Opposite-sex Relationships Research Articles

Understanding How the Social Scientific Study of Same-Sex Parenting Works

The social scientific study of same-sex households with children has come a long way in 10 years. Better quality data collection is now available. However, this is no guarantee that consistently sensible analyses and reasonable conclusions are imminent, because the “consensus” that children from same-sex households fare no differently than children from opposite-sex households—in particular, married families—is a carefully guarded social construction. The consensus is the result of sampling decisions, analytic comparisons, and interpretations of results that often indicate baseline differences prior to statistical controls for household instability, after which they commonly disappear. It is this variable—relationship dissolution—that remains demonstrably different between same-sex and opposite-sex relationships, even in the most tolerant of societies. The point of this article is neither to trumpet nor dispute any particular study’s conclusion in the domain of parental influence on children’s outcomes. Rather, I seek to explain how the consensus around “no differences” came to be, and how it is reinforced, despite evidence that it was, and remains, premature.

Being bitchy and feminine: unfolding the postfeminist account in Hong Kong’s CosmoGirl!

ABSTRACTWhen the Chinese version of CosmoGIRL! was launched in Hong Kong, the editorial board was explicit about the magazine’s intention to create an alternative approach for girls in a cosmopolitan city to find their own way of living. This paper examines how the magazine frames the concept of ‘the girl’ through the lens of postfeminism. It asserts that the freedom of choice among girls emphasized in the magazine is not an unlimited form of freedom. This is largely because the idea of ‘compulsory heterosexuality’ underlies much of the content in the magazine. This paper argues that the magazine’s unquestioning inclination towards the complementary framework of opposite-sex relationships dichotomizes the bitch and feminine characteristics. This situation is reflective of the one facing postfeminists in their arguments regarding the development of girls in a neoliberal economy such as Hong Kong.

Relationship Status and Marital Intention Among Chinese Gay Men and Lesbians: The Influences of Minority Stress and Culture-Specific Stress.

Marriage and offspring play an essential role in mainland China, and most sexual minorities face enormous pressure to get married because of traditional culture. In Chinese Confucian culture society, gay men and lesbians experience culture-specific stress due to the conflict between same-sex attraction and conventional notions of filial piety and the morality perception of getting married. This study explored how minority stress and traditional culture-specific stress (i.e., perceived filial piety of getting married and the morality perception of mixed-orientation marriage) are related to relationship status and affect the intention to marry among gay men and lesbians in China. Participants (326 gay men and 168 lesbians) completed an online questionnaire that assessed minority stress (i.e., internalized homophobia, self-concealment), perceived filial piety of getting married, the morality perception of mixed-orientation marriage, relationship status, and marital intention. Results indicated that participants with high minority stress, who perceived getting married as filial piety, and who did not perceive mixed-orientation marriage as immoral were more likely to be in an opposite-sex relationship or have a greater intention to marry than were their counterparts. Culture-specific stress had a stronger impact on marital intention for gay participants than for lesbians. Minority stress facilitated the influences of culture-specific stress on marital intention. The findings indicated that both minority stress and culture-specific stress shape the marital intention among Chinese gay men and lesbians, and minority stress has more extensive influences on marital intention than culture-specific stress.

Correlates of Alcohol Consumption and Drug Injection among Homeless Youth: A Case Study in the Southeast of Iran.

BackgroundAlcohol use and drug injection are prevalent among homeless youths. The aim of this study was to identify the associated factors of alcohol consumption and drug injection among homeless youths aged 18-29 years.MethodsData on 202 homeless youths (111 males and 91 females) were collected using a standardized questionnaire and face-to-face interview. Lasso logistic regression was applied to determine the impact of associated factors on alcohol consumption and drug injection.FindingsThe mean age of the participants was 26.30 ± 3.19 years. Also, the prevalence of alcohol consumption and drug injection was 33.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 30-36] and 4.0% (95% CI: 0-8), respectively; 6 people (3.0%) consumed alcohol and injected drugs at the same time. Correlates of alcohol consumption and drug injection were male sex [odds ratio (OR)Alc = 5.7], age (ORAlc = 0.96 and ORDI = 0.98), bachelor or higher education level (ORAlc = 1.34), non-Iranian nationality (ORAlc = 0.05 and ORDI = 0.18), food score (ORDI = 0.92), smoking (ORAlc = 2.05), substance use (ORAlc = 1.12), opposite sex relationship (ORAlc = 1.6), homosexual relationship (ORAlc = 3.56 and ORDI = 2.69), and mental disorder (ORAlc = 0.99).ConclusionBased on our findings, it seems that the homeless youth are more desired to use alcohol and drug injection, whereas the prevalence of alcohol consumption and drug injection in homeless youth was higher than general youth population in Iran. Therefore, some suitable solutions are needed to prevent the homelessness. Also, the effective variables that were identified in this study for alcohol use and drug injection can help design and implement beneficial interventions.

Predictors of Bisexual Individuals’ Dating Decisions

Despite the capacity for being attracted to both sexes, 84% of bisexuals engage in opposite sex relationships. The mechanisms underlying these dating decisions are unclear. The present research explores three possibilities as to why this disparity exists: (1) a desire for sexual reproduction, (2) pressure to conform to social norms, and (3) base rates of the available dating pool. Bisexuals (n = 132) between the ages of 18 and 49 completed an online survey assessing their experiences as a bisexual person, perceptions of reproducing sexually, and their dating habits. Results suggest pressure to conform to heterosexual social norms and the makeup of the available dating pool play a role in bisexuals’ decisions to date the opposite sex.

The Effectiveness of The Symbolic Modeling Technique for Intervening the Low Promiscuity of Students

The low attitude of class XI Accounting at Prshanti Nilayam Vocational School in terms of association with the opposite sex needs special attention from the school. This can disrupt the development of students in terms of social relations and readiness to lead adult life. One effort that can be done is through counseling services provided by counselors at the school. In this study, modeling techniques were applied to intervene in students' attitudes in getting along with the opposite sex. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of effectiveness of treatment through modeling techniques for students who have low opposite sex relationships. The sample in this study amounted to 22 students where it was determined by purposive random sampling technique. The data analysis technique used is the t test. The results of the t test are known that the tcount> t table is 3.789> 2.073, so that it is known that there are differences in students' self-heterosexual scores before and after the treatment. Furthermore, the effectiveness test results are ES = 0.8 (Very High). So it can be concluded that modeling techniques are effective for developing attitudes with the opposite sex in students

The role of respondent gender and sexual orientation in shaping punitive attitudes and perceptions of responsibility for same- and opposite-sex student-teacher relationships

ABSTRACT The sexual double standard posits that men and women are perceived differently for their sexual experiences, including experiences of sexual violence and misconduct. This study explores these gendered perceptions for situations involving teacher-student sexual contact where the student is a minor. A quasi-experimental vignette design (n = 648 respondents), where the gender of the teacher and student, is used to explore how both same and opposite sex teacher-student gender dyads shape perceptions of the teacher and student, including responsibility, positive outcomes for the student, and punitive attitudes. We found that men are less likely to hold the teacher responsible and more likely to indicate positive student outcomes while women are more punitive toward the teacher. Respondent sexual orientation largely did not influence perceptions. We situate these findings in the literature on child sexual abuse involving authority figures and the implications for theory are discussed.

Risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment among older adults in same-sex relationships.

Sexual minority discrimination might lead to a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of MCI and dementia between older adults in same-sex relationships (SSR) and opposite-sex relationships (OSR). We analyzed longitudinal data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center up to September 2017. Analyses included cognitively normal individuals 55+ at baseline who had a spouse, partner, or companion as study partner at any assessment. Associations were calculated using survival analysis adjusting for demographics and APOE-e4 carrier status. Hazard ratios of MCI and dementia did not differ statistically between SSR and OSR individuals in the total sample nor stratified by sex. The lack of association between SSR and MCI and dementia warrants future research into their potential resilience mechanisms and the inclusion of sexual minority status questions in research and surveillance studies. The potential recruitment bias caused by nonprobabilistic sampling of the cohort and the reporting and ascertainment bias caused by using SSR to infer sexual minority status may have influenced our findings.

Comparison of male and female victims of intimate partner homicide and bidirectionality—an analysis of the national violent death reporting system

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health crisis, affecting at least 1:4 women and 1:9 men. A recent multicenter trial on universal screening in trauma patients showed similar rates of positive screens between men and women. Few studies have explored the bidirectional violence in opposite-sex or same-sex relationships. Our goal was to estimate prevalence and risk factors for the most severe manifestation of IPV: intimate partner homicide. This is a 2003-2015 retrospective review of the National Violent Death Reporting System, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database of surveillance data. Deaths were coded IPV if the primary relationship between the suspect and victim fell into the categories of current partner or ex-partner. Bivariable and multivariable analysis examined differences between groups for factors and circumstances. A total of 6,131 persons in opposite-sex relationships and 181 in same-sex relationships were murdered as a result of IPV. Women and Black men were disproportionately affected, and alcohol and preceding arguments were a factor in a higher proportion of male victims. Abuse preceded homicide in many women with almost half of male suspects attempting or committing suicide at the time of intimate partner homicide. Women were more likely than men to use a stabbing instrument, although firearms were still the most common means for each group. In 46.5% of homicides of women, the male suspect attempted suicide (p < 0.001). Bidirectionality was highest in male victims of female perpetrators and in same-sex pairings regardless of sex of the victim. Homicide caused by IPV is a significant public health crisis for both men and women, with women and Black men at particular risk. Firearms are the most commonly used weapon for homicide in both sexes, and mental illness is not a common risk factor. A staggering proportion of these homicides involve suicide of the suspect, suggesting that each potential incident has two victims to target for prevention and intervention. Interventional programs to prevent such bidirectional mortality are urgently needed. Retrospective secondary data analysis, level III.

The silent treatment: discrimination against same-sex relations in the sharing economy

While online marketplaces in the sharing economy reduce anonymity to build trust, such design choices can facilitate discrimination. This study is one of the first to examine whether there is discrimination against those in same-sex relationships (SSRs) in the sharing economy. We examine whether SSRs face discrimination on the Airbnb platform in Dublin, Ireland, through a field experiment. We find that guests in male SSRs are 20–30 percentage points less likely to be accepted than otherwise identical guests in opposite-sex relationships (OSRs) and in female SSRs. This difference is driven by non-responses from hosts, not outright rejection, and persists regardless of a variety of host and location characteristics.

A systematic literature review of intimate partner violence victimisation: An inclusive review across gender and sexuality

Abstract The traditional view of intimate partner violence (IPV) is that the perpetrator is male and the victim is female (Dobash, Dobash, Wilson & Daly, 1992). As a result of this, most research into victimisation experiences appears to be conducted with female victims of IPV (Morin, 2014), and research with male victims, and victims from the LGBTQ+ community is less common. The main aim of the current research was to conduct a systematic literature review to synthesise the literature base of IPV victimisation experiences to ascertain how abuse is experienced, and the effects of that abuse. The secondary aim was to investigate the prevalence of different victim groups, across gender and sexuality, in current research studies. The review highlighted that victims of IPV experience several different types of abuse and the negative mental and physical health outcomes associated with that abuse are significant. Additionally, it was found that the large majority of research studies included in the review were conducted with female victims in opposite-sex relationships, and were quantitative and cross-sectional in nature. The implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for future research are put forward.

Gender and Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract The influence of gender on intimate partner violence (IPV) has been predominantly studied in opposite sex relationships. This article presents the results of a systematic literature review in which the aim was to understand how gender may affect not only the violence in same-sex IPV but also, and mostly, each element of the couple and third-party responses. The search was conducted in four electronic databases: B-on, PubMed, Sage and PsycINFO. From the analysis of seven articles selected, four major domains were identified in which gender affects these relationships: normalizing violence; difficulty in recognizing violence; difficulty in seeking help; and social isolation. It was concluded that gender, or gender role expectations, cannot be ignored while studying this phenomenon. More than influencing violence per se, gender shapes the way each element of the couple perceives their experiences and third-party perceptions (e.g., family, friends, justice system, and victims support services professionals), preventing an adequate social response to this form of violence.

“É igual mas é diferente”. Género e violência na intimidade entre pessoas do mesmo sexo

Portuguese gender studies about intimate partner violence (IPV) have been largely focused in opposite-sex relationships. By interviewing five participants (one male and four female), self-identified as victims, we explored how gender may affect same-sex IPV. Four major areas of interest were found: gender performativity; decision to leave the relationship; help-seeking; and language utilized by the participants. It was concluded that more than affecting violence per se, gender may influence victims’ and third parties’ perceptions about same-sex IPV.

Facial masculinity preferences according to relationship status and sociosexual orientation in gay and bisexual men in China

Research indicates that partnered women prefer masculinized male faces more strongly than unpartnered women. Furthermore, unpartnered women of unrestricted sociosexual orientation tended to prefer masculinized male faces. This study examined whether relationship status had similar effects on the facial masculinity preferences of gay and bisexual men. Results indicated significant differences in such preferences among relationship status groups. Study participants in same-sex and without relationships preferred masculinized faces while those in opposite-sex relationships preferred feminine faces. Gay and bisexual men in same-sex relationships more often preferred masculinized faces compared to those in opposite-sex or without relationships. Participants without relationships more often preferred masculinized faces compared to individuals in opposite-sex relationships. Participants of unrestricted sociosexual orientation and who were without relationships more often preferred masculinized faces. There was no significant correlation between sociosexual orientation and facial masculinity preference for participants in same-sex relationships. These findings support the proposal that individuals in relationships tend to focus on sex-typical characteristics that indicate health cues with short-term advantages while individuals without relationships tend to focus on characteristics with long-term advantages.

Psychopathological Factors and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Aggression: A Multivariate Model.

Using a sample of 1,190 married Spanish community couples in opposite-sex relationships, this study evaluated a path analytic model exploring the associations between individual and dyadic factors and partner aggression for both males and females. Specifically, the perpetrator's report of their individual mental health symptomatology (borderline and antisocial traits, alcohol use), their report of relationship quality, and their report of perpetration were modeled to predict their partner's victimization. The resultant model exhibited good fit as measured by multiple indices for both male-to-female and female-to-male perpetration. Furthermore, results demonstrated that antisocial and borderline traits were associated with each other, that alcohol use was associated with perpetration, and that one partner's perpetration was associated with his or her partner's victimization for both males and females. However, the pattern of significant pathways between individual pathology and relationship violence differed somewhat for male-to-female and female-to-male aggression. Given the results, policy makers concerned about prevention of partner aggression may consider interventions aimed at symptoms associated with antisocial and borderline traits and substance use, and may identify differential targets for intervention based on the perpetrator's gender.

INTESTATE SUCCESSION AND THE SURVIVOR OF AN UNFORMALISED SAME-SEX CONJUGAL RELATIONSHIP: Laubscher No v Duplan 2017 (2) SA 264 (CC)

When a person dies intestate his or her heirs are determined by the provisions of section 1(1) and (2) of the Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987. Included amongst the heirs is the deceased’s surviving spouse, who either takes the entire estate or shares it with the deceased’s descendants (if any). Historically, the reference to “spouse” in the Act was taken to mean a person to whom the deceased was married in terms of the Marriage Act 25 of 1961. Accordingly, persons who were married to the deceased merely by religious rites and persons with whom the deceased was in a long-term conjugal relationship that was unformalised by marriage were excluded.The advent of constitutional democracy in South Africa resulted in a number of challenges to this status quo through reliance on the equality clause of the Bill of Rights. As a result of these challenges it has now been recognised that the survivor of a Hindu marriage, a monogamous Muslim marriage, and a polygynous Muslim marriage all have the right to inherit on intestacy as a “spouse”. Furthermore, in a groundbreaking decision in Gory v Kolver NO (Starke and others intervening) (2007 (4) SA 97 (CC)) the Constitutional Court recognised that the exclusion of the surviving partner of a gay or lesbian relationship from the right to inherit on intestacy was unconstitutional, and directed that the relevant sections of the Intestate Succession Act be amended by a reading-in of additional words to remedy the unconstitutionality. These words conferred the right to inherit on intestacy on the survivor of a monogamous permanent same-sex partnership in which the partners undertook reciprocal duties of support. At the time of writing no survivor of an unformalised opposite-sex relationship has challenged his or her exclusion from intestate succession. Possibly this reticence has been influenced by the decision in Volks NO v Robinson (2005 (5) BCLR 446 (CC)) (hereinafter “Volks”). In Volks the Constitutional Court held that it is not unconstitutional for the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act 27 of 1990 to distinguish between married and unmarried persons by giving the survivor of a marriage a claim for reasonable maintenance against the estate of the deceased spouse but not giving a similar claim to the survivor of a relationship in which the parties did not marry.Paleker has raised the question whether the Gory order “must still be applied in light of the Civil Union Act” but he comes to no firm conclusion, and states tentatively that “if marriage … is a precondition for inheriting, persons in same-sex unions who have not solemnised their relationship after the coming into force of the Civil Union Act … may be precluded from inheriting intestate from each other”. On the other hand De Waal and Schoeman-Malan are clearly of the view that the order in the Gory case still operates and – whilst regarding the current position as “anomalous” – they state that it “will probably continue until the Domestic Partnerships Bill [GN36 in GG 30663 of 2008-1-14] eventually does become law”. This has also been the interpretation accepted by the Master’s office acting on advice from the Senior State Law Advisor. The different treatment accorded same-sex couples by the continued retention of the benefits conferred by Gory has been defended on the grounds of substantive equality, since many practical obstacles still stand in the way of same-sex couples formalising their relationships.The question of the continued applicability of the reading-in order in Gory has now come before the Constitutional Court in Laubscher NO v Duplan (2017 (2) SA 264 (CC)) and it is this case which is the focus of this note.

Opposite-sex relationship questionnaire for female adolescents: development and psychometric evaluation.

Aim The goal of the present study is to adopt state-of-the-art techniques and standards to develop and evaluate a measure, called the opposite-sex relationship questionnaire for female adolescents (OSRQFA), to assess the reasons why adolescent girls would or would not develop, a relationship with an adolescent boy. Methods A mixed-method, sequential, exploratory design was adopted. In the qualitative phase, an in-depth interview approach was used to identify the properties and dimensions to be included in the OSRQFA. In the quantitative phase, the psychometric properties of the OSRQFA were evaluated according to face, content and construct validity. Reliability and stability were assessed with Cronbach's α and test-retest analysis, respectively. Results A preliminary questionnaire including 86 items which emerged from the qualitative phase of the study was designed. Based on the impact scores for face validity and the cutoff points for the content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI), the preliminary questionnaire was reduced to 57 items. The Kaiser criteria (eigenvalues >1) and scree plot tests demonstrated that 21 items forming six factors, which were labeled 'innate predilection', 'abstinence', 'peer pressure', 'fear of the relationship consequences', 'family atmosphere' and 'risk taking', that accounted for an estimated 66.19% of variance provided an optimal fit with the data. These scales had acceptable levels of internal consistency (α = 0.822) and stability (r = 0.871, p < 0.001). Conclusion The OSRQFA with 21 items and 6 factors demonstrated suitable validity and reliability in a sample of Iranian female adolescents. The OSRQFA's has good psychometric properties, and can be used by other researchers in future studies.

Community Health Care: An Essential Tool to Improve Population Health

The idea of what marriage should be, and what limitations should be put on it by the government have changed in England and Wales with the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013— allowing for the first time the word “marriage” to be used in recognition of a formal same-sex relationship. Until 2004, there were no options in the law whatsoever for same-sex couples to have a formal recognition of their relationship. In 2004, the Civil Partnership Act provided a marriage-like formal arrangement, but the word “marriage” remained reserved for opposite-sex relationships until 2013. This demonstrates the law’s evolution and flexibility in setting new legal boundaries for social relationships. As society evolves, so does the law. But in one area, the ability to effectively regulate marriage remains troubled, and that is in the realm of forced marriage.

Opposite-Sex Relationship Questionnaire for Male Adolescents: Development and Psychometric Evaluation

We used a mixed-methods, sequential, exploratory design. In the qualitative phase, an in-depth interview approach was used to identify the properties and dimensions to be included in the Opposite-Sex Relationship Questionnaire for Male Adolescents (OSRQMA). In the quantitative phase, the psychometric properties of the OSRQMA were evaluated according to the concepts of face, content, and construct validity. Reliability and stability were assessed with Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's coefficient omega (ω), and with test–retest analysis respectively. A preliminary questionnaire was developed, including 61 items that emerged from the qualitative phase of the study. Based on the impact scores for face validity, and the cutoff points for the content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI), the preliminary questionnaire was reduced to 53 items. The Kaiser criteria (eigenvalues &gt;1) and scree plot tests demonstrated that 22 items forming four factors, which were labelled ‘innate predilection’, ‘abstinence’, ‘family attitudes’, and ‘peer pressure’, were optimum, accounting for an estimated 53.449% of the variance. These scales had acceptable levels of internal consistency (α = .854, ω = 0.977) and stability (r = .892, p &lt; .001).

Increased vasopressin expression in the BNST accompanies paternally induced territoriality in male and female California mouse offspring

While developmental consequences of parental investment on species-typical social behaviors has been extensively characterized in same-sex parent-offspring interactions, the impact of opposite-sex relationships is less clear. In the bi-parental California mouse (Peromyscus californicus), paternal retrieval behavior induces territorial aggression and the expression of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in adult male offspring. Although similar patterns of territorially emerge among females, the sexually dimorphic AVP system has not been considered since it is generally thought to regulate male-typical behavior. However, we recently demonstrated that male and female P. californicus offspring experience increases in plasma testosterone following paternal retrieval. Since AVP expression is androgen-dependent during development, we postulate that increases in AVP expression may accompany territoriality in female, as well as male offspring. To explore this aim, adult P. californicus offspring that received either high or low levels of paternal care (retrievals) during early development were tested for territoriality and immunohistochemical analysis of AVP within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and supraoptic nucleus (SON). Consistent with previous studies, high care offspring were more aggressive than low care offspring. Moreover, high care offspring had significantly more AVP immunoreactive (AVP-ir) cells within the BNST than low care offspring. This pattern was observed within female as well as male offspring, suggesting an equally salient role for paternal care on female offspring physiology. Regardless of early social experience, sex differences in AVP persisted in the BNST, with males having greater expression than females.