Pornography and Intimate Partnerships

This chapter addresses the question whether pornography harms the stability of pair-bonded intimate relationships. First, the chapter explores whether pair-bonded sexual and marital relationships are necessary and important for human health in the first place. Next, it reviews the evidence that pornography is eroding the stability of such relationships and the evidence that it may have positive effects in some relationships. The chapter concludes that if pornography does influence relationship health, the influence is likely weak and varies by gender, attachment style, relationship functionality, and other factors. Existing evidence does not support the conclusion that the existence of pornography in society, or the use of pornography by adult viewers, is jeopardizing population health by virtue of a negative influence on marriages, relationships, sexual satisfaction, or women’s self-esteem.

Are online behaviors damaging our in-person connections? Passive versus active social media use on romantic relationships

Social media has been extensively researched, and its impact on well-being is becoming more clear. What is less clear, however, is the role of social media on romantic relationships, with the few existing studies finding mixed results. In an attempt to reconcile these discrepancies, the current study explored types of social media use (i.e., active use and passive use) as moderators between frequency of social media use and relationship health (i.e., relationship satisfaction and commitment). Participants were 432 adults in a romantic relationship for at least three months. Results showed that women who passively use social media at moderate to high levels exhibited negative associations between hours per day of social media use and relationship satisfaction, and hours per day of social media use and commitment. On the other hand, active use may ameliorate the negative association between hours per day of social media use and relationship health for both women and men. Specifically, men and women reporting low levels of active use exhibited a stronger negative association between hours per day of social media use and relationship health than those who reported moderate levels of active use. Additionally, there was no association between hours per day of social media use and relationship health for men and women reporting high levels of active use. Implications of these findings are discussed, as well as future directions based on these findings.

Living in a Larger Body: Do Exercise Motives Influence Associations between Body Image and Exercise Avoidance Motivation?

The study explored reasons for exercise as possible mediators of the relationship between body appreciation and exercise avoidance motivation and between body surveillance and exercise avoidance motivation. Using a cross-sectional design, 131 women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher completed measures of body surveillance, body appreciation, reasons for exercise, and exercise avoidance motivation. Mediation analyses indicated that appearance-oriented reasons for exercise partially mediated the body surveillance–exercise avoidance motivation relationship. Health and fitness professionals, organizations, and environments should avoid reinforcing appearance-oriented reasons for exercise. Rather, empowering exercise experiences and environments should be created as they seem to benefit women regardless of reasons for exercise.

Trajectories of functioning in a population-based sample of veterans: contributions of moral injury, PTSD, and depression

Background Although research has shown that exposure to potentially traumatic and morally injurious events is associated with psychological symptoms among veterans, knowledge regarding functioning impacts remains limited. Methods A population-based sample of post-9/11 veterans completed measures of intimate relationship, health, and work functioning at approximately 9, 15, 21, and 27 months after leaving service. Moral injury, posttraumatic stress, and depression were assessed at ~9 months post-separation. We used Latent Growth Mixture Models to identify discrete classes characterized by unique trajectories of change in functioning over time and to examine predictors of class membership. Results Veterans were assigned to one of four functioning trajectories: high and stable, high and decreasing, moderate and increasing, and moderate and stable. Whereas posttraumatic stress, depression, and moral injury associated with perpetration and betrayal predicted worse outcomes at baseline across multiple functioning domains, moral injury associated with perpetration and depression most reliably predicted assignment to trajectories characterized by relatively poor or declining functioning. Conclusions Moral injury contributes to functional problems beyond what is explained by posttraumatic stress and depression, and moral injury due to perpetration and depression most reliably predicted assignment to trajectories characterized by functional impairment over time.

The Impact of Relationship Wellness Checkups with Gay Male Couples

Relationship health impacts many other health outcomes, including physical and mental wellbeing and the health of children in the family system (Goeke-Morey, Cummings, & Papp, 2007; Jaremka, Glaser, Malarkey, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 2013; Jaremka, Lindgren, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 2013; Pihet, Bodenmann, Cina, Widmer, & Shantinath, 2007; Rappaport, 2013; Robles, Slatcher, Trombello, & McGinn, 2014). Despite the importance of relationship health, couples do not regularly seek support for maintaining their connection (Eubanks-Fleming & Cordova, 2012). Early intervention programs that provide support are a growing public health initiative (Cowan & Cowan, 2014). One brief early intervention program, the Marriage Checkup (MC), positively impacts relationship satisfaction, prevents decline, and improves health on other relationship variables such as intimacy (Cordova, 2014). To date, the MC research has included only heterosexual couples. This study explored the question, “What is the impact of a relationship wellness checkup on gay male couples’ relationship satisfaction?” Using single-subject multiple-baseline, multiple-probe design, this study extends MC research to include gay may couples. Findings showed that the MC positively influenced satisfaction (NAP .73) for the group overall. In an analysis of each couple, two of the three couples improved and one couple showed a slight decline in satisfaction. The likely confounding event for this third couple was their marriage and honeymoon during the baseline phase. In light of research with newlywed and engaged couples from other studies, overall the results tentatively suggest the MC may increase satisfaction for gay male couples with additional research needed for newlywed couples.

Marital Satisfaction Is Associated With Health in Long-Distance Relationships

Individuals with high marital satisfaction tend to have better health and engage in healthier behaviors than those with low marital satisfaction. Multiple studies have explored satisfaction–health associations for married individuals in proximal relationships (PR), but no known study has tested these associations for married individuals in long-distance relationships (LDR). LDR is a relationship arrangement that challenges traditional conceptions of romantic relationships and physical closeness. Related, recent empirical work indicates marital satisfaction–health associations may be weaker in LDR than PR due to unique relational and individual factors. The current study tested whether marital satisfaction–health associations are moderated by relational proximity (i.e., LDR vs. PR). We used an adult, married sample of individuals in LDR and PR ( N = 293) who completed an online survey on relationships and health. Unexpectedly, moderation results suggested that associations between marital satisfaction and health did not differ by relational proximity. One potential difference emerged: Marital satisfaction was associated with social role satisfaction for those in PR, but not LDR. Simple main effects were consistent with moderation results, except regarding physical functioning. Marital satisfaction was not associated with pain for LDR or PR. Overall, study findings challenge recent empirical work reporting between-group, relationship health differences between PR and LDR. Clinicians can utilize our findings to improve treatment for couples and families in LDR. Future research should utilize actor–partner interdependence models and longitudinal studies to further elucidate the associations between marital satisfaction and health for individuals in this unique but increasingly prevalent relationship arrangement.

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to evaluate a web-based comprehensive sexual health and media literacy education program for high school students

Background School-based comprehensive sexual health education can improve adolescent health outcomes, and web-based programs are a promising approach to overcoming challenges associated with teacher-led formats by ensuring that students receive content that is consistent, unbiased, and medically accurate. However, many adolescents do not receive high-quality sexual health education and turn to the media for information about sex and relationships. Consumption of sexual media messages is related to early and risky sexual behaviors. Media literacy education (MLE) is a proven approach to adolescent sexual health promotion, yet there are no rigorously evaluated web-based MLE programs to promote sexual and relationship health among high school students. Methods This study will test the efficacy, in a randomized controlled trial, of Media Aware, a web-based comprehensive sexual health promotion program for high school students that uses an MLE approach. Participants will be students in 9th and 10th grade health classes in participating schools. Randomization will take place at the school level, and data collection will take place at three time points (i.e., pretest, posttest, and 3 months follow-up). Students in the intervention classrooms will receive Media Aware between pretest and posttest, and students in the delayed-intervention classrooms will receive Media Aware after study completion (i.e., after 3 months follow-up data collection). Students in the delayed-intervention classes will receive their standard health education programming, and teachers in the delayed-intervention classes will be asked to refrain from teaching sexual health or MLE during the study timeframe. The primary outcome variables are intentions, willingness, and behaviors related to sexual health and sexual activity. Discussion There are currently no evidence-based comprehensive sexual health programs for high school students that are web-based and use an MLE approach. Media Aware has the potential to be an engaging, less expensive, and effective sexual and relationship health program for high school students. Media Aware is unique in two important ways: (1) the web-based format reduces many of the challenges to fidelity of implementation associated with teacher-led sexual health education; and (2) the MLE approach addresses a commonly ignored influence on adolescent sexual and relationship health, namely, media. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04035694. Registered on 29 July 2019. Contact for Scientific Queries: Tracy Scull, PhD (Principal Investigator); innovation Research & Training at 5316 Highgate Drive, Suite 121, Durham, North Carolina, USA 27713; [email protected].

THE RELATIONSHIP HEALTH EDUCATION – PANDEMIC

The article focuses on several main points. First of all, it is health as a concept, as a phenomenon in our lives. The second focus is the health education. The third focus is the situation of the pandemic, in which the whole world has been since the beginning of 2020 and its impact on the health education and health culture, both for children and for the elderly people. An analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health education process has been made. The possible conclusions and lessons from the difficult situation and as a consequence – results in the health education of adolescents and the health culture of adults were sought. The created complex circumstances in the life of people in the conditions of emergency and quarantine, which are a barrier for the health education of children and the healthy lifestyle of adults, are also analysed. Options have been sought for overcoming them and consolidating healthy habits in children.