Psychologist, PhD. Couples intimacy and desire. Individual, couple and family intervention. Qualitative consulting. Supervisors: Isabel Narciso, PhD and Rosa Novo, PhD Phone: +351913301540
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
In the present study, the attributions of socially and economically disadvantaged mothers for the... more In the present study, the attributions of socially and economically disadvantaged mothers for their own negative parenting behavior and for their children’s undesirable behaviors as perceived by parents—understood as misbehavior—were analyzed. To this end, an exploratory study with a qualitative design was developed, in which 24 socially and economically disadvantaged mothers were individually interviewed. The data were analyzed following a thematic analysis approach, using software suited to qualitative analysis, namely NVIVO 12. The children’s undesirable behaviors as perceived by parents and some characteristics associated with parental performance (particularly the appraisal of the effectiveness of their negative practices) emerged respectively as external and internal factors, explaining mothers’ inadaptive behaviors—difficulties in behavior regulation, physical coercion, psychological control and paraverbal hostility. The parental subsystem and school emerged as the main exter...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Parental alienation (PA) and its conceptualization or understanding of the process underlying thi... more Parental alienation (PA) and its conceptualization or understanding of the process underlying this dynamic has long been controversial, but it has also been frequently brought to courtrooms. This study provides an account of how legal professionals conceptualize “parental alienation” and how they describe the characteristics of the phenomenon. Using a qualitative design, 21 family court judges (range 33–60 years; 11 men and 10 women), working with child custody cases, participated in an individual in-depth interview. A qualitative analysis based on Grounded Theory basic procedures revealed a complex picture of alienation dynamics with five interconnected results. First, PA contexts and landscapes, which included the judges’ perceptions on the PA nurturing contexts, its strategic behavior patterns and functions, portraits of PA and clues for its identification; second, considerations on PA severity; third, the influential factors, including those related to the emergence of PA; fourt...
The death of a child is an individual process of grief but also a context of significant relation... more The death of a child is an individual process of grief but also a context of significant relational processes, which have been only rarely considered in research. The aim of this study was to examine the interactive processes within bereaved parents. Eighteen married bereaved parents were interviewed individually. The semistructured script included questions about the couples’ relationship after the death of the child, particularly the relational dynamics and the association between the individual and relational realms. Data analysis using constructivist grounded theory allowed for the development of a circular hypothesis, suggesting that parents’ individual grief influences and is influenced by the couple’s relationship and partner support, involving interdependence and patterns of emotional transmission (empathy and emotion contagion) within the couple. The findings suggested that psychological interventions should include the dyadic level to optimize mutual support and the benefi...
The relationship between sexual desire and differentiation of self in couples has been frequently... more The relationship between sexual desire and differentiation of self in couples has been frequently discussed in clinical literature but lacks empirical support. This exploratory study investigates the associations between individual and dyadic levels of sexual desire, differentiation of self and couple satisfaction. Similarities and discrepancies in sexual desire and differentiation of self between partners were especially targeted. Partners were expected to have a lower discrepancy of differentiation of self than unrelated individuals (Bowen's similarity hypothesis). Partners' discrepancy in differentiation of self was expected to be negatively associated with sexual desire; and higher levels of sexual desire and differentiation in the dyad were expected be positively associated with couple satisfaction. Results suggest that partners' similarity regarding differentiation of self predicted individual sexual desire. Other findings suggest that couple satisfaction was positively associated with both sexual desire and differentiation of self. Limitations and clinical implications are discussed.
ABSTRACT Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sen... more ABSTRACT Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of autonomy within a deep intimate relationship – has been proposed as a relevant factor in couple satisfaction, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Sexual desire and intimacy have recently drawn increased attention due to the proposal that some of the relational benefits of long-term intimacy (e.g., predictability) might be detrimental to desire and satisfaction. This study aimed to test a model illustrating the role played by differentiation of self in couple satisfaction through the underlying mechanisms of sexual desire and intimacy, in a survey of 428 heterosexual individuals. The findings supported the proposed model, suggesting that differentiation of self is a predictor of desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction. Desire mediated the association between differentiation and couple satisfaction, and also the association between differentiation and intimacy. Intimacy mediated the association between desire and satisfaction. The model was sustained for women, but a different mechanism was found for men. The results provide support for the close association between intimacy, sexual desire and satisfaction, while suggesting that differentiation of self has a fundamental role in sexual desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction.
ABSTRACT Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sen... more ABSTRACT Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of autonomy within a deep intimate relationship – has been proposed as a relevant factor in couple satisfaction, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Sexual desire and intimacy have recently drawn increased attention due to the proposal that some of the relational benefits of long-term intimacy (e.g., predictability) might be detrimental to desire and satisfaction. This study aimed to test a model illustrating the role played by differentiation of self in couple satisfaction through the underlying mechanisms of sexual desire and intimacy, in a survey of 428 heterosexual individuals. The findings supported the proposed model, suggesting that differentiation of self is a predictor of desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction. Desire mediated the association between differentiation and couple satisfaction, and also the association between differentiation and intimacy. Intimacy mediated the association between desire and satisfaction. The model was sustained for women, but a different mechanism was found for men. The results provide support for the close association between intimacy, sexual desire and satisfaction, while suggesting that differentiation of self has a fundamental role in sexual desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction.
The question of what heightens or diminishes sexual desire has long been a passionate theme acros... more The question of what heightens or diminishes sexual desire has long been a passionate theme across cultures in literature, arts, media, and medicine. Yet, little research has been conducted to determine what affects level of desire within couples. The degree of differentiation of self has been suggested as an important variable in shaping partners' level of desire. Through a qualitative analysis of dyadic couple interviews, this study provides an account of characteristics, processes, and trajectories of sexual desire and differentiation in 33 heterosexual couples of varying ages and relationship duration. Factors associated with high desire were change and autonomy, whereas conflict and children were reported to be desire-diminishing factors. Innovation, sharing, autonomy, and effort emerged as desire-promoting strategies, while fostering personal interests, investing in a positive connection, and enhancing personal integrity were identified as couples' strategies to promote and preserve differentiation of self. The results also shed light on couples' perceptions of whether and how sexual desire changes over the course of the relationship and challenge common cultural assumptions about desire in committed relationships—namely the myth that the only authentic expression of desire is that which occurs spontaneously and without intention and planning. Implications for couple therapy are discussed.
Durante largo tiempo, la pregunta sobre qué factores aumentan o disminuyen el deseo sexual ha sido un tema apasionado en la literatura, las artes, los medios de comunicación y la medicina de distintas culturas. Sin embargo, se han realizado muy pocas investigaciones para determinar qué factores influyen en el nivel de deseo de las parejas. Se ha sugerido el grado de diferenciación del yo como variable importante en la determinación del nivel de deseo de los integrantes de la pareja. Mediante un análisis cualitativo de entrevistas diádicas de pareja, este estudio ofrece un informe de las características, los procesos y las trayectorias del deseo sexual y de la diferenciación en 33 parejas heterosexuales de distintas edades y duración de la relación. Los factores asociados con el alto nivel de deseo fueron el cambio y la autonomía, mientras que el conflicto y los niños se informaron como factores reductores del deseo. La innovación, la confidencia, la autonomía y el esfuerzo surgieron como estrategias estimuladoras del deseo, mientras que el fomento de intereses personales, la inversión en una conexión positiva y el enriquecimiento de la integridad personal se identificaron como estrategias de las parejas para promover y preservar la diferenciación del yo. Los resultados también aclararon las percepciones de las parejas con respecto a si y a cómo el deseo sexual cambia durante el transcurso de la relación. Además, dichos resultados cuestionan las suposiciones culturales comunes acerca del deseo en las relaciones estables, por ejemplo, el mito de que la única expresión auténtica de deseo es la que ocurre espontáneamente y sin intención ni planificación. Se debaten las consecuencias para la terapia de pareja.
Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of aut... more Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of autonomy within a deep intimate relationship – has been proposed as a relevant factor in couple satisfaction, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Sexual desire and intimacy have recently drawn increased attention due to the proposal that some of the relational benefits of long-term intimacy (e.g., predictability) might be detrimental to desire and satisfaction. This study aimed to test a model illustrating the role played by differentiation of self in couple satisfaction through the underlying mechanisms of sexual desire and intimacy, in a survey of 428 heterosexual individuals. The findings supported the proposed model, suggesting that differentiation of self is a predictor of desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction. Desire mediated the association between differentiation and couple satisfaction, and also the association between differentiation and intimacy. Intimacy mediated the association between desire and satisfaction. The model was sustained for women, but a different mechanism was found for men. The results provide support for the close association between intimacy, sexual desire and satisfaction, while suggesting that differentiation of self has a fundamental role in sexual desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction.
The scientific community underlines that one of the main challenges for couples is the effect of ... more The scientific community underlines that one of the main challenges for couples is the effect of time on sexual desire. Some studies suggest that although some dimensions associated with intimacy tend to increase during the relationship, sexual desire and the related constructs tend to decrease. Some researchers have recently suggested that couples’ relationships with high degrees of sharing and fusion might be particularly detrimental for the sustenance of sexual desire. However, the authors found no empirical or theoretical studies that investigate the relations between intimacy and desire. Recovering the concept of differentiation as a possible influencing variable between intimacy and desire, this article develops reflections on this theme, which is of paramount relevance for the couple viability.
Using the lenses of systemic family psychology and family sociology, this study explores the mean... more Using the lenses of systemic family psychology and family sociology, this study explores the meanings of couple intimacy and the factors that have an impact on it. Through the qualitative analysis of 33 joint couple interviews, several links were found between current intimacy debates (ie, togetherness versus autonomy), which help to build a complex picture of relationship dynamics. The participants' perspectives provided three important results. First, couple intimacy was perceived as encompassing authenticity, sharing and trust, along with privacy, understanding and autonomy. Second, factors that have a negative impact on couple intimacy were related to the calibration of boundaries with other subsystems (especially work). Third, changing the everyday routine of couple life is the factor that influences intimacy in a most positive manner. These results allow us to provide a theoretical complexification and an empirical update of couple intimacy, as well as to contribute with relevant clues for couple therapy and preventive systemic interventions
In spite of a mostly positive impact of emotional intimacy on sexual desire and satisfaction, emo... more In spite of a mostly positive impact of emotional intimacy on sexual desire and satisfaction, emotional merging and the safety and comfort of emotional closeness have been linked with diminished sexual desire. Aiming at a better understanding of the role of intimacy in male sexuality, this paper explored (1) a likely mechanism behind the association between emotional intimacy and sexual satisfaction and (2) whether there is empirical evidence of a negative impact of intimacy on sexual desire. Among 506 heterosexual Croatian men (M = 38.2 years, SD = 8.43) currently living with their partners who participated in a large-scale online survey carried out in 2011, sexual satisfaction was dependent on both intimacy and sexual desire. Emotional intimacy was strongly associated with the partner-centered component of personal sexual satisfaction, pointing to a possible mechanism through which intimacy affects sexual well-being. Despite employing different analytical approaches and controlling for age and the length of intimate relationship, no evidence was found of a negative association between relationship intimacy and male sexual desire. Our study supports the notion that intimacy has an important and positive role in male sexuality.
Portuguese:
A formação parental surge como uma resposta às necessidades das famílias, particular... more Portuguese: A formação parental surge como uma resposta às necessidades das famílias, particularmente às famílias multidesafiadas e/ou em contextos de risco. Através de uma abordagem eco-sistémica, esta investigação propõe-se avaliar um curso de formação parental do Centro de Apoio Familiar e Aconselhamento Parental (CAFAP) Associação Nós, que acompanha famílias com crianças e jovens em risco de maus-tratos e negligência. Utilizando estratégias inspiradas nos princípios do Inquérito Apreciativo e da Grounded Theory, assim como um instrumento de avaliação dos estilos parentais, esta investigação tem como objectivo central gerar pistas de reflexão para uma intervenção mais eficaz nas diversas questões relacionadas com a parentalidade em contextos de risco. Através das entrevistas apreciativas, foi possível identificar o que foi mais valorizado pelos pais utentes e pelos técnicos no curso, assim como o sue impacto percebido. Desta forma, são propostas linhas de acção focadas na promoção da co-construção do curso com os pais, na promoção da participação masculina, na auto-gestão do grupo de pais e no desenvolvimento do apoio social, assim como outros temas relacionados com o envolvimento parental, os recursos comunitários e o desenvolvimento pessoal dos pais.
English
Parent training is a reply to the needs of families, particularly regarding multichallenged families and/or families in risk contexts. Through an eco-systemic approach, this study aims to evaluate a parent training program developed by Centro de Apoio Familiar e Aconselhamento Parental (CAFAP) Associação Nós, an organization that targets families with children and youth that are at risk from abuse and neglect. Using strategies inspired in Appreciative Inquiry and Grounded Theory, as well as a parenting style assessment tool, this study seeks to generate reflection clues for a more effective intervention concerning parenthood in risk contexts. The most valued issues by the parents and the professionals, along with the perceived impact of the program, were unveiled through the appreciative interviews. Hence, specific directions for future interventions are proposed, with a focus on issues like the co-construction of the program with the parents, promotion of father participation, self-management of the parent group and development of social support, along with other issues related with parental involvement, community resources and the personal development of the parents.
Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of au... more Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of autonomy within a deep intimate relationship – has been proposed as a relevant factor in couple satisfaction, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Sexual desire and intimacy have recently drawn increased attention due to the proposal that some of the relational benefits of long-term intimacy (e.g., predictability) might be detrimental to desire and satisfaction. This study aimed to test a model illustrating the role played by differentiation of self in couple satisfaction through the underlying mechanisms of sexual desire and intimacy, in a survey of 428 heterosexual individuals. The findings supported the proposed model, suggesting that differentiation of self is a predictor of desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction. Desire mediated the association between differentiation and couple satisfaction, and also the association between differentiation and intimacy. Intimacy mediated the association between desire and satisfaction. The model was sustained for women, but a different mechanism was found for men. The results provide support for the close association between intimacy, sexual desire and satisfaction, while suggesting that differentiation of self has a fundamental role in sexual desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
In the present study, the attributions of socially and economically disadvantaged mothers for the... more In the present study, the attributions of socially and economically disadvantaged mothers for their own negative parenting behavior and for their children’s undesirable behaviors as perceived by parents—understood as misbehavior—were analyzed. To this end, an exploratory study with a qualitative design was developed, in which 24 socially and economically disadvantaged mothers were individually interviewed. The data were analyzed following a thematic analysis approach, using software suited to qualitative analysis, namely NVIVO 12. The children’s undesirable behaviors as perceived by parents and some characteristics associated with parental performance (particularly the appraisal of the effectiveness of their negative practices) emerged respectively as external and internal factors, explaining mothers’ inadaptive behaviors—difficulties in behavior regulation, physical coercion, psychological control and paraverbal hostility. The parental subsystem and school emerged as the main exter...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Parental alienation (PA) and its conceptualization or understanding of the process underlying thi... more Parental alienation (PA) and its conceptualization or understanding of the process underlying this dynamic has long been controversial, but it has also been frequently brought to courtrooms. This study provides an account of how legal professionals conceptualize “parental alienation” and how they describe the characteristics of the phenomenon. Using a qualitative design, 21 family court judges (range 33–60 years; 11 men and 10 women), working with child custody cases, participated in an individual in-depth interview. A qualitative analysis based on Grounded Theory basic procedures revealed a complex picture of alienation dynamics with five interconnected results. First, PA contexts and landscapes, which included the judges’ perceptions on the PA nurturing contexts, its strategic behavior patterns and functions, portraits of PA and clues for its identification; second, considerations on PA severity; third, the influential factors, including those related to the emergence of PA; fourt...
The death of a child is an individual process of grief but also a context of significant relation... more The death of a child is an individual process of grief but also a context of significant relational processes, which have been only rarely considered in research. The aim of this study was to examine the interactive processes within bereaved parents. Eighteen married bereaved parents were interviewed individually. The semistructured script included questions about the couples’ relationship after the death of the child, particularly the relational dynamics and the association between the individual and relational realms. Data analysis using constructivist grounded theory allowed for the development of a circular hypothesis, suggesting that parents’ individual grief influences and is influenced by the couple’s relationship and partner support, involving interdependence and patterns of emotional transmission (empathy and emotion contagion) within the couple. The findings suggested that psychological interventions should include the dyadic level to optimize mutual support and the benefi...
The relationship between sexual desire and differentiation of self in couples has been frequently... more The relationship between sexual desire and differentiation of self in couples has been frequently discussed in clinical literature but lacks empirical support. This exploratory study investigates the associations between individual and dyadic levels of sexual desire, differentiation of self and couple satisfaction. Similarities and discrepancies in sexual desire and differentiation of self between partners were especially targeted. Partners were expected to have a lower discrepancy of differentiation of self than unrelated individuals (Bowen's similarity hypothesis). Partners' discrepancy in differentiation of self was expected to be negatively associated with sexual desire; and higher levels of sexual desire and differentiation in the dyad were expected be positively associated with couple satisfaction. Results suggest that partners' similarity regarding differentiation of self predicted individual sexual desire. Other findings suggest that couple satisfaction was positively associated with both sexual desire and differentiation of self. Limitations and clinical implications are discussed.
ABSTRACT Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sen... more ABSTRACT Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of autonomy within a deep intimate relationship – has been proposed as a relevant factor in couple satisfaction, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Sexual desire and intimacy have recently drawn increased attention due to the proposal that some of the relational benefits of long-term intimacy (e.g., predictability) might be detrimental to desire and satisfaction. This study aimed to test a model illustrating the role played by differentiation of self in couple satisfaction through the underlying mechanisms of sexual desire and intimacy, in a survey of 428 heterosexual individuals. The findings supported the proposed model, suggesting that differentiation of self is a predictor of desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction. Desire mediated the association between differentiation and couple satisfaction, and also the association between differentiation and intimacy. Intimacy mediated the association between desire and satisfaction. The model was sustained for women, but a different mechanism was found for men. The results provide support for the close association between intimacy, sexual desire and satisfaction, while suggesting that differentiation of self has a fundamental role in sexual desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction.
ABSTRACT Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sen... more ABSTRACT Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of autonomy within a deep intimate relationship – has been proposed as a relevant factor in couple satisfaction, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Sexual desire and intimacy have recently drawn increased attention due to the proposal that some of the relational benefits of long-term intimacy (e.g., predictability) might be detrimental to desire and satisfaction. This study aimed to test a model illustrating the role played by differentiation of self in couple satisfaction through the underlying mechanisms of sexual desire and intimacy, in a survey of 428 heterosexual individuals. The findings supported the proposed model, suggesting that differentiation of self is a predictor of desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction. Desire mediated the association between differentiation and couple satisfaction, and also the association between differentiation and intimacy. Intimacy mediated the association between desire and satisfaction. The model was sustained for women, but a different mechanism was found for men. The results provide support for the close association between intimacy, sexual desire and satisfaction, while suggesting that differentiation of self has a fundamental role in sexual desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction.
The question of what heightens or diminishes sexual desire has long been a passionate theme acros... more The question of what heightens or diminishes sexual desire has long been a passionate theme across cultures in literature, arts, media, and medicine. Yet, little research has been conducted to determine what affects level of desire within couples. The degree of differentiation of self has been suggested as an important variable in shaping partners' level of desire. Through a qualitative analysis of dyadic couple interviews, this study provides an account of characteristics, processes, and trajectories of sexual desire and differentiation in 33 heterosexual couples of varying ages and relationship duration. Factors associated with high desire were change and autonomy, whereas conflict and children were reported to be desire-diminishing factors. Innovation, sharing, autonomy, and effort emerged as desire-promoting strategies, while fostering personal interests, investing in a positive connection, and enhancing personal integrity were identified as couples' strategies to promote and preserve differentiation of self. The results also shed light on couples' perceptions of whether and how sexual desire changes over the course of the relationship and challenge common cultural assumptions about desire in committed relationships—namely the myth that the only authentic expression of desire is that which occurs spontaneously and without intention and planning. Implications for couple therapy are discussed.
Durante largo tiempo, la pregunta sobre qué factores aumentan o disminuyen el deseo sexual ha sido un tema apasionado en la literatura, las artes, los medios de comunicación y la medicina de distintas culturas. Sin embargo, se han realizado muy pocas investigaciones para determinar qué factores influyen en el nivel de deseo de las parejas. Se ha sugerido el grado de diferenciación del yo como variable importante en la determinación del nivel de deseo de los integrantes de la pareja. Mediante un análisis cualitativo de entrevistas diádicas de pareja, este estudio ofrece un informe de las características, los procesos y las trayectorias del deseo sexual y de la diferenciación en 33 parejas heterosexuales de distintas edades y duración de la relación. Los factores asociados con el alto nivel de deseo fueron el cambio y la autonomía, mientras que el conflicto y los niños se informaron como factores reductores del deseo. La innovación, la confidencia, la autonomía y el esfuerzo surgieron como estrategias estimuladoras del deseo, mientras que el fomento de intereses personales, la inversión en una conexión positiva y el enriquecimiento de la integridad personal se identificaron como estrategias de las parejas para promover y preservar la diferenciación del yo. Los resultados también aclararon las percepciones de las parejas con respecto a si y a cómo el deseo sexual cambia durante el transcurso de la relación. Además, dichos resultados cuestionan las suposiciones culturales comunes acerca del deseo en las relaciones estables, por ejemplo, el mito de que la única expresión auténtica de deseo es la que ocurre espontáneamente y sin intención ni planificación. Se debaten las consecuencias para la terapia de pareja.
Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of aut... more Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of autonomy within a deep intimate relationship – has been proposed as a relevant factor in couple satisfaction, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Sexual desire and intimacy have recently drawn increased attention due to the proposal that some of the relational benefits of long-term intimacy (e.g., predictability) might be detrimental to desire and satisfaction. This study aimed to test a model illustrating the role played by differentiation of self in couple satisfaction through the underlying mechanisms of sexual desire and intimacy, in a survey of 428 heterosexual individuals. The findings supported the proposed model, suggesting that differentiation of self is a predictor of desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction. Desire mediated the association between differentiation and couple satisfaction, and also the association between differentiation and intimacy. Intimacy mediated the association between desire and satisfaction. The model was sustained for women, but a different mechanism was found for men. The results provide support for the close association between intimacy, sexual desire and satisfaction, while suggesting that differentiation of self has a fundamental role in sexual desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction.
The scientific community underlines that one of the main challenges for couples is the effect of ... more The scientific community underlines that one of the main challenges for couples is the effect of time on sexual desire. Some studies suggest that although some dimensions associated with intimacy tend to increase during the relationship, sexual desire and the related constructs tend to decrease. Some researchers have recently suggested that couples’ relationships with high degrees of sharing and fusion might be particularly detrimental for the sustenance of sexual desire. However, the authors found no empirical or theoretical studies that investigate the relations between intimacy and desire. Recovering the concept of differentiation as a possible influencing variable between intimacy and desire, this article develops reflections on this theme, which is of paramount relevance for the couple viability.
Using the lenses of systemic family psychology and family sociology, this study explores the mean... more Using the lenses of systemic family psychology and family sociology, this study explores the meanings of couple intimacy and the factors that have an impact on it. Through the qualitative analysis of 33 joint couple interviews, several links were found between current intimacy debates (ie, togetherness versus autonomy), which help to build a complex picture of relationship dynamics. The participants' perspectives provided three important results. First, couple intimacy was perceived as encompassing authenticity, sharing and trust, along with privacy, understanding and autonomy. Second, factors that have a negative impact on couple intimacy were related to the calibration of boundaries with other subsystems (especially work). Third, changing the everyday routine of couple life is the factor that influences intimacy in a most positive manner. These results allow us to provide a theoretical complexification and an empirical update of couple intimacy, as well as to contribute with relevant clues for couple therapy and preventive systemic interventions
In spite of a mostly positive impact of emotional intimacy on sexual desire and satisfaction, emo... more In spite of a mostly positive impact of emotional intimacy on sexual desire and satisfaction, emotional merging and the safety and comfort of emotional closeness have been linked with diminished sexual desire. Aiming at a better understanding of the role of intimacy in male sexuality, this paper explored (1) a likely mechanism behind the association between emotional intimacy and sexual satisfaction and (2) whether there is empirical evidence of a negative impact of intimacy on sexual desire. Among 506 heterosexual Croatian men (M = 38.2 years, SD = 8.43) currently living with their partners who participated in a large-scale online survey carried out in 2011, sexual satisfaction was dependent on both intimacy and sexual desire. Emotional intimacy was strongly associated with the partner-centered component of personal sexual satisfaction, pointing to a possible mechanism through which intimacy affects sexual well-being. Despite employing different analytical approaches and controlling for age and the length of intimate relationship, no evidence was found of a negative association between relationship intimacy and male sexual desire. Our study supports the notion that intimacy has an important and positive role in male sexuality.
Portuguese:
A formação parental surge como uma resposta às necessidades das famílias, particular... more Portuguese: A formação parental surge como uma resposta às necessidades das famílias, particularmente às famílias multidesafiadas e/ou em contextos de risco. Através de uma abordagem eco-sistémica, esta investigação propõe-se avaliar um curso de formação parental do Centro de Apoio Familiar e Aconselhamento Parental (CAFAP) Associação Nós, que acompanha famílias com crianças e jovens em risco de maus-tratos e negligência. Utilizando estratégias inspiradas nos princípios do Inquérito Apreciativo e da Grounded Theory, assim como um instrumento de avaliação dos estilos parentais, esta investigação tem como objectivo central gerar pistas de reflexão para uma intervenção mais eficaz nas diversas questões relacionadas com a parentalidade em contextos de risco. Através das entrevistas apreciativas, foi possível identificar o que foi mais valorizado pelos pais utentes e pelos técnicos no curso, assim como o sue impacto percebido. Desta forma, são propostas linhas de acção focadas na promoção da co-construção do curso com os pais, na promoção da participação masculina, na auto-gestão do grupo de pais e no desenvolvimento do apoio social, assim como outros temas relacionados com o envolvimento parental, os recursos comunitários e o desenvolvimento pessoal dos pais.
English
Parent training is a reply to the needs of families, particularly regarding multichallenged families and/or families in risk contexts. Through an eco-systemic approach, this study aims to evaluate a parent training program developed by Centro de Apoio Familiar e Aconselhamento Parental (CAFAP) Associação Nós, an organization that targets families with children and youth that are at risk from abuse and neglect. Using strategies inspired in Appreciative Inquiry and Grounded Theory, as well as a parenting style assessment tool, this study seeks to generate reflection clues for a more effective intervention concerning parenthood in risk contexts. The most valued issues by the parents and the professionals, along with the perceived impact of the program, were unveiled through the appreciative interviews. Hence, specific directions for future interventions are proposed, with a focus on issues like the co-construction of the program with the parents, promotion of father participation, self-management of the parent group and development of social support, along with other issues related with parental involvement, community resources and the personal development of the parents.
Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of au... more Differentiation of self – the ability to emotionally self-regulate and to maintain a sense of autonomy within a deep intimate relationship – has been proposed as a relevant factor in couple satisfaction, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Sexual desire and intimacy have recently drawn increased attention due to the proposal that some of the relational benefits of long-term intimacy (e.g., predictability) might be detrimental to desire and satisfaction. This study aimed to test a model illustrating the role played by differentiation of self in couple satisfaction through the underlying mechanisms of sexual desire and intimacy, in a survey of 428 heterosexual individuals. The findings supported the proposed model, suggesting that differentiation of self is a predictor of desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction. Desire mediated the association between differentiation and couple satisfaction, and also the association between differentiation and intimacy. Intimacy mediated the association between desire and satisfaction. The model was sustained for women, but a different mechanism was found for men. The results provide support for the close association between intimacy, sexual desire and satisfaction, while suggesting that differentiation of self has a fundamental role in sexual desire, intimacy and couple satisfaction.
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Durante largo tiempo, la pregunta sobre qué factores aumentan o disminuyen el deseo sexual ha sido un tema apasionado en la literatura, las artes, los medios de comunicación y la medicina de distintas culturas. Sin embargo, se han realizado muy pocas investigaciones para determinar qué factores influyen en el nivel de deseo de las parejas. Se ha sugerido el grado de diferenciación del yo como variable importante en la determinación del nivel de deseo de los integrantes de la pareja. Mediante un análisis cualitativo de entrevistas diádicas de pareja, este estudio ofrece un informe de las características, los procesos y las trayectorias del deseo sexual y de la diferenciación en 33 parejas heterosexuales de distintas edades y duración de la relación. Los factores asociados con el alto nivel de deseo fueron el cambio y la autonomía, mientras que el conflicto y los niños se informaron como factores reductores del deseo. La innovación, la confidencia, la autonomía y el esfuerzo surgieron como estrategias estimuladoras del deseo, mientras que el fomento de intereses personales, la inversión en una conexión positiva y el enriquecimiento de la integridad personal se identificaron como estrategias de las parejas para promover y preservar la diferenciación del yo. Los resultados también aclararon las percepciones de las parejas con respecto a si y a cómo el deseo sexual cambia durante el transcurso de la relación. Además, dichos resultados cuestionan las suposiciones culturales comunes acerca del deseo en las relaciones estables, por ejemplo, el mito de que la única expresión auténtica de deseo es la que ocurre espontáneamente y sin intención ni planificación. Se debaten las consecuencias para la terapia de pareja.
在不同文化中,什么会提升或降低性欲望都是一个长久以来在文学,艺术,媒体和医学领域被热烈探讨的话题. 然而很少有研究来表明什么会影响伴侣间的欲望水平. 自我分化程度被提出是影响伴侣欲望水平的一个重要变量.通过对两元伴侣采访进行定性分析,该研究提供了33对不同年龄和关系时间的异性恋伴侣之间性欲望和分化特点,过程及轨迹的叙述. 与高欲望水平相关的因素有变化和自主, 而冲突和孩子则被报告为降低欲望的因素. 创新,分享,自主和努力是促进欲望的策略, 而培养个人兴趣,建立积极联系和提升人格完整被确定为促进和保持自我分化的伴侣策略. 研究结果还阐明伴侣对于性欲望是否及如何在关系发展过程中改变并挑战关于固定关系中欲望的普遍文化假想的感知, 例如唯一真实的表达欲望的方式是自发发生的, 没有意图和计划的这一错误看法. 本文还探讨了该研究对于伴侣心理治疗的影响.
A formação parental surge como uma resposta às necessidades das famílias, particularmente às famílias multidesafiadas e/ou em contextos de risco. Através de uma abordagem eco-sistémica, esta investigação propõe-se avaliar um curso de formação parental do Centro de Apoio Familiar e Aconselhamento Parental (CAFAP) Associação Nós, que acompanha famílias com crianças e jovens em risco de maus-tratos e negligência. Utilizando estratégias inspiradas nos princípios do Inquérito Apreciativo e da Grounded Theory, assim como um instrumento de avaliação dos estilos parentais, esta investigação tem como objectivo central gerar pistas de reflexão para uma intervenção mais eficaz nas diversas questões relacionadas com a parentalidade em contextos de risco. Através das entrevistas apreciativas, foi possível identificar o que foi mais valorizado pelos pais utentes e pelos técnicos no curso, assim como o sue impacto percebido. Desta forma, são propostas linhas de acção focadas na promoção da co-construção do curso com os pais, na promoção da participação masculina, na auto-gestão do grupo de pais e no desenvolvimento do apoio social, assim como outros temas relacionados com o envolvimento parental, os recursos comunitários e o desenvolvimento pessoal dos pais.
English
Parent training is a reply to the needs of families, particularly regarding multichallenged families and/or families in risk contexts. Through an eco-systemic approach, this study aims to evaluate a parent training program developed by Centro de Apoio Familiar e Aconselhamento Parental (CAFAP) Associação Nós, an organization that targets families with children and youth that are at risk from abuse and neglect. Using strategies inspired in Appreciative Inquiry and Grounded Theory, as well as a parenting style assessment tool, this study seeks to generate reflection clues for a more effective intervention concerning parenthood in risk contexts. The most valued issues by the parents and the professionals, along with the perceived impact of the program, were unveiled through the appreciative interviews. Hence, specific directions for future interventions are proposed, with a focus on issues like the co-construction of the program with the parents, promotion of father participation, self-management of the parent group and development of social support, along with other issues related with parental involvement, community resources and the personal development of the parents.
Durante largo tiempo, la pregunta sobre qué factores aumentan o disminuyen el deseo sexual ha sido un tema apasionado en la literatura, las artes, los medios de comunicación y la medicina de distintas culturas. Sin embargo, se han realizado muy pocas investigaciones para determinar qué factores influyen en el nivel de deseo de las parejas. Se ha sugerido el grado de diferenciación del yo como variable importante en la determinación del nivel de deseo de los integrantes de la pareja. Mediante un análisis cualitativo de entrevistas diádicas de pareja, este estudio ofrece un informe de las características, los procesos y las trayectorias del deseo sexual y de la diferenciación en 33 parejas heterosexuales de distintas edades y duración de la relación. Los factores asociados con el alto nivel de deseo fueron el cambio y la autonomía, mientras que el conflicto y los niños se informaron como factores reductores del deseo. La innovación, la confidencia, la autonomía y el esfuerzo surgieron como estrategias estimuladoras del deseo, mientras que el fomento de intereses personales, la inversión en una conexión positiva y el enriquecimiento de la integridad personal se identificaron como estrategias de las parejas para promover y preservar la diferenciación del yo. Los resultados también aclararon las percepciones de las parejas con respecto a si y a cómo el deseo sexual cambia durante el transcurso de la relación. Además, dichos resultados cuestionan las suposiciones culturales comunes acerca del deseo en las relaciones estables, por ejemplo, el mito de que la única expresión auténtica de deseo es la que ocurre espontáneamente y sin intención ni planificación. Se debaten las consecuencias para la terapia de pareja.
在不同文化中,什么会提升或降低性欲望都是一个长久以来在文学,艺术,媒体和医学领域被热烈探讨的话题. 然而很少有研究来表明什么会影响伴侣间的欲望水平. 自我分化程度被提出是影响伴侣欲望水平的一个重要变量.通过对两元伴侣采访进行定性分析,该研究提供了33对不同年龄和关系时间的异性恋伴侣之间性欲望和分化特点,过程及轨迹的叙述. 与高欲望水平相关的因素有变化和自主, 而冲突和孩子则被报告为降低欲望的因素. 创新,分享,自主和努力是促进欲望的策略, 而培养个人兴趣,建立积极联系和提升人格完整被确定为促进和保持自我分化的伴侣策略. 研究结果还阐明伴侣对于性欲望是否及如何在关系发展过程中改变并挑战关于固定关系中欲望的普遍文化假想的感知, 例如唯一真实的表达欲望的方式是自发发生的, 没有意图和计划的这一错误看法. 本文还探讨了该研究对于伴侣心理治疗的影响.
A formação parental surge como uma resposta às necessidades das famílias, particularmente às famílias multidesafiadas e/ou em contextos de risco. Através de uma abordagem eco-sistémica, esta investigação propõe-se avaliar um curso de formação parental do Centro de Apoio Familiar e Aconselhamento Parental (CAFAP) Associação Nós, que acompanha famílias com crianças e jovens em risco de maus-tratos e negligência. Utilizando estratégias inspiradas nos princípios do Inquérito Apreciativo e da Grounded Theory, assim como um instrumento de avaliação dos estilos parentais, esta investigação tem como objectivo central gerar pistas de reflexão para uma intervenção mais eficaz nas diversas questões relacionadas com a parentalidade em contextos de risco. Através das entrevistas apreciativas, foi possível identificar o que foi mais valorizado pelos pais utentes e pelos técnicos no curso, assim como o sue impacto percebido. Desta forma, são propostas linhas de acção focadas na promoção da co-construção do curso com os pais, na promoção da participação masculina, na auto-gestão do grupo de pais e no desenvolvimento do apoio social, assim como outros temas relacionados com o envolvimento parental, os recursos comunitários e o desenvolvimento pessoal dos pais.
English
Parent training is a reply to the needs of families, particularly regarding multichallenged families and/or families in risk contexts. Through an eco-systemic approach, this study aims to evaluate a parent training program developed by Centro de Apoio Familiar e Aconselhamento Parental (CAFAP) Associação Nós, an organization that targets families with children and youth that are at risk from abuse and neglect. Using strategies inspired in Appreciative Inquiry and Grounded Theory, as well as a parenting style assessment tool, this study seeks to generate reflection clues for a more effective intervention concerning parenthood in risk contexts. The most valued issues by the parents and the professionals, along with the perceived impact of the program, were unveiled through the appreciative interviews. Hence, specific directions for future interventions are proposed, with a focus on issues like the co-construction of the program with the parents, promotion of father participation, self-management of the parent group and development of social support, along with other issues related with parental involvement, community resources and the personal development of the parents.