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In the patrilineal culture of the Batak tribe, marriage is a societal expectation for adult men, and remaining unmarried can lead to significant pressure, resulting in feelings of frustration and failure. Religiosity and self-compassion are believed to positively impact the psychological well-being of unmarried early adult men within the Batak tribe. This study aims to explore the influence of religiosity and self-compassion on the psychological well-being of these men. The research involved 66 participants who were early adult, unmarried, and of Batak ethnicity. The instruments used in the study included scales for religiosity, self-compassion, and psychological well-being, with data analyzed through multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate that: 1) religiosity does not significantly influence psychological well-being, and 2) self-compassion has a positive impact on psychological well-being. It is recommended that unmarried early adult men in the Batak tribe enhance their self-compassion by cultivating positive self-assessment and self-respect in various situations, particularly in response to the stress of being unmarried. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The #MeToo movement became an important historical moment around the globe, illuminating the pervasive spectrum of sexual harm. This, however, did not exist without significant backlash, backlash which became one of the defining features of our study with men. We individually interviewed 31 single, heterosexual men about their experiences and understandings of contemporary masculinity, singleness and heterosexuality. During this process, participants talked significantly about the #MeToo movement and women's accounts of sexual violence, with a focus on the implications this might have for men and dating. Using a critical discursive approach, our analysis of men's talk was patterned by three interpretive repertoires: I just don't understand...; You can't do anything anymore!; and She's really only got herself to blame... Our analysis suggests that while #MeToo has succeeded in starting a conversation about sexual violence, work still needs to be done in interrupting traditional victim-blaming discourses, as exemplified though our data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the effect of marriage entry on annual net rather than gross earnings across different institutional settings. Background: Previous research focused on men's gross wage marital premium to explore whether selection or specialization explains premiums. However, gross wages do not reflect disposable resources because taxes still have to be deducted. As the tax treatment varies across countries and by marital status, it is also relevant to consider such aspects. Method: We use panel data from the United States (PSID), Germany (SOEP), and the United Kingdom (UKHLS) to examine annual male net earnings changes over marriage entry using fixed effect models with individual slopes. The models enable us to assess marriage‐related net earnings while adjusting for heterogeneous age slopes before marriage in addition to any time‐constant heterogeneity. Our sample contains 3244 US men, 4581 German men, and 7140 British men. Results: Our results reveal a male marital net earnings premium only in Germany—a country with sizeable institutional marriage privileges. We go on to show heterogeneity in marriage effects by cohort, partner's education, and children. Results highlight that men from earlier cohorts and those married to partners with low education tend to benefit more. Conclusion: Results add novel insights to our understanding of marital premiums and highlight the relevance of tax policy contexts as an institutional driver underlying marital premiums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research on singlehood has largely focused on the experiences of single women, and little is known about singlehood among men. The current investigation examined the experience of long-term singlehood through individual, semi-structured interviews with 22 never-married single men living in Poland who were aged 22–43 years. Thematic analysis revealed five key themes: (1) the sense of being deficient—is there something wrong with me?; (2) navigating outside the dominant discourse of traditional masculinity, marriage and family; (3) the benefits and downsides of singlehood; (4) adaptation to singlehood; and (5) the dilemma between waiting and actively searching for a romantic partner. An analysis of single men's narratives revealed that men experience their single status in the context of their various needs and hopes and as a status that determines their adult life course. This study contributes to the singlehood literature, highlighting the complexity of singlehood for men and the importance of traditional masculinity norms in experiencing long-term singlehood. These findings challenge stereotypical and unrealistic views of singlehood among men and have practical implications for psychotherapists, counsellors and educators working with single men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single parent adoption (SPA) is a relatively new construct worldwide and in India. The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, has laid down criteria for adoption in general and SPA in particular, in conjunction with the Juvenile Justice Act (Care and Protection of Children), 2015. There is scant literature on this topic of SPA, more so in India, that looks into the various psychological nuances of SPA from a mental health professional's (MHP) perspective. This review paper aims to assess SPA from the perspective of a MHP that will focus on its various legal nuances as well as the psychological connotations attached to it. For this, a search strategy was employed that included a thorough literature search from two databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) with relevant keywords related to the topic. The various legal issues pertaining to SPA in the current scenario, the psychological issues and challenges faced by single parents, the behavioral outcomes of adoptees who are adopted by single parents, and ways to deal with the various obstacles of SPA are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweden is among the countries with the highest share of single households in Europe, but not all are truly partnerless. We examine the potential vulnerability of individuals in living-apart-together relationships at age 30 and above, analyzing data from the Swedish GGS. We apply multinomial logistic regression. The results show that individuals engaging in LAT occupy an intermediate position in terms of socioeconomic resources (homeownership and economic situation), being less advantaged than co-residents but better-off than singles, especially men. We find no association between ill-health and living in a LAT arrangement. Having previous family experiences (unions with or without children) is positively associated with LAT, but childhood family composition does not matter. The majority of LAT individuals claim to be constrained to living-apart-together rather than LAT being their preferred alternative. Women and the elderly (aged 70+) are, however, more likely to engage in LAT by choice and appreciate their non-residential partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hypothesis: Gender imbalance in rural China intensifies marriage market competition, prompting migration among unmarried rural males. • Migration motivation: Unmarried males migrate to urban areas to increase income and improve marriage prospects. • Individual analysis: A one standard deviation rise in sex ratio increases rural unmarried males' migration likelihood by 3.6%. • Broader trends: Higher sex ratios explain about 25% of the increase in rural–urban migration from 2000 to 2010. • Data basis: Findings draw from 2013 CHIP survey and 2010 Census data on rural migration patterns and sex ratio effects. This paper examines how sex ratio imbalance (more males than females) affects individual temporary migration decisions and broad migration trends at the county level in China. Due to the country's one-child policy, strong son preference, and prenatal sex selection, rural areas have a surplus of unmarried males, leading to intensified competition for marriage partners. To enhance their attractiveness for marriage, unmarried males and households with unmarried sons have incentives to migrate to urban areas and accumulate wealth. Using data from a nationally representative Chinese household income survey and population census, we find that a one standard deviation increase in the local sex ratio raises rural unmarried males' likelihood of temporary migration by 3.6 percentage points. Additionally, county-level evidence suggests that the increase in the local sex ratio can account for about 25% of the increase in temporary rural–urban migration during 2000–2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across literature on loneliness and ageing, little attention is given to the intersection of ageing, sexuality and masculinities, and how this shapes the social connections of older men. We report findings from a qualitative study of older men's experiences of loneliness and social participation, focusing on perspectives from two groups who are single and/or living alone: men identifying as (a) heterosexual and (b) gay (not bisexual). We present findings generated from semi-structured interviews with 72 men residing in England (65–95 years). We discuss three prominent themes: (a) loneliness, loss and social dislocation; (b) diverging life-events that trigger loneliness; and (c) variations in visibility and exclusion across social settings. Embedded within men's descriptions of loneliness is a running theme of social dislocation that speaks to a wider sense of social separation and estrangement. Unique to gay men's accounts are the ways in which experiences of loneliness and social isolation are compounded by living in heteronormative social environments and their encounters with ageism in gay social settings. Older men's accounts convey anxieties about visibility and anticipated exclusion across social settings shared with other men that vary according to sexual identity and context. We discuss how sexuality and being single and/or living alone impact on older men's social participation as we seek to move beyond a heterocentric understanding of loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There remains a lack of knowledge on marital satisfaction of African Americans in general and this is particularly the case for older African Americans. In addition, only a handful of studies investigate satisfaction among couples who are unmarried. Using data from the National Survey of American Life, this study examined the correlates of romantic and marital satisfaction among older African Americans. Findings reveal that married older African Americans were slightly more satisfied with their relationship than individuals who were either remarried or unmarried but in a romantic relationship. Among older African American married adults, older age was associated with higher marital satisfaction, and men had higher levels of marital satisfaction than women. Also, married older African Americans with lower family incomes reported higher marital satisfaction. Region was the only variable significantly associated with romantic satisfaction indicating higher satisfaction for Southerners as compared to those living in the Northeast. Given the limited research on older African Americans couples, either married or unmarried, this study offers valuable implications for individuals and professionals engaging these couples in practice settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do same-sex male couples (SSMC) and single men perceive their experience of using assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Canada; what factors contribute to their experience and the decisions made throughout the ART process? This cross-sectional study used an anonymous online survey to gather exploratory data (between August 2018 and August 2019) about participant experience and decision-making considerations, for SSMC and single men internationally who had undergone ART in Canada. The survey was accessed by 145 individuals; 98 participants were included in the final analysis. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for quantitative analysis. Four out of five participants had a positive overall experience of using ART in Canada. Having the social support of knowing others who had previously pursued ART, and needing to work with multiple egg donors, were found to affect overall experience significantly. Agencies were the most common way for intended parents to connect with third parties. Major factors men considered when choosing an egg donor included medical history, physical attributes, personality and temperament, ethnicity, and education; they tended to select gestational surrogates who had similar lifestyle values to themselves. Most coupled survey respondents created embryos using each partner's spermatozoa (73.6%). This exploratory study expands on limited knowledge of the current topic, identifying key areas for future research. Most SSMC and single men, domestic and internationally, had a positive experience pursuing ART in Canada to have children. Research on the experiences of SSMC and single men and decision-making considerations should continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rural China there is an abnormally high male-biased sex ratio. The result is a large number of involuntary bachelors. This study examines how migration and social networks relate to bachelors' sexual risk behaviors. Data are from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey in which 740 male respondents who had rural household registration, had never married, and were aged 28 or older were interviewed in 2017. Logistic regression reveals that both migration and social networks place the bachelors at an especially high risk of HIV transmission by increasing the chance that they engage in commercial sex, whereas only social networks are significantly associated with sexual partnership concurrency. Additionally, social networks mediate the association between migration and commercial sex. This suggests that social networks play an important role in bachelors' risk of HIV transmission and that further intervention should address their social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Military Service Act of 1916 of the United Kingdom required every unmarried man of military age to enlist at once or attest at once under the Group System and if he does neither, a third course awaits him; he will be deemed to have enlisted under the Military Service Act. The present work talks about the writings of the young English soldier-poets who fought during the First World War and who expressed what they saw and felt on the Western Front. And to see their feelings and sentiment the paper discusses some of the major poets of First World War: Rupert Brooke, Edmund Blunden, Siegfried Sassoon, Isaac Rosenberg, and Wilfred Owen who left great influence on younger poets of his age and the succeeding poets of the Second World War looked upon him for an inspiration as he had expressed the sense of indignation and pity of war so fully in his works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coinciding with declining rates of marriage and coupled sex in the U.S., some scholars have proposed that the growing availability of "low-cost sexual gratification" or "cheap sex"—sexual activities such as hookups, pornography use, and masturbation that demand little effort or investment—will lead men to find marital commitment less appealing. Using data from two nationally representative surveys of American adults (2012 New Family Structures Study, N = 349; 2014 Relationships in America Survey, N = 1402), the current study tested the thesis that unmarried men's pornography use, masturbation habits, or frequency of recent hookup sex would be associated with a lower likelihood of them finding marriage desirable. This thesis was unsupported. In both surveys, masturbation and hookup sex were not associated with unmarried men wishing to be married, while pornography use was robustly and linearly associated with a higher likelihood of wanting to be married. This association was apparent at both the bivariate level and after taking into account sexual satisfaction, relationship status, beliefs about marriage, and a host of other potential confounds. Findings suggest that, rather than making marriage less desirable, some forms of "low-cost sexual gratification" such as pornography use to predict a comparatively higher desire for marriage. The implications of these findings are considered in light of sex-exchange theories of marital commitment and the large body of previous research connecting pornography use to more liberal, non-monogamous sexual attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of sexual practices of heterosexual males (HM) in Israel is limited despite the increase inthe incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STI). This study assessed sexual practices among Israeli HM and the associations between demographic characteristics and sexual risk behaviors. The Cross-sectional study included a representative sample of 913 Jewish HM aged 18–44, which completed a questionnaire including their demographics, sexual practices, and risky sexual behavior. Of all participants, 66.8% had monogamous sex with their steady partner. These participants were more likely to be older, religious, involved ina limited repertoire of sexual practices, and less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior. Of the participants, 9.6% were in steady relationships but had concomitant sexual casual partner/s. They were more likely to be secular, paid for sex, and had more lifetime sexual partners. Of all the participants, 23.6% were singles and had sex with casual partner/s. They were more likely to be younger and engage in risky sexual behavior. Of all participants, 10.3% were involved in risky sexual behavior. These men were more likely to be singles, pay for sex and have more lifetime sexual partners. We conclude that preventive interventions aimed to prevent STI-infections should target HM who are in singles and those in steady relationships and have concomitant sex partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of gender imbalance and marriage squeeze in China, this study identifies socio-demographic characteristics of bachelors who reported having sex with partners whom they met online and examines associations between having sex with such partners and other risky sexual behaviors. Data are from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2017. 735 men who have rural household registration (hukou, in Chinese), and who were at least 28 years old and unmarried were interviewed. 16.5% of the sample had experienced sexual intercourse with a partner met online. After adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics, having sex with such partners was associated with a range of risky sexual behaviors: unsafe sexual intercourse (such as anal sex, group sex, not using a condom) (adjusted OR (aOR) = 5.11, 3.14–8.33, p < 0.001); commercial sex (aOR = 4.42, 2.78–7.02, p < 0.001); having sex in public places (aOR = 3.11, 1.97–4.91, p < 0.001); and multiple sexual partners (> = 6 partners) (aOR = 12.57, 6.55–24.12, p < 0.001). This suggests that bachelors who had sexual intercourse with partners whom they met online are at higher risk for HIV or other STD infections. Future interventions targeted at this population will improve the efficiency of China's HIV/STD prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Using data from the 1990 U.S. Census (PUMS 5%), the authors present the first large-scale study of wage differentials between heterosexual and homosexual men. The homosexual sample, consisting of gay men in unmarried partnered relationships, are estimated to have earned 15.6% less than similarly qualified married heterosexual men, and 2.4% less than similarly qualified unmarried partnered heterosexual men. The authors interpret these two figures as upper- and lower-bound estimates of the differential between homosexual and heterosexual men. The dual comparison enables the authors to disentangle the penalty to being unmarried from other determinants of the wage differential; estimated at 14.1%, this variable appears to be the main source of the wage gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article calls into question the theory that being single drives young men to commit political violence. It finds that, while the proportion of young men in a country has a statistically significant impact on the level of political violence in the country, whether or not these men are married has no additional impact. The result may appear to contradict the individual-level evidence that shows that young, unmarried men commit the overwhelming majority of political violence. Rebels and terrorists, however, make up only a small part of a country's population. If participating in political violence caused young men to be single, this would have a negligible impact on a country's proportion of single young men, thereby explaining why marital status is uncorrelated with political violence at the national level. It would also explain why the individual-level evidence shows that most terrorists and guerillas are single. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined characteristics of individuals that are associated with being in asymmetrically committed relationships (ACRs), defined as romantic relationships in which there was a substantial difference in the commitment levels of the partners. These ACRs were studied in a national sample of unmarried, opposite‐sex romantic relationships (N = 315 couples). Perceiving oneself as having more potential alternative partners was associated with increased odds of being the less committed partner in an ACR compared to not being in an ACR, as was being more attachment avoidant, having more prior relationship partners, and having a history of extradyadic sex during the present relationship. Additionally, having parents who never married was associated with being the less committed partner in an ACR but parental divorce was not. Although fewer characteristics were associated with being the more committed partner within an ACR, more attachment anxiety was associated with increased odds of being in such a position compared to not being in an ACR. We also address how some findings change when controlling for commitment levels. Overall, the findings advance understanding of commitment in romantic relationships, particularly when there are substantial asymmetries involved. Implications for both research on asymmetrical commitment as well as practice (e.g., therapy or relationship education) are discussed. Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the extent to which a reverse mortgage may improve the income of an elderly household. This question is analyzed in the context of an aging society where the existing Confucian contract of filial piety has been eroding with the advent of economic and demographic transitions underway in contemporary China. We use data from a China Household Finance Survey that was administered in 2011 covering 949 elderly households from 22 provinces. We use models from the literature to calculate the incremental gains to income from the use of a reverse mortgage. The findings are revealing in terms of the potential gains from the use of reverse mortgages. On average, an elderly homeowner makes a monthly mortgage payment of RMB ¥1,383; a reverse mortgage for the same household raises monthly income by RMB ¥1,388 or 29%. The major beneficiaries of a reverse mortgage are single and elderly individuals possessing significant housing equity and living in the more developed regions. Overall, the reverse mortgage provides a means for society to allow the elderly access to income without being a burden on the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, transnational surrogacy has attracted world-wide attention for making babies and pregnancies exchangeable with money. Involuntarily childless couples and individuals travel abroad and pay to have the desired child and to become parents. Acknowledging the importance of asking into the consequences of this monetization of reproduction, the author takes issue with universalistic assumptions about money and markets, and their presumed universal effects on social relations. Instead, it is argued that we need to explore how money works, and, by extension, how transnational surrogacy works out and becomes viable to people as a way to become parents. Putting together insights from economic sociology, and the assisted reproductive technology and parenting culture literature, the author employs the notion of accounting to grasp how people make sense of the money involved in making them parents. Based on a study involving 21 interviews with Norwegian gay and straight couples and single men and women seeking surrogacy abroad, the author explores how money is accounted for in three cases, set in three different countries; India, the United States and Canada. The analysis shows how money is accounted for in particular ways to confirm parenthood. These ways differ depending on the local context and transnational relations; ultimately making differentiated monetized parenthood. This is of significance when we try to conceptualize contemporary parenthood and how money seemingly sustains parenthood in ever more radical ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Preventing ischaemic stroke attracts significant focus in atrial fibrillation (AF) cases. Less is known on the association between socioeconomic factors and mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with AF. Methods Our study population included adults (n =12 283) ≥45 years diagnosed with AF at 75 primary care centres in Sweden 2001–07. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between the exposures educational level, marital status, neighbourhood socioeconomic status and the outcomes all-cause mortality, after adjustment for age, and comorbid cardiovascular conditions. Results During a mean of 5.8 years (SD 2.4) of follow-up, 3954 (32.3%) patients had died; 1971 were women (35.0%) and 1983 were men (29.8%). Higher educational level was associated with a reduced mortality in fully adjusted models: HR 0.85 (95% CI 0.77–0.96) for secondary school in men, HR 0.73 (95% CI 0.60–0.88) for college/university in women, and HR 0.82 (95% CI 0.71–0.94) for college/university in men, compared to primary school. Unmarried men and divorced men had an increased risk of death, compared with married men: HR 1.25 (95% CI 1.05–1.50), and HR 1.23 (95% CI 1.07–1.42), respectively. College/university education level was also associated with lower risk of myocardial infarction in men and women, and lower risk of congestive heart failure in women. Conclusion More attention could be paid to individuals of lower levels of formal education, and unmarried men, in order to provide timely management for AF and prevent its debilitating complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess for any associations between individual and social factors and late-stage melanoma in Kentucky from 1995 to 2013.Methods: The study combines three datasets: individual-level data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry, census tract-level data from the US Census, and county-level physician licensure data from the Kentucky Department for Public Health. The study population is described by all cases, early stage, and late stage. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the unadjusted associations between each covariate and early-stage and late-stage disease groups. All of the significant variables were assessed for interaction effect, and the significant interaction terms were used in the final model. Multiple logistic regression provided the final model of late-stage disease.Results: In this study population, a dramatic increase in melanoma incidence is seen from 1995 to 2013 with a threefold increase in the number of cases per year. Of the 10,109 cases reported, 13.6% have late-stage disease, with a mean age for all cases at 56.9 years and the majority being men. Late-stage cases are more commonly uninsured or insured with Medicaid or Medicare compared with cases with early-stage lesions. Having a spouse or partner is clearly protective from being diagnosed as having late-stage melanoma, whereas being uninsured or having Medicaid increases the odds of late-stage melanoma.Conclusions: The incidence of melanoma is increasing dramatically. With no screening recommendation for the general population from the US Preventive Task Force, clinicians should focus on those at increased risk of late-stage melanoma: unmarried men who are uninsured or receiving Medicaid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual health is an integral part of overall health and well-being and determination of sexuality of the youth is an important milestone in understanding their behavior, associated risks and outcomes. The declining age at puberty and increasing age at marriage has created a longer growing period in which youth may engage in sexual health risk behaviors. This research focuses attention on estimation and involvement of the most dynamic & valuable segment of a nation's population towards sexual risk behaviors. Aims & objectives: The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence and determinants of sexual health risk behaviors amongst youth in District Dehradun. Material and methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 06 months in rural and urban area of District Dehradun. The study surveyed 1800 male youth aged 15-24 years using a self-administered questionnaire (YRBSS & Big five inventory). After collection, the data was entered using the SPSS software and analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel 2010. Results: Out of 1800 participants, 19% were found to be at risk of sexual health risk behavior and reported having had sex. Out of these 342 at-risk, 43.5% accepted involving in sexual activity even before adulthood, 31% reported having multiple sexual partners and 21.1% accepted not using condoms. Place of residence and personality trait were found to be important determinants of sexual health risk behaviors. Conclusion: Our study documented the high prevalence of sexual risk behavior among male youth of rural and urban area of District Dehradun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: To report on a descriptive survey on the availability, regulation and funding issues of assisted reproductive technology (ART) activities in member countries of the Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AOFOG). Methods: A survey questionnaire was initially sent out to representatives of the 28 member national societies of AOFOG in 2015, and final verification and compilation of data were completed in November 2017. Results: A response was received from 24 countries. Artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization treatments were available in 23 and 22 of them respectively. Of the 23 responding countries where ART activities were carried out, these were governed by legislation or national regulations in 12 of them, and 15 had a national registry, to which reporting was compulsory in 11 of them. Only Australia, Nepal, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia allowed ART treatment for both single men and women, while only Australia and New Zealand allowed ART treatment for homosexual couples. In Vietnam, ART treatment was allowed only for single women (but not men) from the same country. In Israel, only single or homosexual women but not men were allowed to receive ART treatment. Government subsidy was available for artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization treatments in 10 and 9 responding countries respectively. Compensation to gamete donors and surrogate mothers were allowed in some countries, mostly on the basis of covering the medical treatment cost and compensation for leave from work. Conclusion: There is great diversity in the availability of various forms of ART treatments, their regulations and data‐monitoring mechanisms, as well as funding issues, among Asian‐Oceanic countries. Availability of ART activities involving donor gametes or surrogacy, or those for nonheterosexual unions, is still limited in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between marital beliefs and life satisfaction is investigated on the foundation of the Marital Paradigm Theory. Using secondary data analysis with data from the Changing American Family study by the Pew Forum, beliefs in the advantageousness of marriage were assessed from a representative sample of the United States (weighted N = 24,268) which included both married and unmarried men and women. Results suggested that belief in the advantageousness of marriage was associated with higher reported general and domain-specific life satisfaction. However, a three-way interaction between gender, marital status, and belief in the advantageousness of marriage was also found. Married men who believe marriage is advantageous report significantly higher life satisfaction. Belief in the advantages of marriage was generally associated with less life satisfaction for those who were unmarried, regardless of gender. Results suggest the role marital beliefs may play in life satisfaction based on varying relational contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avoidance can be a significant barrier to engaging in trauma-focused treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as being a mechanism that creates restrictions that can seriously impact functioning and wellbeing. Following an outpatient study with veterans that indicated art therapy might assist the overcoming of avoidance, a group of veterans was offered an art therapy-focused, short-stay, inpatient admission at the veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress to explore this potential outcome. Participants were able to use the art therapy process to express and tolerate painful thoughts and emotions, and to consider the effects of rigid perceptions. The group dynamic between the veterans created a strong container for this process. Consequently, this study suggests that art therapy can be constructively employed in assisting veterans to overcome avoidance PTSD symptoms and as a means of opening up new ways of perceiving, interpreting, and responding to situations. It is proposed that the non-verbal operations of art therapy enable this process through the use of imagination and creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined contributions of paternal factors to birth outcomes. Weathering is a pattern of increasing rates of adverse birth outcome with increasing maternal age. This study evaluates for an association between paternal involvement and weathering in the context of preterm birth (PTB, <37 weeks) among non-Hispanic African-American and non-Hispanic White women with and without lifelong exposure to neighborhood poverty. Using the Illinois transgenerational dataset with appended US census income information of infants (1989–1991) and their mothers (1956–1976), we compared infants of women by degree of paternal involvement: married, unmarried with father named on birth certificate, and unnamed father. Data were stratified by maternal residence in higher or lower income neighborhoods at both the time of mothers' birth and infants’ birth, estimating maternal lifelong economic context. We computed race-specific PTB rates according to maternal age, lifelong neighborhood income, and paternal involvement. We calculated Mantel-Haenszel chi-square tests of linear trend from contingency tables to evaluate weathering. Among African-Americans (n = 39,991) with unnamed fathers and lifelong residence in lower income neighborhoods, PTB rate was lowest among teens at 18.8%, compared to 21.5% for 30-35 year-old mothers (p for linear trend <0.05). Among African-Americans with unnamed fathers and lifelong residence in higher income neighborhoods, PTB rate among teens was 16%, compared to 25% for 30-35 year-old mothers (p = 0.21). Among married African-Americans with lifelong residence in lower income neighborhoods, PTB rate among teens was 16.4%, compared to 12.5% for 30-35 year-old mothers (p = 0.79). Among married African-Americans with lifelong residence in higher income neighborhoods, PTB rate among teens was 20%, compared to 11.4% for 30-35 year-old mothers (p = 0.40). White mothers (n = 31,981) did not demonstrate weathering, regardless of paternal involvement and neighborhood poverty. We conclude that weathering was not seen among married African-Americans, independent of neighborhood income, suggesting a potentially protective mechanism associated with paternal involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Using the HEXACO Model of Personality, we explored two kinds of ideal partner preferences regarding personality traits, namely, to what extent people prefer partners similar to themselves (similarity preference) and to what extent people prefer partners with more desirable trait levels than themselves (aspirational assortative preference). We conducted five studies (overall N > 900) across four countries (China, Denmark, Germany, and the USA), looking at both HEXACO factors and facets, using both self‐report questionnaires and real‐life data (personal profiles from a dating website), and comprising both student and more heterogeneous samples. The results provided support for both kinds of ideal partner preferences, with important differences across traits. Specifically, similarity preference was supported by all studies concerning all HEXACO traits, and aspirational assortative preference was supported by all four self‐report studies (though not the dating website study) concerning all HEXACO traits except for Openness to Experience. Concerning differences in preferences among the HEXACO traits, similarity preference was particularly pronounced for Honesty–Humility and Openness to Experience, moderate for Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, and less pronounced for Emotionality and Extraversion. Aspirational assortative preference, by contrast, was particularly pronounced for Emotionality, Extraversion, and Agreeableness, moderate for Honesty–Humility, and inconsistent for Conscientiousness. © 2018 European Association of Personality Psychology [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Divorce is disruptive, pervasive, and expensive. Although the divorce rate is no longer rising, about 40% of marriages will end in divorce. Given the prevalence of divorce, it is natural to wonder how much it impacts retirement security. Divorcing couples must pay legal fees, split illiquid assets, and lose the economies of scale from having one instead of two households. These changes almost certainly inhibit each spouse's ability to save for retirement. This paper investigates how divorce impacts the retirement readiness of divorcees and how the effect varies by household type. Using the framework of the National Retirement Risk Index (NRRI), this paper finds that the share at risk is 7% higher for divorced households than for those that have never experienced a divorce. This impact is substantial - for example, in an earlier study the impact of the Great Recession was found to be about 9%. Moreover, this paper finds that while couples with a previously divorced spouse and divorced single men are clearly worse off than their non-divorced counterparts, divorced single women do not appear disadvantaged relative to other single women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the subject of universal truths in works of writer Jane Austen. Austen started thinking about the goals and scope of universal truths from a young age. The starting point of her book "Pride and Prejudice" is how universal truth is only a local message which concerns a single man.

Previous empirical studies have shown that both spiritual well-being (SWB) and death anxiety (DA) significantly affect the mental health of patients with acute diseases. In this regard, our paper contributes to the extant literature by scrutinizing the conditional relationship between SWB and DA as well as the various mechanisms underpinning such a relationship in patients with acute myocardial infraction (AMI). A descriptive, correlational methodology was utilized. Our main sample consisted of 300 patients with acute myocardial infraction who were hospitalized in a specialized medical institution in Iran throughout a two-month period (i.e. August-October 2015). Patients completed Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) and Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS). Even though our study showed that the relationship between SWB and DA in patients with AMI is non-significant, we found that (1) single patients with higher SWB have lower DA, (2) single patients with higher SWB as well as social support have significantly lower DA, and (3) for single men/men without social support, there is a negative relationship between SWB and DA. The relationship between SWB and DA is influenced by factors such as sex, marital status and social support. In addition, the specific nature of this relationship (i.e. strength and sign) is dependent upon the sociodemographic characteristics of patients as well as other contextual influences. Result revealed that although relationship between SWB and DA is non-significant, this is influenced by factors such as sex and social support. In addition, the specific nature of this relationship (i.e. strength and sign) is dependent upon the sociodemographic characteristics of patients as well as other contextual influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on data from a study undertaken in 2014-2015 in rural southern Shaanxi to analyse the relationship between bachelors who have not chosen to be single and their satisfaction with life. Its aims are twofold: firstly, to explain the differences in the quality of life between married and single men by means of conventional variables (socio-economic profile, state of health, intensity of social relations); secondly, to explore quality of life factors associated with relations these men have with women and which, to our knowledge, have never hitherto been taken into account in analyses of inequalities in life satisfaction in China. In particular, we attempt to see the extent to which inability to contract a marriage is likely to affect quality of life, especially through the social injunction to marry and the social stigmatisation attached to bachelorhood, while at the same time exploring how quality of life varies in relation to the frequency of intimate relations with partners in a context where sex remains socially associated with marriage. In this way, we bring to light individual and contextual features that can be considered to contribute to the growth of inequality in life satisfaction resulting from socio-economic circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interviewed many decades after the end of the First World War, Mary Morton recalled vividly how her mother's family had made no secret of their contempt for her father's conduct during the conflict: he was - they thought - a 'bounder'. Tellingly, they condemned not his continued civilian status, but the fact that he had volunteered, despite his responsibilities as husband and father. Historians have long recognized the powerful pull of military masculinities during the First World War, as well as the denigration of civilian men and masculinities: this article suggests that the wartime experiences of married men like Mary Morton's father complicate this picture of hegemonic and subordinate masculinities. They, it was widely agreed in the early years of the conflict, had responsibilities that tied them to the home front; it was unmarried men's duty to 'go first'. In May 1916, however, the pressing need for military manpower led to the introduction of conscription for all men, without reference to marital status. This article explores the underlying shift in understandings of manly conduct in wartime, from a belief that married men had responsibilities that kept them from enlisting, to a new emphasis on the equality of duty among all physically fit men of military age, irrespective of domestic responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experience of being liked or disliked by others strongly influences our liking for and willingness to socialize with them. The neuropeptide oxytocin is involved in social bonding and can modify social preferences for others dependent upon their characteristics. However, it is unclear whether oxytocin affects individuals’ reactions to social evaluations made by others (i.e., being liked or disliked) and if this is influenced by already having a secure partner bond (i.e., being single or in a relationship). We therefore performed a double-blind, between-subject, placebo controlled design study on 86 healthy males to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin (40IU) on the respective impact of being liked or disliked by others, and whether this was influenced by current relationship status. Results showed while oxytocin decreased negative reactions to being disliked in single men it had the opposite effect on men in a relationship, and this occurred primarily when dislike was expressed by females rather than males. In contrast, for men in a relationship oxytocin enhanced mood and affiliation tendency following being liked independent of the gender of the feedback provider. Thus, oxytocin may make single men looking for a potential partner more positive socially even towards females who dislike them, but has the opposite effect in men in a relationship who are not looking for a partner. These results provide further support for the context-dependency of oxytocin effects’ on social preferences, and thereby the social salience hypothesis-based explanation of its actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rituals that induce pain or instill fear occur in the majority of boys’ adolescent initiation ceremonies. They have been accounted for in several ways: as resolving a psychological conflict, as expressing dominance over juniors, as promoting male bonding, and as preparation for participation in war. This cross-cultural study examines these harsh rituals and concludes that they are a form of adult male control over adolescent boys and unmarried (sub-adult) youths. They occur in societies in which control over young males is an important social issue and other means of control are lacking. We also examine a subset of harsh rituals, those that include circumcision and other genital operations, and discuss the cultural features, particularly marriage practices, that are significantly associated with these operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the stigmatized portrayals of single womanhood in news media by content analyzing news coverage from Mainland China of single women and single men from 2008 to 2013. Among the three prevalent news frames (conflict, responsibility, and human interest), the results showed that news reports relating to single women commonly employed more human-interest frames and concentrated on single women’s conflicts with other social groups as well as the conflicts between singles and societal expectation of population sustainability. News stories also unduly ascribed the responsibility for being ‘single’ to the women themselves, but such individual attribution was not applied to single men. As an exploratory study, our research shed light on how news framing is gendered to reinforce stereotypes and facilitate mechanisms for control. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in relation to public opinion about single womanhood and the intersectional oppression of single women in Chinese society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which was conducted to analyse the psychological conditions of children who survived cancer focusing on behavior of parent and adult attachment.

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Background: The purpose of this study is to assess attitudes toward premarital dating and sexual encounters in individuals aged 15-49 years in Tehran. Methods: Utilizing the attitudes section of an original cross-sectional study (n = 755) aimed at assessing sexual health needs of adults, this paper examined personal attitudes towards premarital dating, non-sexual relationships and sexual encounters in both male and female adults aged between 15-49 years. Multi-stage cluster random sampling and a validated/reliable questionnaire were used. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using statistical software. Results: The results indicated that the majority of the participants were supportive of dating. Almost three-fourths of the males were more positively inclined towards non-sexual, yet tactile, affectionate interactions between unmarried males and females as opposed to only half of the females (70 % vs. 50.5 %). Also, males held significantly more liberal attitudes than females in their acceptance of premarital sex. On preserving virginity prior to marriage, 43 % of the males felt that it was important for a female to be a virgin, whereas only 26 % felt it was important for males to remain a virgin. Interestingly, more females (61 %) supported the importance of a female's virginity compared with the importance of males' virginity (48 %). This study showed that, being a male, of a younger age, single, and being less religious or being secular were important determinants of a liberal sexual attitude. Conclusion: These results might reflect a socio-cultural transition in the sexual attitudes of different age groups of participants - a phenomenon that will need empirical studies to unpack in the Iranian socio-cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the community context in which are inserted men who keep their unmarriedness after the age expected to be married socially. We present how and why those bachelors are conceived as unnecessary comparing them with the married men at two small villages, whose origin is Nahua, near the Mexico City. The analysis of those examples considered as exceptions within a family type characterized by the patrilocality and the social representation of nuclear family through the married man permits us, on the one hand, to show the role of the family as an public entity, especially as cooperate group linked to local citizenship; on the another hand, to clarify a model of masculinity and the strategies of those bachelors to endure that model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]