might break the news of their mother/wife’s death. The breaking of the news is done stage by stage - from the stage of their daughter taking ill, to the stage of the ill-health being severe and finally leading to death. The stages involve the use of both verbal and non-verbal communications like idiomatic expressions, proverbs, euphemisms, snapping of fingers, and hisses to show members of her ancestral family how important their daughter was to them, the efforts they made to save her life, and indirectly exonerating themselves from complicity in her death. Additionally, a eulogy is outstanding as a rhetorical device in the exchange between the two families. The study concludes that the Igbo attach a high premium to a wife’s ancestral family, hence the tact in conveying the message.

The Mental Health Benefit of Friend Networks in Older Korean Americans: The Conditioning Effect of Family Type.

We identified types of family relationships of older Korean Americans and examined how the mental health benefit of friend networks might be conditioned by family type. Data were from 2,070 participants in the Study of Older Korean Americans, a multistate survey of Korean immigrants aged 60 and older (Mage = 73.3, standard deviation [SD] = 8.01). To identify family types, latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed with marital status, living arrangement, family network, positive and negative interactions with family members, and family mistreatment. Linear regression models examined how mental distress was associated with friend networks and family types, as well as their interactions. LPA identified 5 family types: close-knit, intimate but distant, detached, connected but dysfunctional, and dysfunctional. Greater distress was associated with smaller friend networks and belonging to the detached, connected but dysfunctional, and dysfunctional family types in comparison to the close-knit type. The interaction model showed that people in the connected but dysfunctional and dysfunctional groups had a stronger association between friend networks and mental distress than the counterparts in the close-knit group. We not only confirmed the health-promoting role of friend networks and the value of a close-knit family but also found that the benefit of friend networks was pronounced when quality of the family relationship was impaired. Our findings called renewed attention to older immigrants' social convoys of family and friends, suggesting that the enhancement of friend networks could be particularly advantageous for older immigrants with dysfunctional family relationships.

Consumer’s purchase intention and consumption of convenience food: the role of socio-demographic and economic determinants

The research aimed to examine the relationship between marital status, gender, age, employment status, meal patterns, family income, food price, food availability and purchase intention and consumption of convenience food. The confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were adopted to analyse the data obtained from 501 consumers. The confirmatory factor analysis indicates the good internal consistency and reliability of scale items as well as confirmed the convergent and discriminant validity of the constructs. The fit indices demonstrated adequate fit of measurement and structural models. The path analysis of the structural model highlights the positive relationship between marital status, employment status, meal patterns, family income, food price, food availability and purchase intention and consumption of convenience food. The gender and age of consumers were not linked with the purchase intention of convenience food. The path analysis of the structural model also revealed that marital status was the most important determinant, followed by food price, meal pattern, family income, employment status and food availability influencing purchase intention and consumption of convenience food.

The specifics of marital relationships in Russian protestant families

Introduction. Currently, Protestant families in Russia are little studied andare of scientific interest to researchers. The article presents the results of an empirical study to identify the specifics of marital relationships in Russian Protestant families.The present study involved 190 married couples with an average of 10.2 years of experience in married life and the age of the spouses averaged 36.2 years, with children under the age of 18, from different Russian cities: 64 Protestant families, 62 Orthodox families and 64 secular families.Materials and Methods. The methods used included the questionnaire “Role expectations and aspirations in marriage "(ROP, A. N. Volkova); the color[1]associative technique of A.M.Paracheva (CAM); the questionnaire "Satisfaction with marriage" (authors V.V. Stolin, T.L. Romanova, G.P. Butenko).Results. As a result of the study, there were revealed the following features of marital relationships inProtestant families: Protestant spouses have a higher level ofsatisfaction with marriage than spouses from Orthodox and secular families; spouses in Protestant families are characterized by lower expectations of common interests, shared needs and value preferences with the marital partner than spouses in Orthodox and secular families; sexual relationships among spouses in Protestant families are of less importance than for spouses in secular and Orthodox families, but, at the same time, the consistency in the intimate-sexual sphere is higher, than in the other two groups.Discussion and Conclusions. The results and conclusions of this study will allow for more effective psychological help and support for families of this religious group.

P-476 Why are they not coming back? A single-center follow-up study on oncological women oocyte's storing for fertility preservation

Abstract Study question Which is the return rate and which factors are responsible for the non-return in cancer patients who underwent oocyte cryopreservation for fertility preservation? Summary answer Return rate was 11.7%. Young age at freezing, lack of a partner and type of cancer were the main factors responsible for the non-return. What is known already Improvements in oncological early diagnoses and therapies have significantly increased the survival rates of patients, allowing clinicians to focus on long-term quality-of-life issues, such as access to motherhood. An extensive literature on the importance of fertility preservation (FP) has been produced thanks to the growing number of patients undergoing FP cycles over the years. Nevertheless, the rates of patients returning to use their cryopreserved material have shown to be considerably low, ranging from 5 to 8%. Significant data regarding the reasons that might explain such low return rates are still scarce. Study design, size, duration This is a single-center follow-up retrospective study that includes all women who underwent oocyte cryopreservation cycles for oncological purposes at referral University affiliated center, from January 2001 to December 2017. Participants/materials, setting, methods The database consists of 171 patients, among those 110 (64%) were diagnosed with breast cancer, 45 (26%) hematological cancer, 5 (3%) gynecologic cancer and 11 (7%) other cancers. Data about returned patients were retrieved from internal registries. Non-returned patients were assessed by standardized phone survey on health and marital status, family projects, spontaneous conceptions, and reasons why they had not returned to use their gametes. A univariate analysis between returned and non-returned patients was performed. Main results and the role of chance Among the 171 women who underwent oocyte cryopreservation, 9 (5%) died and 17 (10%) were lost at follow up. In the remaining 145-patient group, the mean age at freezing was 32.2±6.1 and at follow-up 38.2±6.7 years. A total of 20 patients (11.7%) returned to use their frozen material and 125 did not. In the non-returned group, 37 (29.6%) did not have a partner, 10 (8%) had a previous spontaneous conception and 15 (12%) had recurrent malignancy at the time of follow-up. In the univariate analysis, younger age at freezing (31.8±6.2 vs 35.2±4.7; p 0.018), lack of a partner (p 0.002), type of cancer (other than breast cancer; p 0.024) were the significant factors in the non-returned group. As for the personal reason for not coming back, patients mainly answered as follows: lack of a partner (29, 23.2%), desire of spontaneous motherhood (24, 19.2%), previous spontaneous pregnancies after FP procedures (16, 12.8%), and still ongoing hormonal therapy for breast cancer (13, 10.4%). Nonetheless all of them confirmed their will to keep the storage of their oocytes. Limitations, reasons for caution The study population consists of a limited number of patients from a single Italian Fertility Center. Since the Italian law limits ART access to heterosexual couples, this setting may limit any possible adaptation of the study to other countries, with different legislations. Wider implications of the findings The impact of a cancer diagnosis on a woman’s maternal desire, sentimental status and life priorities should be studied more thoroughly. Moreover, it is important to encourage studies investigating so long hormonal therapy suppression in breast cancer patients seeking pregnancy in order to reduce their time to pregnancy. Trial registration number na