Patterns of sexual mixing with respect to social, health and sexual characteristics among heterosexual couples in England: analyses of probability sample survey data

SUMMARYPatterns of sexual mixing are major determinants of sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission, in particular the extent to which high-risk populations mix with low-risk populations. However, patterns of mixing in the general population are poorly understood. We analysed data from a national probability sample survey of households, the Health Survey for England 2010. A total of 943 heterosexual couples living together, where at least one partner was aged between 16–44 years, were included. We used correlation coefficients to measure the strength of similarities between partners with respect to demographic characteristics, general health, health behaviours and sexual history. Males were on average 2 years older than their female partners, although this age difference ranged from a median of 0 years in men aged 16–24 years to a median of 2 years in men aged 35–44 years. A positive correlation between partners was found for all demographic characteristics. With respect to general health and health behaviours, a strongly positive correlation was found between men and women in reporting alcohol consumption at ⩾3 days a week and smoking. Men typically reported greater numbers of sexual partners than their female partner, although men and women with more partners were more likely to mix with each other. We have been able to elucidate the patterns of sexual mixing between men and women living together in England. Mixing based on demographic characteristics was more assortative than sexual characteristics. These data can better inform mathematical models of STI transmission.

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O20.5 Patterns of Sexual and Social Mixing Among Heterosexual Couples Living Together in England: Analyses of a Probability Sample Survey

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2013-051184.0201 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 89 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A66.1-A66

Author(s):

P Prah ◽

C H Mercer ◽

A M Johnson

Keyword(s):

Sample Survey ◽

Heterosexual Couples ◽

Probability Sample ◽

Social Mixing ◽

Living Together

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Rapid survey on lifestyle changes and body weight gain among Algerians during COVID-19 lockdown

The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research - July-December 2021 ◽

10.51745/najfnr.4.10.s3-s7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (10) ◽

pp. S3-S7

Author(s):

Farouk Boudou ◽

Amal Belakredar ◽

Abdelkrim Berroukche ◽

Messaouda Benhamza ◽

Malika Bendahmane-Salmi

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Total Sample ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Sample Survey ◽

Men And Women ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Algerian Population ◽

Significant Difference

Objectives: To assess the potential influence of lifestyle changes during the first month of COVID-19 lockdown on body weight gains (WG) in an Algerian population cohort. Subjects and Methods: A sample survey, carried out using a self-administered questionnaire, sent on social networks to a random sample (172 participants). Anthropometric measurements were obtained as well as lifestyle factors including physical activity, diet habits, sleep, and screen time. Results: The average WG was; 1.02 ± 3.36, 1.18±2.15, and 0.95±3.79 (kg) for the total sample, men and women respectively. Δ-BMI (body mass index difference before and after one month of lockdown period) increased as following; 0.42±1.43, 0.39±0.68, and 0.43±1.66 (Kg/m²) for the total sample, men and women respectively. WG induced slightly changes from the normal BMI category to the overweight category for the total cohort (24.87±6.74 vs 25.28±7.19 kg/m²), women (25.13±7.65 vs 25.56±8.19 kg/m²) whereas no effect was reported in men (24.28±4.03 vs 24.67±4.15 kg/m²). A significant difference (p < 0.001) was revealed in men and women for sport practicing (53.33 vs 40.90 % respectively) and nighttime snacking (56.60% for men against 43.55% for women). Positive correlation between body WG and number of meals/day in men (r=0,341, p=0,012), while for women there was a positive correlation between WG change and both food intake (r=0.170, p=0.066) and nighttime snacking (r=0,228, p=0,013). Furthermore, a negative correlation between WG and sport practicing was found in women (r =-0.221, p=0.016). Conclusions: Significant WG was found during a short COVID-19 lockdown. The WG results presented herein were positively associated with certain lifestyle variables during the COVID-19 lockdown. Keywords: Algerian population, BMI, COVID-19, lifestyle changes, lockdown, weight gain.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Combined impact of health behaviours and mortality in men and women: the EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1105168.561360 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

Jeanine Genkinger

Keyword(s):

Population Study ◽

Health Behaviours ◽

Men And Women ◽

Combined Impact

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Netflix and Chill? What Sex Differences Can Tell Us About Mate Preferences in (Hypothetical) Booty-Call Relationships

Evolutionary Psychology ◽

10.1177/1474704918812138 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 147470491881213 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Evita March ◽

George Van Doorn ◽

Rachel Grieve

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Physical Attractiveness ◽

Mate Preferences ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Emotional Involvement ◽

Men And Women ◽

Sexual Characteristics ◽

Short And Long Term ◽

Women’S Preferences

The booty-call relationship is defined by both sexual characteristics and emotional involvement. In the current study, men’s and women’s preferences for a booty-call mate were explored. Men and women were predicted to exhibit different mate preferences depending on whether they considered a booty-call relationship a short- or long-term relationship. Participants ( N = 559, 74% women) completed an anonymous online questionnaire, designing their ideal booty-call mate using the mate dollars paradigm. Both sexes considered the physical attractiveness and kindness of a booty-call mate a necessity, expressing both short- and long-term mate preferences. The current study highlights the need to explore mate preferences outside the dichotomy of short- and long-term relationships, providing evidence of a compromise relationship.

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Psychological Distress Transmission in Same-sex and Different-sex Marriages

Journal of Health and Social Behavior ◽

10.1177/0022146518813097 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 18-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Rachel Behler ◽

Rachel Donnelly ◽

Debra Umberson

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Heterosexual Couples ◽

Same Sex ◽

Men And Women ◽

Diary Data ◽

Purposive Sample

Ample work stresses the interdependence of spouses’ psychological distress and that women are more influenced by their spouse’s distress than men. Yet previous studies have focused primarily on heterosexual couples, raising questions about whether and how this gendered pattern might unfold for men and women in same-sex marriages. We analyze 10 days of diary data from a purposive sample of men and women in same-sex and different-sex marriages ( n = 756 individuals from 378 couples) to examine psychological distress transmission between spouses and how this process may differ for men and women in same-sex and different-sex marriages. We find that women are more strongly influenced by their partners’ distress than men, regardless of whether they are married to a man or a woman, and that this relationship is particularly strong for women with male spouses.

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SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES OF EXPERIENCE BY MEN AND WOMEN OF CRISIS OF THE «EMPTY NEST»

Vestnik Universiteta ◽

10.26425/1816-4277-2019-4-173-180 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 173-180

Author(s):

V. V. Kozyreva

Keyword(s):

Family Relations ◽

Subjective Feeling ◽

Empty Nest ◽

Men And Women ◽

Living Together

The results of the study of the experience of the crisis of the «empty nest» in women and men have been presented. The interrelations of subjective feeling of loneliness and characteristics of family relations and life orientations in men and women, experiencing the crisis of «empty nest» have been revealed. Levels of subjective feeling of loneliness separately in group of husbands and wives have been studied. Significant differences in the experience of the «empty nest» crisis depending on education and living together separately from children have been highlighted. Psychological recommendations for prevention of parents’ maladjustment in the situation of «empty nest» have been given.

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Influence of Interpersonal Communication Partner on Uptake of Voluntary Medical Male circumcision among Married Men in Kenya

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal ◽

10.14738/assrj.77.8659 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 825-842

Author(s):

Omukule Emojong'

Keyword(s):

Interpersonal Communication ◽

Male Circumcision ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Older Men ◽

Demographic Characteristics ◽

Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision ◽

Medical Male Circumcision ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Married Men ◽

Communication Source

Background Studies have shown that male circumcision offers partial “vaccine” against heterosexually acquired HIV as a result WHO recommended it as one of the strategies to fight the AIDS scourge. Married and older men have registered low uptake of the “cut” in the targeted communities in Kenya. Considerable evidence suggests that communication inequality and choice of interpersonal information source are determinants in adoption of healthy behaviours such as adoption of male circumcision. This study aimed to examine how interpersonal communication source attributes (trust, similarity and expertise) may influence uptake of male circumcision among married men in Busia County, Kenya. Methods Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programme targets males aged up to 49 years. This study targeted married men aged between 20 and 49 years. Measures included socio-demographic characteristics, sources of VMMC information, perception on interpersonal source attributes of trust, expertise, and similarity between source and recipient. Sources regarded as trusted and expert were also measured including similarity dimensions of ethnicity, gender, age and marital status. A total of 377 participants completed the self-administered questionnaires, giving a response rate of 100%. Descriptive statistics tables such as those showing frequencies, mean and standard deviation of constructs were used. Due to the nature of the data collected, the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient was computed to measure the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and interpersonal communication source attribute. Results The Pearson Correlation computed revealed there existed a significant positive correlation between age and source trustworthiness and negative correlation with expertise. Marriage duration had a significant positive correlation with trustworthiness of source attribute. Trusted source was a friend. A health care provider was regarded as an expert source while similarity between source and recipient dimensions of age and ethnicity were given more weight. Health worker was the most popular source of VMMC information. Conclusion This study has revealed fundamental insights and provided evidence that the quality of the message carrier and demographic characteristics are critical factors to consider in implementing VMMC programme especially targeting married and older men who register low uptake. VMMC programmes using interpersonal channels must put more premium on the choice of the messenger as trust and expertise of source including similarity between communication partners is vital in the success of such communication interventions involving adoption of a sensitive cultural and sexual issue especially targeting married men.

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