Which factors contribute to sexual well-being? A comparative study among 17 to 20 year old boys and girls in Belgium and Ecuador.

Despite recognition that sexual well-being is an important part of adolescent sexual and reproductive health, a clear description of adolescent sexual well-being does not yet exist. Through six in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions with 56 young people in two distinct contexts (Belgium and Ecuador), we used the social-ecological framework to identify factors influencing adolescent sexual well-being. According to respondents, the main factors that influence adolescent sexual well-being are not only situated at the individual (having knowledge and skills and being physically, sexually and mental mature and healthy) and interpersonal levels (positive attraction towards others and communication about sexuality), but at a broader societal level, including social acceptance of sex, gender and sexual diversity and its (legal) translation into comprehensive sexuality education and the ready availability of contraceptives. Our results go well beyond two existing definitions of (adolescent) sexual well-being to contribute to understanding and measurement from the perspective of young people themselves, adding substantively to ongoing discussion about the definition of the concept.

Ambiguous Loss in Transnational Families' Adolescents: An Exploratory Study in Ecuador.

In psychosocial migration literature, the perspective of ambiguous loss has been relevant to articulate personal and relational experiences in the context of transnational families and ongoing separation. Most studies have focused on adult members' experiences of transnational families, but research exploring ambiguous loss in adolescents whose parents have migrated is still lacking. The present study aimed to explore adolescents' lived experiences of parental migration. In a pilot explorative study, 14 adolescents with at least one parent who migrated were interviewed about their lived experiences of transnational parent-child relationships and ongoing parent-child separation. Data analysis identified four themes in participants' accounts: practices of separation creating confusion; current relationship with migrant parents permeated by ambiguity; distrustful representations of migrant parents; and family and social dynamics reactivating the pain of loss. The findings reveal how in the context of parental migration, patterns of separation and ongoing relational processes, compounded by the uncertainty of reunification and an exclusionary social fabric, constitute core elements that shape adolescents' lived experiences of parent-child relationships characterized by ambiguity.

En la bibliografía sobre las consecuencias psicosociales de la migración, la perspectiva de la pérdida ambigua ha sido relevante para expresar las experiencias personales y relacionales en el contexto de las familias transnacionales y la separación constante. La mayoría de los estudios se han centrado en las experiencias de los miembros adultos de las familias transnacionales, pero aun faltan investigaciones que analicen la pérdida ambigua en los adolescentes cuyos padres han emigrado. El presente estudio tiene como finalidad analizar las vivencias de los adolescentes de padres migrantes. En un estudio piloto exploratorio, se entrevistó a 14 adolescentes con al menos un padre que emigró acerca de sus vivencias con respecto a las relaciones transnacionales entre padre e hijo y la separación constante entre padre e hijo. Los análisis de datos identificaron cuatro temas en los informes de los participantes: las prácticas de separación que generan confusión; la relación actual con los padres emigrantes impregnada por la ambigüedad; las representaciones desconfiadas de los padres emigrantes; y la dinámica familiar y social que reactiva el dolor de la pérdida. Los resultados revelan cómo, en el contexto de la migración parental, los patrones de separación y los procesos relacionales constantes, agravados por la incertidumbre de la reunificación y una estructura social exclusivista, constituyen elementos fundamentales que moldean las vivencias de los adolescentes en las relaciones entre padres e hijos caracterizadas por la ambigüedad.

Traditional gender roles translating into behaviors within adolescents' romantic relationships / Roles tradicionales de género traducidos en comportamientos en las relaciones románticas de los adolescentes / Papéis tradicionais de gênero que se traduzem em comportamentos nas relações românticas dos adolescentes

Abstract While several studies suggest that traditional gender ideologies are strongly embedded in Latino populations, little is known about the way they operate in adolescent's romantic relationships. This mixed-methods study was carried out with adolescents in Cuenca, Ecuador. In the quantitative component, we assessed adolescents' support for traditional gender ideologies in a sample of 562 adolescents (n = 309 girls). It was identified that the majority of adolescents were "uncritical" towards traditional ideologies involving masculinity (82%) and femininity (79%). In the qualitative component, the narratives of a sample of 20 adolescents reflected existing discourses on traditional gender roles and revealed how these ideologies are translated into specific behaviors. In this context, romantic relationships can become negative and dysfunctional spaces that affect adolescents' development.

Resumen Si bien varios estudios han sugerido que las ideologías de género tradicionales están fuertemente arraigadas en las poblaciones latinas, aún se sabe poco sobre la forma en que estas operan en las relaciones románticas de los adolescentes. Este estudio de método mixto se realizó con adolescentes de Cuenca en Ecuador. En el componente cuantitativo, evaluamos el apoyo a las ideologías tradicionales de género en una muestra de 562 adolescentes (n = 309 niñas). Se encontró que la mayoría de los adolescentes podrían ser clasificados como «acríticos¼ hacia las ideologías tradicionales de masculinidad (82%) y feminidad (79%). En el componente cualitativo, las narrativas de una muestra de 20 adolescentes reflejaron los discursos existentes sobre los roles tradicionales de género y revelaron cómo estos se traducen en comportamientos específicos. En este contexto, las relaciones románticas pueden convertirse en espacios negativos y disfuncionales que pueden afectar el desarrollo de los adolescentes.

Resumo Embora vários estudos tenham sugerido que as ideologias tradicionais de gênero são fortemente endossadas nas populações latinas, ainda pouco se sabe sobre a forma como operam nas relações românticas dos adolescentes. Este estudo de métodos mistos foi realizado com adolescentes de Cuenca, no Equador. No componente quantitativo, avaliamos o endosso de ideologias tradicionais de gênero em uma amostra de 562 adolescentes (n = 309 meninas). Verificouse que a maioria dos adolescentes pode ser classificada como "acrítica" em relação às ideologias tradicionais de masculinidade (82%) e feminilidade (79%). No componente qualitativo, as narrativas de uma amostra de 20 adolescentes refletiram os discursos existentes sobre os papéis tradicionais de gênero e revelaram como estes se traduzem em comportamentos específicos. Nesse contexto, os relacionamentos amorosos podem se tornar espaços negativos e disfuncionais que podem afetar o desenvolvimento dos adolescentes.

"Boys Should Have the Courage to Ask a Girl Out": Gender Norms in Early Adolescent Romantic Relationships.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to explore how gender norms emerge in romantic relationships among early adolescents (EAs) living in five poor urban areas. METHODS: Data were collected as part of the Global Early Adolescent Study. The current research analyzed data from interviews with 30 EAs (aged 11-13 years) living in five poor urban sites: Baltimore, Cuenca, Edinburgh, Ghent, and Nairobi. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed in English using Atlas.ti, focusing on how EAs experience and perceive gender norms in romantic relationships. RESULTS: Across the five sites, only a few respondents described having been in love, the majority of whom were boys. Findings indicate that stereotypical gender norms about romantic relationships prevail across these cultural settings, depicting boys as romantically/sexually active and dominant, and girls as innocent with less (romantic) agency. In spite of the similarities, Nairobi was unique in that respondents referred to how sexual behavior and violence can occur within EA relationships. In all countries, heterosexuality was perceived to be the norm. Nevertheless, there were examples of EAs accepting homosexuality and expressing supportive attitudes toward equality between the sexes. CONCLUSIONS: While EAs across five different cultural settings seem to endorse stereotypical gender norms in romantic relationships, a few stories also illustrate more gender-equal attitudes. As stereotypical gender norms have a demonstrated negative effect on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and well-being, additional research is needed to understand which factors-at the interpersonal and structural level-contribute to the construction of these norms among EAs.