Rights or Obligations: The Extent to Which Sexual Desire and Gender Roles Determine Sexual Intimacy in Romantic Relationships.

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between traditional gender roles and the frequency of sexual intimacy within romantic relationships, considering sexual desire and societal norms and expectations. The study was conducted among a convenience sample of men and women in Israel. The survey included measures of sociodemographic information, traditional gender roles, sexual desire, perceived partner's sexual desire, and frequency of engaging in sex. Findings suggest that men who embraced less traditional gender roles exhibit a greater synchronization between their own sexual desire and their perceived partner's sexual desire, whereas women who embraced more traditional gender roles tend to rely more on their partners' sexual desire in their frequency of sex. These results imply that men's sexual desire plays a significant role in determining the frequency of sexual activity in romantic relationships, especially in relationships where traditional gender roles are more strongly embraced. Findings from the current study underscore the idea that the decision to engage in intimate acts may not solely hinge on individual sexual desire; rather, it operates within a broader context influenced by societal and cultural expectations. It is important to challenge societal norms to promote more balanced and equitable sexual dynamics in committed relationships.

On their own: Business profitability and job satisfaction among self-employed with chronic health conditions.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined (a) characteristics of maintenance of business activity among self-employed individuals with chronic health conditions (CHCs) and (b) the relationships of coping strategies with maintenance of business activity. METHOD: This cross-sectional study involved 294 self-employed participants aged 26-77 who were at most 2 years since their diagnosis and had one of the following CHCs: cancer (23.4%), cardiac disease (21.7%), respiratory disease (36.2%), or inflammatory bowel disease (18.6%). Participants answered questionnaires on workability limitations, business maintenance, sense of mastery, and coping strategies. RESULTS: Participants reported a substantial decrease in business profitability since their CHC diagnosis but high job satisfaction. The structural equation model had good fit indicators and revealed that the association between workability limitations and lower maintenance of business profitability was partially mediated by lower use of disengaged coping strategies. The association between sense of mastery and job satisfaction was partially mediated by engaged and disengaged coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Self-employed individuals with CHCs are at risk of declining of business profitability; however, degree of workability limitations alone did not explain business profitability maintenance or job satisfaction, but it was related to coping resources and strategies. Interventions that strengthen personal resources and promote engaged coping strategies should be provided with direct support to business maintenance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective and Subjective Stress among Grandparents Providing Assistive Regular Grandchild Care.

Research on stress and coping has differentiated the effects of objective stress and subjective perceptions of stress on psychological and physical health, including in old age. This study examined the moderating role of social support in the relationship between objective and subjective stress with depressive and somatic symptoms in the context of Israeli grandparents. This cross-sectional study involved 243 grandparents who provided at least 5 hours a week of assistive regular care to their grandchildren, divided into lower and higher support groups. The results show that the levels of depressive and somatic symptoms were higher in the lower support group. Social support moderated the association between the intensity of care and perceived stress. Social support moderated the association between subjective stress and somatic symptoms. To conclude, the combination of high subjective stress and lower social support constitutes a risk factor for impaired psychological and physical health.

Chronic stressors, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms: A comparison across older age groups.

Late-life depression is a prevalent mental health problem among older adults. Variations may exist in the intensity of chronic stressors experienced by people in different older age groups and their effects on depressive symptoms. To examine differences among older adults by age group in the experienced intensity of chronic stressors in relation to coping strategies and depressive symptoms. Participants were 114 older adults. The sample was divided into three age groups: 65-72, 73-81, and 82-91. The participants completed questionnaires on coping strategies, depressive symptoms, and chronic stressors. Moderation analyses were conducted. The lowest levels of depressive symptoms were in the young-old age group and the highest levels were in the oldest-old age group. The young-old age group used more engaged and less disengaged coping strategies than the two other groups. The association between intensity of chronic stressors and depressive symptoms was stronger in the two older age groups compared to the youngest (moderating effect of age groups). Differences exist in the relationships among chronic stressors, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms by age groups in the older adult population. Professionals should be aware of the possible differences between age groups in depressive symptoms and the impact of stressors on depressive symptoms in different older adult age groups.