Browsing by Author "Enzlin, Paul"

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Adolescents Lived Experiences of Close Relationships in the Context of Transnational Families: A Qualitative Study From Ecuador
(2018) Enzlin, Paul; Jerves Hermida, Elena Monserrath
Although the transnational migration and its impact on families and society has received considerable attention from scholars, still little is known about its effects on the family members who stay in their home country. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore adolescents’ experiences of close relationships in the context of transnational migration. The study was based on in-depth interviews with male and female adolescents whose parents had migrated. For administration of these interviews, a tool consisting of 15 pieces of wood was developed in order to invite participants to represent family members in an expressive modality that could facilitate discussion and decrease tension provoked by parental migration. Thematic analysis showed that adolescents experienced growing up within tri-generational families whose structure and dynamics allow for a sense of stability. In these families, adolescents experience meaningful relationships that are important sources of support to cope with the delicate ...
Adolescents’ representations of close relationships in the context of parental migration: an exploratory study from Ecuador
(2020) Jerves Hermida, Elena Monserrath; De haene, Lucia; Rober, Peter; Enzlin, Paul
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the association between parental migration and adolescents’ styles of close relationships with parents, friends and romantic partners. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 197 adolescents from Cuenca (Ecuador) participated in the study, of which 35% reported a background of parental migration. The Behavioral Systems Questionnaire was used to assess participants’ relational styles. Findings – The study reveals that, although parental migration is associated with the development of lower secure styles for parents and friends, it is not associated with the development of insecure styles. Moreover, parental migration does not appear to be associated with the development of romantic styles. Based on the differential impact of the migration of one or two parents, the migration of two parents appeared to have a stronger association with lower secure styles. Originality/value – The results are discussed in light of the socio-cultural context in which parental migration occurs in Ecuador, which may offer clue variables in shaping the relational styles of adolescents. The study addresses an important consequence of migration focusing on a scarce studies group, adolescents who stay in their home country while their parents migrate. Moreover, its main findings challenge the preconceptions that parent-child separations necessarily involve a direct negative impact on relational functioning.
Ambiguous loss in transnational families’ adolescents: an exploratory study in Ecuador
(2020) Jerves Hermida, Elena Monserrath; Rober, Peter; Enzlin, Paul; De haene, Lucia
In psychosocial migration literature, the perspective of ambiguous loss has been relevant to articulate personal and relational experiences in the context of transnational families and ongoing separation. Most studies have focused on adult members’ experiences of transnational families, but research exploring ambiguous loss in adolescents whose parents have migrated is still lacking. The present study aimed to explore adolescents’ lived experiences of parental migration. In a pilot explorative study, 14 adolescents with at least one parent who migrated were interviewed about their lived experiences of transnational parent-child relationships and ongoing parent-child separation. Data analysis identified four themes in participants’ accounts: practices of separation creating confusion; current relationship with migrant parents permeated by ambiguity; distrustful representations of migrant parents; and family and social dynamics reactivating the pain of loss. The findings reveal how in the context of parental migration, patterns of separation and ongoing relational processes, compounded by the uncertainty of reunification and an exclusionary social fabric, constitute core elements that shape adolescents’ lived experiences of parent-child relationships characterized by ambiguity. © 2019 Family Process Institute
Attitudes of adolescents toward violence and their related factors
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2016-12) Pinos, Verónica; Pinos, Guido; Jerves, Monserrath; Enzlin, Paul
Behavior research revealed that attitudes are important in understanding the roots of violence. People acquire those attitudes by social learning, particularly in adolescence, because in this stage of life is the influence of social environment strongest. This study aimed to assess adolescents’ attitude toward violence and their related factors. The Questionnaire on Attitudes toward Diversity and Violence1 was applied. This questionnaire addresses the following factors: justification of violence toward peers as a reaction of courage, sexist beliefs and justification of domestic violence, and tolerant beliefs and rejection of violence. An extra factor was incorporated in the research to evaluate the attitude toward the justification of sexual violence. Analysis of the responses to the questionnaire disclosed middle level of justification and rejection toward violence. The stronger attitudes of justification of violence toward peers, domestic violence and sexual violence were related with male sex, alcohol consumption, violence among siblings and higher level of enjoyment of violence in media. The stronger tolerant beliefs and rejection of violence was related with female sex, the experience of sexual violence and the age group of 14-16 years old. Results clearly recommend the need to work with adolescents and their families to eliminate prejudices that justify violence and to promote violence rejection as preventive measures, considering the related factors.
Characteristics of romantic relationships during adolescence: A review of Anglo-western literature
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2013-12) Jerves Hermida, Elena Monserrath; Rober, Peter; Enzlin, Paul; Universidad de Cuenca; Dirección de Investigación de la Universidad de Cuenca; DIUC
Romantic relationships are a central aspect of the life of adolescents and have an important influence on the socio-affective and sexual development. This paper presents a review of the scientific literature on romantic relationships during adolescence and aims to unravel the ongoing debate in the literature and to identify possible gaps. The review encompasses the analysis of 36 studies on romantic relationships in adolescence, all published in peer-reviewed English scientific journals. The analysis of the published data was guided by five central characteristics of romantic relationships of adolescents: i.e., involvement, partner selection, content, quality, and emotions and cognitions emerging from the relationship. It was found that although during the last decade a growing interest of scholars in the study of romantic relationships in adolescents emerged, providing a certain body of knowledge on the topic in general, there are still gaps in the understanding of adolescents’ romantic relationships in different socio-cultural contexts. Limitations of the reviewed studies in terms of agreement on definitions, inconsistencies in sample population, research design and methodological approach are discussed.
Development of sexual assertiveness and its function for human sexuality: a literature review
(2020) López Alvarado, Silvia Lucía; Van Parys, Hanna; Enzlin, Paul; Jerves Hermida, Elena Monserrath
The aim of this paper was to present a literature review on sexual assertiveness (SA), on factors and life experiences that are associated with its development, and on its function in human sexuality. It was found that demographic variables (e.g., age, education, gender), sexual experiences (e.g., type of partnership, sexual victimization), psychosexual issues (e.g., sexual functioning, body self-esteem, emotion regulation, resourcefulness) and cultural factors (e.g., sexual scripts, gender stereotypes) might positively or negatively contribute to SA. Furthermore, the outcomes of SA for both individuals and intimate relationships are presented. Based on this review, it is concluded that althoughSA could be fostered by training programs, cultural factors still withhold many individuals from reaching a satisfactory level of SA. Finally, recommendations about how to further the study of SA are presented.
Latin American Women´s beliefs, views and ideas about sexual assertiveness: a focus group study in Cuenca (Ecuador)
(2020) López Alvarado, Silvia Lucía; Van Parys, Hanna; Cevallos Neira, Ana Cristina; Enzlin, Paul
In an attempt to extend our understanding of how social contexts co-create female sexuality in Latin America, the aim of the current study was to explore the beliefs, views, and ideas about sexual assertiveness in Latino emerging adult women. Seventeen women between 22 and 30 years old living in Cuenca, Ecuador, participated in focus groups. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data. Findings suggest that the overall views about sexual assertiveness in emerging adult women can be grouped into five categories: (1) gender role schemata; (2) concerns about the partner’s thoughts and reactions; (3) gendered attitudes towards the use of specific methods of contraception; (4) talking about sexual histories as a challenging task; and (5) replication of family patterns. The findings of this study are discussed within existing literature that highlights the influence of gender role schemata on sexual assertiveness. Finally, a plea for more culturally sensitive research is formulated as well as some educational–the need to reinforce sex education programs–and clinical–highlighting the ability to be sexually assertive from the start of a relationship–implications are mentioned. © 2019, © 2019 The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.
Perception of gender stereotypes, machismo and marianismo in Ecuadorian adolescents: a focus group study
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2016-12) Pinos, Verónica; Pinos, Guido; Baitar, Rachid; Jerves, Monserrath; Enzlin, Paul
Recent studies increasingly demonstrated that gender differences are linked with macro-cultural factors. The stereotypes in Latin America that shape gender roles are machismo and marianismo. In contrast, with the ample publications on the importance of machismo, empirical research on machismo and certainly marianismo is still in its infancy despite both being well known concepts. To this end, the present study explores how Ecuadorian adolescents from Cuenca experience, and make sense of, gender stereotypes. Twelve focus groups were carried out, involving 127 male and female adolescents. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four categories related to machismo emerged: cognition regarding machismo, manifestations of machismo, adolescents’ expectations by gender, and advantages of traditional norms. The results showed that participants know about machismo and stated that gender stereotypes are transmitted to adolescents by parents and society in general to the next generations. Our participants blame gender stereotypes for the inequality in the society, but at the same time, their intervention showed that they absorbed these stereotypes in their belief system.
Romantic views of adolescents from Cuenca (Ecuador). Their association with machismo-marianismo and migration
(KU Leuven, 2022-03-21) Jerves Hermida, Elena Monserrath; Enzlin, Paul
In Latín América countries, sexual helth indicators about adolescents show high rates of early pregnancy and asociated unsafe abortions, sexually transmitteddiseases, sexual violence and gender violence.
Sexual assertiveness and its correlates in emerging adults: an exploratory study in Cuenca (Ecuador)
(2022) Van Parys, Hanna; López Alvarado, Silvia Lucía; Enzlin, Paul; Prekatsounaki, Sofia
Objective: Sexual assertiveness (SA), i.e., the ability to communicate thoughts and desires that may be translated into satisfying sexual activity within an intimate relationship, is important for safe and satisfying sexual behavior. In an attempt to unravel which cultural, relational, and individual variables are related to the development of SA in emerging adults, an exploratory study was conducted in Cuenca, Ecuador. Methods: Five hundred and thirty-eight participants completed scales that measured their levels of SA, endorsement of the sexual double standard, relationship satisfaction, and mental well-being. Results: This study showed a negative effect of the sexual double standard on SA in both men and women and this effect was slightly tempered by the level of education. Women reported higher levels of SA than men. In women, SA was associated with general mental well-being and relationship satisfaction; but not in men. For both women and men, no association was found with relationship status or duration. Conclusions: These findings corroborate evidence highlighting the importance of SA for healthy sexual relationships and emphasize the importance of (sex) education for SA for lower educated women and men. The results are discussed in relation to findings on SA in other contexts.
Traditional gender roles translating into behaviors within adolescents’ romantic relationships
(2022) Jerves Hermida, Elena Monserrath; Cevallos Neira, Ana Cristina; De Haene, Lucia; Rober, Peter; Enzlin, Paul
While several studies suggest that traditional gender ideologies are strongly embedded in Latino populations, little is known about the way they operate in adolescent’s romantic relationships. This mixed-methods study was carried out with adolescents in Cuenca, Ecuador. In the quantitative component, we assessed adolescents’ support for traditional gender ideologies in a sample of 562 adolescents (n = 309 girls). It was identified that the majority of adolescents were “uncritical” towards traditional ideologies involving masculinity (82%) and femininity (79%). In the qualitative component, the narratives of a sample of 20 adolescents reflected existing discourses on traditional gender roles and revealed how these ideologies are translated into specific behaviors. In this context, romantic relationships can become negative and dysfunctional spaces that affect adolescents’ development.
Understanding parental views of adolescent sexuality and sex education in Ecuador: a qualitative study
(2014) Jerves, Elena; López, Silvia; Castro, Cecilia; Ortiz, William; Palacios, María; Rober, Peter; Enzlin, Paul
Parents' contribution to sex education is increasingly receiving research attention. This growing interest stems from recognition of the influence that parental attitudes may have both on young people's sexual attitudes and behaviour, and on school-based sex education. Studies regarding parental attitudes towards sexuality are, however, still rare. The two main objectives of this study were to explore parental views about sexuality and to understand parental attitudes towards sex education. Four focus group discussions were conducted with parents from high schools in Cuenca, Ecuador. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that parents held a restricted view about sex education, grounded in traditional religious ideas about sexuality, which led parents to understand it as a morally and physically dangerous activity. Although parents expressed a willingness to make good quality sex education available to their children, they reported having insufficient personal resources to fulfil that objective. The results of this study provide important information about the need to develop and adapt sex education to each specific cultural context, thereby confirming the importance of knowing about the cultural traditions and religious beliefs that may form obstacles to effective sex education for young people in Ecuador.
Understanding parental views of adolescent sexuality and sex education in Ecuador: a qualitative study. Sex Education
(2014) Jerves Hermida, Elena Monserrath; López Alvarado, Silvia Lucía; Castro, Nube Cecilia; Ortiz Ochoa, William Alfredo; Palacios Madero, María Dolores; Rober, Peter; Enzlin, Paul
Parents’ contribution to sex education is increasingly receiving research attention. Thisgrowing interest stems from recognition of the inﬂuence that parental attitudes mayhave both on young people’s sexual attitudes and behaviour, and on school-based sexeducation. Studies regarding parental attitudes towards sexuality are, however, stillrare. The two main objectives of this study were to explore parental views aboutsexuality and to understand parental attitudes towards sex education. Four focus groupdiscussions were conducted with parents from high schools in Cuenca, Ecuador. Datawere analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that parents held a restrictedview about sex education, grounded in traditional religious ideas about sexuality,which led parents to understand it as a morally and physically dangerous activity.Although parents expressed a willingness to make good quality sex education availableto their children, they reported having insufﬁcient personal resources to fulﬁl thatobjective. The results of this study provide important information about the need todevelop and adapt sex education to each speciﬁc cultural context, thereby conﬁrmingthe importance of knowing about the cultural traditions and religious beliefs that mayform obstacles to effective sex education for young people in Ecuador