Mortality in late nineteenth-century Montreal: geographic pathways of contagion

In the City of Montreal, 1881, the presence of three cultural communities with different profiles of economic status makes it possible to observe the way social settings affected survival over a lifetime. Regression models show culturally determined maternal factors dominant for infants, and persistent throughout childhood. For post-neonates, children aged 1-4, and adults aged 15-59 household poverty has a comparable effect. Among adults, a gender penalty differs among the three communities. Models are improved when differentiated by cause of death. Locating households using a GIS reveals high levels of residential segregation by ethnicity and income, spatial correlation of environmental hazards, and constraints on exit from zones of risk, which together produce neighbourhood effects as large as household effects. Attention to groups excluded (foundlings and inmates of institutions) confirms that models limited to full household-level information significantly underestimate the impacts of poverty and exclusion.     

Subjective health,intimacy, and perceived self-efficacy after heart attack: Predicting life quality five years afterwards

Social Indicators Research - In a national sample of some 400 cardiac patients and their wives, changes in quality of life were investigated during an extended period of physical and psychosocial...     

The study of intergenerational intimacy in North America: beyond politics and pedophilia

Intergenerational intimacy, social as well as sexual, has been studied in the United States and abroad for some time. In recent years the general trend has been to label such behavior "child sexual abuse." Interest in this type of abuse has generated a considerable amount of more or less scientific literature, some of which seems to have been produced in a "rush to judgment" attempt to build a "professional" literature that supports popular beliefs. This tradition of child-abuse-defined literature, along with the work of investigative and helping agencies which some refer to as a "child abuse industry," has fostered a one-sided, simplistic picture of intergenerational intimacy. A close look at the empirical studies in this tradition reveals flaws associated with two problems: the studies nearly always (1) maintain a narrow focus on sexual contact, and (2) proceed from the related basic assumption that sexual contact in intergenerational relationships by definition constitutes abuse. While sexual abuse certainly occurs, those who apply this assumption to all situations are ignoring empirical findings that show otherwise. Research outside the "child sexual abuse" tradition reveals a broader range of intergenerational relationships outside the family, including a number of aspects which typically are not seen when the focus is on the sexual. Some studies show clearly that even when sexual contact is involved, negative outcomes are not inevitable. This indicates the need for a much broader approach. Further research in North American society and in other cultures would help us to understand more accurately the diversity and possible benefits of intergenerational intimacy.     

Treatment of identity and intimacy issues in gay males

A psychodynamic analysis of the presenting problems of many gay male clients reveals the frequent presence of issues related to identity and intimacy. This paper explores these concepts from the viewpoint of observed clinical phenomena, their likely antecedents, and treatment strategies based on a model of psychological health which balances identity and intimacy.     

Fear of childbirth in primiparous Italian pregnant women: The role of anxiety,depression, and couple adjustment

Background

The prevalence of fear of childbirth in pregnant women is described to be about 20–25%, while 6–10% of expectant mothers report a severe fear that impairs their daily activities as well as their ability to cope with labour and childbirth. Research on fear of childbirth risk factors has produced heterogeneous results while being mostly done with expectant mothers from northern Europe, northern America, and Australia.

Fear of birth: Prevalence,counselling and method of birth at five obstetrical units in Norway

BackgroundThere is increasing evidence that fear of birth can have long-term effects on the childbearing woman and the method of birth.AimTo examine differences between five hospitals in Norway in the occurrence of fear of birth, counselling received and method of birth.MethodSource data was from the Norwegian cohort of the Bidens study and retrieved through a questionnaire and electronic patient records from five different hospitals in Oslo, Drammen, Tromsø, Ålesund and Trondheim, which included 2145 women. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire measured fear of birth, and a cut-off of ≥85 was used to define fear of birth.ResultsIn total, 12% of the women reported fear of birth, with no significant differences between the different units. A total of 8.7% received counselling according to hospital obstetrical records, varying significantly from 5.7% in Drammen to 12.7% in Oslo. Only 24.9% of the women with fear of birth had counselling at their hospital. All the units provided counselling for women with fear, but the content varied. Overarching aims included helping women develop coping strategies like writing a birth plan and clearing up issues regarding prior births. A secondary objective was to prevent unnecessary caesarean section. Both primi- and multiparous women who reported fear of birth had a twofold increased risk of a planned caesarean section.ConclusionThere were no differences between five Norwegian hospitals regarding the occurrence of fear of birth. Counselling methods, resources, level of commitment and the number of women who received counselling varied; thus, hospital practices differed.     

Fear of childbirth and depressive symptoms among postnatal women: A cross-sectional survey from Chhattisgarh,India

Background

Prevalence rates of Fear of Birth and postnatal depressive symptoms have not been explored in Chhattisgarh, India.

Fear of male homosexuality: cardiac responses of low and high homonegative males

Males with high negative attitudes toward male homosexuality are often referred to in research as homophobics, yet it is unknown whether high homonegative males actually exhibit physiological responses characteristic of phobics. In a series of studies, heart rate was monitored in males with high or low negative attitudes toward male homosexuality as they viewed slides of landscapes and slides depicting explicit sexual activity. If high homonegativity is equivalent to homophobia, high homonegative males should exhibit heart rate acceleration to slides of male-male sexual activity, but, like low homonegative males, deceleration to all other slide types. Significant group effects were obtained only in the pilot study. Examination of individual response patterns in the pilot study and the two subsequent studies showed that high homonegative attitudes were necessary but not sufficient for heart rate acceleration to male-male slides. Results confirm the existence of the phobic type of heart rate acceleratory pattern among some, but not all, high homonegative males.     

Fear of childbirth in nulliparous women: A cross-sectional multicentre study in China

ObjectiveFew studies have focused on the fear of childbirth (FOC) in China. This study aimed to explore the status of FOC and its associated factors among nulliparous women in China.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional study design, 1039 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies were recruited from four public hospitals in four cities of China. FOC was evaluated using the Chinese version of the Childbirth Attitude Questionnaire scale. Associations of demographic, obstetric and social–psychological factors with the levels of FOC among nulliparous women were investigated.ResultsThe average score on the Childbirth Attitude Questionnaire scale was 31.30 (standard deviation = 8.43). Generalized linear regression analysis revealed that low self-rated health status (β = 2.26, P = 0.003), higher educational levels (β = 2.06, P = 0.010), lower levels of self-efficacy (β = −0.79, P < 0.001), and use of pregnancy-related smartphone applications (β = 2.42, P < 0.001) were associated with higher levels of FOC.ConclusionThe Childbirth Attitude Questionnaire scale is an appropriate tool to measure FOC. Education levels, self-rated health status, self-efficacy levels, and use of pregnancy-related smartphone applications were predictors of FOC among pregnant women in China. Healthcare professionals should identify the Chinese pregnant women with FOC and implement targeted interventions focused on the above factors.     

(Un)ethical practices: intimacy and Internet in the media coverage of the Ashley Madison hack

In the summer of 2015, the “cheating website” known as Ashley Madison came under scrutiny, as a group calling itself the Impact Team revealed users’ private information. This case study explores the controversy’s Canadian media coverage and sheds light on the main discourses about intimacy and the Internet that were made visible during this event. It interrogates how cheaters, hackers, and the company were represented. To varying degrees, the mainstream press condemns the cheaters, the hackers, and the company for their behaviour. The article also addresses the ways intimate practices are politicized and commercialized in the digital context, including a discussion of the emphasis on “privacy.” To conclude the article, I discuss the transparency and privacy issues implicated in digital intimacies and the power–knowledge (im)balance implied by hackers’ online anonymity.     

Causes and outcomes in studies of fear of childbirth: A systematic review

Problem

Fear of childbirth negatively affects women during pregnancy and after birth.

The stigma of AIDS: fear of disease and prejudice toward gay men

Three hundred college students were presented with vignettes describing an ill person; the vignettes were identical except the illness was identified as either AIDS or leukemia and the individual was described as either homosexual or heterosexual. After reading one vignette, each subject completed a set of measures sensitive to interpersonal evaluation, prejudicial attitudes, and willingness to interact casually with the portrayed individual. The findings indicate the presence of highly stigmatizing attitudes towards AIDS patients and suggest that the public views AIDS patients and gay persons with similar attitudinal prejudice. The need for greater attention to AIDS by social and behavioral researchers is discussed.     

The Association Between the Fear of Crime,and Mental and Physical Wellbeing in New Zealand

Researchers have provided clear evidence that the fear of crime can lead to various mental health-related issues including anxiety and psychological distress. However, studies on the effects of fear of crime on physical health are limited. Adding to and extending this literature, we evaluated the association between fear of crime and mental and physical health outcomes in a new setting (New Zealand) and at a national scale. As an added contribution to the literature, we examined whether the fear of crime is independently associated with mental and physical wellbeing, regardless of neighbourhood crime rates. Using data from the New Zealand General Social Survey, the 2006 census and the New Zealand Police, we fitted linear and two-level hierarchical linear models regression models to assess the impact of fear of crime on mental and physical health, at varying stages of individual and area-level confounder adjustment. Even after adjusting for a number of individual- and area-level factors that are related to social inequalities in health in the country, a significant effect of increased fear of crime on lower mental and physical wellbeing was detected. We did not, however, detect significant independent effects for neighbourhood crime rates for either outcome. Our findings indicate that fear of crime, rather than recorded crime rates, was associated with detrimental mental and physical health outcomes. As such, efforts to not only reduce crime but perceived risk of crime could yield public health and social wellbeing benefits.     

Sexual Orientation and Fear at Night: Gender Differences Among Sexual Minorities and Heterosexuals

Using data from the 2000–2010 General Social Survey, a nationally representative sample of 5,086 adults in the United States, the authors examine sexual orientation and gender differences in reports of being afraid to walk alone at night. Results indicate that sexual minorities are significantly more likely to report fear at night than heterosexuals, and women are significantly more likely to report such fear than men. Further, our findings suggest that these sexual orientation and gender differences are due to sexual minority men being more likely than heterosexual men to report fear at night. Thus, the results of this study reveal that three groups—heterosexual women, sexual minority women, and sexual minority men—do not differ from one another in reporting fear, yet these groups are all more likely than heterosexual men to report fear at night. These findings give weight to the importance of investigating the intersection of sexual orientation and gender in individuals’ reports of fear.     

Minority Report: Prevalence of Fear of Violent and Property Crimes Among a Diverse College Sample

Social Indicators Research - Fear is associated with several adverse health behaviors and outcomes. Fear of crime is associated with less exercise and outdoor activity, worse self-rated health...     

Negotiating who gives birth and the influence of fear of childbirth: Lesbians,bisexual women and transgender people in parenting relationships

BackgroundFear of childbirth (FOC) may affect family planning in lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) couples with two potential carriers of a pregnancy. FOC has previously been researched in heterosexual women, while experiences of LBT people have remained unattended. The choice of birth-giving partner in same-sex couples has gained some attention in previous research, but the potential complexities of the decision have not been studied.AimThe aim is to explore how LBT people negotiate the question of who gives birth, in couples with two potential birth parents, and where one or both partners have a pronounced FOC.MethodsSeventeen self-identified LBT people were interviewed about their expectancies and experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. Data were analysed following a six-step thematic analysis.ResultsFOC was negotiated as one of many aspects that contributed to the decision of who would be the birth-giving partner. Several participants decided to become pregnant despite their fears, due to a desire to be the genetic parent. Others negotiated with their partner about who was least vulnerable, which led some of them to become pregnant despite FOC. Still other participants decided to refrain from pregnancy, due to FOC, and were delighted that their partner would give birth. Several participants described their partner's birth-giving as a traumatic experience for them, sometimes also when the birth did not require any obstetric interventions. The partner's experience was in some cases not addressed in postnatal care.ConclusionsIt is important that healthcare staff address both partners’ prenatal expectancies and postnatal experiences.