bims-chumac 2023-01-01 papers

Issue of 2023–01–01
three papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society

Sex Roles. 2022 Dec 20. 1-17

Mothering Ideology: A Qualitative Exploration of Mothers' Perceptions of Navigating Motherhood Pressures and Partner Relationships.

Tricia Williamson, Danielle L Wagstaff, Jane Goodwin, Naomi Smith.

Good mother ideology refers to beliefs that women are only 'good' mothers if they adhere to the tenets of dominant parenting discourse, such as intensive mothering ideology, which prioritizes children's needs and child-raising above all else. Undergirded by this ideology, mothers' attempts to navigate the transition to motherhood are fraught with pressures, and the transition is associated with negative health outcomes for mothers and children; yet existing research gives little attention to the quality or dynamics of the partner relationship as part of this transition. The current study examined motherhood pressure and the impact on partner relationships through individual, semi-structured interviews with 19 mothers living in Australia who were 18 years or older in a heterosexual relationship with at least one child under the age of five. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes: discourses on motherhood: criticisms of mothers and internalised guilt; transformation of identity; entrenchment of gender roles through childrearing; and positive relationship dynamics: supportive fathers and challenging gender roles. This study contributes to the larger body of literature highlighting the complexity of dominant mothering ideology and its entanglement with and impact on partner relationships. Further, this study includes mothers' perceptions of how they navigate these pressures within the relationship with their partner and the family unit. These findings have implications for programs to support mothers and other caregivers, as well as challenge unrealistic standards for motherhood.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11199-022-01345-7.

Keywords: child-rearing practices; family; gender roles; good mother ideology; heterosexual partners; motherhood; mothers; relationship dynamics; relationship satisfaction; thematic analysis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-022-01345-7

Int J Dent. 2022 ;2022 5952643

Influence of Lip Appearances and Tooth Shade on Smile Attractiveness Perception.

Nantawan Krajangta, Panupat Phumpatrakom, Chayaporn Supachartwong, Pornpisut Kamolwarin, Seelassaya Leelaponglit.

This study determined the effect of lip thickness, lipstick color, and tooth shade on the smile attractiveness perceptions of dentists, laypersons, dental students, and other faculty students. A set of 27 smile photographs was prepared with different lip thicknesses (Tk, thick; M, medium; and Tn, thin), lipstick shade (R, red; P, pink; and O, orange), and tooth shades (0M1, 0M3, and A1). A total of 212 Thai participants in four rater groups (dentists, laypersons, dental students, and other faculty students) rated smile attractiveness using a visual analog scale (VAS). Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and pairwise analysis at a 0.05% level of significance. Tk or M lip thickness was associated with more smile attractiveness than Th lip thickness. The R lipstick is more attractive than the P and O lipsticks. The 0M1 tooth shade appeared to be the most attractive for laypersons and other faculty students, whereas tooth shades (0M1, 0M3, or A1) did not influence the smile attractiveness perception of dentists and dental students. The smile attractiveness perception was influenced by the lip appearance and tooth shade for each rater group, which are essential for an attractive smile design.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5952643

Evol Psychol. 2022 Oct-Dec;20(4):20(4): 14747049221146433

Fitness Costs of Insecure Romantic Attachment: The Role of Reproductive Motivation and Long-Term Mating.

Janko Međedović, Ana Anđelković, Jovana Lukić.

Attachment styles are frequently viewed from within the evolutionary conceptual framework; however, their associations with evolutionary fitness are very rarely empirically explored. In the present research (N = 448), we analyzed the relations between romantic attachment (anxiety and avoidance) and various fitness indicators in Serbian adults: matting patterns (short and long-term mating), reproductive motivation, reproductive success (age of first birth, number of children, and grandchildren), and kin care (care for biological relatives in general and care for children). Congruent negative associations between insecure styles and fitness outcomes were found: this is particularly true for avoidance, which is negatively related to long-term mating, reproductive motivation, number of children, and kin care. Furthermore, the data showed that reproductive motivation and long-term mating may mediate the links between avoidance and the number of children. Anxiety was negatively related to reproductive motivation and the number of children; this attachment style was also negatively associated with care for children, but only in males. The present data suggest that secure romantic bonding may be evolutionary adaptive; the obtained results contradict some evolutionary theories that assume that insecure attachment has some adaptive benefits as well. Findings provide new insights into the role of romantic attachment in the behavioral ecology of pair bonding.

Keywords: kin care; mating; reproductive motivation; reproductive success; romantic attachment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/14747049221146433