Acceptability of vaginal microbicides among female sex workers and their intimate male partners in two Mexico–US border cities: A mixed methods analysis

Female sex workers (FSWs) may benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) including microbicides for HIV prevention. Since adherence is a key factor in PrEP efficacy, we explored microbicide acceptability and potential barriers to use within FSWs’ intimate relationships in Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, where HIV prevalence is increasing. FSWs and their verified intimate (non-commercial) male partners completed quantitative and qualitative interviews from 2010 to 2012. Our complementary mixed methods design followed an iterative process to assess microbicide acceptability, explore related relationship dynamics and identify factors associated with concern about male partners’ anger regarding microbicide use. Among 185 couples (n=370 individuals), interest in microbicides was high. In qualitative interviews with 28 couples, most participants were enthusiastic about microbicides for sex work contexts but some explained that microbicides could imply mistrust/infidelity within their intimate relationships. In the overall sample, nearly one in six participants (16%) worried that male partners would become angry about microbicides, which was associated with higher self-esteem among FSWs and lower self-esteem and past year conflicts causing injury within relationships among men. HIV prevention interventions should consider intimate relationship dynamics posing potential barriers to PrEP acceptability and adherence, involve male partners and promote risk communication skills.     

Sexual Relationships with Educators

Abstract

This study of sexually oriented relationships between educators/field instructors and their students/supervisees was conceptualized to add to existing knowledge of the incidence and impact on master of social work students of sexually intimate relationships, sexual advances, and first-hand knowledge of such relationships. The present study gathers data from male and female subjects regarding sexual contact experiences with educators/field instructors during masters-level training and reports both the extent and perceptions of the impact of such relationships both at the time of the contact and at present. For comparative purposes, random samples were used from two national professional organizations both comprised of primarily masters-level practitioners. Most similar previous studies within mental-health professions have focused exclusively on doctoral-level experiences and female subjects.     

What do mothers want to know about teens' activities? Levels,trajectories, and correlates

Middle class mothers (n = 169) of middle adolescents (M = 15.69 years old) in the U.S. rated how much they want to know and responded qualitatively about what they “always” and “never” want to know about adolescents' risky prudential (e.g., drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs), personal (e.g., teens' private conversations), and multifaceted (involving overlapping prudential and personal concerns) activities. Latent growth curve modeling over one year showed that mothers wanted to know most about prudential, less about multifaceted, and least about personal activities; wanting to know declined over time for each type of activity, but less for prudential than for other activities. With teen problem behavior controlled, psychologically controlling parenting, supportive and negative interactions with teens, knowledge of adolescents' activities, and teens' age were associated with individual differences in mothers' initial ratings and trajectories of wanting to know, although results varied by domain and were moderated by teen gender.     

The relationship between early maladaptive schemas and interpersonal problems: A meta‐analytic review

Early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) have been hypothesized to be associated with interpersonal problems. Furthermore, a stronger contention is that EMSs impact negatively on, or cause, interpersonal problems. The aims of this meta‐analysis were (a) to assess the strength of the association between EMSs and interpersonal problems, (b) clarify which EMSs are most strongly associated with interpersonal problems, (c) examine any possible moderators on the relationship between EMSs and interpersonal problems, and (d) examine whether any empirical evidence exists supporting a causal relationship between EMSs and interpersonal problems. A comprehensive systematic literature search and meta‐analysis were conducted using the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. A total of 49 empirical studies were reviewed investigating EMSs and interpersonal problems. EMSs were found to have a moderate positive association with interpersonal problems with different EMSs having small to moderate effect sizes. To date, there has been limited evidence supporting a causal effect of EMSs on interpersonal problems. Possible limitations and avenues for future research were discussed.     

Peer-relationship patterns and their association with types of child abuse and adolescent risk behaviors among youth at-risk of maltreatment

IntroductionThis study investigates underlying patterns of peer relationships using diverse concepts (i.e., peer dynamics, peer popularity, and deviant peer affiliation). It also examines whether the patterns of peer relationships differ by type of child abuse, as well as the association between peer relationships and adolescent risk behaviors.MethodsThis study included a sample of 659 youth (328 boys, 331 girls) at-risk of maltreatment, primarily low-income and living in the U.S. Peer dynamics were assessed using five separate components (self-report). Peer popularity was measured using teacher's estimation of child's peer status. Deviant peer affiliation was assessed using a modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior and Monitoring the Future Survey. Each type of abuse was assessed at age 12 using a self-report method. Self-reported adolescent sexual risk behaviors and substance use were assessed at age 16.ResultsLatent class analysis identified 4 distinct patterns: 1) Friendly, with prosocial peer groups (10.2%); 2) Socially ignored, with prosocial peer groups (55.2%); 3) Severely antisocial peer groups (6.8%); and 4) Moderately antisocial peer groups (27.8%). Among all types of child abuse, emotionally abused youth were more likely to be involved in severely antisocial peer groups. Additionally, youth in the severely antisocial peer groups were more likely to exhibit adolescent risk behaviors.ConclusionsThese findings argue clearly for the need to gain a deeper understanding of the role played by peer relationships, and of the effect of emotional abuse on the likelihood of membership in severely antisocial peer groups.     

Partner Support and Changes in Relationships During Life-Threatening Illness

Abstract

This study aimed to establish the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among cancer patients' caregivers and to identify markers of risk. Using the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule (a standardized psychiatric interview), the authors assessed 222 caregivers retrospectively. Thirty-one caregivers (14%) had developed an affective disorder during the two years since the patients' initial cancer diagnoses. Caregivers who were the patient's partner were more likely to develop anxiety, depression, or both when their ill spouse had developed these symptoms. Notably, the prevalence of affective disorders among female caregivers was comparable to the prevalence among patients (23%). Female nonpartner caregivers developed disorders as frequently as partners did. Female caregivers with a prior history of affective disorder who reported more illness-related concerns appeared to be at particular risk, providing useful markers for clinical practice.     

Brain circuits involved in understanding our own and other’s internal states in the context of romantic relationships

ABSTRACT

Social interactions require the capacity to understand both our and other’s internal states. These semi-independent skills, the ability to understand oneself and others, seem to rely on the same type of representations and recruit similar brain areas. In this study, we looked at the neural basis of self and other processing in the context of an interaction with a significant other. Fourty-two participants in a monogamous relationship completed an fMRI task in which they watched a set of video-vignettes of his/her romantic partner expressing emotional contents. Participants were asked to elaborate on his/her spouse´s experience (other condition) and on his/her own experience when watching the video-vignettes (self-condition). The results showed a significant overlap in the brain activation for both conditions (e.g. anterior insula, posterior cingulate/precuneus, inferior frontal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule). In addition, the self-condition recruited brain areas associated with interoceptive processing and affect sharing (e.g., posterior insula), whereas the other-condition engaged brain areas involved in the cognitive representation of another’s internal states and self-other distinction (e.g., fusiform, supramarginal gyrus, angular gyrus and temporoparietal junction).     

Rejection sensitivity and adolescents' perceptions of romantic interactions

Rejection sensitivity – the tendency to expect, perceive, and overreact to rejection by others – is linked with individuals' expectations that their romantic partners' behaviors have negative intent, even if, perhaps, such behaviors could be considered neutral when observed by another. The aim of the present study was to test this proposition, derived from rejection sensitivity theory, using a Video-Recall Procedure with adolescent couples in the US (N = 386 adolescents, 50% girls). We examined whether adolescents who were more sensitive to rejection perceived their romantic partners' behaviors as more conflictual than when viewed by trained, third-party observers. Findings suggest that, at the micro-analytic level, higher rejection sensitivity is associated with adolescents' heightened perception of their romantic partners as conflictual when compared to observers, who more often coded the same behaviors as neutral rather than conflictual. Implications for adolescent mental health and well-being are discussed.