Fish in the sea: Number, characteristics, and partner preferences of unmarried Japanese adults - analysis of a national survey

Background

A large proportion of adults in Japan remain unmarried even though they intend to marry during their lifetime. To provide data for policy makers and those searching for partners in the Japanese marriage market, we estimated the number and characteristics of unmarried women and men with marriage intention and assessed their partner preferences. Based on the findings, we hypothesized regarding potential mismatches between the individuals available in the marriage market and the type of partners they are looking for.

Methods

We used data from the National Fertility Survey (2015), a nationally representative survey in Japan, and included 20,344 participants aged 18–49 years, of which 6,568 were unmarried with marriage intention. We estimated the total number of unmarried women and men who intend to marry, extrapolated their characteristics to the Japanese population, and assessed their partner preferences, as well as their ideal age of marriage and the ideal age of their partner.

Results

In 2015, there were 8.48 million unmarried women and 9.83 million unmarried men aged 18–49 years with marriage intention in Japan. Surpluses of around 600,000 men were observed in non-densely inhabited areas (men-to-women ratio: 1.31) and in the Kanto region (1.23). Most of the women and men in the marriage market had annual incomes lower than 3,000,000 JPY (28,000 USD) and only 263,000 women (3%) and 883,000 men (9%) had an income of 5,000,000 JPY (47,000 USD) or more; 167,000 men (2%) had an income of 7,000,000 JPY (66,000 USD) or more, with roughly three-quarters of them having a university degree. When asked about eight items that one may consider in a potential partner, the proportion of women listing an item as “important” tended to be larger than those of men across all items (education, occupation, finances, personality, mutual hobbies, cooperation/understanding regarding one’s work, and attitude towards/skills in housework and childrearing) except appearance. The largest differences were observed for finances (proportion of women vs. men listing the item as “important” or “would consider:” 94.0% vs. 40.5%, p<0.001), occupation (84.9% vs. 43.9%, p<0.001), and education (53.9% vs. 28.7%, p<0.001). While women, on average, preferred men who were around 1–3 years older than themselves, men preferred women around their own age until the age of 26 years, at which point men preferred women who were younger than themselves, with the preferred age difference increasing substantially with age. As such, the number of men preferring a younger partner was larger than the number of women who preferred an older partner.

Conclusions

By providing data on the number, characteristics and partner preferences of individuals in the marriage market, our study could inform decisions for those searching for marriage partners in Japan. Moreover, we hypothesize that mismatches in geographical location, the supply-demand disparity for partners with higher income, and age preferences could partly explain the large number of Japanese women and men who remain unmarried despite intending to get married. Further studies are needed to assess if, and to what extent, the identified mismatches may affect marriage rates.

What predicts the early sexual debut among unmarried adolescents (10-19 years)? Evidence from UDAYA survey, 2015-16

INTRODUCTION

The societal norm in India is such that adolescents are expected to respect and follow traditional values and view early sexual debut as undesirable and deviant from the social mores. However, a dramatic shift in attitudes towards sex before marriage has been observed in India. We in this study, aim to study the factors associated with early sexual debut among unmarried adolescents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study used data from the Understanding the lives of adolescents and young adults (UDAYA) survey conducted in 2016 with 15,388 adolescents aged 10-19 years from two Indian states. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the associated factors.

RESULTS

Adolescent boys (9%) were more prone to early sexual debut compared to girls (4%). Both boys (17.2%) and girls (6%) who were school dropouts had significantly higher chances of early sexual debut. Boys who had rare [OR: 2.28; CI: 1.12-4.64] or frequent media exposure [OR: 2.70; CI: 1.36-5.32] were significantly more likely to report early sexual debut than those who had no media exposure. Further, the likelihood of early sexual debut was significantly higher among boys [OR: 3.01; CI: 2.34-3.87] and girls [OR: 1.87; CI: 1.12-3.12] who had exposure to pornography compared to their counterparts. The odds of early sexual debut were higher among boys [OR: 1.89; CI: 1.19-3.01] and girls [OR: 1.77; CI: 1.30-2.41] who had moderately-severe/severe depressive symptoms compared to their counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

The results highlight that Indian unmarried adolescents demand the appropriate knowledge to promote safer sexual behavior and lead a responsible and healthy lifestyle. The preventive efforts must be multifaceted with involvement at the individual and parental levels. Especially, interventions appear advantageous to be parents-focused emphasizing family life education that can prevent risky sexual behaviors among adolescent boys and girls. And the public programs should focus on sexual health promotion considering the physical and psychosocial changes during early ages of sex life.

Prevalence of STIs, sexual practices and substance use among 2083 sexually active unmarried women in Lebanon

Access to sexual and reproductive health in conservative communities and in the MENA region are particularly limited and, as such, increase women's vulnerability to unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The aim was to assess the prevalence of STIs, sexual practices, recreational drug-use and their possible associations among cisgender unmarried women residing in Lebanon. Data on demographics, sexual practices and substance-use were collected from 2083 unmarried cisgender women who voluntarily attended a sexual health clinic in Lebanon between 2015 and 2019. They tested for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis through rapid testing. Other infections (genital warts, Neisseria gonorrhea/Chlamydia trachomatis) were screened for. Regression models were computed between variables. There were two cases of HIV, one of Hepatitis B and syphilis, and no cases of Hepatitis C. Genital warts were present in 15% and symptoms indicative of Neisseria gonorrhea/Chlamydia trachomatis in 14%. Inconsistent condom-use (81%) was significantly associated with number of partners (adj. OR: 0.4). Inconsistent condom-use discussion with partners (33%) was significantly associated with unemployment (adj OR: 1.7), recreational drug-use (adj. OR: 1.4), and number of partners (adj. ORs 3.7-4.4). Unwanted pregnancies (11%) were significantly associated with age (adj. ORs 0.1-0.37), recreational drug-use (adj. OR: 2), using intrauterine device (adj. OR:2.9) and natural birth control methods (adj. OR: 2.4). Recreational drug-use (33%) was significantly associated with age (adj ORs 1.9-2.2), and smoking status (adj. OR: 0.6). The results indicate an urgent need for: (1) Accessible, non-stigmatizing, and inclusive sexual health services dedicated to women's sexual health; (2) Comprehensive and non-stigmatizing sexual health education for all, but especially women, in order to promote safer sexual practices and effective decision making with regards to contraception and condom-use.

Potential of organizing unmarried adolescent girls and young women into self-help groups for a better transition to adulthood: Findings from a cross-sectional study in India

It is essential to equip adolescents with the right information and appropriate skills for a quality transition to their adulthood. This study examines the individual agency of unmarried adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) who were organized into self-help groups (SHG) as compared to those who were not in groups. The paper uses data from a cross-sectional survey conducted with 872 unmarried AGYW aged 15-21 years from 80 villages across two districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. The dependent variables were AGYW's financial independence, collective action, decisionmaking, mobility, self-expression, generalized perceived self-efficacy, gender norms attitudes, and attitudes toward violence. The primary independent variables were group membership and the duration of the membership. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between group membership and various components of individual agency. More than half of the respondents, with an average age of 18 years were enrolled in school or college and one-third had 12 or more years of education. The group members, compared to non-members, were significantly more likely to be financially independent (odds ratio [OR] = 2.29, p<0.01), to take collective action for entitlements (OR = 3.80, p<0.01), and to have progressive attitudes toward gender roles and norms (OR = 1.43, p<0.05). A longer duration of group membership increases the likelihood of financial independence, collective action, and decisionmaking ability. The study highlights the need for further investment in adolescent girls' programming and highlights the potential of organizing AGYW into SHG and using the 'platform' to bring change in their lives and consequential individual agency.

Do young dating app users and non-users differ in mating orientations?

In recent years, dating apps have changed the way people meet and communicate with potential romantic and/or sexual partners. There exists a stereotype considering that these apps are used only for casual sex, so those apps would not be an adequate resource to find a long-term relationship. The objective of this study was to analyze possible individual differences in the mating orientations (short-term vs. long-term) between users and non-users of dating apps. Participants were 902 single students from a mid-size Spanish university, of both sexes (63% female, and 37% male), aged between 18 and 26 years (M = 20.34, SD = 2.05), who completed a battery of online questionnaires. It was found that, whereas dating apps users had a higher short-term mating orientation than non-users (more frequent behavior, higher desire, and more positive attitude), there were no differences in the long-term orientation as a function of use/non-use. Considering this, dating apps are a resource with a strong presence of people interested on hooking-up while, simultaneously, not a bad (nor good) option for finding long-term love.

Experimental Evidence for Sex Differences in Sexual Variety Preferences: Support for the Coolidge Effect in Humans

We examined sex differences in preferences for sexual variety and novelty to determine whether the Coolidge effect plays a role in human sexuality. In two experimental studies that employed different manipulations, we found converging evidence that men showed a greater preference for variety in potential short-term mates than did women. In the first study, men (n = 281) were more likely than women (n = 353) to select a variety of mates when given the opportunity to distribute chances to have sex with different individuals in hypothetical situations. This sex difference was evident regardless of the targets' attractiveness and age. Further, men found it more appealing if their committed romantic/sexual partners frequently changed their physical appearance, while women reported that they modified their physical appearance more frequently than did men, potentially appealing to male desires for novelty. In the second study, when participants were given a hypothetical dating task using photographs of potential short-term mates, men (n = 40) were more likely than women (n = 56) to select a novel person to date. Collectively, these findings lend support to the idea that sex differences in preferences for sexual variety and novelty are a salient sex-specific evolved component of the repertoire of human mating strategies.

Does family life education influence attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health matters among unmarried young women in India?

INTRODUCTION

Inadequate efforts towards meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents and young people, who disproportionately share the burden of unwanted pregnancies, poor maternal and child health outcomes, risks of RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS, increase the risk of losing much of the progress made towards the Millennium Development Goals over the last decade, particularly in the context of low-and-middle-income countries like India.

DATA AND METHODS

Using the nationally representative data on 160551 unmarried young women aged 15-24 years from the District Level Reproductive and Child Health Survey (DLHS: 2007-2008) in India, this research evaluated the demographic and socioeconomic differentials in the access to family life/sex education (FLE) among youth in India. Using the adjusted multiple logistic regression models, the association between access to family life/sex education and attitudes towards a range of sexual and reproductive health matters among young unmarried Indian women were investigated.

RESULTS

Less than half of the unmarried young women had received some form of FLE (48 percent) in India. However, there were substantial demographic and socioeconomic variations in their access to FLE, as relatively less educated women from the poorest wealth quintiles, religious and social minorities (Muslims, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes) were significantly less likely to receive FLE as compared to other women. Importantly, the likelihood of holding favourable/positive attitudes towards reproductive processes, knowledge and discussion of contraceptive methods, precise awareness about the transmission pathways of RTIs/STIs and HIV/AIDS was significantly higher among those women in India who had access to FLE.

CONCLUSION

The present research underscores the protective role of family life education towards improving the sexual and reproductive life experiences of young people. It further underscores the vital need to implement a comprehensive and culturally appropriate programme of family life education in order to meet the sexual and reproductive health demands of the adolescents and young people in India.

Modern contraceptive use among unmarried girls aged 15-19 years in South Western Nigeria: results from a cross-sectional baseline survey for the Adolescent 360 (A360) impact evaluation

PURPOSE

Adolescents 360 (A360) is an initiative being rolled out across Nigeria with the aim of increasing voluntary modern contraception use among women aged 15 to 19 years. Using evaluation study baseline data, we identified sexuality, fertility and contraceptive use characteristics of young unmarried girls in South Western Nigeria.

METHODS

A cross-sectional baseline survey of unmarried girls aged 15 to 19 years was conducted in Ogun state, Nigeria in August 2017. A clustered sampling design was used. We identified determinants of modern contraceptive use in this subpopulation using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 12,024 women interviewed, 15.3% reported sexual intercourse in the past year. The majority of respondents (79.6%, 9525/11,967) had heard of contraception. 45.3% of sexually active respondents were using a modern contraceptive method. Of those using any method of contraception, male condoms (50.3%) were the most widely used modern method followed by the emergency contraceptive pill (16.7%). Following adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics, there was evidence that the use of modern contraception was positively associated with having never given birth, living in an urban area, current enrolment in education, high level of education, high socioeconomic status, exposure to information about contraception, perceived social support for contraception, and self-efficacy for contraception.

CONCLUSIONS

In South Western Nigeria, unmarried sexually active adolescent girls have relatively low levels of modern contraceptive use. Programmes should aim to increase access to modern contraception and to increase social support and acceptability of contraceptive use.

Impact of overtime working and social interaction on the deterioration of mental well-being among full-time workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: Focusing on social isolation by household composition

OBJECTIVES

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has forced many employees to alter both their work style and lifestyle. This study aimed to examine how the combination of changes in overtime working hours and social interaction affects the full-time employees' mental well-being, focusing on the difference in household composition.

METHODS

In November 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional Internet survey that included 4388 Japanese men and women aged 25-64 years, who continued the same full-time job during the pandemic. We performed a logistic regression analysis using a combination of the changes in overtime working hours and social interaction as an independent variable, and the presence/absence of deterioration of mental well-being as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

Overall, 44% of participants reported the deterioration of mental well-being compared to before the outbreak. The multivariate analysis revealed that the participants coded as "increased overtime/decreased interaction" were significantly associated with the deterioration of mental well-being compared to those with "unchanged overtime/unchanged interaction" (odds ratio [OR] 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59-2.89). Moreover, this association was relatively stronger among single-person households (OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.50-4.69).

CONCLUSIONS

The negative combination of increasing overtime working hours and decreasing social interaction may have an impact on the deterioration of mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this association was comparably strong among single-person households. In the pandemic, it is necessary to pay close attention to both overtime working hours and the presence of social interaction to address the mental well-being among employees.

Psychosocial Barriers and Enablers for Prostate Cancer Patients in Starting a Relationship

Single prostate cancer (PCa) patients may face difficulties in starting a new relationship for various reasons. Here, we studied barriers and enablers to starting a relationship for PCa patients and characteristics of patients who were and were not in a relationship. PCa organizations distributed for us a 20-minute online survey, consisting of validated questionnaires (on treatment side effects, loneliness, social provision, and shyness) and questions on factors identified by patients as barriers and enablers to forming a new relationship. Participants were either single [n = 20] or had started a new relationship post-diagnosis [non-single, n = 15]. Three factors-confidence, sexual function, finding the right person-were perceived of as factors that can affect starting a relationship. Fourteen of twenty single patients were confident that they could find a partner and sixteen were comfortable in disclosing their cancer diagnosis to a potential partner. Non-single patients met their partners through various ways, including online dating and social events. They all revealed their cancer status prior to starting the relationship, and most partners reacted well to this disclosure. Single patients were lacking emotional support, more shy, and lonelier than non-single patients. Clinicians need to consider biopsychosocial factors when advising single patients who wish to start a new relationship.

Risk factors for suicidal ideation among the older people living alone in rural region of China: A path analysis

In China, suicide accounts for twenty-six percent of all suicides worldwide; however, researches on the suicidal ideation among older people living alone in the rural region are few. We performed a cross-sectional study to explore the prevalence and influence factors of suicidal ideation, and provide a theoretical basis for suicide prevention among older people living alone in rural region.695 older people living alone in rural region were selected by using stratified cluster sampling. Chi-square for categorical variables, T-test for continuous variables, and path analysis were conducted to statistical analysis.The prevalence of suicidal ideation among the elderly living alone in rural China was 23.6%. Path analyses showed that depression had the most substantial influence on suicidal ideation among the elderly living alone, it was also as a mediator between physical, economic status, social support, anxiety, and suicidal ideation; anxiety and social support had both direct and indirect influence on suicidal ideation; physical status and economic status had indirection impact.The incidence of suicidal ideation among the elderly living alone was high in Dangtu county. Psychological disorders (anxiety and depression) had the strongest impact on suicidal ideation. Strategies and measures targeting these relevant factors (economic status, physical status, and social support) should be taken to reduce the burdens of suicidal ideation among the elderly living alone in China.

No Spouse, No Son, No Daughter, No Kin in Contemporary China: Prevalence, Correlates, and Differences in Economic Support

OBJECTIVES

China's recent demographic and social changes might undermine the sustainability of its family-oriented system for elder care. We investigate kin availability among adults aged 45+ in contemporary China, with an emphasis on child gender.

METHOD

Using nationally representative survey data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011), we examine the prevalence and correlates of lacking different kin types and combinations, and we test associations between kin availability and received economic support.

RESULTS

Kinlessness is low in China (less than 2% lack a spouse/partner and children), but kin availability is patterned by gender, age group, and sociodemographic characteristics. More than twice as many older adults have no spouse/partner and no daughter (3.2%) as those who have no spouse/partner and no son (1.4%). Adults without close kin are disadvantaged across health, wealth, and economic support. In contrast to traditional expectations, we find that those with only daughters are more similar to those with mixed sex children, whereas those with only sons are more similar to those without children in receipt of economic support.

DISCUSSION

Access to kin forms the basis of an emergent system of stratification in China, which will be amplified as cohorts with only one child age into older adulthood.

Pregnancy intentions and family functioning among low-income, unmarried couples: Person-centered analyses

Guided by family systems theory and using 2-wave data from 4,843 low-income, unmarried couples in the Building Strong Families study, we examined paths from paternal and maternal pregnancy intentions to family functioning in personal, relationship, and coparenting domains. Using 3-step Latent Class Analysis, we first identified 3 subgroups of couples based on both parents' pregnancy intentions: Both Wanted/Both On-time (33.8%), Both Wanted/Both Mistimed (56.1%), and Women Wanted/Both Mistimed (10.1%). We then examined how family functioning varied across these 3 classes. We found that fathers and mothers in the Women Wanted/Both Mistimed class experienced the lowest levels of family functioning. Mothers in the Both Wanted/Both On-time class reported higher family functioning than mothers in the Both Wanted/Both Mistimed class, whereas few differences were identified between fathers in the Both Wanted/Both On-time class and the Both Wanted/Both Mistimed class. We discussed implications for families transitioning to parenthood of this nuanced understanding of associations between pregnancy intentions and family functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Which patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are perceived as 'difficult' by general practitioners?

AIMS

To find factors that are associated with a general practitioner's (GP's) subjective impression of a patient being 'difficult' within a sample of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

Secondary cross-sectional analysis of a cohort of GP patients with T2DM. GP questionnaire on clinical data and GPs' subjective ratings of patient attributes (including 'patient difficulty'). Patient questionnaire on sociodemographics and illness perceptions. Bivariate and multivariate analyses, adjusted for cluster-effect of GP practice.

RESULTS

Data from 314 patients from 49 GPs could be analysed. Independent associations with higher GP-rated difficulty were found for (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval): male patients from male GPs (1.27; 1.06-1.53), unmarried men (1.25; 1.04-1.51), men with non-German nationality (1.80; 1.24-2.61), patients perceiving more problems with diabetes (1.17; 1.04-1.30), patients with higher BMI (1.01; 1.00-1.02) and HbA1c values (1.06; 1.02-1.10), patients being perceived by the GP as less adherent (1.34; 1.22-1.46) and less health-literate (1.19; 1.04-1.35).

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of patients' gender and illness perception yield new insights into GP-perceived complexity of care. Culturally and gender-sensitive communication techniques for adapting health care goals to patients' problems (rather than norm values) may alleviate GPs' work.

Utilisation willingness for institutional care by the elderly: a comparative study of empty nesters and non-empty nesters in Shandong, China

INTRODUCTION

Institutional care has been strongly promoted in China to meet seniors' long-term care needs. Empty-nest elderly, in comparison with their counterparts, have less social support and fewer caring networks. This study aimed to compare the utilisation willingness for institutional care and its predictors between empty-nest and non-empty-nest seniors.

METHODS

A total of 3923 seniors were included in the analysis. Binary logistic regression models were used to understand the association between the living arrangements of the elderly households and willingness for institutional care and to identify the predictors of the utilisation willingness for institutional care among empty nesters and non-empty nesters.

RESULTS

Our study found that approximately 8.5% of the seniors had a willingness for institutional care in Shandong, China. Empty-nest singles (OR 5.301; 95% CI 2.838 to 9.904) and empty-nest couples (OR 1.547; 95% CI 1.135 to 2.107) were found to be more willing to receive institutional care. Our results also showed that residence was a key determinant for institutionalisation willingness in empty-nest and non-empty-nest elderly. Among empty-nest singles, psychological stress was a positive determinant for institutional care. Factors, including education attainment, relationship with adult children, household income and per capita living space, were determinants for empty-nest couple willingness for institutionalisation. Age, number of children and self-reported health status were found to be associated factors for willingness among non-empty nesters.

CONCLUSIONS

The government should pay more attention to institutional care in rural areas where there is still a gap in elder care compared with that in urban areas. Targeted policies should be made for different types of seniors to offer appropriate institutional care.

Life History, Fertility, and Short-Term Mating Motivation

The current research examines the impact of women's early-life socioeconomic status (SES; used as a proxy measure of life history strategy), relationship status, and ovulatory cycle phase on their desire for short-term mating. Results revealed that during the periovulatory phase (i.e., the high-fertility phase of the monthly ovulatory cycle), single women from low SES environments expressed an increased desire for short-term mating, whereas the opposite was found for single women from high SES environments. No such pattern was found for partnered women. These results suggest that one's early-life environment and relationship status may play a key role in how women respond to internal fertility cues, providing important new insights into factors that may moderate ovulatory shifts in mating behavior. Results provide some of the first evidence that one's developmental history may alter the expression of ovulatory cycle adaptations.

Do single people want to date a cancer survivor? A vignette study

Objective

Qualitative studies indicated that cancer survivors may be worried about finding a partner in the future, but whether this concern is warranted is unknown. We examined single people´s interest in dating a cancer survivor, how they perceive survivors’ traits, and their preferences about the timing of disclosing a cancer history.

Methods

In three experimental vignette studies, dating website members (n = 324) and college students (n = 138 and n = 131) were randomly assigned to a vignette of a person with or without a history of cancer (experiment 1 & 2), or a cancer survivor beyond or during active follow-up (experiment 3). Respondents rated their interest in dating this fictive person, this person’s traits, and indicated their preferences about the timing of disclosure. ANOVAs with main and interaction effects of condition, gender, and relationship history were conducted, partial eta squared and Cohen’s d were used to estimate the magnitude of effects. Correlations were used to investigate relationships between interest in a date and assessment of traits.

Results

Cancer survivors’ traits were assessed more positively, but interest to date them did not differ from healthy vignettes for both men and women. However, widowed respondents were much less interested in a date with a cancer survivor, and women showed less interest in a cancer survivor during active follow-up relative to survivors beyond follow-up. Most respondents wanted to hear about the cancer diagnosis after a few dates, hardly anyone wanted to hear about this before the first date (2% - 5%).

Conclusion and implications for cancer survivors

Cancer survivors do not have to expect any more problems in finding a date than people without a cancer history, and can wait a few dates before disclosing. Survivors dating widowed people and survivors in active follow-up could expect more hesitant reactions and should disclose earlier.

Interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people: an integrative review

Loneliness and social isolation are major problems for older adults. Interventions and activities aimed at reducing social isolation and loneliness are widely advocated as a solution to this growing problem. The aim of this study was to conduct an integrative review to identify the range and scope of interventions that target social isolation and loneliness among older people, to gain insight into why interventions are successful and to determine the effectiveness of those interventions. Six electronic databases were searched from 2003 until January 2016 for literature relating to interventions with a primary or secondary outcome of reducing or preventing social isolation and/or loneliness among older people. Data evaluation followed Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre guidelines and data analysis was conducted using a descriptive thematic method for synthesising data. The review identified 38 studies. A range of interventions were described which relied on differing mechanisms for reducing social isolation and loneliness. The majority of interventions reported some success in reducing social isolation and loneliness, but the quality of evidence was generally weak. Factors which were associated with the most effective interventions included adaptability, a community development approach, and productive engagement. A wide range of interventions have been developed to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people. However, the quality of the evidence base is weak and further research is required to provide more robust data on the effectiveness of interventions. Furthermore, there is an urgent need to further develop theoretical understandings of how successful interventions mediate social isolation and loneliness.

Mechanisms Linking Self-Regulation and Sexual Behaviors in Never-Married Young Adults

Little is known about specific mechanisms linking self-regulation to sexual risk taking. The present study considered four possibilities in emerging adulthood: sexual self-restraint, consideration of future consequences, substance use, and romantic competence. Never-married young adults (N = 274), ages 18 to 24, responded to anonymous Internet surveys (60.2% female, 78.8% European American, 66.3% university students). The effects of self-regulation were primarily indirect but varied by sexual behavior, suggesting that high self-regulation limits sexual risk via high sexual self-restraint and low substance use. High regulation was linked to multiple sexual partners and high-risk practices risk via high romantic competence, high self-regulation was linked to multiple sexual partners and high risk practices.

What do older people experiencing loneliness think about primary care or community based interventions to reduce loneliness? A qualitative study in England

Loneliness in later life is a common problem with poor health outcomes. However, interventions to prevent or ameliorate loneliness have a weak evidence base. The views of older people experiencing or at risk of loneliness in the community are important in identifying features of potential support, but have been little studied. Twenty-eight community dwelling people, aged 65 and over who reported being 'lonely much of the time' or identified as lonely from the de Jong Gierveld six-item loneliness scale in a larger study, participated in in-depth interviews, between June 2013 and May 2014. Views and experiences on seeking support from primary care and community based one-to-one and group based activities, including social and shared interest groups, were explored. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was conducted by a multidisciplinary team, including older people. Using two different measures of loneliness enabled a spectrum of loneliness experience to be explored. Two-thirds of the participants were the 'younger old' and all were able to leave their homes independently. Older people with characteristics of loneliness were generally knowledgeable about local social and community resources but, for the majority, community and primary care based services for their loneliness were not considered desirable or helpful at this point in their lives. However, group based activities with a shared interest were thought preferable to one-to-one support (befriending) or groups with a social focus. Descriptions of support as being for loneliness and specific to older people discouraged engagement. Older people experiencing or at risk of loneliness did not consider that primary care has a role in alleviating loneliness because it is not an illness. They thought primary care practitioners lack understanding of non-physical problems and that a good relationship was necessary to discuss sensitive issues like loneliness. For many, loneliness was a complex and private matter that they wished to manage without external support.

Coupling Processes and Experiences of Never Married Heterosexual Black Men and Women: A Phenomenological Study

Over the past decades, the decline in Black marriages and the upsurge of never-married Blacks have stimulated much theoretical focus, but researchers conducted few studies on never-married heterosexual Black adults' coupling unions. Guided by an integrated framework of Africana womanism and symbolic interactionism, this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study used comprehensive individual interviews to explore the experiences of 26 never-married heterosexual Black men and women between the ages 25 and 35 about their attempts to cultivate and maintain intimate romantic relationships as well as their desire for marriage. Findings revealed mixed emotions from participants' lived experiences in developing and sustaining romantic relationships. Clinical implications highlighted the need to effectively attend to Black romantic relationships and experiences in their sociohistorical and sociocultural contexts.

The effects of prospective mate quality on investments in healthy body weight among single women

This paper examines how a single female's investment in healthy body weight is affected by the quality of single males in her marriage market. A principle concern in estimation is the presence of market-level unobserved heterogeneity that may be correlated with changes in single male quality, measured as earning potential. To address this concern, we employ a differencing strategy that normalizes the exercise behaviors of single women to those of their married counterparts. Our main results suggest that when potential mate quality in a marriage market decreases, single black women invest less in healthy body weight. For example, we find that a 10 percentage point increase in the proportion of low quality single black males leads to a 5-10% decrease in vigorous exercise taken by single black females. Results for single white women are qualitatively similar, but not consistent across specifications. These results highlight the relationship between male and female human capital acquisition that is driven by participation in the marriage market. Our results suggest that programs designed to improve the economic prospects of single males may yield positive externalities in the form of improved health behaviors, such as more exercise, particularly for single black females.

Single living predicts a higher mortality in both women and men with chronic heart failure

INTRODUCTION

We examined the impact of single living on all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure and determined if this association was modified by gender.

METHODS

This historical cohort study included 637 patients who were admitted to the Department of Cardiology, Herlev Hospital, Denmark, between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2007. Baseline clinical data were obtained from patient records. Data on survival rates were obtained from the Danish Civil Registration System. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to compute the hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause mortality, controlling for confounding factors.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 2.8 years. A total of 323 (50.7%) patients died during the follow-up period. After adjustment for confounding factors, risk of death was associated with being single (HR = 1.53 (95% confidence interval: 1.19-1.96)). In a gender-stratified analysis, the risk of death did not differ among single-living women and men.

CONCLUSION

Single living is a prognostic determinant of all-cause mortality in men and women with chronic heart failure.

FUNDING

none.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

not relevant.

A Longitudinal Study of Predictors of Housing Stability, Housing Quality, and Mental Health Functioning Among Single Homeless Individuals Staying in Emergency Shelters

The current study examined risk and resilience factors at multiple levels that affect homeless individuals' ability to exit homelessness and achieve housing stability. It also examined the relationship between housing status, housing quality and mental health functioning. The methodology is a longitudinal study of single homeless individuals staying in emergency shelters in a medium-sized Canadian city who were followed for a 2 year period. Data were collected from participants at a baseline interview when they were homeless and at a 2-year follow-up. There were 329 participants interviewed at baseline and 197 (59.9%) participants interviewed at follow-up. Results from a structural equation modelling analysis found that having interpersonal and community resources were predictive of achieving housing stability. Specifically, having a larger social support network, access to subsidized housing, and greater income was related to achieving housing stability. On the other hand, having a substance use problem was a risk factor associated with a failure to achieving housing stability. Being female, feeling personally empowered, having housing that is perceived of being of higher quality were directly predictive of mental health functioning at follow-up. Findings are discussed in the context of previous research and their policy implications.

Life-History Related Differences in Possible Selves in Very Old Age

The impact of early life events that take place under specific historical and societal circumstances on adult development have rarely been investigated in old age. We examined whether having started a family in young adulthood was related to the contents of possible selves generated by women aged 85 to 100+ in the Berlin Aging Study ( N = 129; M age = 93 years). Health-related possible selves dominated in the entire sample. However, mothers ( n = 79) and lifetime childless women ( n = 50) differed in their endorsement of family- and friend-related possible selves. Contrary to expectations, childless women mentioned more family-related themes, while mothers addressed more friendship-related themes. Despite these differences both groups of women reported equally high levels of well-being. These findings indicate that starting a family in young adulthood still has an influence on the self up until very old age and that these distinct pathways can still lead to similar aging success.

Day Hospital Treatment as a Missing Link for Single Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a Preliminary Study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to examine the day hospital treatment outcome on severity of clinical manifestations, general neuroticism and coping mechanisms in patients suffering from chronic combat-related PTSD.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The sample consisted of 38 consecutive patients admitted to the Day Hospital treatment of PTSD during one year observation period. The average age of the sample was 46.03 years. The patients completed 3 self-report measures upon admission to the hospital and upon discharge: The Mississippi scale for combat-related PTSD (M-PTSD), The Crown-Crisp experiential index (CCEI), and The COPE inventory.

RESULTS

There was no significant change in the severity of clinical manifestations of PTSD, general neuroticism and coping mechanisms among the whole sample. However, compared to married participants and participants with children, single participants and those without children reported higher levels of anxiety when admitted to the hospital, but lower levels at discharge. In addition, patients without children reduced their avoidance behavior during the treatment.

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study showed that single patients and those without children may benefit more from the day hospital treatment program. Our findings emphasize the importance of social support in the recovery process of severely traumatized persons, and may assist with the development of more effective therapeutic approaches.

The effect of living alone on the costs and benefits of surgery amongst older people

Older people who live alone are a growing, high-cost group for health and social services. The literature on how living alone affects health and the costs and benefits of healthcare has focused on crude measures of health and utilisation and gives little consideration to other cost determinants and aspects of patient experience. We study the effect of living alone at each stage along an entire treatment pathway using a large dataset which provides information on pre-treatment experience, treatment benefits and costs of surgery for 105,843 patients receiving elective hip and knee replacements in England in 2009 and 2010. We find that patients who live alone are healthier prior to treatment and experience the same gains from treatment. However, living alone is associated with a 9.2% longer length of in-hospital stay and increased probabilities of readmission and discharge to expensive destinations. These increase the costs per patient by £179.88 (3.12%) and amount to an additional £4.9 million per annum. A lack of post-discharge support for those living alone is likely to be a key driver of these additional costs.

Intra-sex Variation in Human Mating Strategies: Different People, Different Tactics

Several studies have demonstrated that men and women exhibit different romantic preferences, which align with the patterns predicted by sexual strategies theory. It is also assumed that the mate's value is a central factor in determining an individual's sexual strategy. Thus, the current study was developed to investigate whether intra-sex variation exists in the ideal romantic preferences of both genders and whether these preferences are associated with self-perception. To investigate these questions, cluster analyses were performed on the descriptions of ideal mates for short- and long-term relationships given by 366 Brazilian undergraduates (145 men and 221 women). Subsequently, comparisons were made between the lists of self-perceived attributes related to reproduction generated by the resulting groups. The results suggest that males and females use different mating tactics for short-term mating and that males use different tactics for long-term mating. Among men, the mating tactics observed seem to be related to male mate value and their tactics changed when they described ideal short- and long-term partners. Women's results showed different preference patterns in short-term assessments but minor differences were observed between them in terms of female mate value. For long-term relationships, female patterns were less distinct, indicating a single preference pattern. These findings indicate that a number of different tactics may be clustered together in investigations that address ideal preferences, and that studies of mate preferences must consider individual self-perceptions.

Acting Independently While Living Alone: The Strategies and Struggles of Cancer Patients

Cancer patients who live alone place specific importance on acting independently during treatment. We want to describe what it means to act independently and which strategies patients use to continue to act independently. We used a qualitative design, based on grounded theory. We interviewed 32 patients, 17 of them a second time. Patients who live alone defined acting independently in two different ways: It meant not only doing things alone but also using the help of others in a controlled way. These two meanings lead to two types of strategies. As treatment evolves, patients needed to change their preferred type of strategies to continue acting independently. Succeeding to change led to a feeling of mastery and success. However, failing to change led to struggling, whereby patients' needs became invisible. Health care providers should anticipate patients' inability to change strategies during cancer treatment, thereby preventing the patient's struggle from only becoming visible during crisis.

Gay and lesbian couples in Italy: comparisons with heterosexual couples

Assessing couple relationships across diverse languages and cultures has important implications for both clinical intervention and prevention. This is especially true for nontraditional relationships potentially subject to various expressions of negative societal evaluation or bias. Few empirically validated measures of relationship functioning have been developed for cross-cultural applications, and none have been examined for their psychometric sufficiency for evaluating same-sex couples across different languages and cultures. The current study examined the psychometric properties of an Italian translation of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised (MSI-R), a 150-item 13-scale measure of couple relationship functioning, for its use in assessing the intimate relationships of gay and lesbian couples in Italy. Results for these couples were compared to data from heterosexual married and unmarried cohabiting couples from the same geographical region, as well as to previously published data for gay, lesbian, and unmarried heterosexual couples from the United States. Findings suggest that, despite unique societal pressures confronting Italian same-sex couples, these relationships appear resilient and fare well both overall and in specific domains of functioning compared to heterosexual couples both in Italy and the United States.

Prevalence of pregnancy experiences and contraceptive knowledge among single adults in a low socio-economic suburban community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of pregnancy experience and its association with contraceptive knowledge among single adults in a low socio-economic suburban community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2012 among the Kerinchi suburban community. Of the total 3,716 individuals surveyed, young single adults between 18 and 35 years old were questioned with regard to their experience with unplanned pregnancy before marriage. Contraceptive knowledge was assessed by a series of questions on identification of method types and the affectivity of condoms for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 226 female and 257 male participants completed the survey. In total, eight female (3.5%) participants reported experience with an unplanned pregnancy before marriage, and five male (1.9 %) participants had the experience of impregnating their partners. The participants had a mean total score of 3.15 (SD = 1.55) for contraceptive knowledge out of a possible maximum score of five. Female participants who had experienced an unplanned pregnancy had a significantly lower contraceptive knowledge score (2.10 ± 1.48) than who had never experienced pregnancy (3.30 ± 1.35), p<0.05. Likewise, male participants who had experienced impregnating their partners had a significantly lower contraceptive knowledge score (1.60 ± 1.50) than those who did not have such experience (3.02 ± 1.59), p<0.05.

CONCLUSION

The results showed evidence of premarital unplanned pregnancy among this suburban community. The low level of contraceptive knowledge found in this study indicates the need for educational strategies designed to improve contraceptive knowledge.

Remarriage of war and terror widows: a triadic relationship

The article focuses on the intimate relationships of remarried Israeli national widows. An analysis of interviews with 15 widows and 12 of their husbands demonstrated the widows' continuing connection to the deceased husband and thus gives further corroboration to the theory of "'continuing bonds'"; husbands also express their relationship as triadic, with the fallen husband assigned a unique position in the family constellation, albeit not threatening to the new husband. The article concludes with specific guidelines for planning therapeutic programs, e.g., recommending clients to use some symbolic objects, either abstract or concrete, to help widows rebuild their self-identity.

Loneliness and social support of older people living alone in a county of Shanghai, China

China has an ageing population with the number of older people living alone increasing. Living alone may increase the risk of loneliness of older people, especially for those in China where collectivism and filial piety are emphasised. Social support may fill the need for social contacts, thereby alleviating loneliness. However, little is known about loneliness and social support of older people living alone in China. This study investigated loneliness and social support of older people living alone, by conducting a cross-sectional questionnaire survey with a stratified random cluster sample of 521 community-dwelling older people living alone in a county of Shanghai. Data were collected from November 2011 to March 2012. The instruments used included the UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3 and the Social Support Rate Scale. The participants reported a moderate level of loneliness. Their overall social support level was low compared with the Chinese norm. Children were the major source of objective and subjective support. Of the participants, 53.9% (n = 281) and 47.6% (n = 248) asked for help and confided when they were in trouble, but 84.1% (n = 438) never or rarely attended social activities. The level of loneliness and social support differed among the participants with different sociodemographic characteristics. There were negative correlations between loneliness and overall social support and its three dimensions. The findings suggest that there is a need to provide more social support to older people living alone to decrease their feelings of loneliness. Potential interventions include encouraging more frequent contacts from children, the development of one-to-one 'befriending' and group activity programmes together with identification of vulnerable subgroups.

Religious variations in perceived infertility and inconsistent contraceptive use among unmarried young adults in the United States

PURPOSE

In this paper, we examine associations among personal religiosity, perceived infertility, and inconsistent contraceptive use among unmarried young adults (ages 18-29).

METHODS

The data for this investigation came from the National Survey of Reproductive and Contraceptive Knowledge (n = 1,695). We used multinomial logistic regression to model perceived infertility, adjusted probabilities to model rationales for perceived infertility, and binary logistic regression to model inconsistent contraceptive use.

RESULTS

Evangelical Protestants were more likely than non-affiliates to believe that they were infertile. Among the young women who indicated some likelihood of infertility, evangelical Protestants were also more likely than their other Protestant or non-Christian faith counterparts to believe that they were infertile because they had unprotected sex without becoming pregnant. Although evangelical Protestants were more likely to exhibit inconsistent contraception use than non-affiliates, we were unable to attribute any portion of this difference to infertility perceptions.

CONCLUSIONS

Whereas most studies of religion and health emphasize the salubrious role of personal religiosity, our results suggest that evangelical Protestants may be especially likely to hold misconceptions about their fertility. Because these misconceptions fail to explain higher rates of inconsistent contraception use among evangelical Protestants, additional research is needed to understand the principles and motives of this unique religious community.

Changes following premarital education for couples with differing degrees of future marital risk

The present study explored changes in individuals' relationship cognitions and behaviors following premarital education for couples with different risk profiles. The sample consisted of 63 couples who completed the PREPARE program and were classified for future marital risk based on dyadic information. A significant interaction effect was found between risk and time, with individuals in relationships classified as high risk exhibiting greater change at 4 weeks postprogram compared to low-risk individuals. Perceived helpfulness of topics also varied by couple type. Findings provide support for adapting premarital education programs for high-risk couples and offer clinicians and educators specific insights for areas of emphasis when working with different types of couples.

Relationship effort, satisfaction, and stability: differences across union type

Relationship satisfaction and stability are two commonly studied outcomes in marriage and family research. Majority of studies address socio demographic variability and differences across union type in these outcomes. We extend this literature by addressing how the amount of effort one puts into their relationship is associated with stability and satisfaction. Specifically, we focus on how effort impacts these measures of quality in four union types: premarital cohabitation, first marriage, post-divorce cohabitation, and second marriage following divorce. Furthermore, we make union type comparisons in the strength of effort's association with satisfaction and stability. Using data from 8,006 respondents in the Relationship Evaluation Survey, our results show that effort was strongly and positively associated with satisfaction and stability in all four unions. Although effort is more strongly associated with satisfaction in first marriage than cohabiting relationships, no union type differences in the role of effort on stability were observed. Clinical and research implications of these findings are discussed.

The experience of being an old never-married single: a life course perspective

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To explore the aging experience of the "over 60" group of singles who have never been married and have no children. How they experience their aging process in terms of their singlehood and vice versa.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A qualitative-phenomenological approach was adopted. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants aged 60 to 87.

RESULTS

Four major themes emerged: (a) "How come I stayed single?" (b) Between loneliness, aloneness and solitude. (c) "I have to take care of myself in old age." (d) The self behind prejudices and stereotypes.

IMPLICATIONS

As the normative expectation is to live with partners, children, and grandchildren, they need to account for their alternative choice and give meaning to being a never married single. This meaning is expressed by constructing their self-dentity and accepting their way of life.

The experience of being an old never-married single: a life course perspective

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To explore the aging experience of the "over 60" group of singles who have never been married and have no children. How they experience their aging process in terms of their singlehood and vice versa.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A qualitative-phenomenological approach was adopted. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants aged 60 to 87.

RESULTS

Four major themes emerged: (a) "How come I stayed single?" (b) Between loneliness, aloneness and solitude. (c) "I have to take care of myself in old age." (d) The self behind prejudices and stereotypes.

IMPLICATIONS

As the normative expectation is to live with partners, children, and grandchildren, they need to account for their alternative choice and give meaning to being a never married single. This meaning is expressed by constructing their self-dentity and accepting their way of life.

Constructions and experiences of sexual health among young, heterosexual, unmarried Muslim women immigrants in Australia

Minority ethnic immigrant women are frequently vulnerable to poor sexual health outcomes, due to poor use of sexual health services, lack of knowledge and social stigma associated with the discussion of sexuality. This paper explores the sexual health accounts provided by a group of young, unmarried heterosexual Muslim women immigrants residing and studying in Sydney, an under-researched group in the Australian context. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted, focusing on sex before marriage, spouse selection and contraceptive use. Feminist discourse analysis identified 'purity versus corruption' as the primary construction of women's sexuality, where women positioned their sexual behaviour as that of purity and uninvolvement or corruption through unwedded participation. The subthemes 'maintaining ignorance and naivety', 'remaining virginal', 'sex segregation' and 'the fallen woman' capture women's personal sexuality-related experiences and values within the context of their religious and cultural communities. Additional research with this community is needed to examine the effects of negative social constructions of sex on young sexually active Muslim women, as well as further research on young women's sexual health within immigrant communities.

Circumcision status and time to first sex among never-married young men in Malawi: evidence from the demographic and health survey

This study examines the association between circumcision status and the timing of first sexual intercourse among adolescents in Malawi. Results of survival models applied to nationally representative sample of never-married young men aged between 15 and 24 obtained from the Demographic and Health Survey data show that being circumcised is associated with earlier initiation of sexual activity in Malawi. Young men who reported being circumcised experienced their first sexual intercourse earlier in life than their uncircumcised counterparts. Although the introduction of theoretically relevant knowledge, socio-cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic variables in the multivariate models attenuated the association between circumcision and earlier sexual initiation, the relationship nonetheless remained robust. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings and suggests relevant policy recommendations.

Do models of care designed for terminally ill 'home alone' people improve their end-of-life experience? A patient perspective

Palliative care patients who live alone report greater psychological distress, and are less likely to die at home than those living with a family carer. However, there is a lack of research on the value of models of care that specifically address this disadvantage. This article describes the experiences of terminally ill 'home alone' people using one of two models of care aimed at maintaining participants' need for independent living, focusing on the effect of these two models of care on their physical, social and emotional needs. Twenty six palliative care patients of Silver Chain Hospice Care, in Western Australia, were randomly assigned to either having a personal alarm or additional care-aide hours in their home. An in-depth qualitative study was conducted in two phases in 2010 using face-to-face interviews. The care-aide model of care resulted in benefits such as easing the burden of everyday living; supporting well-being; enhancing quality of life and preserving a sense of dignity; and reducing loneliness and isolation. The personal alarm model of care imparted a sense of security; provided peace of mind; and helped to deal with feelings of isolation. Participants in both groups felt that they could remain at home longer. By providing a safer, more secure environment through the use of a personal alarm or additional care-aide hours, patients were able to continue their activities of daily living, could build a sense of 'normality' into their lives, and they could live independently through support and dignity.

Eating alone among community-dwelling Japanese elderly: association with depression and food diversity

Eating alone is an emerging social concern these days along with the background of serious aging population growth and increasing number of single-dwellers in Japan. However, little study is focused eating alone and its relation to the health status of community-dwelling elderly.

OBJECTIVES

To clarify the relations between eating alone and geriatric functions such as depression, quantitative subjective quality of life (QOL), activities of daily living (ADL) and dietary status of community-dwelling Japanese elderly.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTINGS

Tosa town, one of the "super-aged" towns in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

The study population consisted of 856 community-dwelling elderly aged ≥65 living in Tosa town.

MEASUREMENTS

Eating alone and living arrangement was defined by the questionnaire. Geriatric functions were assessed by measuring activities of daily living (ADL), depressive symptom using 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15), and quality of life (QOL). Food diversity was investigated as a measure of dietary quality using 11-item Food Diversity Score Kyoto (FDSK-11). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using height and body weight during a medical assessment.

RESULTS

The proportion of the elderly who usually eat alone was 33.2% in this study population. Even among 697 elderly subjects who live with others, 136 persons (19.5%) ate alone. The participants who ate alone were significantly depressed according to the assessment using GDS-15 score (5.7±4.3 vs. 4.4±3.8, P<0.001). Those who ate alone have lower scores of QOL items than those who ate with others (Subjective sense of health: 52.5±21.9 vs. 55.7±20.2 P=0.035, Relationship with family: 74.1±23.5 vs. 78.9±18.6 P<0.001, Subjective happiness: 58.5±22.7 vs. 62.2±21.1 P=0.019). A significant close association was found between eating alone and lower food diversity (FDSK-11 score 9.9±1.3 vs. 10.2±1.3, P=0.002). BMI was lower in the elderly subjects who ate alone than those with others. By the multivariate analysis, depression was independently associated with eating alone in the logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, BMI and food diversity as confounding factors (OR: 1.42, CI: 1.00-2.11, P=0.043). Food diversity was also significantly associated even after the adjustment of these confounding factors.

CONCLUSION

Eating alone is an important issue related to depression and QOL as well as dietary status of community-dwellingl elderly in Japan. This study shows the simple and inexpensive way "eating together" may contribute to improve depressive mood of elderly persons, with a strong message that supports of family, friends and neighbors are very important.

[Successful aging: how to improve its occurrence in the elderly?]

OBJECTIVES

To assess the seniors' expectations for acceding to successful aging and the impact of preventive actions.

METHOD

Descriptive study of a representative sample of healthy pensioners using a 20-item questionnaire exploring the difficulties in daily life, the options chosen to achieve successful aging and the impact of preventive actions. Self-rated health feelings and well-being were assessed by visual analogical scales.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was sent to 998 subjects and 651 responses were completed. Mean age of the subjects was 72.9±1.2 years, and 60% were women. Main reported complaints concerned memory loss (20.4%) and mood swings (18.9%). Sleep (82.3%) and physical activity (81.4) were considered as priorities to accede to successful aging. Social activities were significantly more important for subjects with higher educational level than for subjects with lower educational level (p<0.0001). Women and people living alone were more interested in preventive action concerning physical and psychological well-being than men and people living in family (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

A better analysis of the complaints and needs of aging subjects should be useful to ensure successful ageing.

Depression in women aged 75-89--predisposing factors and preventive measures

BACKGROUND

There are analyses showing the relationship between low and irregular physical activity and the risk of more frequent occurrences of depression symptoms in the future. There are studies that do not prove the connection between those two dependencies.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to find the relationship between physical activity before menopause and the occurrence of depression in senium.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was comprised of 200 randomly selected women, aged 75-89 years, who were treated in the local department of general surgery and oncology from January to June 2009. The study used a 15-point Geriatric Depression Scale which is an integral part of the EASY care (Polish version 1999-2002) questionnaire to assess emotional efficiency, and the Questionnaire Survey for Research on Physical Activity in Older People which contains 8 questions. The results were statistically analyzed using a Student's test and basic probabilities calculations.

RESULTS

The probability of depression in women aged 75-89 is 0.8. Increased physical activity in pre-menopausal women neither affects the level of depression, nor prevents it (p < 0.1). Depression was more common in people living alone, in which case the probability is 0.85. Postmenopausal women enjoy a beneficial impact on physical activity in the following areas: previous activity (p < 0.001), family support (p < 0.0001), GP support (p < 0.001), and television education (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Depression among elderly women is very common. In this study, depression was found in 80% of senior women. There is a relationship between depression and physical activity. Increased physical activity in premenopausal women neither affects the level of depression, nor prevents it. There was no correlation between age, weight, education, place of residence and depression. Depression was more common in people living alone.

The Latin American cohabitation boom, 1970–2007

The article describes the rise of unmarried cohabitation in Latin American countries during the last 30 years of the twentieth century, both at the national and regional levels. It documents that this major increase occurred in regions with and without traditional forms of cohabitation alike. In addition, the striking degree of catching up of cohabitation among the better-educated population segments is illustrated. The connections between these trends and economic (periods of high inflation) and cultural (reduction of stigmas in ethical domains) factors are discussed. The conclusion is that the periods of inflation and hyperinflation may have been general catalysts, but no clear indications of correlation were found between such economic factors and the rise in cohabitation. The shift toward more tolerance for hitherto stigmatized forms of conduct (e.g., homosexuality, euthanasia, abortion, singleparent household) is in line with the rise of cohabitation in regions of Argentina, Chile, and Brazil where cohabitation used to be uncommon. Further rises in cohabitation during the first decade of the twenty-first century are expected in a number of countries (e.g., mexico) despite conditions of much lower inflation.

Deliberate self-poisoning: factors associated with recurrent self-poisoning

OBJECTIVE

To investigate potential risk factors associated with the repetition of deliberate self-poisoning (DSP).

METHODS

Retrospective medical record review of all patients who presented to the emergency department of a tertiary teaching hospital after DSP between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2009. Repetition of a suicide attempt was determined from reported episodes before the index episode or from 2 visits to the same hospital during the study period. Demographic information, clinical variables, and other variables at the first suicide attempt were investigated for factors associated with repetition of DSP.

RESULTS

Of the 967 patients, 203 (21%) presented with repeated suicide attempts. Patients with repeat suicide attempts differed in sex, occupation, living condition, method of DSP, history of psychiatric treatment, reversibility, and psychiatric diagnosis. In the multivariate regression analysis, the only reliable associated factors for repeat suicide attempt were sex (P = .001), living condition (P < .001), method of DSP (P < .036), and history of psychiatric treatment (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Early psychological intervention and close observation is required for patients who are female, living without a family, use antidepressants, and have a history of psychiatric treatment.

Experiences of unmarried young abortion-seekers in Bihar and Jharkhand, India

While several studies have documented the prevalence of unprotected pre-marital sex among young people in India, little work has explored one of its likely consequences, unintended pregnancy and abortion. This paper examines the experiences of 26 unmarried young abortion-seekers (aged 15-24) interviewed in depth as part of a larger study of unmarried abortion-seekers at clinics run by an NGO in Bihar and Jharkhand. Findings reveal that recognition of the unintended pregnancy was delayed for many and many who suspected so further delayed acknowledging it. Once recognised, most confided in the partner and, for the most part, partners were supportive; a significant minority, including those who had experienced forced sex, did not have partner support and delayed the abortion until the second trimester of pregnancy. Family support was absent in most cases; where provided, it was largely to protect the family reputation. Finally, unsuccessful attempts to terminate the pregnancy were made by several young women, often with the help of partners or family member. Findings call for programmes for young women and men, their potential partners, parents and families and the health system that will collectively enable unmarried young women to obtain safe abortions in a supportive environment.

Romantic preferences in Brazilian undergraduate students: from the short term to the long term

A number of studies have described different preference patterns typically found for men and women when choosing romantic mates. These vary according to the involvement level expected in the relationship. Despite the number of investigations on the topic, one must be careful not to generalize because most studies use samples composed of North American university undergraduates. This study sought to determine if the preference patterns typically found in other countries also occur among Brazilian undergraduates. The importance of characteristics and modifications in preference patterns under gradually restrictive conditions was also investigated. In general, the results obtained suggest that the preferences found in a number of countries also occur in Brazil. In short-term relationships, men prioritize physical attributes, whereas personal traits gain importance when involvement increases. Women in short-term relationships value physical and personal traits, whereas in the long term, they emphasize personal characteristics and their mate's desire to acquire resources. Resource-related traits were less important than the other traits, and were more important for women than for men.

Determinants of the desire to institutionalize in Alzheimer's caregivers

BACKGROUND

The desire to institutionalize is an important predictor of future institutionalization. Few studies have examined potentially modifiable caregiver characteristics which might be the focus of future interventional strategies.

METHODS

A total of 102 patient/caregiver dyads with Alzheimer's disease (n = 84) or mild cognitive impairment were recruited through a memory clinic. Cross-sectional analyses of a range of patients, caregivers, and context of care-related characteristics were conducted.

RESULTS

Caregiver desire to institutionalize was significantly associated with a number of potentially modifiable variables including caregiver coping style, self-efficacy, depression, burden, and the presence of an unmet service need. In a multivariate analysis, caregiver burden, depression, and nonspousal status were the only significant independent predictors of caregiver desire to institutionalize in a model which correctly classified 80.4% of caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions which seek to reduce caregiver desire to institutionalize should adopt a multifactorial approach to reduce symptoms of burden and depression in caregivers.