-
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Sep 2023
Topics: Humans; Marriage
PubMed: 37647367
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312672120 -
Psychological Science Jan 2024This article presents new evidence on the prevalence, dynamics, and hedonic correlates of experienced love from data describing the emotion, well-being, and time use of...
This article presents new evidence on the prevalence, dynamics, and hedonic correlates of experienced love from data describing the emotion, well-being, and time use of a diverse sample of 3,867 U.S. adults every half hour for 10 days ( = 1.12 million) supplemented by a hedonic snapshot of an additional 7,255 adults. The findings allude to the seemingly functional and adaptive nature of love and to similarities across binary gender-men and women reported comparable degrees of (passionate) partner love overall, elevated partner love after prolonged same-day separations, substantially elevated well-being in love's presence, and reduced (but not extinguished) partner love in mature marital cohorts. The gender differences that were found-women reported more child love than men, and men exhibited a less pronounced reduction in partner love across cohorts-are also consistent with functional accounts of love that recognize the varying role of men and women in the formation and sustenance of relationships.
Topics: Adult; Male; Child; Humans; Female; Love; Emotions; Marriage; Sex Factors
PubMed: 38150598
DOI: 10.1177/09567976231211267 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023Hereditary blood diseases are widespread among the Arab population due to the high rates of consanguineous marriages; research regarding the perception of consanguineous...
BACKGROUND
Hereditary blood diseases are widespread among the Arab population due to the high rates of consanguineous marriages; research regarding the perception of consanguineous marriage in some countries, such as Qatar, is extremely scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of consanguineous marriage and assess the perception of consanguineous marriage among the Qatari population.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study used a self-administered questionnaire among 395 Qatari adults aged 18-35 who attended primary healthcare institutions in Qatar. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the study participants. An independent -test was used to compare the significance of the mean between the two groups with positive and negative perceptions of consanguineous marriage. Categorical data were analyzed for association using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Finally, a multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the significant predictors of the positive perception of consanguineous marriage. A significant level was set at < 0.05.
RESULTS
Approximately 45% of the participants had a positive perception toward consanguineous marriage, and the most common reason stated by those participants was "habit and traditions." The prevalence of consanguineous marriage among married couples was 62.6%, and among those with consanguineous marriage, most were married to first cousins (81.7%). Moreover, compared to the participants with negative perceptions of consanguineous marriage, those with positive ones were significantly older, married, with lower educational levels and higher monthly income levels, did not hear about glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, did not know what kinds of diseases are being screened in the premarital test, and were married to a relative.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of consanguineous marriage is high among the Qatari population, and this requires an immediate need for community-based campaigns to raise public awareness about the problem and its potential impact.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Arabs; Consanguinity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Family; Perception; Qatar; Middle Eastern People
PubMed: 37601216
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1228010 -
Revue Medicale Suisse Oct 2023The acceptance of "marriage for all" in Switzerland has enabled married couples to have access to medically assisted reproduction (MAR) through sperm donation from July...
The acceptance of "marriage for all" in Switzerland has enabled married couples to have access to medically assisted reproduction (MAR) through sperm donation from July 2022. We present the Swiss legal context of sperm donation, the different techniques, the selection of donors and the method of attribution to recipient couples. This article also describes the complexities of managing a sperm bank in Switzerland, presents some of the figures associated and address the fundamental question of access to origins and the secrecy that may be linked to sperm donation.
Topics: Humans; Male; Switzerland; Semen; Tissue and Organ Procurement; Tissue Donors; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 37850802
DOI: 10.53738/REVMED.2023.19.846.1906 -
BMC Psychology Aug 2023Emotional divorce occurs when a couple continues to live together due to necessity and coercion but they do not have a positive or constructive relationship, which...
BACKGROUND
Emotional divorce occurs when a couple continues to live together due to necessity and coercion but they do not have a positive or constructive relationship, which negatively affects the stability of married life. Due to the low social acceptance of a formal divorce in the Saudi society, emotional divorce is common in several families. The rigidity of feelings and emotions within the family and the inability to express them may indicate the presence of alexithymia, which could result in the collapse of the family system and place the people involved at risk of mental health problems such as depression. Therefore, it is important to determine the prevalence of emotional divorce among married women in Saudi Arabia and to examine the relationship between emotional divorce and alexithymia.
METHODS
Data were collected from 305 married women in Saudi Arabia (M = 33.24 years; SD = 4.87 years), using the Emotional Divorce Scale and the Alexithymia Scale.
RESULTS
Results revealed that 78.36% of the participants experienced moderate to severe levels of emotional divorce. Working women, those who had been married for more than ten years, and those with five or more children exhibited a higher incidence of emotional divorce as compared to their counterparts. A linear regression analysis indicated that alexithymia was significantly associated with emotional divorce in this sample.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest the need for examining the negative consequences of emotional divorce on the family and society. Additionally, it is important to educate young individuals of marriageable age about the nature of married life, and ways to deal with problems that occur. Finally, couples should be encouraged to express their positive and negative emotions with their spouse to build the marital relationship, and achieve compatibility and marital satisfaction.
Topics: Child; Humans; Female; Adult; Child, Preschool; Divorce; Marriage; Saudi Arabia; Affective Symptoms; Emotions
PubMed: 37533120
DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01236-w -
PloS One 2023This paper studies whether unilateral divorce affects women's welfare. Unilateral divorce refers to a divorce regime where each of the spouses can dissolve the marriage...
This paper studies whether unilateral divorce affects women's welfare. Unilateral divorce refers to a divorce regime where each of the spouses can dissolve the marriage unilaterally (i.e. without mutual consent). First, it builds a simple theoretical model that finds that women are better off under unilateral divorce than under mutual consent. Second, it makes use of data from the U.S. between 2003 and 2014 to explore empirically whether unilateral divorce affects the amount of time women devote to three different activities that might be seen as proxies of their level of welfare, such as, housework, leisure and relaxing activities, and personal care. We find causal evidence suggesting that unilateral divorce improves women's welfare. Namely, it reduces housework carried out by women, while it increases their amount of time devoted to leisure and relaxing activities, and personal care. Further results suggest these changes are not due to improvements in gender equality per se. Moreover, we find that the decrease in housework and the surges in leisure and relaxing activities are permanent, whereas the increase in personal care is temporary. These findings are important from a policy perspective to motivate the introduction of unilateral divorce laws.
Topics: Female; Humans; Divorce; Socioeconomic Factors; Women's Rights; Marriage; Spouses
PubMed: 37878576
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289154 -
The Journal of Sexual Medicine Dec 2023Unconsummated marriage (UCM) is the inability of the heterosexual married couple to have penovaginal sexual intercourse.
BACKGROUND
Unconsummated marriage (UCM) is the inability of the heterosexual married couple to have penovaginal sexual intercourse.
AIM
The study sought to systematically review current evidence regarding the etiological factors and clinical management of UCM.
METHODS
A comprehensive bibliographic search on the MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was performed in June 2023. Studies were selected if they described married couples who never had sexual intercourse in case report or case series evaluating the related causes and/or management and reporting data with qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. The review was reported according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses) statement and registered in PROSPERO with ID CRD42023433040.
RESULTS
A total of 27 studies including 1638 males and 1587 females were selected. Eight (29.6%) articles were case reports involving a single couple and 19 (70.4%) studies were case series. Mean Murad score was 4.1 (range, 1-8) showing low-intermediate overall study quality. All articles had a level of evidence of 4. Most of studies were conducted in Egypt (n = 5 [18.4%]), Israel (n = 4 [14.9%]), and the United States (n = 4 [14.9%]). The mean age of males and females varied between 24.2 and 37.6 years and from 21 to 27.4 years, respectively. The reasons for the medical visit that led to the diagnosis of UCM were inability to consummate in 23 (85.2%) studies, inability to conceive in 1 (3.7%) article, and mixed in 3 (11.1%) articles. The mean duration of UCM varied from 7 days to 3.5 years. Eight studies involving both men and women showed that vaginismus (8.4%-81%) and erectile dysfunction (10.5%-61%) were the most common causes of UCM. Three articles reported that 16.6% to 26% of all UCM cases were due to both male and female factors. Sildenafil, tadalafil, intracavernosal injection, penile plication, female genital reconstructive surgery, vaginal dilators, lubricants, psychosexual therapy, and sex education were the various treatment modalities in 27 studies to achieve consummation rate of 66.6% to 100%.
STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS
A strength is that this is the first systematic review covering the entire spectrum of UCM. Limitations comprised the low quality of most of the included articles and the large percentage of UCM cases probably not published.
CONCLUSION
Erectile dysfunction and vaginismus are the most reported causes of UCM; however, a strong psychological component certainly underlies a significant number of cases. A multidisciplinary approach based on strategic integration of sex education, medical therapy, psychosexual support, and surgical treatment would seem the most suitable option to manage couples with UCM.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Young Adult; Coitus; Dyspareunia; Erectile Dysfunction; Marriage; Sex Education; Vaginismus
PubMed: 37952223
DOI: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdad146 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2024Sexual satisfaction and attitudes toward marital infidelity are crucial components of marital quality and well-being. This study investigates the impact of social media...
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Sexual satisfaction and attitudes toward marital infidelity are crucial components of marital quality and well-being. This study investigates the impact of social media and entertainment preferences on these aspects among married couples in Iran, acknowledging the sociocultural nuances unique to the region.
METHOD AND MATERIAL
A cross-sectional survey design was employed, gathering data from 1,756 married participants through an online questionnaire in Iran. Variables included social media and entertainment preferences, sexual satisfaction, attitude toward marital infidelity, and demographic details. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test), and GLM (Generalized linear model) were used for exploration.
RESULTS
Key results reveal significant associations between demographic factors, social media usage, and attitudes toward marital infidelity. Notable trends include higher sexual satisfaction among younger participants (p < 0.05), those with shorter marital durations (p < 0.01), and those residing outside Tehran (p < 0.001). Attitudes toward marital infidelity were influenced by gender, age, ethnicity, income levels, and social media habits, reflecting a complex interplay of factors. The GLM analysis emphasizes the impact of variables such as marital duration, ethnicity, spouse's education, Iranian social media usage, and attitudes toward marital infidelity on sexual satisfaction. Participants with shorter marriages (p < 0.01), higher spouse education (p < 0.05), and more frequent Iranian social media usage (p < 0.001) reported higher sexual satisfaction.
CONCLUSIONS
This study explores the dynamics of marital relationships in Iran, examining the interconnections between demographics, media habits, sexual satisfaction, and attitudes toward infidelity. The findings provide valuable insights into factors influencing marital satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of considering cultural contexts. Robust statistical methods, including Generalized Linear Models, support the reliability of results. The study contributes to understanding non-western marital dynamics, highlighting implications for research and interventions in the digital age.
Topics: Humans; Social Media; Iran; Male; Adult; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Marriage; Middle Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; Personal Satisfaction; Young Adult; Sexual Behavior; Attitude; Spouses
PubMed: 38918725
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19073-w -
BMC Public Health Oct 2023Depression is a common mental health problem all over the world including Bangladesh. World Health Organization included it in the Mental Health Gap Action Programme as...
BACKGROUND
Depression is a common mental health problem all over the world including Bangladesh. World Health Organization included it in the Mental Health Gap Action Programme as one of its priority conditions. Research on this issue is scanty in Bangladesh. Therefore, we designed to a gender-based household study on associated factors of depression among married adults in Rajshahi City of Bangladesh.
METHODS
We conducted this household cross-sectional study from August 01 to October 31, 2019. A total of 708 married adults currently living together in Rajshahi City were recruited for this study. We applied a multi-stage random sampling technique for selecting samples and used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect necessary information from them. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used for measuring depression and frequency distribution and binary logistic regression model were used for data analysis.
RESULTS
The prevalence of depression (moderate to severe) was 14.4% (95% CI: 11.9-16.9) among married adults, and females (21.2%, 95% CI: 17.2-25.4) suffered more than males (7.6%, 95% CI: 4.8-10.5). A multiple binary logistic regression model established four main factors of depression among married females: (i) multiple marriage [AOR = 19.982; 95% CI: 10.081-39.610; p < 0.01]; (ii) poor relationship with spouse [AOR = 2.175; 95%CI: 1.068-4.428; p < 0.05]; (iii) chronic medical comorbidity [AOR = 1.876; 95%CI: 1.009-2.626; p < 0.05]; and (iv) 7-12 years duration of conjugal life [AOR = 2.091, 1.009-4.334; p < 0.05]. Two main factors of depression among married males were (i) multiple marriage [AOR = 24.605; 95% CI: 20.228-40.402; p < 0.01] and hard work [AOR = 4.358; 95%CI: 1.109-7.132; p < 0.05].
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of depression was significantly high among the study population, and females were the most vulnerable group. The concerned authorities and stakeholders should take appropriate measures to manage the problem with special focus on the risk factors and the vulnerable groups.
Topics: Male; Female; Adult; Humans; Marriage; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Bangladesh; Risk Factors; Prevalence
PubMed: 37875899
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16979-9 -
BMC Public Health Dec 2023The postponement of parenthood is a global public health issue that has received attention of many public health experts. However, few studies have investigated the...
BACKGROUND
The postponement of parenthood is a global public health issue that has received attention of many public health experts. However, few studies have investigated the postponement in marriage age, marriage and conception interval, and pregnancy age in terms of demographic and regional heterogenicities.
METHODS
This is a cross-sectional, registry-based study, and a total of 13 894 601 nulliparous couples who participated in the National Free Pre-Pregnancy Check-ups Project and became pregnant during 2013-2019 were included. We calculated annual percentage change and forest plots for marriage age, marriage and conception interval, and pregnancy age.
RESULTS
Late marriage (marriage age ≥ 35 years), long marriage and conception interval (marriage and conception interval ≥ 2 years), and advanced pregnancy (pregnancy age ≥ 35 years) increased from 1.20%, 22.01%, and 1.88% in 2013 to 1.69%, 32.75%, and 2.79% in 2019, respectively. The corresponding annual percentage changes were 6.55%, 8.44%, and 8.17%. Participants without higher education had a higher annual percentage change, but comparable prevalence for long marriage and conception interval with participants with higher education. Participants residing in second- or new first-tier cities, and the northeast of China who had a higher prevalence of parenthood postponement also had higher corresponding annual percentage changes.
CONCLUSIONS
Structural postponement of parenthood with demographic and regional heterogenicities was observed among Chinese nulliparous couples with planned pregnancies during 2013-2019. Inclusive and comprehensive parenting support should be developed and implemented in mainland China to minimize the negative health effects arising from the postponement, especially for couples without higher education and living in new first/second-tier cities or the northeast China.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; East Asian People; Family Planning Services; Marriage; Population Dynamics; Parenting
PubMed: 38049775
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17380-2