bims-chumac 2023-01-15 papers

Issue of 2023–01–15
five papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 03. pii: 856. [Epub ahead of print]20(1):

Romantic Duration, Relationship Quality, and Attachment Insecurity among Dating Couples.

Harry Freeman, Jeffrey Simons, Nicholas F Benson.

For many young adults today dating is not taken as a path to marriage, but as a relationship to be considered on its own terms with a beginning, middle, and end. Yet, research has not kept pace as most studies that look at relationships over time focus on marriages. In the present study, we look at individual differences and normative patterns of dating relationship quality over time. We tested a path model of associations between relationship duration, attachment insecurity, and four relationship quality domains (sexual frequency, commitment, satisfaction, and companionship) among a large sample of dating young adults (N = 1345). Based on a conceptual model of romantic relationship development, results supported expectations that dating trajectories are curvilinear, with unique patterns of accent, peak, and decent for each relationship domain. Dating duration also moderated the relationship between dating quality and attachment insecurity with anxious attachment becoming a more salient predictor of lower satisfaction and lower commitment in long-term versus short-term relationships. A quadratic interaction with sexual frequency indicated that insecurity predicted less sexual activity in new relationships, more activity among relationships between two and four years, but then less again in longer-term relationships. Findings suggest patterns of stability and change in dating relationships during emerging adulthood that complement those observed from the marriage literature.

Keywords: attachment insecurity; dating relationships; relationship quality; romantic duration; romantic relationship trajectories

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010856

J Eat Disord. 2023 Jan 11. 11(1): 6

Understanding eating disorder symptoms in same-gender couples: social environmental factors.

Diane L Rosenbaum, Kristin J August, Meghan M Gillen, Charlotte H Markey.

BACKGROUND: Sexual minority individuals are at disproportionately greater risk for eating disorders, yet little is known about the ways in which factors in the social environment relate to eating disorder symptoms in this population. Utilizing an ecological systems theory framework, we investigated the relative relationships of macro level (i.e., internalization of sociocultural attitudes about appearance) and micro level (i.e., quality of romantic relationship) social environment influences.
METHODS: Men (n = 144) and women (n = 144) in committed same-gender relationships were recruited as a dyad and completed study questionnaires, including multiple measures of eating disorder symptoms. Multilevel models controlling for key variables (e.g., body mass index) were used to examine gender differences, main effects, and interactions.
RESULTS: Men reported greater internalization of sociocultural attitudes and uncontrolled eating. Greater internalization of sociocultural attitudes was related to greater eating pathology across all measures. For men, greater relationship quality was related to less uncontrolled eating.
CONCLUSIONS: Individuals in same-gender relationships experience macro (e.g., sociocultural) level vulnerability factors in relation to disordered eating; however, internalization of sociocultural attitudes may be greater for men. Support at the microsystem level in the form of a high quality committed romantic relationship appears to be helpful protection against uncontrolled eating for men.

Keywords: Eating disorders; Ecological systems theory; Gay; Lesbian; Romantic relationship; Same-gender relationship; Sexual minority individuals; Sociocultural attitudes

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00732-z

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 30. pii: 641. [Epub ahead of print]20(1):

"Lovesick": Mental Health and Romantic Relationships among College Students.

Lacey J Ritter, Taylor Hilliard, David Knox.

This research investigated the interpersonal impact of self-reported mental health diagnoses and/or perceptions on undergraduate students' current or most recent romantic relationship. Analysis of data from a 43-item online questionnaire completed by 267 undergraduates revealed that 68.3% of women and 52.5% of men reported having either been professionally diagnosed with a mental illness or perceive themselves to be mentally ill based on DSM criteria, with women and white students reporting significantly higher levels. Sociologically speaking, mental illness was found to influence relationship initiation, maintenance, and dissolution in this study. The mental health of the respondents' potential partners was an important consideration in deciding to form a relationship, particularly for male, white, heterosexuals. When the respondents reported relationship problems, men were more likely to blame such problems on mental health issues than women. Finally, though more respondents reported having broken up with a romantic partner who had mental health issues than had romantic partners break up with them, there were no significant gender, race, or sexual orientation differences in the termination of these romantic relationships. Study findings emphasize the importance of acknowledging and providing mental health resources-particularly interpersonal options-for emerging adults in the college setting.

Keywords: college relationships; college students; mental health; undergraduate students

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010641

Cult Health Sex. 2023 Jan 12. 1-13

Older men, younger women: blesser-blessee relationships among university students in Durban, South Africa.

Nompumelelo Doyisa, Pranitha Maharaj, Shanaaz Dunn.

In sub-Saharan Africa, sexual relationships between younger women and older men have been shown to pose a risk of HIV transmission. In South Africa, there has been growing interest in blesser-blessee relationships. This study explores perceptions of these relationships among university students in Durban, South Africa. The study draws on 15 in-depth interviews with students. Participants suggest that older men engage in these relationships for sexual gratification and younger women do so for monetary or material gain. Interviews revealed that participants believed that these relationships are common with both men and women engaging in them and putting themselves at risk of HIV infection. It is imperative to explore the context and motivation for these relationships because of their broader social and health implications. In addition, greater effort should be geared towards addressing the underlying factors that facilitate blesser-blessee relationships.

Keywords: Blesser–blessee relationships; Durban; South Africa; university students

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2022.2164065

Trauma Violence Abuse. 2023 Jan 14. 15248380221147558

Defining and Measuring Sexual Consent within the Context of University Students' Unwanted and Nonconsensual Sexual Experiences: A Systematic Literature Review.

Ngozi Anyadike-Danes, Megan Reynolds, Cherie Armour, Susan Lagdon.

Lack of sexual consent forms the foundation of unwanted (and nonconsensual) sexual experiences (USEs), yet research suggests it is not well understood amongst university students. While the prevalence of USEs has been well documented within the university context, less is known about how sexual consent is defined or measured. This review aims to identify a consistent sexual consent definition and how current research examining USEs defines and measures sexual consent amongst university students. A systematic review of nine electronic databases (2000-2022) was conducted, and the results were assessed against inclusion criteria (e.g., studies had to focus exclusively on university students). Thirty-three articles were identified and reviewed against the study aims. Sexual consent was more often implicitly defined across measures and articles. Four themes were identified (incapacitation, use of force, use of threats, and lack of wantedness) across the implicit definitions but varied by study with some implicitly defining sexual consent within the context of a relationship. Only three studies explicitly defined sexual consent, referring to it as a willingness to engage in sexual behavior. Measures assessed sexual consent communication or, attitudes and behaviors that might predict sexual aggression. Two studies examined students' individual sexual consent conceptualizations. Sexual consent appears to be contextual so future research should examine the variability of sexual consent in student samples. Students may indeed rely on implicit sexual consent definitions (rather than explicit) but more research is needed. Lastly, researchers should take care to be clear on their sexual consent definitions, both in text and within measures.

Keywords: definition; measurement; sexual consent; sexual victimization; systematic review; university students

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221147558