In this report, we review current scientific knowledge on the topic of youth mentoring, including what is known about relationships and programs, and their interface with organizations and institutions. Two primary conclusions can be drawn from this review. First, mentoring relationships are most likely to promote positive outcomes and avoid harm…

Although reports of intimate partner violence (IPV) decrease with age, a significant number of aging women experience IPV in their relationships. The structure and culture of rural environments may inadvertently conceal violence against aging women and inhibit prevention and treatment efforts. Guided by an ecological community framework, 3 focus…

Associations among dating, sexual activity, gender, and adjustment were investigated in 2,273 Italian adolescents (54% female, ages 14 to 19 years) attending public high schools. After controlling for age and type of school attended, both being in a dating relationship and being male were associated with less alienation, more positive views of the…

We examined mutuality, an aspect of Relational Cultural Theory, in an ethnically diverse sample of 397 college women from Midwestern and Western universities. We hypothesized that mutuality would predict scores on an eating disorder scale after controlling for traditional family variables, such as expressed emotion. As predicted, mutuality, as…

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), loss of sexual desire for sexual activity, is one of the most common sexual dysfunctions of men and women in the United States. This article presents an overview of this specific sexual dysfunction including incidence, possible causes, treatment options, and the role of the health educator in addressing…

The legal status of women's intimate relationships may allow for different experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV) and the protections received from the criminal justice system. There has been limited research examining differences in IPV and protective orders for women in marital and cohabiting intimate relationships. This study examines…

The communication patterns of young married couples may affect the satisfaction and longevity of the relationship. A study examined two young married couples who reported about their relationship with each other. Each couple was interviewed together, and then each member of each couple completed a questionnaire based on the ICPS Family Functioning…

A primary internal concern of an intimate relationship is that each partner communicates with the other. A breakdown of communication may occur when an occurrence construed as minor or negligible by one partner precipitates a major explosion of anger, rage, and hurt by the other. Both partners may be at fault for allowing a disagreement to reach…

Family solidarity runs strong in Appalachia, where young adults typically settle near their parents in kin-based rural neighborhoods. One child rearing practice that may contribute to this closeness is parent-child co-sleeping. Interviews with 107 mothers in eastern Kentucky focused on the sleeping location history of one child. Most subjects were…

Examined the influence of parent-adolescent intimacy on adolescent functioning. Found no significant differences between males and females on the measures of self-esteem, problem behavior or intimacy; however, mothers shared greater degrees of intimacy than did fathers for both male and female adolescents. Father intimacy was a greater predictor…

Investigations of physical assault have found that a substantial number of women have been victimized within the context of a dating relationship. The present study examined a wide range of interpersonal, attitudinal, personality, past history, and demographic variables for 308 college women in order to understand what factors differentiate women…

A strong majority of clinically distressed individuals are insecure with respect to attachment, and special vulnerabilities are appearing in disorganized-disoriented children. Relations to behavior genetics, family interaction patterns, psychophysiology, and treatment outcome studies are emerging or are anticipated. Discusses these and other…

Examined European-American 19-year-olds' self-defining memories about relationships with parents and/or peers. Found that parent memories emphasized separation more so than peer memories, which emphasized closeness. Parental separation was exemplified by parental divorce experiences, parent closeness by comforting a grieving parent, and peer…

Rebutts claims by Ben Spiecker and Jan Steutel that sex between individuals with mild or moderate mental retardation is morally permissable only with the substitutive consent of caregivers. Reviews historical, empirical, and practical considerations. Concludes that Spiecker and Steutel's arguments are deeply flawed and their proposed policy is…

Argues that Stephen Greenspan's comment is incoherent and that Mal Leichester and Pam Cooke's position has unacceptable practical consequences. Cautions that their positions have disquieting implications for the practice of treating mental retardation as an exempting condition; and the practice of giving them special welfare rights loses their…