“Longer than I Would’ve Originally Liked and Originally Thought”: Postsecondary Debt and Marriage Plans for Young Adults Coming of Age in the Great Recession

While student loans play a large role in the financing of higher education, there has been relatively little qualitative work on how young adults understand their debt burdens and the debt’s perceived future impact. We examine this topic utilizing a sample of 105 young people from working-, middle-, and upper middle-class backgrounds who experienced young adulthood during the Great Recession. While most respondents are accepting of debt at the time of postsecondary enrollment, their inability to meet the demands of their debt leads to frustration and anxiety. Further, many respondents are concerned that this debt will impact their ability to support themselves and transition into the role of a marital partner, although this varies across social class backgrounds and debt levels. We argue that this debt, and its corresponding repercussions, are likely to contribute to the continued bifurcation of family life in the United States.

Dynamics of Well-Being of Fathers and Mothers with Minor Children

The purpose of the article is to continue the analysis of the dynamics of the life styles and wellbeing of Russian parents. The article presents foreign research directions of studying the influence of the ideology of intensive parenting on the well-being of parents, the lifestyle before the birth of the child/ children, the composition of children by gender, the external similarity of children and parents, the selfassessment of the fulfillment of their parental role, the marital/partner status of parents. It is shown that according to the data of ESS–2018 and RLMS HSE–2019, in the age group of 30–44 years, statistically not significantly more fathers are happy and satisfied with life than their peers who do not have children. No differences were found in these variables between mothers and their peers without children. To analyze the dynamics of parental well-being, sub-samples of parents were formed, regardless of their age and place of residence, according to the criterion of whether they have minor children, according to representative samples of the RLMS HSE. In 2004, this sub-sample was 2,270 parents, in 2008 – 2,220, and in 2019 – 2,645. Subsamples for these years are formed based on the ability to compare data on identical indicators. The analysis of the data shows that from 2004 to 2019, the share of fathers and mothers who are satisfied with their lives and assess their health as good, as well as satisfied with their work in general, their pay, and their professional growth opportunities, increased. For parents who drink alcohol, as well as those who are satisfied with their financial situation, there is almost no change, there are fewer smokers among fathers, but not mothers. According to the RLMS HSE–2019 data, there are more well-off people among married parents, less among never-married mothers and widows, as well as among divorced fathers and mothers. More fathers and mothers with special education are satisfied with life and work, much less of them smoke incomparison with those with secondary education. It does not depend on the level of education of alcohol consumption by parents, satisfaction with the financial situation and the assessment of health. In conclusion, it is proposed to revise the concepts in official documents on family policy, in statistics and in the media in relation to parents and children in non-normative families. The author emphasizes the relevance of developing educational programs for various categories of parents and future parents, and improving their competence.

Filipino Adolescents’ Experiences of Abusive Parent-Child Relationship in Low Socioeconomic Status Families

This phenomenological-qualitative study aimed to describe how an abusive parent-child relationship of selected Filipino adolescents from an intact family of low socioeconomic status affects the perceptions of their potential romantic partner, marriage, and family. The study also uncovered their coping mechanisms and support system. The seven informants were identified using a purposive sampling technique. The researchers devised an open-ended interview guide to elicit information from the informants and were conducted with a guidance counsellor. With the use of content analysis, the study revealed that their abusive experiences with one or both parents have significantly affected their perceptions. Most of them have resorted to using negative coping strategies and that their grandparents stood as their extended family support system with their friends as their non-family support system. The informants displayed a significantly entrenched position on the characteristics of their future marital partner and family. However, they have shown disapproval of marriage due to their experiences. The study also exposed that mothers have been more present in the abusive parent-child experiences than the fathers, which contradicts expectations that fathers act as strict disciplinarians and mothers being the child's protector in Philippine Culture. The study exposed the experiences of children in verbal and physical abuse in their homes from intact families with low socioeconomic status in Metro Manila, wherein expounds on the type of social support these children have been given and the kinds of coping mechanisms that are prevalent in their experiences and how these abusive parent-child experiences reflected with either positive or negative on their perception of marital partner, the concept of marriage, and concept of family, wherein provides substantial knowledge on how these experiences can be handled and faced in terms of treatment.

Discovering Grace at the Table? Prayers at Mealtime, Marital Status, and Life Satisfaction in Later Life

This study examines the effects of prayers at mealtime on change in life satisfaction among older U.S. adults. In addition, it assesses the ways that marital status conditions these psychological effects of prayers at mealtime. Using two waves of longitudinal data from the Religion, Aging, and Health Survey (2001–2004), a representative sampling of adults aged 65 and older, the analyses reveal that the frequency of prayers at mealtime is associated with an increase in life satisfaction over time. Further, the positive effects of prayers at mealtime on change in life satisfaction are greater for nonmarried older adults than their married counterparts. The findings in the study reinforce claims of the beneficial effects of religion on mental well-being in later life. Moreover, they elaborate on the resource substitution thesis by showing that religion provides greater psychological benefits for older adults who do not have alternative resources for well-being—a marital partner.

Amendment of the Spousal Property Regime in Bankruptcy Procedures

The article is devoted to the analysis of different aspects, affected changing of legal regime property by the spouses in the bankruptcy proceedings. Making a deal, involving redistribution of assets in favour of sponsible marital partner leads to a significant decrease in the bankruptcy estate. The authors examine the main ways for withdrawal of assets a debtor, who maintains a conjugal relationship, and provide legal instruments to ensure the protection of creditors.

Cannabis use and patterns among middle and older aged Canadians prior to legalization: a sex-specific analysis of the Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey

Background The recreational use of cannabis was legalized across Canada in October 2018. While many people use cannabis without harm, adverse outcomes have been noted in a few populations, including middle-aged and older adults. Given that the current literature has neglected to study cannabis use among this population and between sexes, the objective of our study was to identify the prevalence, characteristics, and patterns of cannabis use among middle and older aged males and females prior to legalization in Canada. Methods Secondary analysis was conducted on the Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey 2017, with the sample restricted to adults ages 40 and above. The main outcome was defined as past-year cannabis use and statistical analysis was conducted separately for males and females. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify associations between the main outcome and various sociodemographic, health, and substance use variables. Explanatory supplementary variables were also explored. Results In 2017, 5.9% of females and 9.0% of males over the age of 40 reported past-year cannabis use. Almost 62% of males who used cannabis in the past-year reported a failed attempt at reducing or stopping their cannabis use. Over half (56%) of older females, self-reported using cannabis for medical purposes. Additionally, over one in five older adults reported using a vaporizer or e-cigarette as a delivery method for cannabis. Significant characteristics of male cannabis use included having no marital partner, cigarette smoking, and illegal drug use. Furthermore, significant predictors of past-year cannabis use in females included residing in an urban community, Eastern- Atlantic provinces or British Columbia, having fair/poor mental health, smoking cigarettes, use of other tobacco products, and illegal drugs. Conclusion To our such knowledge, this is the first nationally representative study to outline the prevalence, characteristics, and patterns of past-year cannabis use prior to Canadian legalization, among middle and older aged Canadians. Results from this study are expected to be used to reliably to track changes in usage, behaviours, and related disorders in the years to come.

QOLP-21. A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON QUALITY OF LIFE AND SEXUAL FUNCTION IN BRAIN CANCER PATIENTS

As cancer treatment has advanced, quality of life (QoL) has become a significant consideration in patient and survivor care. The 2005 Institute of Medicine Cancer Survivorship Care Planning guide requires the inclusion of information on the possible effects of cancer on marital/partner relationship and sexual functioning, among other factors related to QoL. The purpose of this study is to explore the rates and types of sexual dysfunction among brain cancer patients. Patients were recruited from a neuro-oncology practice and given a QoL questionnaire (FACT-Br). Women were given the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Men were given scales to assess premature ejaculation (PE), erectile dysfunction (ED), and Peyronie’s disease. In addition, information about site and type of tumor and treatment (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) was collected. Descriptive statistics as well as T-tests and ANOVAs were used to analyze the data. Data were collected from 50 patients. The most common form of brain tumor in this sample was glioblastoma. The frontal lobe was the most common location of tumors. There was significantly more sexual dysfunction than previously reported, with 66% of the sexually active women meeting criteria for total FSFI. Of the men who were sexually active, 60% reported some ED and 80% reported PE. QoL measures were correlated with sexual dysfunction. Our capacity to address sexual function concerns of patients is dependent on our understanding the types of difficulties encountered. This study provides preliminary information about the effect of brain cancer diagnosis and treatment on a major contributor to QoL in these patients.

Analysis of life satisfaction of the older population in Russia based on the RLMS-HSE microdata

Presently, population ageing is one of the main demographic trends in developed countries, including Russia. The article analyzes changes in life satisfaction of individuals aged 45–72 and reflects the main factors influencing this indicator. The research method employed in the study is econometric analysis based on data of the 21st, 23rd, 25th and 27th rounds of the annual Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey – Higher School of Economics (RLMS-HSE). The analysis showed that such indicators as self-assessment of health, income, having a pension and a permanent marital partner had a significant positive impact on life satisfaction for older individuals. It has been revealed that for both sexes an important factor of life satisfaction is the employment status, while the kind of activity turned out to be not statistically significant. The family status and family composition do not have any significant impact on life satisfaction for men, but they do for women.

Oncological social work as the support for the family faced with the disease

The purpose of the article is to consider a unit and family experience in confrontation with an oncology disease, showing a high degree of complexity and psych-social functioning marked with a disease. The knowledge on physical, social, emotional, existential-spiritual consequences of the disease is the basis for the ability to assess, to which degree the disturbances affect the well-being of the family and his family. However it is one of the prerequisites which encourages for deepening theoretical bases for the actions for undertaking practical consid-erations with reference to the shape of the aid offer which should be available within the support system for the patients and their families in oncological disease within social work. Among the activities concerning executing care of the patients, being recommended in the oncological tasks of the social workers is the need to accompany the units and the family faced with the disease in obtaining the possibility to function in social roles as most as possible: marital/partner, family, in professional roles. These oncological social workers undertake effective interventions allowing for overcoming the consequences of the crisis caused by the disease and strengthening the resources in the interpersonal relations and the environment of the patient. The professional work oriented to strengthening the families of the oncologically sick persons consti-tutes a special area which may extend the professional identity of the social worker with the activity in the field which is somehow a statutory obligation of the social work, but its use in practice is not a common phenomenon.

The Relational Ethics of ‘Never . . . Too Much’

This article explores how a specific pattern of relational ethics – referred to as ‘never . . . too much’ – figures as a way of coping with intimate uncertainties in close relationships. The concept of relational ethics refers to the historically embedded ways in which people live and cultivate ethical values through relations and, as such, also represents an ethnographically grounded conceptual contribution to ongoing anthropological debates on moral economy. My research unfolds ethnographic insights into three variations of the relational ethics of ‘never . . . too much’, three respective sets of social actors and relational scales: ‘never feel too much’/local women and their relationship to their marital partner; ‘never own too much’/local men and their relationship to property; ‘never settle too much’/female migrants from Russia and their relationship to the place of settlement. The article’s analysis is developed against the background of a particular spatial and temporal location – a border minority town with a history of (forced) migration, and is a contemporary focal point of migration, marginalisation by the state and patriarchy.