As long as (I think) my husband agrees…: role of perceived partner approval in contraceptive use among couples living in military camps in Kinshasa, DRC

Background Male partner’s approval is a key determinant of contraceptive use for women living in Sub-Saharan Africa and improving men’s support and couple communication is a cornerstone of family planning programs. However, approval is often only measured through the women’s perception of their partner’s opinion. Methods This study conducted in Kinshasa compares contraceptive approval variables from matched male and female partners (n = 252 couples) to establish the frequency of (in)accurate perceptions by the woman, then test their association with modern contraceptive use. Additional regressions estimate individual and couple variables associated with (in)correct perceptions. Results Results confirm women are poorly aware of their partner’s opinion but indicate that perceived approval or disapproval by the woman is a much stronger determinant of modern contraceptive use than her partner’s actual opinion. Higher educational achievement from the woman is the strongest driver of misunderstanding her partner’s approval. Conclusions Women’s perceptions of partner’s approval are much stronger determinant of contraceptive use than the latter’s actual opinion, and stereotyping men’s opinion of family planning is a common error of appreciation. However, findings also suggest these misunderstandings might serve women’s capacity to negotiate contraceptive use.

Couples’ Communication Behaviour and the Gender Division of Family Work Across the Transition to Parenthood

This study investigates the conceptual argument that constructive and explicit couple communication may reduce gender inequalities in couples’ division of family work. We focus on the transition to parenthood which for most couples in Germany results in a shift towards a more traditional division of labour. Using 314 first-time parents from the German Family Panel, we apply growth curve models to assess whether partners’ prenatal characteristics explain the division of housework and childcare around the time of childbirth and in the following years. After controlling for gender ideologies and economic resources, male partners’ frequency of positive communication is associated with greater father involvement in housework and childcare from the start. However, neither men’s nor women’s communication behaviours dampen the shift towards a more traditional division of housework and childcare in the first years after childbirth. The frequency of negative communication does not correlate with the division of family work.

The impact of a maternal mental health intervention on intimate partner violence in Northern Ghana and the mediating roles of social support and couple communication: secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial

Backgrounds Diverse intervention efforts are implemented to address intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. Via a syndemics theory lens and emerging empirical evidence, mental health interventions demonstrate promise to partially ameliorate IPV. However, the mechanisms of change underlying many IPV interventions are not well understood. These gaps impede our efforts to strengthen or integrate effective components into the current mental health resources, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to examine the impact of a maternal mental health intervention called Integrated Mothers and Babies Course & Early Childhood Development (iMBC/ECD) on IPV and whether social support and/or couple communication mediates the intervention effects among women in rural, Northern Ghana. Methods The current study is a secondary data analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial. IPV was measured at baseline and 8 months post-intervention (~ 19 months post-baseline). At baseline, 84.8% of the women enrolled in the study (n = 374) reported some type of IPV in the past 12 months. Logistic regression models and multiple mediation analyses were used to address the study aims. Results iMBC/ECD did not reduce IPV in the intervention group compared to the control group. Social support and couple communication did not mediate the intervention effects on IPV as indicated by the indirect effects of the multiple mediation models. However, increase in social support reduced women’s odds of experiencing emotional violence by 7%, odds ratio (OR) = 0.93, p = 0.007; b = − 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (− 0.13, − 0.02), and improvement in couple communication demonstrated promise in reducing women’s odds of experiencing controlling behaviors by 7%, OR = 0.93, p = 0.07; b = − 0.07, CI = (− 0.14, 0.005), though the improvements were not due to the intervention. Conclusion This maternal mental health intervention did not reduce IPV; however, the findings extend our knowledge about the impact of such interventions on IPV and the potential mechanisms of change via social support and couple communication. Future research evaluating the impact of mental health interventions on IPV and mechanisms of change is essential for the development of effective interventions. Future programs addressing IPV in LMICs should consider risk factors beyond relationship level (e.g. poverty and gender inequity). Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT03665246, Registered on August 20th, 2018.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS AMONG MARRIED COUPLES: AN OVERVIEW

This study aimed to analyse the effective communication skills among married couples for building and maintaining strong couple relationships. The results of the study have an important implication for couple communication includes theory and lays the foundation in their relationship toolbox. Most theoretical, explaining the degree of ambiguity in the models governing couples’ expectations for and self-disclosure performance responsibilities affects the behaviour change. These factors appear to have dominated the development of theory to facilitate efficient tasks, minimize bids for influence, enable partners to feel effective and respected. While the process of adjustment and adaptation entail continued negotiation of responsibilities, repeated demands, directives, and tension within the couple. Couple therapy reflects the outcome of reduced relationship distress and communication skills that affect individual psychopathology, such as depression and the shortcomings of psychological interventions for preventing marital distress. These efforts may lead to successful adjustment to prevent marital distress that produces short-term changes in behaviour and relationship satisfaction, but little evidence exists demonstrating a long-term prevention effect. The value of studying couple’s communication pattern by using principles from psychology, concern about the negative impact of marital conflict and strengthened in response to the demands imposed more comprehensive outcome measured. Therefore, conceptualizing and measuring quality rooted an important theory and interventions that prioritize couple communication skills as the key predictor of relationship satisfaction, while raising new questions about other factors that might predict strengthen or moderate their association. As results, these findings shows a supporting understanding about what interaction and transactional processes take place in couples that the interpersonal communications skills between couples can predict satisfaction of their marital life. KEYWORDS: Communication Skills, Couples, Relationships, Marital Therapy, Character

As Long as (I Think) My Husband Agrees…: Role of Perceived Partner Approval in Contraceptive Use Among Military Couples Living in Kinshasa, DRC

Background: Male partner’s approval is a key determinant of contraceptive use for women living in Sub-Saharan Africa and improving men’s support and couple communication is a cornerstone of family planning programs. However, approval is often only measured through the women’s perception of their partner’s opinion.Methods: This study conducted in Kinshasa compares contraceptive approval variables from matched male and female partners to establish the frequency of (in)accurate perceptions by the woman, then test their association with modern contraceptive use. Additional regressions estimate individual and couple variables associated with (in)correct perceptions. Results: Results confirm women are poorly aware of their partner’s opinion but indicate that perceived approval or disapproval by the woman is a much stronger determinant of modern contraceptive use than her partner’s actual opinion. Higher educational achievement from the woman is the strongest driver of misunderstanding her partner’s approval. Conclusions: Women’s perceptions of partner’s approval are much stronger determinant of contraceptive use than the latter’s actual opinion, and stereotyping men’s opinion of family planning is a common error of appreciation. However, findings also suggest these misunderstandings might serve women’s capacity to negotiate contraceptive use.

The association between early in marriage fertility pressure from in-laws’ and family planning behaviors, among married adolescent girls in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India

Background Married adolescent girls are vulnerable to risky sexual and reproductive health outcomes. We examined the association of fertility pressure from in-laws’ early in marriage with contraceptive use ever, parity, time until first birth, and couple communication about family size, among married adolescent girls. Methods Data were taken from a cross-sectional survey with married girls aged 15–19 years (N = 4893) collected from September 2015 to July 2016 in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India. Multivariable regression assessed associations between in-laws’ fertility pressure and each outcome, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Results We found that 1 in 5 girls experienced pressure from in-laws’ to have a child immediately after marriage. In-laws’ fertility pressure was associated with lower parity (Adj. β Coef. − 0.10, 95% CI − 0.17, − 0.37) and couple communication about family size (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.39, 2.26), but not contraceptive use or time until birth. Conclusions Our study adds to the literature identifying that in-laws’ pressure on fertility is common, affects couple communication about family size, and may be more likely for those yet to have a child, but may have little effect impeding contraceptive use in a context where such use is not normative.

Pola Komunikasi Suami Istri Berbeda Agama dalam Membangun Keharmonisan

Communication is one of crutial aspect in human life. When done right, communication certainly make relationship grows better and in harmony. In many occation, miscommunication happen when there is a failure in delivering messages to the interlocutor. Hence, the miscommunication could cause problem to married couple. Successful marriage is created when husband and wife could communicate well while holding on their religius value. Nonetheless, there always families which is not living in harmony. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to analyse marriage couple communication pattern, especially in different religion to create a happy family. This study uses qualitative approaches with descriptive research method. Researches interviewed 6 resource which consist of a married husband and have a different religious but still harmonized. The result of this study showed that husband and wife who had lived up many years and there is an attitude that relented and understanding of each other, as well as a variety way to maintain it.Komunikasi merupakan salah satu aspek penting dalam kehidupan manusia. Komunikasi yang benar tentunya dapat membuat hubungan menjadi lebih baik dan harmonis. Sebaliknya kesalahpahaman dalam komunikasi bisa menimbulkan masalah yang serius. Seringkali dalam proses komunikasi terdapat kegagalan dalam penyampaian pesan kepada lawan bicaranya. Hal ini dapat menimbulkan permasalahan khususnya bagi pasangan suami istri yang sudah menikah. Keharmonisan suami istri terjadi hanya jika mereka dapat berkomunikasi dengan baik dan tetap berpegang teguh kepada nilai-nilai agama yang dianut. Namun tidak dapat dipungkiri bahwa di dalam tatanan rumah tangga menjadi tidak harmonis yaitu salah satunya adalah perbedaan agama pada suami istri. Maka dari itu penelitian ini ingin mengetahui pola komunikasi suami istri berbeda agama dalam membangun keharmonisan. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan penelitian kualitatif dengan metode deskriptif. Pada penelitian ini peneliti mewawancarai enam narasumber yang terdiri dari pasangan suami istri yang sudah menikah dan memiliki perbedaan agama namun masih tetap harmonis. Hasil penelitian lewat kajian pola komunikasi suami istri ini memperlihatkan bahwa pasangan suami istri yang telah menjalani kehidupan rumah tangganya bertahun- tahun terdapat sikap saling mengalah dan pengertian antara satu sama lain, serta memiliki cara-cara yang beragam untuk tetap mempertahankannya.