Revisión de la investigación sobre relaciones de pareja en países hispanohablantes (2000-2018) / Review of the literature on couple relationships in Spanish-speaking countries (2000-2018)

Resumen La relación de pareja es una dimensión central de la vida de las personas que repercute en su felicidad y bienestar. Este tema es de interés para diversas disciplinas, teniendo un amplio recorrido en investigación, y ha sido abordado desde diferentes paradigmas y perspectivas de estudio. Con el objetivo de analizar las investigaciones llevadas a cabo sobre relaciones de pareja desde el año 2000 al 2018, se revisan 83 publicaciones localizadas tras una búsqueda exhaustiva en las principales bases de datos. Los resultados apuntan a que la mayoría de las investigaciones optan por una metodología exclusivamente cuantitativa, tienden a emplear instrumentos ya validados, cuentan con muestras de hasta 250 participantes y abordan temas clásicos como la satisfacción, la sexualidad o la comunicación en pareja. La información aportada permite obtener una visión global del tema de estudio y está encaminada a poder replicar, proponer nuevas o ampliar las investigaciones ya realizadas.

Abstract Couple relationships, as the fundamental basis of family relationships, is a crucial dimension within the lives of people that also impacts on their happiness and well-being. These relationships are underpinned by mutual caring and attachment bonds, which, properly developed, entail a source of emotional and social support. This support also contributes to build the identity, improve the social competence, and, ultimately, strengthen own and family well-being. This topic is likely to arouse the interest at a social and scientific level and is addressed from several disciplines such as Psychology, Sociology, Pedagogy, or Social Work. This interest has provided this topic with a broad overview in the related research, being addressed from different paradigms and study prospects. This study is aimed at analyzing the research conducted on couple relationships from 2000 to 2018 in Spanish-speaking countries. Therefore, we present a systematic review of 83 scientific publications retrieved after an extensive search in the main databases (WOS, SCOPUS, Dialnet Plus, Redalyc, and ISOC) and the search engine Google Scholar. Specifically, the study specifies the dimensions and variables that have been the subject of study among these relationships, their objectives and methods (with particular emphasis on the instruments used), and the sample type and size the authors deemed necessary. In addition to the year of publication and the geographical delimitation, it was also included as criteria the publication format (only scientific papers) and papers with a Social Sciences content with topics not related to violence. Results suggest that most researchers follow an entirely quantitative methodology, tend to use validated instruments, have samples up to 250 participants, and address traditional topics such as satisfaction, sexuality, and communication in couples. Also, the predominant trend is to focus on a single thematic content, being lower the presence of studies addressing the interaction between two topics (e.g., satisfaction and communication), and even least common those studies that extend the dimensions analyzed to three or more. Regarding the content, the papers reviewed confirm the thinking that the couple's well-being and their satisfaction has a multicausal nature, which goes beyond the couple, since it includes the influence of the couple's social and cultural context. In this regard, specific socio-demographic characteristics such as having children, gender, and relationship duration seem to have a greater impact and arouse more interest than others. To complement this work, it is also included other topics usually related to how the couples are shaped and the satisfaction perceived, such as, for example, the fear of intimacy and anxiety, the sense of humor, the psychological well-being, and living with a positive family context. Furthermore, the publications addressed allow to locate emerging topics, such as the use of technology and its impact on the couple relationships, and also reveal the absence of studies integrating new structures of couple relationships, like polyamory. In conclusion, this review helps to get a general overview of the topic studied in order to suggest further research or expand the research already conducted. Similarly, the information provided encourages researchers to replicate the studies analyzed with different samples (location, age, sample size, etc.) and with more ambitious methodological design given that, though exceptionally, there are results which buck against the current predominant trends, and to complement this study focused on Spanish-speaking research with English, French and Portuguese publications.

Evaluación de la asociación entre el estilo de apego parental y los celos románticos en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios colombianos / Evaluation of the association between the style of parental attachment and the romantic jealouses in a colombian college student sample

Resumen El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la relación entre el estilo de apego parental y los celos románticos en un grupo de jóvenes universitarios colombianos entre los 18 y 25 años. Participaron de manera voluntaria 614 jóvenes, 421 mujeres (69%) y 193 hombres (31%), con una relación de pareja vigente de más de seis meses de duración. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron el Inventario de Apego con Padres y Pares (IPPA, Armsden y Greenberg, 1987, adaptada por Rocha, Benítez, De-Irala, sin publicar), con el cual se evaluó el apego parental con respecto a su cuidador primario, y la Escala Interpersonal de Celos (Mathes y Severa, 1981, adaptada por Martínez-León, Mathes, Avendaño, Peña y Sierra, 2018) con la cual se midieron los celos románticos en la relación de pareja de los participantes. Los resultados mostraron que en la variable estrato socioeconómico nivel medio (estratos 3 y 4) existe una relación significativa (p = .023) la cual indica que, en esta muestra específica, el estilo de apego parental está asociado con el nivel de los celos románticos en la relación de pareja.

Abstract The objective of the present study is to analyze the relationship between parental attachment style and romantic jealousy in a group of Colombian students between 18 and 25 years old. Volunteers participated 614 young people, 421 (69%) women and 193 (31%) men, with a current relationship of more than six months. The instruments used were the Inventory of Attachment with Parents and Peers (IPPA, Armsden y Greenberg, 1987, adapted by Rocha, Benítez, De-Irala, unpublished), with which assessed parental attachment with respect to their primary caregiver, and the Interpersonal Scale of Jealousy (Mathes & Severa, 1981, adapted by Martínez-León, Mathes, Avendaño, Peña and Sierra, 2018), with which was measured romantic jealousy in the couple's relationship of the participants. The results showed that in the variable socioeconomic mid-level (strata 3 and 4) there is a significant relationship (p = .023) which indicates that, in this specific sample, the Parental attachment style is associated with the level of romantic jealousy in the couple's relationship.

Inicio sexual en contexto de sexo casual y su asociación a comportamientos de riesgo en salud sexual y reproductiva en adolescents / Sexual initiation in the context of casual sex and its association with risk behaviors in sexual and reproductive health in adolescents

RESUMEN Antecedentes: Los adolescentes que se comprometen en actividad sexual en un contexto de sexo casual, pueden desarrollar patrones de actividad sexual que los llevarán a resultados en salud negativos tales como embarazo no planificado, infecciones de transmisión sexual, y mayor exposición a múltiples parejas sexuales. Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre inicio sexual en contexto de sexo casual y comportamientos de riesgo en la salud sexual y reproductiva en adolescentes. Método: Estudio transversal y analítico en una población adolescente de ambos sexos. Se compararon adolescentes que iniciaron actividad sexual en un contexto de relaciones románticas y aquellos que lo hicieron en un contexto de sexo casual. Se analizó la asociación entre edad inicio relaciones sexuales, número de parejas sexuales, uso de método anticonceptivo y variables personales y familiares seleccionadas. Resultados: Se entrevistaron 3.565 adolescentes que habían iniciado relaciones sexuales. Las variables personales y familiares asociadas al inicio sexual en un contexto de sexo casual fueron: tener escolaridad básica, menor mediana de notas, antecedente de repitencia, proyectos académicos futuro solo terminar enseñanza media o secundaria, malas relaciones familiares, y disfunción familiar. Los comportamientos de riesgo en salud sexual en adolescentes de ambos sexos, que iniciaron actividad sexual en un contexto de relación de sexo casual fueron: inicio sexual más temprano, no uso de métodos anticonceptivos y mayor número de parejas sexuales. Conclusión: El inicio de la actividad sexual en un contexto de sexo casual expone a los adolescentes a mayores riesgos en sus comportamientos en su salud sexual y reproductiva cuando se comparan con aquellos que inician actividad sexual en un contexto más romantico.

ABSTRACT Background: Adolescents who engage in sexual activity in a non-romantic relationship may develop patterns of sexual activity that lead to negative health outcomes such as unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and increased exposure to multiple sexual partners. Objective: To analyze the association between sexual initiation in the context of non-romantic relationship and risk behaviors in sexual and reproductive health in adolescents. Method: Cross-sectional and analytical study in a teenage population of both sexes. We compared adolescents who initiated sexual activity in a context of romantic relationships and those who did it in a non-romantic context. The association between age at sexual initiation, number of sexual partners, use of contraceptive method and selected personal and family variables was analyzed. Results: 3,565 adolescents who had initiated sexual intercourse were interviewed. The personal and family variables associated with sexual initiation in a non-romantic context are: having a basic schooling, a lower grade point average and repeating background, and academic projects finishing secondary or high school, bad family relationships, and family dysfunction. The risk behaviors in sexual health in adolescents of both sexes who initiated sexual activity in a context of non-romantic relationship were: sexual debut earlier, no use of contraceptive methods and greater number of sexual partners. Conclusion: The beginning of sexual activity in a non-romantic context exposes adolescents to risk behaviors in their sexual and reproductive health.

Couple relationship education program "Living as Partners": evaluation of effects on marital quality and conflict

Abstract Relationship education programs are strategies that can favor better marital quality and conflict management between spouses. The relationship education program "Living as Partners: Turning Challenges into Opportunities" seeks to promote the couples' learning of conflict resolution strategies and better quality levels in the relationship. This study evaluates the capacity of this program to produce results regarding marital quality and three dimensions of the couple's conflict: frequency, intensity, and resolution strategies. Data from 41 couples were analyzed before and after the program, and a follow-up after 5 months (n = 33 couples) were conducted as well (single group, pre-test, post-test, and follow-up quasi-experimental design). Results show that the program produced immediate effects in all the outcome variables, which remained significant after 5 months, except for marital quality and for the strategy of compliance. These outcomes showed effect sizes ranging from low to high levels. The study presents evidence about the ability of the "Living as Partners" program to produce improvements in couple's conflict indicators, addressing an unexplored field of research and intervention focused on Brazilian cultural specificities.

Modelos parentales y su relación con la violencia en las parejas del mismo sexo / Parental models and their relation to violence among same-sex couples / Modelos parentais e sua relação com a violência em casais do mesmo sexo

Este artículo forma parte de una investigación más amplia cuyo objetivo fue describir los elementos relacionados con la violencia en parejas gays y lésbicas. Abordamos los resultados sobre la relación de los modelos parentales con la violencia ejercida al interior de estas y otras relaciones interpersonales. Seguimos un método descriptivo cualitativo y utilizamos grupos focales para recopilar la información, en donde participaron ocho hombres gays, seis mujeres lesbianas y una mujer bisexual, reclutados por disponibilidad. Encontramos que presenciar violencia entre los padres o ser expuestos a experiencias tempranas de maltrato destacan como principios favorecedores de futuras dinámicas violentas de pareja; y que el rechazo parental tras "salir del closet", junto con la dificultad para distinguir la violencia fuera del contexto heterosexual familiar, son obstáculos para detectar y afrontar la violencia.

This article is part of a wider study that has the objective of describing the elements related to violence among gay and lesbian couples. The authors analyze the results of looking at the relation between the parental model and violence inflicted within these and other interpersonal relationships. We used a qualitative descriptive method and focal groups to collect information with participation from 8 gay men, 6 lesbian women and 1 bisexual woman, who were selected based on their availability. The authors concluded that witnessing violence between parents or being exposed to early violent experiences were significant factors in encouraging violent dynamics within. In addition, parental rejection after "coming out of the closet" along with the difficulty with identifying violence outside of the generally accepted heterosexual family context were obstacles for identifying different types of violence.

Este artigo é parte de uma pesquisa mais ampla cujo objetivo foi descrever os elementos relacionados com a violência em casais homoafetivos. Abordamos os resultados da influência dos modelos parentais sobre a violência nestes relacionamentos e outras relações interpessoais. Seguimos um método descritivo qualitativo e utilizamos grupos focais como técnica de coleta de informaçõe. Participaram 8 homens gays, 6 mulheres lésbicas e 1 mulher bissexual. Descobrimos que testemunhar a violência entre os pais ou ser expostos a experiências precoces de abuso posicionaram-se como elementos que provocaram dinã¢micas violentas entre eles; e que a rejeição dos pais depois de " sair do armário", juntamente com a dificuldade que eles experimentaram para distinguir a violência fora do contexto heterossexual familiar foram os obstáculos para detectar a violência.

Vivencias afectivas y factores condicionantes en adultos mayores sin relación de pareja / Emotional experiencies and conditioning factors in elderly without couple relationship

Se describen las vivencias afectivas y los factores condicionantes de 2 adultos mayores sin relación de pareja, pertenecientes al Policlínico Docente José Martí Pérez de Santiago de Cuba. Ambos manifestaron vivencias afectivo- negativas, dado principalmente por la depresión, la soledad, la frustración y la infelicidad, asociado a sus características personológicas y agravado por pertenecer a una familia disfuncional. A tales efectos, se propuso una estrategia de intervención con enfoque individual, familiar y comunitario, a fin de contribuir al bienestar emocional de este grupo poblacional.

The emotional experiencies and conditioning factors of 2 elderly without couple relationship, belonging to José Martí Pérez Teaching Polyclinic in Santiago de Cuba are described. Both manifested negative emotional experiencies, given mainly by depression, loneliness, frustration and unhappiness, associated to their personal characteristics and worsened by belonging to a dysfunctional family. To such effects, an intervention strategy with individual, family and community approach was suggested, in order to contribute to the emotional well-being of this population group

Assim como nossos pais? Conjugalidade: repetição, transformação e criatividade / As our parents before? Couple relationship: repetition, transformation and creativity / ¿Así como nuestros padres? Conyugalidad: repetición, transformación e creatividad

A prática de atendimento a casais tem evidenciado que muitos dos conflitos recaem sobre as identificações de cada um dos parceiros com a dinâmica relacional entre o casal parental. Entretanto, compreender a conjugalidade exige considerar o contexto histórico, político, social, cultural e econômico no qual ela é forjada, posto que as expectativas e ideais que fundam o vínculo conjugal são inseparáveis dessas circunscrições. Nesse contexto problematizamos a repetição dos dilemas vividos entre os pais pelo casal atual, evidenciando a possibilidade de desconstrução e reconstrução de um novo sentido sobre a dinâmica amorosa. A psicanálise de família e casal tem oferecido amplo debate sobre o papel da herança familiar na constituição das subjetividades, colocando ênfase na questão da transmissão psíquica em suas malhas. Concluímos que a apropriação do legado envolve uma margem de liberdade e criatividade no processo de autoformação individual e na dinâmica do novo casal.

The practice of couple therapy has made evident the fact that many of the conflicts occur due to each partner's identifications with his or hers parents' couple dynamics. On the other hand, understanding conjugal life demands consideration of the historical, political, social, cultural and economic contexts which forge it. In this perspective, we focus on the repetition performed by the couple, which is based on the dilemmas once lived between the parents, highlighting the possibility of deconstruction and reconstruction of a new meaning for dynamics of loving relationships. Family and couple psychoanalysis has been promoting a vast discussion about the role of family inheritance In the constitution of subjectivities, highlighting the question of psychic transmission In the formation of the subjectivity. We conclude that the appropriation of an inheritance implies a margin of freedom and creativity In the process of individual self-formation and In the dynamics of the new couple.

La práctica de atendimiento a parejas ha evidenciado que muchos de los conflictos ocurren a causa de la identificación de cada miembro con la dinámica de la pareja parental. Sim embargo, comprender la conyugalidad exige considerar las circunstancias históricas, políticas, sociales, culturales e económicas que la forman, ya que las expectativas e ideas que erigen el vínculo conyugal son inseparables de estas circunstancias. En este contexto problematizamos la repetición de los dilemas vivenciados por los padres de la pareja destacando la posibilidad de desconstrucción y reconstrucción de un nuevo sentido para la dinámica amorosa. El psicoanálisis de familia y pareja posibilita un debate amplio sobre el papel del legado familiar en la constitución de las subjetividades, evidenciando la transmisión psíquica en sus constituciones. Se concluye que la apropiación del legado posee una margen de libertad y creatividad en lo proceso de autoformación individual y en la dinámica de la nueva pareja.

Funcionamiento conyugal en padres de familia que llevan a sus hijos a una evaluación psiquiátrica / Marital functioning in parents who take their children in for a psychiatric evaluation

Antecedentes: Recientemente, la investigación en familias con psicopatología ha demostrado la relación entre los trastornos mentales infantiles y los problemas en el subsistema conyugal.Objetivo: Describir el ajuste conyugal de un grupo de padres de familia que solicitaron atención psiquiátrica para sus hijos, y asociarlo con la gravedad de la psicopatología presente en éstos.Método: Se incluyó a un grupo de 48 niños y adolescentes, y a 76 progenitores. La psicopatología infantil se evaluó por medio de la MINI-Kid y el ajuste conyugal se evaluó mediante la Escala de Ajuste Diádico (EAD-13).Resultados: El 72.9% de los menores tuvo al menos un progenitor que reportó un bajo ajuste diádico. La correlación entre las puntuaciones de la EAD-13 obtenidas de cada miembro de las parejas fue baja (p<0.05). Existió una correlación negativa (p<0.05) entre las puntuaciones de la EAD-13 contestadas por las madres (cuanto menos se puntúa, menor es el ajuste) y el número de diagnósticos presentes en los hijos. Sin embargo, al comparar las medias del número de diagnósticos presentes en los menores, según el grado de ajuste percibido por los padres (varones), se encontró que aquellos que presentaban un alto ajuste tenían hijos con un mayor número de diagnósticos psiquiátricos (p<0.05).Discusión y conclusión: El conflicto negado por parte del padre y las dificultades conyugales percibidas por la madre redundan en una mayor predisposición de los hijos a la psicopatología.Ignorar el conflicto conyugal tiene enormes implicaciones en la evolución, pronóstico y respuesta al tratamiento de los pacientes pediátricos.

Background: In recent decades, research on families with psychopathology has demonstrated the relationship between childhood mental disorders and problems in the marital subsystem.Objective: To describe the degree of marital adjustment in a group of parents who sought psychiatric care for their children and compare it with the severity of the psychopathology present in children.Method: The study included a group of 48 children and 76 parents. The children's psychopathology was assessed using the MINI-Kid, while their parents' degree of dyadic adjustment was evaluated through the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (EAD-13).Results: A total of 72.9% of the children had at least one parent who reported a low dyadic adjustment. The EAD-13 scores of each member of the couple showed low correlation (p<0.05). Moreover, there was a negative correlation (p<0.05) between the EAD-13 scores answered by the mothers (the lower the score, the lower the adjustment) and the number of diagnoses present in the children. However, a comparison of the means of the number of diagnoses present in the children, according to the degree of adjustment perceived by the fathers, showed that those with a high adjustment had children with a higher number of psychiatric diagnoses (p<0.05).Discussion and conclusion: The results suggest that denied or concealed conflict, at least by the father, and marital difficulties perceived by the mother, led to children's increased susceptibility to psychopathology.Ignoring marital conflict in the assessment of children and adolescents has huge implications in the evolution, prognosis and response to treatment of pediatric patients.

Violencia contra la mujer adulta en las relaciones de pareja / Violence against the adult woman in couple's relationships

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 16 mujeres adultas que vivían en hogares disfuncionales, pertenecientes al local 32 del Policlínico "Carlos J. Finlay" del municipio Camagüey de la provincia de igual nombre, desde enero hasta mayo del 2013, con vistas a caracterizar los tipos de violencia contra las féminas adultas en las relaciones de pareja. La recolección del dato primario se efectuó mediante un cuestionario confeccionado al efecto. Se obtuvo un predominio del nivel escolar técnico medio y de la violencia psicológica infligida por los esposos, aunque también estuvieron presentes la violencia física y la sexual.

A descriptive and cross-sectional study of 16 adult women who lived in dysfunctional homes, belonging to the local 32 of "Carlos J. Finlay" Polyclinic of Camagüey municipality of the same name province was carried out from January to May, 2013, with the objective of characterizing the types of violence against adult females in couple's relationships. The gathering of the primary data was carried out by means of a questionnaire made to this effect. A prevalence of mid-technician school level was obtained and of the psychological violence used by the husbands, although physical and sexual violence were also present.

The couple relationship: support functions and sexuality in Old Age / O relacionamento do casal: funções de apoio e sexualidade na velhice

The aim of this paper is to analyze: 1) couple relationships – support functions and characteristics of the relationships – and their difference by gender, and 2) changes that occur in those relationships and in sexual activity in older heterosexual adults in the 65-85 age range. The subjects of the analysis were intentionally selected and the data has been collected in structured and semi-structured interviews. The results obtained by quantitative and qualitative analysis show that the couple relationship in old age fulfills functions such as emotional support, companionship and cognitive advice. Analysis by gender shows significant differences in 4 out of the 5 support functions that were explored. Among the changes that take place in old age, the decrease of frequency in sexual activity appears in the first place, though the level of satisfaction is maintained; and fellowship, mutual care and positive affect in relation to the partner increase.

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar: 1) as relações de casal - funções de apoio e as características das relações - e sua diferença por sexo; e 2) as mudanças que ocorrem nesses relacionamentos e em atividade sexual em adultos heterossexuais mais velhos na faixa etária de 65-85 anos. Os sujeitos da análise foram intencionalmente selecionados e os dados foram coletados em entrevistas estruturadas e semi-estruturadas. Os resultados obtidos pelo programa quantitativo e qualitativo de análise evidenciam que o relacionamento do casal na velhice cumpre funções como apoio emocional, companheirismo e aconselhamento cognitivo. A análise por gênero mostra diferenças significativas em 4 das 5 funções de apoio que foram exploradas. Entre as mudanças que ocorrem na velhice, a diminuição da frequência da atividade sexual aparece em primeiro lugar, embora o nível de satisfação seja mantido, assim como o companheirismo, o cuidado mútuo e o afeto positivo em relação ao parceiro.

A Study on the Sociopsychological Factors of the Psychiatric Patients' Families / 신경정신의학

OBJECTS: The study was designed to find out if there is any socio-psychological factors that could distinguish families with psychiatric patients apart from normal families. METHODS: A total of 235 psychiatric patients' family samples, 467 normal family samples, and total 802 family samples were randomly gathered from May 1995 to July 1995 in Seoul. Family Mental Health Questionnaire developed by the authors along with questions concerning family's way of communication were used as a method of evaluating the socio-psycologicla factor of the families. RESULTS: Compared to normal families, psychiatric patients' families show differences in these sociopsycological factors: emotional stability, open heartedness within family, family bonds, openness towards community, sexual relation of couple, conflict in the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, unconditional parental love towards children, control over the children and patriarchic family orientation. Among the socio-psychological factors, parental attachment toward children and the self-sacrifice devotion toward parents show no significant differences between psychiatric patients' families and normal families. The best factor which distinguishes psychiatric patients' families apart from normal families is the conflict in the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Other factors which also show significant differences are openness towards community and unconditional parental love towards children. Within psychiatric patients' families, mother's opinions act as a main source of decision making throughout the family communication process. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that unstable, closed socio-psychological characteristics of psychiatric patients' families could result in negative effects during the therapeutic process.