Caregiving spouses’ experiences of relational uncertainty and partner influence in the prolonged relational transition of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias cause gradual cognitive and communicative decline over a period of several years creating a prolonged transitional period in the lives of people with the disease and their spouse. Relational turbulence theory served as a lens to examine 18 in-depth interviews with caregiving spouses regarding their experiences of relational uncertainty, and interference and facilitation from their partner throughout this prolonged relational transition. Counterintuitively, the experience of relational uncertainty was greatly influenced by the certainties of relational change and termination (death) that shifted the temporal focus of uncertainty to the future. Communicative symptoms and aggressive behavior were a main source of interference. Despite the impairment of the disease, caregiving spouses recognized their partners’ expressions of gratitude, moments of recognition, and simple expressions of love as facilitation.

Can your partner influence your physical activity? The role of social support provided by partners

The study aims to evaluate the association between social support from partners (SSP) and physica activity (PA) levels. A cross-sectional study conducted in 26 gyms (n = 390) from Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods: PA was measured using questions about frequency/duration of PA performed at the gym and elsewhere and analyzed as numerical and dichotomized (median). SSP was measured using a validated questionnaire and analyzed in quartiles. Respectively, Linear and Poisson regression were used to assess the associations. SSP was associated with PA in both analyses. Persons belonging to the highest SSP quartile performed 66.1 (95%CI: 11.1 - 121.0) more minutes of PA and had 1.37 (95%CI: 1.01 – 1.85) higher probability to perform more than 300 min/week of PA than those from the lowest SSP quartile. SSP was associated with PA, researchers must consider the potential of SSP when targeting PA behavioral changes.

The role of partner influence in contraceptive adoption, discontinuation, and switching in a nationally representative cohort of Ugandan women

Background Understanding contraceptive use dynamics is critical to addressing unmet need for contraception. Despite evidence that male partners may influence contraceptive decision-making, few studies have prospectively examined the supportive ways that men influence women’s contraceptive use and continuation. Objective This study sought to understand the predictive effect of partner influence, defined as partner’s fertility intentions and support for contraception, and discussions about avoiding pregnancy prior to contraceptive use, on contraceptive use dynamics (continuation, discontinuation, switching, adoption) over a one-year period. Methods This study uses nationally representative longitudinal data of Ugandan women aged 15–49 collected in 2018–2019 (n = 4,288 women baseline; n = 2,755 women one-year follow-up). Two analytic sub-samples of women in union and in need of contraception at baseline were used (n = 618 contraceptive users at baseline for discontinuation/switching analysis; n = 687 contraceptive non-users at baseline for adoption analysis). Primary dependent variables encompassed contraceptive use dynamics (continuation, discontinuation, switching, and adoption); three independent variables assessed partner influence. For each sub-sample, bivariate associations explored differences in sociodemographic and partner influences by contraceptive dynamics. Multinomial regression models were used to examine discontinuation and switching for contraceptive users at baseline; logistic regression identified predictors of contraceptive adoption among non-users at baseline. Results Among users at baseline, 26.3% of women switched methods and 31.5% discontinued contraceptive use by follow-up. Multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for women’s characteristics, indicated the relative risk of contraceptive discontinuation doubled when women did not discuss pregnancy avoidance with their partner prior to contraceptive use. Partner influence was not related to method switching. Among non-users at baseline, partner support for future contraceptive use was associated with nearly three-fold increased odds of contraceptive adoption. Significance These results highlight the potentially supportive role of male partners in contraceptive adoption. Future research is encouraged to elucidate the complex pathways between couple-based decision-making and contraceptive dynamics through further prospective studies.

Women's Leadership Aspirations and Career Paths in Higher Education

The purpose of this chapter is to provide insight into the ways in which personal life roles such as mother, daughter, and/or spouse/partner influence the leadership aspirations of women holding senior university administrative positions (e.g., academic dean, vice president, provost). The chapter is informed by a postmodern feminist perspective and reviews literature related to pathways to the presidency, family considerations, gender roles, and geographic mobility. Findings from the literature are integrated with those of the dissertation of the second author. In keeping with a postmodern feminist perspective, the chapter concludes with recommendations for change in recruiting diverse women for higher education leadership.

Infertility: Practical Clinical Issues for Routine Investigation of the Male Partner

About one-fifth of couples has fertility problems in Western countries. Male factors are present in about half of them, either alone or in combination with female causes. Therefore, both partners should be evaluated simultaneously. The fertility status and/or specific conditions of each partner influence the clinical and treatment approach. This article summarizes in a practical way when, how, and why the male partner of an infertile couple should be investigated. The available evidence and international guidelines were used, interpreting, discussing, and expanding them from personal decades-long experience in this field. The aim is to delineate the most appropriate clinical approach for the male partner of infertile couples, considering traditional and emerging technologies and laboratory analyses in the context of their clinical significance. Components of the initial evaluation in men without known risk factors for infertility should include at minimum medical history, physical examination, and semen analysis. Semen microbiological examination, endocrine assessment, scrotal ultrasound, and transrectal ultrasound are suggested in most men and are mandatory when specific risk factors for male infertility are known to be present or when the initial screening demonstrated abnormalities. Full examination, including genetic tests, testicular histology, or additional tests on sperm, is clinically oriented and/or suggested after the results of initial investigations.

Exploring Adolescent Characteristics, Experiences and Socio-environmental Responses on Premarital Pregnancy in Central Java Indonesia

The aim of this study was to explore the phenomena of premarital pregnancy by exploring adolescent characteristics, experiences and socio- environmental responses. It employs descriptive study and phenomenology approach using in-depth interviews to explore adolescent’s premarital pregnancy experiences. A total of 49 adolescents aged 12-19 years with premarital pregnancy were willing to participate in this study and 10 respondents were interviewed in more deeply. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The average age of the respondents were 17 years old and most of them had low educational level. Their knowledge on sexual and reproductive health was categorized as lack of knowledge. Nearly half of them were more permissive so that partner influence to have sex is main factor that is difficult to resist by the respondents. Parents and community responses were initially forced to resist their premarital pregnancy, but it gradually became normally accept. Premarital pregnancy was more influenced by peer’s permissive attitude, frequent access to pornography, and lack of parental supervision. There were four respondents who tried to seek abortion. It is recommended to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education to adolescents in order to prevent premarital pregnancy.

Exploring Adolescent Characteristics, Experiences and Socio-environmental Responses on Premarital Pregnancy in Central Java Indonesia

The aim of this study was to explore the phenomena of premarital pregnancy by exploring adolescent characteristics, experiences and socio- environmental responses. It employs descriptive study and phenomenology approach using in-depth interviews to explore adolescent’s premarital pregnancy experiences. A total of 49 adolescents aged 12-19 years with premarital pregnancy were willing to participate in this study and 10 respondents were interviewed in more deeply. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The average age of the respondents were 17 years old and most of them had low educational level. Their knowledge on sexual and reproductive health was categorized as lack of knowledge. Nearly half of them were more permissive so that partner influence to have sex is main factor that is difficult to resist by the respondents. Parents and community responses were initially forced to resist their premarital pregnancy, but it gradually became normally accept. Premarital pregnancy was more influenced by peer’s permissive attitude, frequent access to pornography, and lack of parental supervision. There were four respondents who tried to seek abortion. It is recommended to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education to adolescents in order to prevent premarital pregnancy.