Marital Family Research Articles

The Causal Model of Attitudes Toward Marital Infidelity Based on Family Cohesion in Iranian Women: The Mediating Role of the Meaning in Life

The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between attitudes toward marital infidelity (ATMI) and family cohesion (FC) through the mediating role of the meaning in life (MIL) in Iranian married women. This was a correlational study of path analysis type. The statistical population included all married women living in Kermanshah, Iran in 2021, among whom 310 were selected using convenience sampling method. Participants were asked to fill out Watley's ATMI, Steger et al.'s MIL and Fischer et al.'s Family Organized Cohesion scales. Data were analyzed using path analysis in AMOS-26 and SPSS-26 software. The results indicated that there is a significant negative relationship between FC and ATMI. Moreover, the result of the path analysis revealed that hypothesized model of the study had a good fit in the participants of the current study. That is, there was a significant relationship between FC and ATMI through the mediating role of MIL.

Dietary knowledge, attitudes and practices: a cross-sectional survey of type 2 diabetic patients in two tertiary hospitals in Jos, Nigeria

Diet is a crucial aspect of diabetes management and healthy eating is one of the main focus in preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite mounting evidence of the role of the dietary approach in the management of diabetes mellitus, studies still show low adherence to dietary recommendations. This study aimed at assessing the dietary knowledge, attitudes, and practices of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in two tertiary hospitals in Jos, Nigeria. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among 448 type 2 diabetic patients using systematic random sampling. Quantitative data was collected using a self- administered questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. A 95% confidence interval was used and a probability value of P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study revealed that dietary knowledge of type 2 diabetic patients attending tertiary health care facilities in Jos, Nigeria was poor, their attitudes were positive, but they had poor dietary practices. A significant association was observed between marital status (P=0.022), religion (P=0.003), education level (P=0.000), employment status (P=0.000), family history (P=0.012), and dietary knowledge. This study highlights the importance of proper health education as this could possibly improve dietary knowledge, dietary practices that potentially change patient outcomes.

Factors of Parents-Reported Readiness for Hospital Discharge in Children with Acute Leukemia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim The aim of this study is to investigate the existing status and to explore the influencing factors of parents-reported readiness for hospital discharge in children with acute leukemia (AL) in China and to propose optimizing pathways and recommendations of discharge readiness for clinical reference. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted for the 122 children with AL who were discharged from the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University; their parents were investigated by using the modified Chinese version of Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) and Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale (QDTS). Data were collected between September 2020 and May 2021.Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to explore the influencing factors of readiness for hospital discharge. Results The 122 children with AL included 52 females and 70 males with mean age 6.08 years. The total RHDS score was 7.7 ± 1.2, and 68.9% of the participants had high readiness for hospital discharge (RHDS score >7). The total QDTS score was 7.6 ± 2.0. Parent marital status (OR = 4.86, 95% CI: 1.31–18.05), education status (OR = 3.86, 95% CI: 1.18–12.55), family per capita monthly income (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01–2.99), and high QDTS (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.11–2.68) were risk factors for high RHDS. Conclusions Our data suggest parents of children with AL had high readiness for hospital discharge and had the ability to take care of their children after discharge. Parental marital status, education status, QDTS score, and family per capita monthly income were independently associated with high RHDS.

Does social support predict increased use of dental services in older men?

Past research on social support and dental visits in older people has been limited by cross-sectional design, limited social support dimensions and non-representative samples. Data came from men with natural teeth completing Waves 3 and 4 of the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project in Sydney, Australia. The relationship between social support at Wave 3 (2011-2012) and at least one dental visit per year at Wave 4 (2014-2016) was examined by Poisson regression. Social support was measured by structural (marital status, living arrangements, family support and social interaction) and functional (social support satisfaction) domains. About 673 men were analysed. Structural and functional social support were not associated with the pattern of usual dental visits 5 years later in univariable or multivariable analyses. The only consistent significant factor was income source, with older men who had other sources of income more likely to regularly visit the dentist than older men solely reliant on the pension for income (prevalence ratio: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.13-1.52). We found no differences in the pattern of usual dental visits between older men with different levels and types of social support. For older Australian men, income source seems to be the most important determinant of regular dental visits. © 2022 Australian Dental Association.

Suicide prevention in Bangladesh: The role of family.

BackgroundSuicide is a public health problem that gets little attention in Bangladesh especially in prevention aspects. Recent studies revealed that a significant portion of risk factors is closely related to family events. However, potential prevention strategies considering the family structure and involving family dynamics of Bangladesh have not been discussed.ObjectivesWe aim to highlight areas of family vulnerability and resilience when the threat of suicide is present, as well as the potential roles of family in suicide prevention in Bangladesh.MethodsWe conducted a thorough narrative and focused literature search and synthesized evidence based on available articles discussing suicidality and family dynamics in Bangladesh.ResultsRisk factors for suicide prevailing in the family have been organized, and several strategies for coping with family risk factors, including marital discord and family conflict have been proposed for testing empirically.ConclusionsThe family has an important role to play in suicide prevention in Bangladesh. However, potential prevention strategies and their effectiveness have been untapped in the country. Studies are warranted to test the effectiveness of the proposed strategies.

The Evolution of Gender Wealth Inequality in the United States in a Changing Institutional Context

This article analyzes the patterns of household-level gender wealth inequality in light of financial sector transformation in the US since the 1980s. Securitization, the subprime lending expansion, and wider liberalization measures influenced wealth disparities by determining access to different types of wealth, asset values, and relative indebtedness. The evolution of the gender wealth gap in the context of these institutional changes is not yet clearly established in the literature. Using the US Survey of Consumer Finances between 1989 and 2019, the study examines changes in wealth inequality between unpartnered male-headed and female-headed households and its determinants. It finds substantial heterogeneity of the gender wealth gap, and within-group inequality for female-headed households, across different categories of marital status, family structure, race/ethnicity, and percentile of wealth distribution. Homeownership is estimated to have an equalizing impact, while differences in employment income, age, self-employment, and ownership of high-yielding assets are associated with increasing wealth disparities. HIGHLIGHTS The study examines the unconditional and conditional wealth gaps across unpartnered households. Gender wealth inequality increased in the subprime era and after the Great Recession. The highest inequality is observed across marital status, family structure, and race. The highest inequality is found among the least wealthy households. Wealth inequality can be lowered by reducing disparities in income and asset ownership.

English

This study examined the influence of marital communication on the family stability of married teachers in the Nsukka Education Zone of Enugu State. It was guided by two research questions and two hypotheses. The population comprised 1688 married teachers in Nsukka Education Zone secondary schools. A correlation design was adopted for the study. The sample was 455 respondents. Proportionate stratified sampling techniques were used to select the sample from the parent population. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. The instrument has been validated by two experts from the Educational Foundations and one from the Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Measurement and Evaluation. The reliability of the instrument's internal consistency was developed using Cronbach Alpha statistics.  Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer research questions one while the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was used to answer research question two. T-test statistics was used to test the two null hypotheses. There is a significant positive relationship (p < 0.05) between marital communication and family stability of married teachers. Recommendations and implication were made based on the study results. Married teachers should not align family issue to types of communication in the prevailing situation amongst others.   Key words: Marriage, communication, marital communication, family stability, married teacher.

The Factors Affecting the Unmet Need of Family Planning in Banten Province Year 2019

The result of Program Accountability Performance Survey (SKAP) year 2019 showed that the data of unmet need of Family Planning comprised 13.9%. It was higher than the result of national SKAP year 2019 which was 12.1% and did not achieve the target of the Strategic Plan 2015-2019 which was 9.91%. The study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the unmet need of Family Planning in Banten Province year 2019. The research method used was quantitative approach with Cross-Sectional research design. The population consisted of all women of childbearing age who did not apply Family Planning listed in SKAP of National Department of Demography and Family Planning (BKKBN) of Banten Province year 2019. The number of samples was 343 respondents. The sampling technique used was total population. The data collection was done using secondary data obtained from the data in SKAP of BKKBN of Banten Province year 2019. The data analysis implemented was univariate, bivariate using chi square, and multivariate using Multiple Logistic Regression Test. The unmet need of Family Planning on the women of childbearing age was 14.0%. Most age of the respondents that was ≥ mean 37.78 years old was found in 182 (53.1%) respondents, married status in 341 (99.1%) respondents, middle family income in 185 (53.9%) respondents, rural residential area in 197 (57.4%) respondents, high-level knowledge ≥ mean 7.10 in 196 (57.1%) respondents. The result of bivariate analysis showed that age had effect on unmet need of Family Planning (p value = 0.000). The variable of marital status, family income, residential area, and knowledge had no effect on unmet need of Family Planning. The dominant factor affecting unmet need of Family Planning was age (p value = 0.000; OR = 6.397).

Marriage Apostates: Why Heterosexuals Seek Same-Sex Registered Partnerships

Same-sex marriage is now a reality across Western countries. While this was a positive achievement for the LGBTQ community, some crucial questions remain unanswered. One of these questions concerns the future of nonmarital statuses, such as domestic partnerships or civil unions. After the legalization of same-sex marriage, U.S. states are simply phasing them out. I wish to argue against this trend. Based on an original analysis of empirical data and case law, I argue that nonmarital statuses retain value for non-traditional families. In fact, states must introduce nonmarital statuses open to couples regardless of gender, including adult friends and relatives. To support this argument, I present two analyses. First, I survey empirical research showing that (1) opposite-sex couples are signing up for nonmarital statuses at increasingly high rates, where available; (2) interest in such laws is growing even among same-sex couples in countries where same-sex marriage has existed for a long time. Second, I outline the legal and theoretical justifications for extending same-sex nonmarital partnerships to all couples. To this end, I analyze recent strategic litigation in Europe initiated by heterosexual couples who sought access to nonmarital statuses reserved for same-sex couples. The analysis allows me to identify three approaches: a status recognition approach, a utilitarian approach, and a legal-pluralistic approach. Ultimately, I offer guidance to policymakers in crafting a status that would be suitable for modern couples. Families that do not tick the boxes of the traditional marital family model continue to slip under the radar of law. Resurrecting these laws can fix the problem of their legal invisibility. Please note: minor changes have been made to this article on pages 213-14, and this pdf will differ slightly from hard copies or versions available elsewhere.

Influence of computers in students’ academic achievement

With fast-growing technology, schools have to adapt and use technology constantly as a tool to grow. This study aims to understand the influence of computer factors on students' academic achievement. We propose a model on the influence of computer attitudes, computer learning environments, computer learning motivations, computer confidence, computer use, computer self-efficacy, loneliness, mothers' education, parents' marital status and family size on academic achievement (AA). To validate the conceptual model, 286 students aged 16–18 years old answered an online questionnaire. The most important drivers that positively affect AA are computer use, employment motivations, and mothers' education. While enjoyment attitudes, school environment, interest motivations, and loneliness influence AA negatively. Also, family size and computer self-efficacy work as moderators, and computer use works as a mediator between computer learning environments and academic achievement.

Determinants of never-treated status in rural versus urban contexts for individuals with schizophrenia in a population-based study in China

BackgroundA goal of China’s 2012 National Mental Health Law is to improve access to services and decrease urban versus rural disparities in services. However, pre-reform data is needed for objective evaluation of these reforms’ effectiveness. Accordingly, this study compares the pre-reform utilization of medical services for the treatment of schizophrenia in rural and urban communities in China.MethodsIn a large community-based study in four provinces representing 12% of China’s population conducted from 2001 to 2005, we identified 326 individuals with schizophrenia (78 never treated). Comparing those living in urban (n = 86) versus rural (n = 240) contexts, we used adjusted Poisson regression models to assess the relationship of ‘never treated’ status with family-level factors (marital status, family income, and number of co-resident family members) and illness severity factors (age of onset, symptom severity and functional impairment).ResultsDespite similar impairments due to symptoms, rural patients were less likely to have received intensive mental health services (i.e., use psychiatric inpatient services), and appeared more likely to be ‘never treated’ or to only have received outpatient care. Among rural patients, only having more than four co-resident family members was independently associated with ‘never-treated’ status (RR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12–0.94; p = 0.039). Among urban patients, only older age of onset was independently associated with ‘never-treated’ status (RR = 1.06; 95% CI 1.02–1.10, p = 0.003).ConclusionsIdentifying differential drivers of service utilization in urban and rural communities is needed before implementing policies to improve the utilization and equity of services and to define metrics of program success.

The relationships among perceived stress, conflict resolution styles, spousal support and marital satisfaction during the COVID-19 quarantine.

This study investigated the relationships among perceived stress, conflict resolution styles, spousal support and marital satisfaction of heterosexual married couples during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine. This was a descriptive study that employed a correlational survey model. The sample consisted of 511 Turkish married couples recruited using snowball sampling. Data were collected online using a demographic characteristic questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Conflict Resolution Styles Scale, the Spousal Support Scale, and the Marital Life Scale. The mean age of participants was 37.00 (SD = 7.88) years. The mean duration of marriage of participants was 11.15 (SD = 8.97) years. Higher marital satisfaction was associated with lower perceived stress, lower negative conflict resolution style, higher spousal support, and higher positive resolution styles. The Conflict Resolution Styles Scale and Spousal Support Scale scores explained 48.3% of the total variance of the Marital Life Scale, indicating that higher positive conflict resolution styles and higher spousal support were significantly associated with higher marital satisfaction. The COVID-19 quarantine has resulted in changes in marital life and family dynamics. Stress, negative conflict resolution style, and a lack of spousal support during the COVID-19 quarantine contribute to marital dissatisfaction.

Marital Satisfaction, Family Functioning, and Children's Mental Health-The Effect of Parental Co-Viewing.

Using 318 household data concerning children during middle childhood (8–13), we examined the association among each parent’s marital satisfaction, the child’s perceived family functioning, and the child’s anxiety and depression. Second, we investigated whether the other parent could buffer or facilitate this chain effect by co-viewing programs via various devices with their child so as to improve the child’s perceived family functioning. Results verified the mediation effect that maternal marital satisfaction was positively associated with the child’s perceived family functioning, which, in turn, decreased the child’s depression. In addition, the results indicated that increased paternal co-viewing enhanced the positive association between maternal marital satisfaction and the child’s perceived family functioning and then decreased the child’s depression. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed within the framework of family systems theory, parental media interventions, and the different roles of the father and mother in family functionality.

Educational technology for promoting parental self-efficacy in controlling childhood asthma

Objective: to verify the self-efficacy of parents and caregivers in controlling childhood asthma before and after an educational intervention and to associate the scores with sociodemographic factors. Methods: quasi-experimental study, with 65 parents and caregivers of children with asthma. The Self-Efficacy and Their Child’s Level of Asthma Control scale – Brazilian version – was used before and 30 days after the intervention with the reading of the booklet “Are you able to control your child’s asthma – let’s learn together?” For the analysis, McNemar’s Chi-square and Wilcoxon statistical tests were used. Results: after 30 days,the effect of the intervention demonstrated statistical significance between high self-efficacy scores and the following variables: marital status (Odds Ratio:2.6;p≤0.001), family income (Odds Ratio:3.4;p≤0.001) and Bolsa Família Program benefit (Odds Ratio:2.9;p≤0.001). Conclusion: the educational booklet was shown to be effective in increasing the self-efficacy of parents and caregivers in the control and management of childhood asthma.

Elevating Married Adolescents' Voices for Responsive Reproductive Healthcare in Syria.

Increases in early marriage and pregnancy resulting from Syria's humanitarian crisis highlight a critical gap in adolescents' access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health information and services, and a larger need for adolescent-specific interventions grounded in gender transformative approaches. Seeking to address this, CARE, UNFPA and Syria Relief and Development adapted global evidence-based approaches to humanitarian contexts to create the Adolescent Mothers Against all Odds (AMAL) Initiative for pregnant girls and first-time mothers aged 10 to 18 years. Designed to improve the lives of young girls through responsive health systems and enabling environments, AMAL includes three components: a Young Mothers Club for first-time mothers and pregnant girls, participatory dialogues with health providers, and reflective dialogues with girls' marital family and community members. The AMAL Initiative intends to ensure responsiveness to the unique vulnerabilities of adolescent sub-groups by co-implementing with them. Select girls undergo additional leadership training and serve as adolescent representatives on community advisory groups sharing feedback for program improvement. One hundred-four first-time mothers and pregnant girls, 219 community members, and 120 health providers participated in AMAL in northwest Syria. In a mixed methods evaluation, facilitators administered monitoring tools to identify program improvements, pre-post surveys to assess outcomes, and end-line discussions to gather perceptions of impact. Girls reported a 47% overall increase in self-esteem, confidence, health-seeking capacity, and communication ability. Community support for girls' use of family planning increased by 27% and girls' equal access to services by 35%. Findings across all participant groups demonstrate decreased expectations of early marriage and increased acceptance of family planning post-marriage. Areas that participants cited for potential improvement included programming for girls/women above the age of 18 years, and additional training for health providers on long-acting contraceptive methods. These results show that participatory adolescent-centered sexual and reproductive health programming is not only feasible in crisis settings but can improve the self-efficacy of vulnerable adolescents to overcome barriers to accessing healthcare and improving well-being. The AMAL Initiative is now being scaled up through local partners in Syria and piloted in northern Nigeria.

Marriage, bridewealth and power: critical reflections on women's autonomy across settings in Africa.

This article examines ongoing discourses on the importance of the marriage payment and its role in constraining women's autonomy across societies in Africa. First, we review how bridewealth has been conceptualised across multiple disciplines, including the work of evolutionary human scientists. We then summarise our research grounded in residential ethnographic fieldwork data collected over a period of a year in a rural settlement in north-western Ghana. Feminist accounts on women's lived experiences throughout bridewealth practising societies point to their subordination. In some contexts, including northern Ghana, bridewealth is perceived as engendering women's oppression. To liberate women from patriarchal norms, some gender advocates call for undoing of the institution of the marriage payment. Nonetheless, the women who bear the brunt of gendered oppression and the men who derive patriarchal dividends from it are averse to this undoing discourse as the bridewealth normatively secures legitimacy for women. Undoing bridewealth may mean further rendering precarious women's status in the marital family. We conclude that rather than undoing the revered institution of bridewealth, there is need to build on culturally appropriate notions of communitarianism as encapsulated by the Ubuntu philosophy and indigenous systems such as the traditional courts for negotiating the rights of women.

Significant Family Space in the Fifth Child

The masterpiece-----the fifth child produced by Doris Lessing is of great characteristics. The family spatial descriptions are the most prominent feature encompassing the big house with the Victorian garden, the kitchen, the spacious bedroom as well as the four rooms provided for the children. It can be seen that almost the activities of the characters are conducted in the capacious house. According to the space theory, space is the social product, the producing materials and the political instruments. It can be produced and consumed as well as permeated with all kinds of ideologies. The thesis focuses on the spatial delineations and combine the space theory to research its specific significance on the marital relationships and family members behind the static building which is closely related with power and oppression, embodying in the way that the family space exerts a potential effect on the patriarchal control over the female characters and the fetters on the children.

Post traumatic growth among police officials who participated in Global war on Terror in FATA (Federally Ministered Areas) Pakistan.

Background and Objectives:Exposure to traumatic event like war evokes certain distress full reactions like post traumatic stress disorder. However, stress is not the only out come as sometimes traumatic event leads towards growth as well. Our objective was to study the relationship between post-traumatic stress, hope, perceived social support and post traumatic growth in police officials who actively participated in war on terror and secondly to highlight the role these factors and demographic variables like marital status and family system play in the promotion of post traumatic growth.Methods:A cross sectional study was conducted on the officials of police who participated in war on terror and were currently deployed in peaceful areas. Study was planned at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. Sample of the study comprised of 200 police officials. Sample was collected by using non probability purposive sampling technique. This technique was selected as focus of the study was on particular group of police officials who participated in war on terror and had direct exposure of life-threatening trauma during the war. Scales were used in Urdu language. Perceived social support scale and post traumatic growth inventory were available in Urdu language. Scales that were available in English like PDS-5 (PTSD diagnostic scale) and Adult Hope scale were translated in Urdu language and were culturally adapted. Post traumatic growth inventory was used for measuring post traumatic growth. PTSD diagnostic scale (PDS-5) was used for measuring post-traumatic stress. Perceived social support was measured by using Multidimensional scale of social support and hope was measured by using Adult hope scale.Results:Age range of the participants was between 21 to 54 years (Mean 33.6, SD= 6.3). Higher exposure to traumatic events was positively related with growth. Study variables like hope and social support showed positive relationship with post traumatic growth. Married and unmarried individuals showed difference on perceived social support (t = 9.31, p = .001), post traumatic growth (t = 8.75, p =.001) and post-traumatic stress (t = 2.04, p = .030). Respondents with extended and nuclear family system showed significant difference on perceived social support (t =2.488, p = .000) and hope (t =2.585, p = .000).Conclusion:Results of study indicated that PTSD is not the inevitable outcome of combat trauma sometimes trauma leads to post traumatic growth.

A study on the protection of personal rights in the process of divorce

As one of the most basic and prevalent units in society, the happiness and peace of the marital family has an important impact on the stability of society as a whole. With the increasing number of divorce cases in China, domestic violence has now also become one of the main causes of divorce proceedings, and the physical threats present in divorce disputes are bound to infringe on the personal rights of the injured party. To a certain extent, it can also cause irreparable damage to the physical and mental health of even minor children within the family. Therefore, in response to divorce cases caused by domestic violence, China has fully carried out the reform of family trials and implemented the protection of the personal rights of the injured party through the personal safety protection order system stipulated in the Law against Domestic Violence. This article starts from the current situation of divorce in today's society, takes domestic violence as the starting point, takes the right to life and health and the right to personal freedom as the main research objects, combines the habeas corpus system, analyses the necessity of the protection of personal rights of the spouses in the process of divorce and its causes, and then proposes corresponding countermeasures and legal measures to the above problems, and finally achieves the legislative purpose of protecting the personal rights of the injured party.

For the Life of the World: Some Reflections

As its title would suggest, For the Life of the World: Towards a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church offers a comprehensive statement of the ideals and principles that should guide Orthodox Christians, and the church itself, in the effort to live a Christlike life in today's pluralistic society. The expression “social ethos” might suggest that this document limits itself to social questions as these are commonly understood, offering a kind of Orthodox equivalent of Roman Catholic social encyclicals. On examination, it is clear that this document goes beyond the standard topics pursued under the rubric of social ethics. It includes an extended discussion of marriage and family life, addressing questions of marital relations and family dynamics as well as the social dimension of marriage; a comparably extended discussion of medical ethics; extended comments on ecumenical and interfaith relations; and reflections on the liturgy as the ultimate context for the moral life. We even find brief but perceptive remarks on our treatment of animals. This document is not so much a presentation of social ethics as a treatise on moral theology comprehensively considered. The nearest Roman Catholic parallel would be Veritatis Splendor, rather than one of the social encyclicals.