Week 3: Relationships and Ageing - 3012PSY Mini-Lecture

Week 3: Relationships and 3012PSY Ageing Learning Outcomes 1. Understand the importance of and changes in friendship over the life-span  Basis for friendship and social goals of friendship 2. Understand how we make choices in partnerships and sexual behaviour over...

Week 3: Relationships and 3012PSY Ageing Learning Outcomes 1. Understand the importance of and changes in friendship over the life-span  Basis for friendship and social goals of friendship 2. Understand how we make choices in partnerships and sexual behaviour over the life-span  Sex from debut -> older adulthood, its importance and consequences for relationships 3. Understand how marriage , child-rearing and partnership have changed over time  Family structure and demographic changes Friendships in Adulthood ABCDE Stages: Acquaintanceship, Buildup, Continuation, Deterioration and Ending Functions: 1. Affective or emotional basis 2. Shared or communal nature 3. Sociability and compatibility Socioemotional Selectivity Social contact is motivated by a variety of goals: 1. Information seeking 2. Self-concept 3. Emotional regulation WHY IS FRIEND SHIP IMPORT ANT? National Seniors Productive Aging Centre (2013). Staying connected: Social engagement and wellbeing among mature aged Australians. https://www.cepar.edu.au/publications/report-govt-submissions/staying-connected-social- National Seniors Productive Aging Centre (2013). Staying connected: Social engagement and wellbeing among mature aged Australians. https://www.cepar.edu.au/publications/report-govt- submissions/staying-connected-social-engagement-and- wellbeing-among-mature-age-australians Friendship Watt and colleagues (2014):  Those with a larger circle of friends  More likely to be physically active  Not explained by availability of emotional support! Mini-Lecture: 3012PSY Love & Sex Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love 1) Passion 2) Intimacy 3) Commitment Picture from Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/selective-photo-of-red-and-white-hearts-graffiti- How do we choose a partner? Assortative mating: People find partners based on their similarities to each other. How do we choose a mate? Walter et al. (2020): Prior studies on human mate preferences are based on old data – Buss 1989. Walter et al. (2020): human mate preferences across 45 countries (N = 14, 399; brand new data set). They found: Cross-culturally: Men indicated preferences for younger long-term mates based on physical attractiveness. Women, on average, indicated preferences for older mates with greater financial prospects. Women tend to have slightly higher preferences for kindness, intelligence, and health in a mate. As gender equality increased, both sexes tended to have mates closer to their own ages.  Sexual Debut AUS Australian Study of Health and Relationships (second study: 2012-2013): Median age for women = 18; Median age for men = 17 50% of between 16-18 Average age at debut has stayed relatively stable Early debut for men has decreased (22-19%), but for women has increased (13-16%) Men (39%) more likely than women (19%) to have first experience of intercourse with a casual partner Use of protection has increased; only 20% on debut in 1950s to 90% in 2000s https://ashr.edu.au/  Sex in Adolescents National Survey of Secondary Students (2021): 6,841 young people aged 14 to 18 years 69.1% had ever been in a romantic or sexual relationship Most reported that their current or most recent relationship was monogamous More than half (60.6%) reported that they had sexual experience or were sexual activity In 2021, 43% of Year 10 students had ever had sex. In 2021, 68.9% of Year 12 students had ever had sex. Most had positive attitudes about condoms. 75.2% (n = 3,306) reporting that they “thought sex would be less stressful if a condom was used than if not.” Sex in Emerging Adulthood Prendergast et al., (2019): Longitudinal study of adolescents from Victoria Completed survey as young adults in 2010- 2011 Number of partners: median value – 3 partners 72.4% reported not having sex outside of a serious r/ship Sexual satisfaction: median value – 6 (i.e., somewhat satisfied). Sex in Older Adulthood Lyons et al., (2017): Explored the sexual health of 2,137 older Australians (aged 60+). 72% reported having sex in the previous year – (76% of men and 61% of women). 88% of men and 72% of women reported that they hoped or planned to have sex in the future. 46% very or extremely satisfied with their sexual lives Many reported the need to normalise sexual expression and desire in later life Sex, Health, and Relationships People who are satisfied with their sex lives: –Are more likely to rate their physical health as “excellent” –Are more likely to say that they are “happy” People who have a satisfying sex life –Report being more in love with their partner –Report being more satisfied with their partner –Report being more committed to their partner Mini-Lecture: Marriage & Partnerships 3012PSY Relationships Singlehood Singles report facing biases and discrimination US – 50% of households lived in by unmarried persons Aus – 26% of households occupied by one person – increased from 18% in 1981(AIFS, 2023) 55% women, 45% men Cohabitation  In committed, intimate, sexual relationships without marriage  Couples cohabitate for three main reasons:  Convenience, sharing expenses, sexual accessibility – part-time or limited cohabitation  Couples are engaging in a trial marriage with an intent on marrying – premarital cohabitation  Long-term commitment that is a marriage in fact, but lacking official sanction – substitute marriage  MARRIAGE https://aifs.gov.au/research/facts-and- figures/marriages-australia-2023  Marriage https://aifs.gov.au/research/facts-and-figures/marriages- Marriage Marital success:  An umbrella term referring to any marital outcomes Marital quality:  A subjective evaluation of the couple’s relationship Marital adjustment:  The degree spouses accommodate each other Marital satisfaction:  A global assessment of one’s marriage What makes marriages succeed? Homogamy – similarity of a couple’s values and interests Feelings of equality:  Exchange theory - each partner contributing something to the relationship that the other would be hard pressed to provide Do Married Couples Stay Happy? Most couples – marital satisfaction is highest at the beginning of the marriage, declines (somewhat) until children leave home Although variability in the rate of decline Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model: Marital quality is a dynamic process resulting from the couple’s ability to handle stressful events Keeping Marriages Happy  The Early Years  Couples have adoration for spouse’s qualities  Happiest couples are those that focus on positives, rather than annoyances Marriage at Midlife Marital satisfaction can improve when adult children leave home Older Couples  Reduced potential for marital conflict and greater potential for pleasure  Satisfaction – increases after retirement, but decreases with health difficulties and ageing Mini-Lecture: Relationship 3012PSY Endings Divorce in Australia Why Do Marriages End? Common Predictors/Risk Factors of Divorce (Raley & Sweeney, 2020): 1. Poverty 2. Marrying before 18 3. Having divorced parents 4. Previous divorce 5. Low education 6. Unemployment Early Divorce (within 7 years) Late Divorce Divorce Effects of divorce on the couple  Divorce may impair well-being even several years later  Divorce Hangover: Inability to “let go”  Divorce in middle age:  If the woman initiates the divorce, they report self- focused growth and optimism  If they did not, they tend to ruminate and feel vulnerable  Middle-aged divorced women often face financial problems Remarriage Mini-Lecture: 3012PSY Families The Family  Nuclear family: Consists only of parent(s) and child(ren)  Extended family: Grandparents and other relatives lives with parents and children  Deciding to become a parent is complicated  An increasing number of couples are child- free  Couples have fewer children and have their first child later than in the past  Being older at the birth of the first child is advantageous  Who are the families? Of the 6.73 million families in Australia in 2021: 39% - couples without children 36% - couples with dependent children (children up to 14 years or dependent students aged 15 to 24 years) 10% - one-parent families with dependent children 8% - couples with non-dependent children 6% - one-parent families with non- dependent children 65) experienced elder abuse in Australia (2022- 2023).  Psychological abuse was the most common form. https://www.aihw.gov.au/family-domestic-and-sexual-violence/ population-groups/older-people GRANDPARENTS  Grandparenting Mansson (2016): Best parts: Mutual affection Shared activities Teaching and Learning Pride Mansson, D. H. (2016). The joy of grandparenting: A qualitative analysis of grandparents. Journal of Grandparenting Average age of grandparenthood = 40s- 50’s Dimensions of grandparenting: Formal Fun-Seeking Distant Grandparenting  How do grandparents interact with grandchildren?  Grandparents pass on skills, religious, social, and vocational values  Grandchildren give to grandparents by keeping them in touch with youth  Being a Grandparent is meaningful GRANDPARENT CARERS