Elder family financial exploitation: Family relationships are never the same

Millions of families are affected by elder family financial exploitation (EFFE), but the consequences for lifelong intergenerational family relationships and family functioning remain largely unexamined (i.e., parent/child, siblings). This study examines the consequences of experiencing EFFE on the quality of family relationships from the perspective of non-victim, non-perpetrator concerned family members (CFMs). Data from a larger EFFE mixed-methods study were utilized. A voluntary sample of 28 CFMs who had experienced EFFE participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews and brief surveys. Analysis included identifying quality of family relationship themes from data related to differences EFFE has made in their family. Participating CFMs were primarily adult children of older victims, and siblings of the primary perpetrators. The findings reflect three patterns of changes in quality of family relationships between the CFMs and other family members, including: (a) Restoring trust and recovery within the family, (b) Alliances and taking sides, and (c) Estrangement and cutoff. While families were never the same after experiencing the exploitation, for some was a healing process to accept the family situation and restore and repair trust. Redefining who would be family moving forward was a focus for some families when perpetrators and CFMs took sides and formed allies with others. In the most dramatic changes, siblings, parents and others became cutoff and isolated from other family members. While a loss of relationship quality was common, strengthening of relationships also occurred. Understanding EFFE from an ecological family systems perspective can help to inform needed EFFE interventions, both processes and outcomes.

Voices of Young Mothers on Relational Issues Leading to Out-of-Wedlock Pregnancy and its Protective Measures: A Qualitative Exploration

INTRODUCTION: Adolescents learn through experimenting and interactions with others. Experimenting romance and sexuality issues if not properly guided, can result in an out-of-wedlock unplanned pregnancy. This study aims to explore factors leading to out-of-wedlock pregnancy among pregnant teenagers and factors that may prevent such occurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two in-depth interviews (IDI) and two focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted in this qualitative study. The study involved 22 participants from a local governmental body shelter home in Peninsular Malaysia. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Three salient relationship themes that led to teenage pregnancy were i) an enjoyable relationship with peers, ii) poor family relationship, and iii) intimate relationship with boyfriends. Some of the proposed ways that may protect teenagers from pregnancy include i) careful selection of friends, ii) controlling the desire in risky experimentation, and iii) wiser use of smartphones or/and social media. CONCLUSION: Relational issues with parents, peers and boyfriends are important factors as it could lead to out-of -wedlock pregnancy among adolescents and youths. It is also necessary for the current educational system to emphasize on building positive relationships with peers, being more assertive, and the safe use of social media among youths.

“Running is my boyfriend”: consumers’ relationships with activities

Purpose The paper aims to introduce the idea that consumers have relationships with their own recurring activities. Instead of the usual notion of investigating the relationships between actors, or between actors and their possessions, the paper focuses on the relationship between an actor and a particular activity in which the actor regularly participates. Design/methodology/approach The paper is conceptual and exploratory in nature. It discusses different perspectives of consumer activity in marketing and then introduces a relationship view of activity. The paper proceeds to outline the conceptual foundations of this view by applying relationship characteristics found in the literature. Quotes from runners’ blogs are used to illustrate the different identified relationship themes. Findings The paper argues that consumers can be seen as having long-term relationships with their activities, and it introduces the concept of the “activity relationship”. The paper proceeds to demonstrate how this concept differs from the previous conceptualization of consumer activity and relationships. Research limitations/implications The activity-relationship perspective on consumer behavior opens up new venues for marketing research. It also facilitates new types of marketing practice, whereby producers can focus on supporting their customers’ relationships with valuable activities. Originality/value The paper presents a novel perspective on relationships. It contributes to consumer research and the customer-dominant view of marketing, whereby the customer’s perspective is put in focus and businesses serve as ingredients in the customer’s own context.

Illuminating the Context and Circumstances of Male Couples Establishing a Sexual Agreement in Their Relationship

A sexual agreement is an explicit mutual understanding made between two partners about which sexual and relational behaviors they agree to engage in within and/or outside of their relationship. Factors that prompt male couples to form a sexual agreement and under what circumstances remain underinvestigated, yet are important considerations for development of couples-based sexual health and HIV prevention interventions. By using thematic analysis with qualitative dyadic data from a convenience sample of 29 HIV-negative male couples, the present study sought to describe the timing and investigate the context and circumstances that led male couples to establish a sexual agreement in their relationship at both the individual and couple levels, and by agreement type. Themes identified for when a sexual agreement was formed included within the first 6 months, and after 6 months in the relationship. Themes related to context and circumstances of couples’ sexual agreement formation were as follows: (a) desire for sexual exploration, (b) arisen circumstances or events with other men, (c) influences from past relationship(s) and/or other couples (i.e., peers), (d) to protect against HIV, and (e) purposeful conversations versus understood. Findings suggest HIV prevention efforts should include skill-building exercises to help improve communication and promote sex positivity within male couples’ relationships.