Firefighters and Spouses: Hostility, Satisfaction, and Conflict

The present project contributes to the literature on firefighters and spousal relationships through consideration of life satisfaction, marital satisfaction, and couple conflict for a sample of Canadian firefighters. Thirty four firefighter/spouse dyads completed measures of satisfaction, mental health, and conflict. Our results showed that firefighters self-reported more hostility than their spouses, but that there was no significant difference between firefighters and spouses with respect to life of marital satisfaction. Firefighters and spouses also differed in expression of dissatisfaction, in that firefighters were more likely to express dissatisfaction through physical or indirect expressions of aggression, and spouses were more likely to express dissatisfaction through anger. Understanding alternative presentations of dissatisfaction may be helpful to both the spousal couple, in terms of understanding one another, and also in therapeutic relationships where emotional expression may be interpreted.

The experience of close personal relationships after stroke: scoping review and thematic analysis of qualitative literature

Background and Purpose: Psychosocial difficulties, including changed relationships are among the most pervasive and concerning issues following stroke. This study aimed to collate and thematically analyse qualitative literature describing the experience of close personal relationships from the perspective of stroke survivors. Method: Using a scoping review methodology, four databases (CINAHL/EBSCO, MEDLINE/Pubmed, Embase, Psychinfo) were systematically searched, yielding 3100 citations. Following exclusion of duplicates and screening against inclusion criteria at title/abstract and full text levels, 53 articles were included in the review. Data were charted and thematically analysed. Results: While research has increased since 2000, longitudinal designs are few. Four overarching themes and 12 subthemes were identified. ‘Social disruption’ described changing social worlds, lost social opportunities and shrinking networks. ‘Changed relationships’ included changed family and spousal relationships and changed parenting relationships. The third theme ‘relationships help’ highlighted positive aspects including belonging, support and a life worth living. The final theme was ‘coping with an altered social world’ and described adjustment and emotional responses. Conclusions: Relationships are an important aspect of life post stroke but are subject to changes and challenges. This article brings together a breadth of qualitative data to describe lived experiences. Further research, in particular, longitudinal research is required.

Attitudes towards gender roles and prevalence of intimate partner violence perpetrated against pregnant and postnatal women: Differences between women immigrants from conflict-affected countries and women born in Australia

Background The aim was to compare, for the first time in a large systematic study, women born in conflict-affected countries who immigrated to Australia with women born in Australia for attitudes towards gender roles and men’s use of IPV and the actual prevalence of IPV. The study also examined if any associations remained across the two timepoints of pregnancy and postpartum. Methods Women were interviewed during their first visit to one of three Australian public hospital antenatal clinics and re-interviewed at home six months after giving birth. A total of 1111 women completed both interviews, 583 were born in conflict-affected countries and 528 born in Australia. Associations between attitudes towards gender roles and men’s use of IPV, socio-demographic characteristics and reported actual experiences of IPV were examined using bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results Attitudes toward inequitable gender roles including those that condone men’s use of IPV, and prevalence of IPV, were significantly higher (p<0.001) among women born in conflict-affected countries compared to Australia-born women. Women born in conflict-affected countries with the strongest held attitudes towards gender roles and men’s use of IPV had an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 3.18 for IPV at baseline (95% CI 1.85–5.47) and an aOR of 1.83 for IPV at follow-up (95% CI 1.11–3.01). Women born in Australia with the strongest held attitudes towards gender roles and IPV had an aOR of 7.12 for IPV at baseline (95% CI 2.12–23.92) and an aOR of 10.59 for IPV at follow-up (95% CI 2.21–50.75). Conclusions Our results underscore the need for IPV prevention strategies sensitively targeted to communities from conflict-affected countries, and for awareness among clinicians of gender role attitudes that may condone men’s use of IPV, and the associated risk of IPV. The study supports the need for culturally informed national strategies to promote gender equality and to challenge practices and attitudes that condone men’s violence in spousal relationships.

Violence against Afghan immigrant women in Canada: cultural influences in help-seeking behaviours

There have been studies on abuse against immigrant women, in spousal relationships. There is also literature on state violence against women in Afghanistan. Research to date has shown that there are various structural and cultural barriers affecting the help-seeking behaviours of many immigrant women subjected to spousal abuse. If Afghan culture is preserved in Canada, then, along with potential barriers that exist as immigrants, many of these women are constrained to seek help because of cultural barriers. This issue is important to address in order to make awareness of the phenomenon. My research question is: How does culture influence abused Afghan immigrant women's help-seeking behaviours in Canada? Interviews with service providers in the Afghan community were conducted to explore explanations for the victims’ behaviours. Much of the findings were in keeping with past research related to immigrant women's lives. However, this study is unique given the group in question. I conclude that patriarchal practices rather than cultural essentialism explain the phenomenon of violence and help-seeking behaviours.

Violence against Afghan immigrant women in Canada: cultural influences in help-seeking behaviours

There have been studies on abuse against immigrant women, in spousal relationships. There is also literature on state violence against women in Afghanistan. Research to date has shown that there are various structural and cultural barriers affecting the help-seeking behaviours of many immigrant women subjected to spousal abuse. If Afghan culture is preserved in Canada, then, along with potential barriers that exist as immigrants, many of these women are constrained to seek help because of cultural barriers. This issue is important to address in order to make awareness of the phenomenon. My research question is: How does culture influence abused Afghan immigrant women's help-seeking behaviours in Canada? Interviews with service providers in the Afghan community were conducted to explore explanations for the victims’ behaviours. Much of the findings were in keeping with past research related to immigrant women's lives. However, this study is unique given the group in question. I conclude that patriarchal practices rather than cultural essentialism explain the phenomenon of violence and help-seeking behaviours.

Gender Differences in the Longitudinal Association Between Husbands' and Wives' Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Older Adults: The Moderating Effects of the Spousal Relationship

Purpose: The mutual effects of depressive symptoms between couples have long been reported; however, it remains unknown whether the spousal concordance of depression differs depending on spousal relationships.Method: Data on 291 married couples from the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (KSHAP) were examined. The KSHAP collected global network data from the target population living in one Korean village over eight years and across five waves. A seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model in the panel data was employed to address correlation and heterogeneity.Results: If one spouse (husband or wife) had depressive symptoms, the other spouse tended to have depressive symptoms. However, the effect of marital relations on spousal concordance for depression was different in husbands and wives. This study demonstrated both spousal support aspects and spousal network aspects of spousal relationships. Depression concordance was more substantial for couples with a more negative marital relationship. A supportive marital relationship mitigated the impact of a husband's depression on his wife's depression but did not work in the opposite case. Spousal network overlap decreased the effect of a wife's depression on her husband's depression, but rather directly increased a wife's depression and failed to mediate the impact of a husband's depression on his wife's depression. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that approaches to helping older adults deal with mental health disorders should proceed not only on an individual but on a couple-level. Also, gender-specific strategies need to be constructed to enhance the mental well-being of the older population.

Experiences and Implications on Family Relationships for Grandmothers Raising Their Grandchildren

In the U.S., over 2.7 million grandparents are primary caregivers to grandchildren. It is critical to understand the experiences of grandparent caregivers to design tailored, supportive programs. Our aim was to analyze written journals of 129 grandmothers with respect to the impact of raising grandchildren on relationships with family members. As part of a national RCT study of grandmother caregivers, participants completed daily journals for 4 weeks. Employing thematic data analysis, three members of the research team coded using NVIVO 12 Plus. The research team met regularly to compare and resolve discrepancies in coding. Percent agreement was &gt; 80%. Relationships with the grandchild’s mother were characterized by anger/tension, resentment, and the realization that the mother was incapable of parenting while at the same time expressing worry/concern for her. Relationships with the grandchild’s father mirrored these dynamics while also depicting the father as a distant figure, inconsistent, and financially absent. Spousal relationships were marked by challenges faced by the spouse, their shared role/influence as a grandparent, and the quality of their time spent together. The other relationships described were often focused on their other adult children, as well as their own adult siblings. Grandmother caregivers expressed stress or strain and frustration within these relationships. Caregivers also verbalized gratitude for support from family members within the context of familial and financial stress. Grandmother caregivers may need support in managing familial relationships and stress within these relationships, which may be a target for future interventions.

Dyadic Experiences of Living With Cognitive Impairment Through a 3-Year Longitudinal Qualitative Study

The fastest growth of population living with cognitive impairment takes place in China. The estimated prevalence of cognitive impairment among older adults in China is between 13% and 20%. This study focused on persons with cognitive impairment (PWCI) and their spousal care partners to explore how spousal relationships impact dyadic experiences of living with cognitive impairment through a person-centered care lens. We conducted a longitudinal qualitative study of 10 dyads of PWCI and their care partners over three years with three data collection time points. Our findings suggest that the complexity of changing experience of living with cognitive impairment is interpreted in the dynamic nature of their spousal relationship and relationship with others, patterns of communication, daily activities and care during the extended period of cognitive decline. It is crucial to help them nurture the belief that there is a significant meaning in the journey of living with cognitive impairment.

Sex/Love/Anti-Love Magic

This chapter focuses on the use of love spells. In the annals of Russian magic, interference in the mysterious workings of attraction more commonly took on far darker and more sinister tones. Passion and attraction had little role in the way spousal relationships were imagined and were greeted with even less sympathy outside of marriage. Any use of “love magic” threatened to upend the carefully crafted social order. When used to seduce a married woman into adultery or an unmarried girl into fornication, spells clearly violated the bonds of holy matrimony and of sanctified sexual unions, and such magic was understood as coercive, even abusive. Even within marriages, when an unhappy wife turned to love charms to calm her husband's violent temper and to “make him love me” — that is, to stop beating her and abusing her — her efforts were viewed as subverting the proper patriarchal hierarchy. In the sampling of cases chosen for the chapter, sex rather than love seems to be the primary issue, although the particular cruelty of the “spells for women” shows that emotional as well as physical subjugation was often the goal of magical incantation. Like most spells, the formulas used in love spells were generic, useful for any occasion.

Multidimensional Evaluation of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Different Clusters of Couples

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most efficient treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Little is known about the impact of spousal relationship profiles on CPAP adherence. We aimed to identify clusters of couples of OSA patients, and their association with CPAP adherence 120 days after CPAP initiation. In a multicenter prospective study, OSA patients recently prescribed CPAP were enrolled with their spouses. Data about spousal relationships were collected at inclusion and at day 120. Latent class analysis was performed to determine homogeneous groups of spousal relationships. The 290 participants were predominantly males (77%), median age was 53 years and interquartile range (IQR) 46–62, median body mass index (BMI) was 32 kg/m2 (IQR: 28.6–35.9) and median apnea–hypopnea index: 43 events per hour (IQR: 33–58). Three couple clusters were identified: (1) older retired couples, (2) young working couples, and (3) mature active couples. Patients in the older retired couples cluster presented the highest CPAP adherence (p < 0.01) independently of initial complaints, OSA severity, and degree of improvement under CPAP. In a large cohort of OSA patients in whom clusters of couples were determined, there was a significant difference in CPAP adherence at day-120 after CPAP initiation.