Perceived Physical Maturity,Age of Romantic Partner,and Adolescent Risk Behavior

Early pubertal timing and advanced physical maturity for age confer elevated risk for problem behaviors for both boys and girls. However, examinations of possible biological and social mediators have been limited. Using more than 4,000 adolescents under age 15 who participated in Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), we examined the relationship between perceived physical maturity and membership in risk behavior clusters, and tested whether having a romantic partner mediates the maturity/risk behavior relationship. Results of multinomial regression models indicated that for both boys and girls, advanced physical maturity was associated with membership in higher risk clusters, and that having a romantic partner plays an important mediating role in this association. For females, the additional impact of having an older partner, versus any partner at all, was substantial and particularly important for the highest risk clusters. The role of partner age could not be tested for males. Because romantic partners elevate risk for young adolescent males and females, there is a need to identify and understand facets and developmental functions of adolescent romantic relationships that play a role in substance use and sexual decisions.     

Association between perceived discrimination and healthcare–seeking behavior in people with a disability

Background

Experiences of discrimination lead people from vulnerable groups to avoid medical healthcare. It is yet to be known if such experiences affect people with disabilities (PWD) in the same manner.

Associations of perceived stigma,perceived environmental inaccessibility,and self-compassion among people with physical disability in Hong Kong

BackgroundPeople with physical disability are chronically stigmatized. They might internalize ableist attitudes and behaviors that they perceive from others, which can negatively affect social participation and well-being. It is essential to explore potential risk and protective factors associated with stigma perceptions.ObjectiveThe present study proposed and tested the positive associations of perceived environmental inaccessibility and self-coldness with perceived stigma, and the negative associations of self-warmth with perceived stigma, respectively, among people with physical disability in Hong Kong.MethodsA cross-sectional sample of 98 adults with physical disability (42.3% female, mean age = 36.4 years) from 10 nongovernmental organizations in Hong Kong participated in the study. They filled in a self-report questionnaire on perceived stigma, perceived environmental inaccessibility, self-compassion, basic activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and demographics.Main resultsHierarchical multiple regression showed that ADL and IADL alone (Model 1) did not significantly predict perceived stigma. The full model of ADL, IADL, perceived environmental inaccessibility, self-warmth, and self-coldness to predict perceived stigma (Model 2) was significant and explained 53.9% variance in perceived stigma. Perceived environmental inaccessibility and self-coldness were significantly and positively associated with perceived stigma, respectively. Self-warmth was significantly and negatively associated with perceived stigma.ConclusionsThe findings supported the important associations of both external contexts (i.e., as environmental inaccessibility) and internal resources (i.e., as self-compassion) with perceived stigma among people with physical disability. The findings inform future research and three-pronged design approaches to stigma reduction programs for people with physical disability.     

Are romantic partners a source of college students' weight concern?

This study explored the importance of weight in college students' dating relationships and the expression of weight-related concerns between dating romantic partners. In a survey of 554 undergraduates, we found that overweight women were less likely to be dating than their peers, and that weight was positively correlated with relationship satisfaction in men, but negatively correlated with satisfaction in women. We also found that over 30% of students in exclusive relationships had either been told by their partner (or had told their partner) to gain or lose weight. While male partners were typically told to gain weight, female partners were as likely to be told to lose as gain weight. Women's weight-loss attempts and self-esteem were not related to being the targets of these comments, but women told to lose weight reported lower relationship satisfaction; men's self-esteem was not related to being the targets of these comments, but men told to gain weight reported lower relationship satisfaction. Although our results support prior research suggesting that weight is differentially important for men and women in romantic relationships, they challenge the hypothesis that individual romantic partners are a primary source of students' body dissatisfaction and weight concerns.     

What is Essential is Invisible to the Eye: Intimate Relationships of Adolescents with Visual Impairment

We examined the development of intimate relationships in 180 adolescents with visual impairment (VI) and 533 sighted peers. Adolescents with VI reported a later age at the time of first falling in love, dating, and entering into a romantic relationship. However, between-group differences in the timing of first sexual intercourse were not significant. In addition, similar numbers of adolescents from both groups had experiences with falling in love and having romantic relations at the time of assessment. The two groups differed in the criteria for mate selection, and emotional maturity was more important for young people with VI than for their sighted peers while the reverse was found for physical attractiveness and material resources of potential partners. Finally, the two groups did not differ in the perceived quality of their present romantic relationship.     

Partner age differences, educational contexts and adolescent female sexual activity

CONTEXT: Research suggesting that female teenagers who date substantially older males are at increased risk for negative health outcomes supports the need for statutory rape laws. However, prior research has generally ignored the social context of adolescence when examining the risks associated with dating an older partner. METHODS: Data from Waves 1 (1995) and 2 (1996) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used to model the occurrence of sexual intercourse within adolescent heterosexual romantic relationships. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the predictors of sexual intercourse among 4,266 romantically involved female students aged 12–18. RESULTS: Female students with male partners three or more years their senior had higher odds of engaging in sexual intercourse than female students with partners closer to their age (odds ratio, 1.5). However, the association between having an older partner and the risk of sexual intercourse was nonsignificant for females older than 16. Moreover, when male partners’ school status was taken into account, the relationship was no longer significant. Female students with partners who had exited school had elevated odds of having had intercourse compared with females who dated partners in the same school (1.8). CONCLUSIONS: These findings challenge statutory rape laws’ focus on age, given that the association between educational context and sexual risk overrides the association between partner age and sexual risk.     

Dating persons with physical disabilities: the perceptions of South Africans without disabilities

There is good reason to believe that the attitudes of persons without disability towards dating a person with a physical disability might be unfavourable. However, in general, and in the Global South in particular, there is a dearth of research in this area. This study sought to take the first step in addressing this lack of enquiry, by surveying the attitudes of a general population sample in South Africa towards dating people with physical disabilities, using a vignette. Data from 1723 survey respondents were analysed thematically. Findings reveal largely negative attitudes towards people with physical disabilities. Respondents without disability perceived numerous barriers to dating a person with a physical disability, including social stigma, anxiety and concerns about the burden of care they believed such a relationship would place upon them. However, there was some evidence to suggest that some positive attitudes do exist, and a few respondents were open to dating a person with physical disabilities. Findings contribute to a nuancing and expanding of the ‘myth of asexuality’ among physically disabled people by showing that people with physical disabilities are actively desexualised by persons without disability. Future research is needed to explore how the inclusive attitudes, of which we did find evidence here, can be further cultivated.     

Parental Support,Psychological Control,and Early Adolescents' Relationships with Friends and Dating Partners

Interdependence and social exchange theories were used to explore parent–adolescent relationship quality and early adolescents' relationships with close friends and dating partners. Associations among adolescents' perceptions of parental support and psychological control, peer relationship experiences (communication, emotional support, and possessiveness), and peer relationship satisfaction were examined using a test‐replication design. Our largely African American and female samples ranged from age 11 to 15. Results indicated the parenting variables were directly related to peer relationship experiences, which, in turn, predicted relationship satisfaction. The association between parental support and relationship satisfaction was mediated by peer communication and emotional support. Limited moderation by gender and relationship type was found. Parental psychological control mattered more for female and parental support more for male adolescents' close peer relationships. Dating partner possessiveness was most detrimental for females' relationship satisfaction, whereas communication influenced relationship satisfaction most for females reporting on friends and males reporting on dating partners.     

Adolescent obesity,overt and relational peer victimization,and romantic relationships

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between obesity and peer relations in adolescents, specifically testing the hypotheses that obese adolescents are more frequent victims of peer aggression and are less likely to develop romantic relationships. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Measures of overt and relational victimization, as well as dating status and satisfaction, were collected for a group of 416 ninth- through twelfth-grade students (51.7% girls). Body mass index was computed for each teen based on self-reported height and weight data. RESULTS: Results revealed that obese boys reported more overt victimization and obese girls reported more relational victimization compared with their average-weight peers. Obese girls were also less likely to date than their peers. However, both obese boys and girls reported being more dissatisfied with their dating status compared with average-weight peers. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that obese adolescents are at greater risk for mistreatment by peers and may have fewer opportunities to develop intimate romantic relationships; this may contribute to the psychological and health difficulties frequently associated with obesity.     

Casual Sex and Psychological Health Among Young Adults: Is Having “Friends with Benefits” Emotionally Damaging?

CONTEXT: Speculation in public discourse suggests that sexual encounters outside a committed romantic relationship may be emotionally damaging for young people, and federal abstinence education policy has required teaching that sexual activity outside of a marital relationship is likely to have harmful psychological consequences. METHODS: In 2003–2004, a diverse sample of 1,311 sexually active young adults (mean age, 20.5) participating in a longitudinal study in Minnesota completed a survey including measures of sexual behavior and psychological wellbeing. Chi‐square tests were used to compare the prevalence of recent casual partnerships by selected demographic and personal categories. General linear modeling was then used to compare mean levels of each psychological wellbeing measure between those reporting recent casual partners and those reporting committed partners; partner type was measured both dichotomously and categorically. RESULTS: One‐fifth of participants reported that their most recent sex partner was a casual partner (i.e., casual acquaintance or close but nonexclusive partner). Casual partnerships were more common among men than among women (29% vs. 14%), and the proportions of male and female respondents reporting a recent casual partner diff ered by race or ethnicity. Scores of psychological well‐being were generally consistent across sex partner categories, and no significant associations between partner type and well‐being were found in adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults who engage in casual sexual encounters do not appear to be at greater risk for harmful psychological outcomes than sexually active young adults in more committed relationships.     

Dating Issues for Women with Physical Disabilities

A study of dating issues for 250 single women with physical disabilities and 180 single women without disabilities was undertaken to determine (a) differences between women with and without disabilities and (b) predictors of dating outcomes for women with disabilities. A survey was sent to a national sample of women with disabilities along with a similar survey to give to a female friend without a disability. Dating outcomes included (a) satisfaction with dating frequency, (b) perceived constraints on attracting partners, (c) perceived personal barriers to dating, (d) perceived societal barriers to dating, and (e) perceived communication problems. Women with disabilities were disadvantaged on all but (e). Between 21% and 47% of the variance in the outcomes was accounted for in multiple regression analyses. Potential interventions suggested by the findings are discussed.     

Longitudinal effects of health-harming and health-protective behaviors within adolescent romantic dyads

Most models exploring adolescent health behavior have focused on individual influences to understand behavior change. The goal of the current study was to assess the role of adolescent romantic partners on the expression of health behavior. Our sample utilized two waves of data from the U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which included 80 romantic dyads (160 individuals). A longitudinal multilevel analysis was conducted. We assessed individual and romantic partner health-harming behaviors (i.e., delinquency, alcohol use, smoking, and marijuana use), health-protective behaviors (i.e., physical activity, physical inactivity, sleep patterns, seatbelt use, and contraception motivations), as well as the role of gender and age. Participants average age was 16 years at baseline. We found evidence for partner similarity and partner influence with the majority of health-harming behaviors. Specifically, partner influence was evident for smoking and alcohol use with partner influence approaching significance for marijuana use. We found limited evidence for partner similarity and partner influence for health-protective behaviors. The importance of assessing romantic dyads was evident in these data. Interventions focusing on health-harming behavior for adolescent populations are important public health goals. It is recommended that future intervention efforts with adolescent health-harming behaviors should target not only peers, but also consider the role of romantic partners.     

Stigma's Effect on Social Interaction and Social Media Activity

Stigmatized topics, such as HIV/STD, likely constrain related information sharing in ways that should be apparent in social interactions both on and off the Internet. Specifically, the authors predicted that the more people perceive an issue as stigmatized, the less likely they are to talk about the issue both privately (with sexual partners and peers) and publicly (on Twitter). Study 1 tested the effect of stigma on conversations at the individual level: The authors asked a group of participants (N = 138) about perceived STD-testing stigma, interactions with a sexual partner, and conversations with peers about STD testing. Study 2 assessed whether health conditions, in the aggregate, were less likely to generate social media activity as a function of current stigmatization. Using 259,758 archived Twitter posts mentioning 13 medical conditions, the authors tested whether level of stigma predicted the volume of relevant social media conversation, controlling for each condition's amount of advocacy and Google search popularity from a user's perspective. Findings supported our hypotheses. Individuals who reported perceiving a given health conditions in more stigmatic ways also reported interacting less with others about that topic; Twitter results showed a similar pattern. Results also suggest a more complex story of influence, as funding from the National Institutes of Health (i.e., each conditions amount of advocacy) associated with the examined health conditions also predicted Twitter activity. Overall, these results indicated that stigma had a similar, dampening effect on face-to-face and Twitter interactions. Findings hold theoretical and practical implications, which are discussed.     

The impact of stigma on maternal attitudes toward placement of children with disabilities in residential care facilities

This study examines willingness to consider placement of children with disabilities in residential care facilities among 81 mothers of children with disabilities. Perceived stigma is added to the Andersen and Newman model of health service utilization in order to evaluate its impact on placement attitudes controlling for predisposing, enabling and need characteristics and health beliefs. Findings of regression analyses suggest that older, single mothers of more severely disabled children are more likely than other mothers to consider residential placement and that adequate finances and residential stability may reduce this willingness. When these variables are controlled, the expectation that people with disabilities will be stigmatized by others in the community increases willingness to consider placement and does so by increasing the degree of caregiver burden experienced. Results also suggest, however, that among mothers of young children, specific aspects of perceived stigma have direct affects on willingness to consider placement even when perceived burden is controlled.     

Parasocial romantic relationships,romantic beliefs,and relationship outcomes in USA adolescents: rehearsing love or setting oneself up to fail?

The study examines the associations between adolescents’ emotional and physical aspects of parasocial romantic relationships with media figures, idealized romantic beliefs, perceptions of a current dating partner, and relationship satisfaction. A two-study design included concurrent data from 153 adolescents ages 13–17 (55.6% female), and retrospective data from 274 college students ages 18–22 (79.8% female). Across both samples, emotional involvement in a PSRR was related to more idealized romantic beliefs. The intensity of emotional involvement with the media figure during adolescence was associated with lower relationship satisfaction and less favorable perceptions of a current romantic partner in college students. However, there were no significant associations between physical attraction to the media figure and relationship outcomes.     

Romantic interest in obese college students

This study compares romantic interest in obese and non-obese students. We surveyed 1217 college students on their demographic characteristics, self-perceptions (self-loathing and drive for thinness), and romantic selectivity. Obese people (especially women) showed strongly negative self-perceptions. Obese people and women were less likely to be selective about the physical traits of their potential partners than nonobese people and men. Obese women preferred overweight (but not obese) partners. Obese men preferred partners in the normal weight range. Results suggest that obesity is associated with predictable alterations in one's romantic attraction to others.