Prospective family predictors of aggression toward female partners for at-risk young men.

Social learning models of the intergenerational transmission of aggression were tested for an at-risk sample of young adult men who entered a longitudinal study (Oregon Youth Study) in Grade 4 and were assessed with a female partner in young adulthood (17–20 years old). The associations of 2 family process variables—parental dyadic aggression and unskilled parenting, assessed both in late childhood and early adolescence with the son's later aggression toward a partner—were examined. Parental antisocial behavior was hypothesized to be associated with both family process variables. Unskilled parenting was hypothesized to play a key role in the son's later aggression toward an intimate partner, mediated by his development of antisocial behavior by adolescence. Fully prospective structural equation models were tested with multimethod, multiagent data, including both observed and reported aggression toward the partner. Findings indicate that the major hypothesized pathways through unskilled parenting practices and the boys' antisocial behavior were implicated in the intergenerational transmission of aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The contribution of extracurricular activities to adolescent friendships: New insights through social network analysis.

Extracurricular activities are settings that are theorized to help adolescents maintain existing friendships and develop new friendships. The overarching goal of the current investigation was to examine whether coparticipating in school-based extracurricular activities supported adolescents' school-based friendships. We used social network methods and data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine whether dyadic friendship ties were more likely to exist among activity coparticipants while controlling for alternative friendship processes, namely dyadic homophily (e.g., demographic and behavioral similarities) and network-level processes (e.g., triadic closure). Results provide strong evidence that activities were associated with current friendships and promoted the formation of new friendships. These associations varied based on school level (i.e., middle vs. high school) and activity type (i.e., sports, academic, arts). Results of this study provide new insight into the complex relations between activities and friendship that can inform theories of their developmental outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The quality of adolescent friendships: long-term effects?

Retinoic acid (RA) has been implicated in cardiac morphogenesis by its teratogenic effects on the heart, although its role in normal cardiogenesis remains unknown. To define the parameters of RA action in cardiac morphogenesis, we analyzed the patterns of ligand synthesis, response, and inactivation in the developing mouse heart. Activation of a lacZ transgene controlled by an RA response element (RARE) was compared to the localization of the retinaldehyde-oxidizing dehydrogenase RALDH2, the earliest RA synthetic enzyme in the mouse embryo, and to the expression of a gene encoding an RA-degrading enzyme (P450RA). We observed that RALDH2 localization and RA response were virtually superimposable throughout heart development. Initially, both RALDH2 and RARE-LacZ activity were restricted to the sinus venosa in unlooped hearts, but were high in the dorsal mesocardium, while P450RA expression was restricted to the endocardium. Later stages were characterized by a sequential, noncontiguous progression of RALDH2 accumulation and RA response, from the sinus venosa to atria, dorsal-medial conotruncus, aortic arches, and the epicardium. This dynamic pattern of RA response was a direct result of localized RALDH2, since hearts of cultured embryos were uniformly competent to respond to an exogenous RA challenge. These observations support a model in which the influence of endogenous RA on heart development depends upon localized presentation of the ligand, with only limited diffusion from the source of its synthesis.     

Effects of female hormonal condition on body weight of male partners: Dependence on testicular factors.

Four experiments explored the short-term effects of female estrous condition or gonadal hormones on body weight (BW) of male guinea pigs. The BW of male Ss and their ovulating female partners initialy showed a significant periovular suppression relative to those of female cagemates that were not ovulating at that time. Similar effects in male rats have been hypothesized to result from postcopulatory increases in circulating testosterone (TTT) and the conversion of that TTT to estradiol (ED). To evaluate the role of the guinea pig testes in this phenomenon, intact and castrated males were housed with ovariectomized females. Female estrus, induced by injecting the females with ED and progesterone, resulted in an immediate decline in BW of the intact male partners, but the BW of castrated male partners was unaffected. Additional tests evaluated the direct effects of ED and TTT on BW of males. Injections of up to 1 mg per day of TTT propionate were insufficient to produce short-term suppression of BW in either intact or castrated males. However, treatment of the males with ED readily reduced their BW. Overall, results are not consistent with the hypothesis that short-term reductions in BW of mated males result from immediate postcopulatory increases in circulating TTT. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Women oriented toward male dominated careers: Is the reference group male or female?

Explored the relationships between a number of network variables and level of self-valuing in 43 women (predominantly university students) who demonstrated interest in science careers that have been traditionally associated with males. Ss provided self-report information concerning self-esteem, attitudes toward encouragement and valuing of men and women, size of male and female networks, and perceived levels of emotional support received from both sexes. Multiple regression analyses showed that female-oriented variables were able to account for 68% of the variance associated with valuing of self, whereas male-oriented predictors accounted for a substantially smaller portion of the variance. Results are discussed in the context of reference group theory and J. L. Laws's (1975) concept of tokenism. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Heterosexual risk behaviors in at-risk young men from early adolescence to young adulthood: Prevalence, prediction, and association with STD contraction.

Health-compromising lifestyles involve stable patterns of behavior and are associated with high-risk social environments and accelerated developmental trajectories. Developmentally, antisocial behavior is associated with such lifestyles. Mediational models predicting a measure of lifetime average sexual risk behavior assessed over a 10-year period (from ages 13-14 to 22-23 years) were examined for a sample of at-risk young men. The measure included years of abstinence from intercourse as well as levels of 3 key heterosexual indicators of risk: frequency of intercourse, number of intercourse partners, and condom use. Predictors included lifetime average measures of contextual, family, and peer process variables and individual behaviors. In addition, similar models for prediction of STD contraction were assessed. A younger age of onset of intercourse was associated with higher numbers of intercourse partners after onset. As hypothesized, findings indicated mediational associations of socioeconomic status, parental monitoring, deviant-peer association, antisocial behavior, and substance use in the prediction of sexual risk behavior. Lower condom use also predicted STD contraction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Aggression by a female rat cohabiting with a sterile male declines within 27 h following ovariectomy

Females that had become aggressive as a result of cohabiting with a sterile male were ovariectomized and implanted with empty Silastic tubes. Control groups were either sham ovariectomized or ovariectomized and implanted with Silastic tubes providing replacement levels of estradiol and testosterone. Twenty-seven hours following surgery, all animals were tested for aggressiveness toward an unfamiliar female rat. The aggression of ovariectomized females without hormone replacement declined to a minimal level postoperatively and was significantly lower than that of sham-ovariectomized females or ovariectomized females with estradiol and testosterone replacement. Both sham-ovariectomized females and ovariectomized females given hormone replacement displayed a level of aggression close to that observed preoperatively. The aggression of a female rat cohabiting with a sterile male appears to be highly sensitive to the removal of gonadal hormones. This corresponds with observations made on pregnant females and contrasts with those made on lactating females.     

The contribution of influence and selection to adolescent peer group homogeneity: The case of adolescent cigarette smoking.

Understanding the homogeneity of peer groups requires identification of peer groups and consideration of influence and selection processes. Few studies have identified adolescent peer groups, however, or examined how they become homogeneous. This study used social network analysis to identify peer groups (cliques), clique liaisons, and isolates among adolescents in 5 schools at 2 data collection rounds (N?=?926). Cigarette smoking was the behavior of interest. Influence and selection contributed about equally to peer group smoking homogeneity. Most smokers were not peer group members, however, and selection provided more of an explanation than influence for why isolates smoke. The results suggest the importance of using social network analysis in studies of peer group influence and selection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Risk for HIV infection among bisexual men seeking HIV-prevention services and risks posed to their female partners.

The present study interviewed gay (n?=?473) and bisexual men (n?=?146) as part of an HIV prevention program and investigated social cognitive factors associated with HIV risk. Results indicated that HIV risk in homosexual men was associated with sexual openness and connections to gay communities, factors not associated with risk for bisexual men. Compared with men at lower risk, those who practiced high-risk sex scored lower on measures of perceived safer sex norms, safer sex self-efficacy, and social skills. Bisexual men with primary female partners often had not disclosed their bisexuality to female partners (75%), and 64% had not modified their behavior to protect female partners. Bisexual men who engage in high-risk behaviors therefore pose a risk to female partners who may be unaware of their involvement with men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Violence against women by male partners: Prevalence, outcomes, and policy implications.

Violence against women has only recently been addressed in national policy and legislation. Responses by most societal institutions to women assaulted by male partners are still based primarily on a lack of knowledge about the prevalence, severity, and outcomes of violence perpetrated by men against female intimates. Although well suited to make a vital contribution, psychologists still rarely involve themselves in proactive interventions with women victims. This article reviews empirical literature on the physical and sexual assault of women by their male intimates and discusses potential physical and psychological outcomes, with a focus on linking what is known about abused women's reactions with the rich literature on survivors' responses to trauma. Implications for research, treatment interventions, and policy are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of hormone replacement therapy among female gynecologists and partners of male gynecologists in Norway

In 1997 a questionnaire on hormone replacement therapy was sent to all 475 members of the Norwegian Society for Obstetrics and Gynaecology. There was an 80% response rate. Among the questions asked, were some concerning the members' personal use of hormones. 36 of the 153 female gynaecologists were menopausal or had climacteric complaints. 28 (78%) out of the 36 used oestrogen, four (11%) had contraindications, and another four (11%) were not in need of therapy. Of 228 male gynaecologists 96 had partners who had either climacteric symptoms or were menopausal, and 74 (77%) of these were receiving hormone treatment. The reasons given for not using oestrogen were lack of symptoms requiring therapy in 14 cases (15%) and contraindications in one case (1%). In seven cases (7%) no information was provided. In 1996 about 19% of Norwegian women aged 45 to 69 years used hormone replacement therapy. The use of hormones among female gynaecologists and partners of male gynaecologists is thus four times higher than in the rest of the population.     

Relationship separation for young, at-risk couples: Prediction from dyadic aggression.

Dyadic physical aggression in the relationships of 158 young, at-risk couples was examined as a predictor of relationship separation over the course of 6 years. A high prevalence of physical aggression and a high rate of separation were found, with 80% of couples engaging in physical aggression (as reported by either partner or as observed) and 62% separating over time. As predicted, physical aggression significantly increased the likelihood of relationship dissolution, even after accounting for psychological aggression, prior relationship satisfaction, and relationship contextual factors (length of relationship, relationship type, and children in the household). Of the contextual factors, relationship type was predictive of relationship dissolution: Married couples were least likely to dissolve their relationships compared with cohabiting and dating couples. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Longitudinal spillover effects of conflict resolution styles between adolescent-parent relationships and adolescent friendships.

This study longitudinally investigated spillover effects of conflict resolution styles in adolescent-parent relationships and adolescent friendships. Questionnaires about conflict resolution styles with parents and best friends were completed by adolescents from two age cohorts: 559 early adolescents (mean age 13.4) and 327 middle adolescents (mean age 17.7). Path analyses on two waves, with a three-year interval, indicated that in the early-to-middle adolescent group positive problem solving and conflict engagement spilled over from adolescent-parent relationships to adolescent friendships and not from adolescent friendships to adolescent-parent relationships. In the middle-to-late adolescent group, we found bidirectional spillover effects for these two conflict resolution styles. For withdrawal, we found bidirectional spillover effects in both cohorts. This study showed that both parents and friends set the stage for exercising and learning conflict resolution styles and thereby shape adolescents' future conflict behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Underage drinking among young adolescent girls: The role of family processes.

Guided by family interaction theory, this study examined the influences of psychological, peer, and familial processes on alcohol use among young adolescent girls and assessed the contributions of familial factors. An ethnically diverse sample of 1,187 pairs of girls (M age = 12.83 years), and their mothers completed surveys online. Questionnaires assessed girls’ lifetime and recent alcohol use, as well as girls’ demographic, psychological, peer, and family characteristics. Hierarchical logistic regression models showed that although girls’ drinking was associated with a number of psychological and peer factors, the contributions of family domain variables to girls’ drinking were above and beyond that of psychological and peer factors. The interaction analyses further highlighted that having family rules, high family involvement, and greater family communication may offset risks in psychological and peer domains. Study findings underscore the multifaceted etiology of drinking among young adolescent girls and assert the crucial roles of familial processes. Prevention programs should be integrative, target processes at multiple domains, and include work with parents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The female perspective: women's attitudes toward urogenital aging

Different perspectives toward symptoms of urogenital aging exist among postmenopausal women, influenced by social and cultural factors, but one constant is that women rarely feel able to discuss urogenital problems freely--with their physicians, husbands, or friends. European women >55 years old were brought up to prize "modesty" and to consider urogenital symptoms as private matters that the woman must solve herself. Sexuality in older age groups is recognized as important, but many postmenopausal women are reluctant to complain of deteriorating sex lives. In spite of a different view of the menopause, similar reticence is found in Japan. Physicians need to be better equipped to improve communications between themselves and their postmenopausal patients.     

Transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae among men with urethritis and their female sex partners

Transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae among infected men and their female sex partners was examined using a design enhancing the likelihood that spread was directed from men to women. Chlamydia culture-negative specimens were examined using DNA amplification tests. Infection rates in women exposed to male sex partners with Chlamydia only were 65% (20/31) and with gonorrhea only were 73% (33/45). Infection of women by either agent was not influenced by the number of sexual exposures to or coinfection in men. There was a 98% (40/41) concordance of N. gonorrhoeae isolates among partners by auxotype and serovar. Chlamydia isolates were serotyped using ELISA and immunofluorescence testing and confirmed by nested polymerase chain reaction: 50% (6/12) of men and 57% (8/14) of women yielded mixed serovars. Sixty-four percent of pairs (9/14) were infected with identical serovars and an additional 28% shared at least one serovar. Multiple serovars of C. trachomatis, but not of N. gonorrhoeae, were common in sex partners and exchanged frequently.     

Aggression in adolescent girls: Implications for policy, prevention, and treatment.

This review of literature focuses on aggression and adolescent girls. Official crime statistics from Statistics Canada show an increase in violent offenses by girls. This statistic has created considerable interest in a heretofore largely ignored area of childhood maladjustment. Differences regarding the development and expression of aggression with girls in contrast to boys is provided. The authors argue that, in the context of what is acknowledged to be a limited literature, there are important themes for human service-providers and policy-makers to consider in examining assessment, treatment, and prevention strategies for aggressive adolescent girls. Finally, an orientation towards furthering a research agenda in the area of aggression with adolescent girls is provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Publication productivity and career advancement by female and male psychology faculty: The case of Italy.

In the United States, women tend to publish less than men do and to be overrepresented at the lower ranks of academia. This study examined the scientific productivity and career status of female and male psychology faculty in Italian universities. Psychology was selected as a discipline because for decades, it has had a female majority among its doctorates. Italy was the case study country because it has one of the highest representations of women among university faculty. This study's questions were: What is the representation of female psychology academics across faculty and high administration ranks? Is the publication productivity of female psychology academics different from that of their male peers? Finally, what institutional factors are associated with publication productivity among psychology academics? Our study focused on the 511 university psychology professors (250 women and 261 men) listed in 2004 in the Italian Ministry of Education University and Research website. We examined scientific productivity over 7 years, from 1998 to 2004, using PsycINFO. We found that women represented two thirds of assistant professors but only one third of full professors and department chairs. Overall, women published somewhat less (approximately one third less) than men, especially in international journals and as senior authors. However, consistent with prior evidence, when multiple predictors were considered together, both academic rank and institutional setting, but not sex-of-faculty, were associated with publication output. This study confirms prior observations that a strong female doctoral pipeline and scientific productivity are very slow at influencing the underrepresentation of women at the top ranks of academia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Killing of conspecific and mouse young by male rats.

Conducted 6 experiments, using approximately 375 male Long-Evans rats. The probability that male rats would kill and eat rat pups was inversely related both to age of the pup and to the amount of prior exposure to pups. Also studied were (a) the effects of hunger and subsequent food satiation on killing of neonatal rat pups, (b) the generalization of experience in killing neonatal rat pups to the killing of weanling rats and of mice, (c) the effect of nonkilling experiences with either neonatal rat pups or with weanling rats in reducing the probability of killing neonatal rat pups, and (d) the effects of these variables when mouse pups were the stimuli. The data suggest that (a) neonatal pups, conspecific or not, were killed because they were perceived as food and not because they triggered aggressive response systems, (b) older pups did trigger aggressive response systems, and (c) species-specific characteristics of rat pups triggered maternal response systems in the male rat with a subsequent decrease in the incidence of rat pup killing. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of adolescent nicotine exposure on opioid consumption and neuroendocrine response in adult male and female rats.

Effects of adolescent nicotine exposure on illicit drug consumption and neuroendocrine functioning were examined in adult rats. Nicotine (NIC; 2 doses) or saline (SAL) was administered via osmotic minipumps to 30 male and 30 female adolescent Wistar rats for 19 days. After NIC/SAL cessation, oral opioid consumption was assessed in the home cage for 4 weeks. Plasma corticosterone and ACTH were measured at the end of the experiment. Low-NIC male rats consumed more fentanyl than did high-NIC male rats; opioid consumption among adult female rats was not altered by NIC exposure. Females consumed more fentanyl than did males, regardless of NIC history. NIC exposure increased adult corticosterone and ACTH levels in a dose-dependent manner. Results suggest important effects of adolescent NIC exposure, including altered neuroendocrine status and opioid consumption. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)