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BackgroundSocial integration and mental health are vital aspects of healthy aging. However, close to half of Canadians older than 80 years report feeling socially isolated. Research has shown that social isolation leads to increased mortality and morbidity, and various interventions have been studied to alleviate loneliness among older adults. This proposal presents an evaluation of an intervention that provides one-on-one coaching, is intergenerational, provides both educational and socialization experiences, and increases technology literacy of older adults to overcome loneliness. ObjectiveThis paper describes the protocol of a randomized, mixed-methods study that will take place in Ontario, Canada. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if an intergenerational technology literacy program can reduce social isolation and depression in older adults via quantitative and qualitative outcome measures. MethodsThis study is a randomized, mixed-methods, feasibility trial with 2 conditions. Older adults in the intervention condition will receive 1 hour of weekly technological assistance to send an email to a family member, for 8 weeks, with the assistance of a volunteer. Participants in the control condition will not receive any intervention. The primary outcomes are loneliness, measured using the University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, and depression, measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, both of which are measured weekly. Secondary outcomes are quality of life, as assessed using the Older People’s Quality of Life-Brief version, and technological literacy, evaluated using the Computer Proficiency Questionnaire-12, both of which will be administered before and after the intervention. Semistructured interviews will be completed before and after the intervention to assess participants’ social connectedness, familiarity with technology, and their experience with the intervention. The study will be completed in a long-term care facility in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Significance was set at P

The role of oxytocin (OT) in close relationships is complex, as both positive and negative associations have been found between OT and relationship processes. Also, with most research focusing on the effects of exogenous OT administration on communication and couple behaviors, our knowledge about the association between endogenous OT and couple dynamics remains limited. This study is the first to assess the link between peripheral OT levels and observed communication behaviors during sexual and nonsexual conflict discussions in romantic relationships. A sample of 126 young, heterosexual couples (Mean age = 23.3, SD = 2.4; average relationship duration = 1.9 years, SD = 0.9) participated in videotaped sexual and nonsexual couple conflict discussions of 7 min each. Communication behaviors were coded using an adaptation of the Specific Affect Coding System (SPAFF) and the System for Coding Interactions and Family Functioning (SCIFF). Blood samples were collected prior to the couple discussions, during a separate lab visit, and OT plasma levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Plasma OT levels were positively associated with validating behaviors during sexual discussions in both women (r = +.24, p = .008) and men (r = +.18, p = .052). No significant associations were found between OT levels and validating behaviors during nonsexual discussions and between OT and affectionate and negative behaviors during either sexual or nonsexual discussions. Analyses revealed significant associations between OT levels and one's own validating behaviors during sexual discussions (b = 47.82, t(201.16) = 3.81, p

Despite the overwhelming support for the importance of sexual communication to intimate relationships, there is limited information about what motivates someone to engage in or avoid sexual communication. Motivational frameworks have been applied to various aspects of intimate relationships, serving as strong predictors of different behavioural processes and playing a crucial role in facilitating behavioural change. As such, we aimed to elucidate the motivations for sexual communication and explore how they relate to other aspects of the process of sexual communication. A total of 373 participants were recruited from online crowdsourcing websites across two studies, and they completed online questionnaires using a mixed methods approach. In Study 1, open-ended responses regarding participants' motivations for sexual communication were inductively coded and aligned with the Regulatory Focus Theory, which describes two distinct modes of goal pursuit depending on if the person is focused on growth and advancement (i.e., promotion-focused) or safety and security (prevention-focused). This coding structure was replicated in Study 2, and we expanded the results to examine the predictive ability of the coded motivations. We found that those higher in attachment avoidance were more likely to have prevention-focused motivations, and those with relationship-oriented promotion-focused motivations reported more depth of both sexual and nonsexual communication as well as more relationship and sexual satisfaction. The implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the extent to which individuals deliberately avoid the topic of pornography use with their partner and how such avoidance influences the association between pornography use and sexual satisfaction. We reasoned that such communicative avoidance may account for some of the negative relational effects associated with pornography use. A sample of 191 participants in mixed-sex relationships completed online measures of pornography use, sexual satisfaction, and domain-specific and overall measures of communicative avoidance. Men tended to avoid the topic of pornography use more than other topics that have the potential to cause relationship conflict. Women did not avoid the topic of pornography use more or less than other relationship topics. Controlling for pornography use, men and women who were more likely to avoid the topic of pornography use were less likely to be sexually satisfied; this association remained significant for men (but not women) after controlling their overall communicative avoidance. Lastly, men who were high pornography users and reported high levels of overall communication avoidance were most likely to report lower sexual satisfaction. Our findings underscore the need to pay careful attention to relational processes and dynamics when investigating the influence of pornography use on intimate relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a syndrome caused by reflux of gastric contents into the pharynx or larynx which leads to symptoms of throat clearing, cough, pain, sensation of something stuck in the throat and change in voice. Evaluation of symptoms using the Reflux Symptom Index is considered to be the basic diagnostic procedure. LPR therapy is complex and requires modification of patient’s lifestyle and habits. LPR treatment and management is supposed to reduce the acidity or stomach contents and neutralize acidopeptidic activity in larynx, pharynx and oesophagus. High dosages of PPI (proton pump inhibitors) have shown the best effects in reducing reflux. Aims and objectives: The goal of the current study is 1. To determine the effects of gastric reflux on larynx and pharynx both clinically and endoscopically. 2. To evaluate the effect of proton pump inhibitors along with lifestyle modifications on laryngeal reflux symptom index and reflux finding score. LPR was treated with PPI, alkaline alginates and standard reflux precautions (avoidance of coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, greasy, fried, fatty, and spicy foods, alcohol and smoking). Results: The study constituted of 150 patients coming to ENT OPD with symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux and having RSI >13. All patients were examined by 70-degree video-laryngoscope and were treated with proton pump inhibitors, alginates and lifestyle modifications. 80 of them recovered after 2 weeks of lifestyle modification and treatment and 63 recovered after a month while 7 remained symptomatic after 3 months of treatment as well. Conclusion: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is common in ENT practice but requires careful diagnosis due to its non-specific symptoms. Accurate diagnosis ensures appropriate management and avoids the pitfalls of overdiagnosis in LPR cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to 32% of adults have experienced some form of childhood maltreatment (CM). Research has shown that these early childhood experiences are associated with a variety of interpersonal difficulties in adult sexual and romantic relationships. Polusny and Follette have suggested that these negative long-term effects are the result of emotional avoidance strategies that individuals use to cope with thoughts, feelings, and memories associated with CM. The present study tested this theorized mediational model with a sample of 150 participants, all of whom were currently in long-term relationships. Participants completed questionnaires designed to assess the severity of CM, fear of their own emotions, and a task designed to assess their accuracy at identifying emotions. Additionally, participants completed a variety of measures assessing the quality of their sexual and romantic relationships. These measures assessed their satisfaction, their communication, and the extent of problems in each domain. Our results showed that higher levels of CM were associated with lower satisfaction with communication and more problems in both the romantic and sexual domains. In regard to our mediational hypothesis, we found partial support showing that fear of one's own emotions and emotion recognition mediated some of these associations. Our findings suggest that treatments targeting affective processes may be particularly important for helping victims of CM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors used cross-cultural methodology to examine the demand-withdraw pattern of marital communication. In Western countries, women usually make more demands, whereas men are more likely to withdraw. But the recently advanced marital structure hypothesis suggests that this pattern can be altered by gender roles and beliefs, particularly in traditional marriages. To test such hypotheses, the authors conducted an observational study of marital communication across very different cultures, with varying levels of patriarchy (i.e., 50 White American couples, 52 Pakistani couples in Pakistan, and 48 immigrant Pakistani couples in America). Across cultures, demand-withdraw communication was related to marital distress, extending previous findings to new groups. However, the findings challenge the notion that demanding and withdrawing behaviors are inherently male or female; rather, the results point to the relevance of contextual factors, specifically gender power differences and acculturation, in understanding the demand-withdraw marital interaction pattern. Therapists working with foreign or immigrant couples must consider the cross-cultural generalizability of existing theories of marital communication.

In previous batterer typology studies, only 1 study gathered longitudinal data and no research examined whether subtypes continue to differ from one another over time. The present study did so. We predicted that, at 1.5- and 3-year follow-ups, the subtypes identified at Time 1 (A. Holtzworth-Munroe, J. C. Meehan, K. Herron, U. Rehman, G. L. Stuart, 2000; family only, low level antisocial, borderline/ dysphoric, and generally violent/antisocial) would continue to differ in level of husband violence and on other relevant variables (e.g., generality of violence, psychopathology, jealousy, impulsivity, attitudes toward violence and women). Although many group differences emerged in the predicted direction, not all reached statistical significance, perhaps because of small sample sizes. Implications of the findings (e.g., not all marital violence escalates; possible overlap of the borderline/dysphoric and generally violent/antisocial subgroups) are discussed, as are methodological issues (e.g., need for more assessments over time, the instability of violent relationships).

This study was conducted to respond the current demand of health-conscious consumers towards reduced-fat and fiber enriched foods. Apricot kernel flour (AKF) had significant amount of total phenol contents and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity (83.89±3.53%). Different concentrations (20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) of AKF were used to replace the shortening in supplemented cookies. In supplemented cookies, fat content reduced from 23.53±0.23% to 3.82±0.03% by increasing level of AKF. Spread value decreased in high percentage AKF supplemented cookies. Total dietary fibers (TDF) and texture values (by Texture Analyzer) increased significantly (p=0.05) from 2.63±0.09% to 31.82±1.11% and 3.27±0.11 N/kg to 6.02±0.21 N/kg by enhancing AKF supplementation respectively. Total calories reduced due to partially replaced fat content of supplemented cookies. Cookies (supplemented with 60% and 40% AKF) were recommended better for eating quality on the basis of physico-chemical properties, calories count, texture and organoleptic attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used a mixed-method design to examine the attributions women in mixed-gender/sex relationships make for their partner's perceived pornography use and whether such attributions covary with women's relationship and sexual satisfaction. A final sample of 199 women completed measures of relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and their perceptions of partner's pornography use. Participants also completed three open-ended questions assessing their attributions of their partner's perceived pornography use. Qualitative analyses revealed 11 themes in women's attributions of their partner's perceived pornography use; some of the themes reflected on women themselves (e.g., being open-minded and accepting), whereas other themes reflected on the partner (e.g., partner is sexually bored) or the relationship (e.g., strong and trusting relationship). Furthermore, the women made positive, negative, and neutral attributions. Quantitative analyses showed that positive attributions were significantly more frequent than neutral or negative attributions and the latter two categories did not differ significantly from each other. Also, greater frequency of positive and neutral attributions and lower frequency of negative attributions were associated with higher relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. Our results suggest that women make a range of attributions about their partner's pornography use and that this variation relates meaningfully to indices of relationship functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]