Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Partner Communication”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of social support on prenatal care and health behaviors of low-income women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship of social support from partners and others to the adequacy of prenatal care and to the prenatal health behaviors of low-income women. DESIGN: Descriptive, correlational study using self-reports and medical record review. SETTING: Data were collected in five metropolitan prenatal clinics serving low-income women. PARTICIPANTS: Ethnically diverse, primarily single, low-income pregnant women (N = 101) between 28 and 40 weeks of pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects completed the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, the Prenatal Health Questionnaire, and the Demographic/Pregnancy Questionnaire. RESULTS: Social support provided by the partner correlated positively with adequacy of prenatal care, whereas social support from others (excluding partner relationships) correlated positively with prenatal health behaviors. Professionals such as health care providers and counselors were not considered sources of social support by women. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses who work with low-income pregnant women in a variety of settings should assist partners in recognizing their potential positive contributions, teach women to communicate their expectations to their partners, acknowledge the importance of other family members as providers of social support, and when needed, refer women to programs that increase available social support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Social partner preferences of male and female fighting fish (Betta splendens).

While the social interactions of Betta splendens have been studied in the contexts of dominance hierarchies, mate choice and communication networks, the social partner preferences of Betta have been largely overlooked. In this study, we presented male and female Betta with a single male, a single female, and a group of three females in dichotomous choice tests in order to better understand basic social interactions in this largely nonsocial species. The highly territorial Betta preferred associating with conspecifics in nearly every configuration we tested, with exceptions noted when single females were given the choice between a lone male and an empty chamber, and when males were presented with a single female and an empty chamber. Also, in most tests, the fish chose to spend more time with the larger group of females. The motivation for this preference certainly varied from reproductive to anti-predator. While such behavior might not suggest true shoaling behavior, it does demonstrate a subtle degree of sociality.

Aggression↗
PubMed2003

Asking and telling: communication about HIV status among Latino HIV-positive gay men.

Communication about HIV status--that is, asking about a sex partner's status as well as disclosing one's own status--was examined in a sample of 129 Latino HIV-positive gay men interviewed as part of a larger study conducted in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. Asking and telling were strongly related to each other; however, participants were more likely to disclose their positive serostatus to sex partners than to solicit information about their partners' serostatus. Region of birth was associated with both asking and telling. Participants with bilingual friendship networks reported more communication with partners. Higher levels of social isolation were related to lower levels of communication, and perceived negative consequences--beliefs that disclosure would result in negative consequences or rejection--were related to less telling. Contrary to expectations, reported experiences of gay discrimination were positively associated with communication of serostatus.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Maintaining safer sex behaviours in HIV-infected adolescents with haemophilia. The Hemophilia Behavioral Evaluative Intervention Project Committee.

Adolescents with haemophilia comprise 44% of the reported AIDS cases in teenagers. Unprotected sexual intercourse among this group increases the risk of HIV transmission. Understanding the influences which others may have on the sexual behaviour of adolescents with HIV and haemophilia may lead to the development of effective risk reduction strategies. An evaluative instrument, administered to 307 HIV-infected adolescents with haemophilia, assessed their behavioural stage of change (Prochaska & DiClemente), attitudes, beliefs and behaviours about safer sex practices. The influence of parents, peers and sexual partners on sexual behaviour was compared between (1) those who were sexually experienced and (2) and those who were sexually inexperienced. Barriers and facilitators to practising safer sex were identified. Although parents influenced the sexual behaviour of both groups, this influence was significantly greater in the sexually inactive group. Fewer than 20% reported that their peers impacted their decisions about sexual behaviour. Eighty-six per cent of the sexually active indicated that partners significantly impacted their sexual decisions, while 60% of the sexually inactive indicated that future partners would affect their decisions about sex. Most participants agreed that disclosure of HIV status before intercourse was desirable, but only 31% of the sexually active said they told every partner. Fear of rejection or a negative reaction from the partner, and lack of communication skills were the greatest barriers to disclosure of HIV status and practising safer sex. This study indicates that behavioural interventions for both groups should focus on developing communication skills and self-efficacy. Interventions should include the key influences for each group--parents for the sexually inactive and partners for the sexually active.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Flavonoids and arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ancient Zygomycetes forming the most widespread plant-fungus symbiosis. The regulation of this association is still poorly understood in terms of the communication between the two partners. Compounds inside the root and released by the root, such as flavonoids, are hypothesized to play a role in this plant-fungus communication, as already demonstrated in other symbiotic associations (e.g. Rhizobium-leguminoseae). Here we give a general overview of the research concerning this question.

Cell Communication↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors associated with positive HIV serostatus among women who use drugs: continued evidence for expanding factors of influence.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with positive HIV serostatus among African American women who smoke crack and/or inject drugs and who are not enrolled in drug treatment or another institutional setting. METHODS: Baseline interviews were conducted from June 1998 to June 2000 with 379 heterosexually active women (ages 18 to 59) who had been recruited for potential enrollment into an HIV intervention trial. RESULTS: Adjusted for age and drug using status, women who expressed more difficulty saying no to sex with male partners were more likely to be HIV-positive (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=3.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.02, 4.83). Similarly, those who indicated greater communication with casual sex partner(s) were less likely to test positive (aOR=0.29, 95% CI 0.10, 0.89). Lower HIV internal control and a history of cuts or burns on lips due to crack smoking were also associated with positive serostatus, and were important confounders in the final multivariate model. A higher level of internal control was associated with a decreased likelihood of positive serostatus, while a history of cuts or burns on the lips was associated with an increased likelihood of HIV antibodies, even after controlling for the amount of oral sex. CONCLUSIONS: A broad array of factors may promote or avert infection with HIV. The degree to which personal attributes and beliefs, and relationship characteristics contribute to the likelihood of infection must continue to be addressed. The importance of oral sex and presence of oral sores and their potential role in transmission was suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of setting and task partner on the performance of adults over age 65 on a communications task.

The present study was an investigation of the influence of two methodological variables on the performance of adults sixty-four to seventy-nine years old. Participants gave directions on a map reading task to a peer (similar aged) partner and a non-peer (younger) partner. Testing was conducted in either the laboratory or the participants' homes. Contrary to expectations, communication performances with the non-peer required less time and fewer utterances, morphemes, repetitions and start overs than with the peer. The influence of setting was apparent only in the number of attention cues used, with the more distracting home setting requiring more attention cues to maintain partner attention.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Variables influencing perceptions of the communicative competence of an adult augmentative and alternative communication system user.

The effects of aided message length, partner reauditorization, and observer background on perceptions of the communicative competence of an adult augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system user were examined. Two groups of subjects participated: naive adults with minimal exposure to nonspeaking persons, and speech-language pathologists currently working with AAC users. Four scripted videotaped conversational conditions involving an AAC user and a normally speaking partner were employed to manipulate aided message length and partner reauditorization. A balanced incomplete block design was used. Following each viewing, subjects completed a questionnaire designed to assess the communicative competence of the AAC user. Results indicated a significant interaction effect involving subject group and aided message length. The speech-language pathologists were affected by aided message length. Furthermore, significant differences between subject groups were found in specific conditions. Future research directions are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Identification of strategies for promoting condom use: a prospective analysis of high-risk African American female teens.

Condom promotion strategies for adolescents typically include provision of STD/HIV-associated knowledge, fostering favorable attitudes toward condom use, promoting positive peer norms regarding condom use, improving condom-related communication skills and self-efficacy, and overcoming barriers to condom use. The purpose of this study was to identify which of these constructs were prospectively associated with condom use among a high-risk sample of African American adolescent females reporting sexual activity with a steady male partner. Adolescents, 14-18 years old, were recruited from schools and health clinics. Adolescents completed an in-depth survey and interview at baseline and again 6 months later. Analyses were limited to adolescents with steady partners who reported sexual activity between the baseline and 6-month follow-up assessment periods (N = 179). At baseline, five-scale measures and a single-item measure were used to assess predictive constructs. At follow-up, adolescents were asked about their frequency of condom use over various periods of recall. Multivariate models were created to control for the confounding influence of pregnancy status. The findings were remarkably distinct. The evidence strongly supported the predictive role of perceived barriers toward condom use and peer norms. The measure of sexual communication achieved significance for two of the six assessed outcomes. Alternatively, measures of attitudes toward condom use, condom negotiation self-efficacy, and knowledge about STD/HIV-prevention were consistently nonsignificant. The findings suggest that to improve effectiveness of individual-level STD/HIV prevention programs, designed for this population, program emphasis should be on reducing barriers to condom use, teaching partner communication skills, and fostering positive peer norms relevant to condom use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Sexual behaviors and safer sex practices of college students on a commuter campus.

The sexual behaviors and safer sex practices of college students at a midwestern commuter university are described. Responses from a student sample of 1,919 indicated that slightly more than 10% used condoms consistently. The most frequently cited reasons for not using condoms were monogamy (83%) and preferring other forms of birth control (31%). The leading reason for consistent condom use was fear of HIV infection (72%). Approximately 75% indicated they talked with their sexual partners about HIV prevention; women reported communicating significantly more often than men did (p < 0.0001). Seventy percent of the sample reported they had only one sexual partner during the past year. Students who had multiple partners during the past year were more likely to practice such unsafe sexual practices as not using condoms and not communicating about HIV prevention. Unsafe sexual practices occur on nontraditional university campuses just as frequently as they do on more traditional campuses, thus supporting the need for HIV prevention programs on every college and university campus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Sexual behaviour and knowledge of AIDS among urban black mothers. Implications for AIDS intervention programmes.

Questionnaires were administered to 122 urban black mothers of teenagers in order to: (i) understand aspects of their sexual behaviour and knowledge of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); and (ii) assess their communication with their teenage children with regard to AIDS and sexual behaviour. The subjects comprised a 12.5% random sample of all houses in Lamontville, a black township south of Durban. The level of AIDS knowledge among mothers was high, while their sexual behaviour, characterised by a high pregnancy rate and a high proportion who have had children by more than one consort, placed them at high risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. No mother had experienced sexual intercourse during which her partner used a condom. Communication with their teenage children was poor; none of the mothers had spoken with them about AIDS and 89.3% had not discussed contraceptive methods with their teenage children. We found that urban black mothers were at high risk of acquiring HIV and, despite their knowledge of the modes of transmission and prevention of HIV infection, they had not begun using condoms as a risk-reducing measure, nor had they communicated the risk of unprotected sex to their teenage children. We recommend that AIDS intervention strategies should not concentrate only on passing on knowledge but also on providing women with the communication skills to negotiate the use of condoms with their partners and to convey the risk of HIV infection to their teenage children.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1981

Physician and pharmacist--natural partners.

This article highlights how communication can be helped by the quality and content of prescription writing and concludes with the suggestion that fresh guidelines be prepared to improve the relationship between pharmacists and doctors.

Drug Prescriptions↗
PubMed2003

Avoiding risky sex partners: perception of partners' risks v partners' self reported risks.

BACKGROUND: Key strategies advocated for lowering personal risk of sexual exposure to STD/HIV include having fewer partners and avoiding risky partners. However, few studies have systematically examined how well people can actually discern their sex partners' risk behaviours. METHODS: We conducted face to face interviews with 151 heterosexual patients with gonorrhoea or chlamydial infection and 189 of their sex partners. Interviews examined the patients' perceptions of their sex partners' sociodemographic characteristics and risk behaviours. Patients' perceptions of partners were then sociometrically compared for agreement with partner self reports, using the kappa statistic for discrete variables and concordance correlation for continuous variables. RESULTS: Agreement was highest for perceived partner age, race/ethnicity, and duration of sexual partnership; and lowest for knowledge of partner's work in commercial sex, number of other sex partners, and for perceived quality of communication within the partnership. Index patients commonly underestimated or overestimated partners' risk characteristics. Reported condom use was infrequent and inconsistent within partnerships. CONCLUSION: Among people with gonorrhoea or chlamydial infection, patients' perceptions of partners' risk behaviours often disagreed with the partners' self reports. Formative research should guide development and evaluation of interventions to enhance sexual health communication within partnerships and within social networks, as a potential harm reduction strategy to foster healthier partnerships.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

[Psychological rehabilitation as social learning process--on the application of the communication therapy in rehabilitation (author's transl)].

As, from the socio-psychological point of view, disability constitutes a communication problem, it was studied in how far the principles of communication therapy - originally developed for the treatment of marriage and family problems - can be applied to the psychological rehabilitation of the disabled. The author and her colleagues are of the opinion that the communication therapeutic approach can essentially improve the rehabilitation process, especially through the direct involvement of everyday social partners.

Communication↗
PubMed2002

[Changes in partner relationship after organ transplantation: comparison between heart, liver, and kidney transplantation].

AIM: This study was conducted to delineate partnership-relation functioning over time and specifically matched to various organs such as heart, liver, and kidney. METHOD: Prospective, paralleled case-control-study including patients and their respective partners before and one year after organ transplantation in 23 heart-transplant recipients, 19 liver-transplant patients, and 16 kidney-transplant recipients. To assess partnership functioning, the FB-Z (family assessment measure) of Cierpka and Frevert was used. Statistics included descriptive methods, correlations, and analysis of variance including the items "organ" and "time". RESULTS: Heart-transplant recipients and their partners show significant better overall measures in their partnership ratings (sum-value) in comparison to liver or kidney patients and their partners. In all patient and partner groups, except in kidney-transplant recipients a significant deterioration over time is discernible in the subscales role performance and emotionality. In respect to the item "organ" significant differences were found in overall functioning and the subscale communication where heart-transplant recipients and their partners have significant better functioning compared to kidney or liver transplant patients. In kidney patients and their partners only communication changes to the better in the time course. CONCLUSION: In any organ transplantation the two sides of the coin are important to bear in mind, the one is the live-saving act of transplantation as such, the other is the important distress in the phase before but equally after the operation, mainly in the first year where patients and their respective partners have to be followed and treated even in respect to psychosocial and marital functioning.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Couple communication patterns of maritally aggressive and nonaggressive male alcoholics.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the associations between communication problems and marital violence in couples with a male alcoholic, and to determine whether the communication correlates of marital violence found in nonalcoholic community samples also characterize male alcoholics' relationships. METHOD: Ninety newly abstinent treatment-seeking male alcoholics and their wives completed a 10-minute problem discussion while both partners were sober. Their communication behaviors were coded with the Marital Interaction Coding system. Couples were separated into maritally aggressive (n = 60 couples) and nonaggressive (n = 30 couples) groups on the basis of any husband-to-wife physical aggression in the previous 12 months. RESULTS: The base-rate percentage of aversive-defensive communication was significantly higher for couples with a physically aggressive husband than for couples with a nonaggressive husband. The base-rate percentage of facilitative-enhancing communication did not differ significantly between groups. In sequential analyses, physically aggressive husbands, but not their wives, displayed more negative reciprocity than their nonaggressive counterparts. Alcoholic husbands in general displayed lower rates of facilitative-enhancing communication than did their wives. CONCLUSIONS: Husband-to-wife marital aggression was associated with problematic communication among couples with an alcoholic husband during a sober interaction in a laboratory setting, extending prior nonalcoholic community sample research to male alcoholics' relationships. The maritally aggressive alcoholics were high in negative responses contingent upon their wives' prior negative behavior, and were unlikely to terminate aversive interchanges. Communication problems may be important in understanding and treating co-occurring alcoholism and marital violence.

Adult↗