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It has been widely recognized, both in the UK and internationally, that there is a need for a multidimensional or holistic approach to maternity care, which incorporates psychological as well as physical aspects, in order to optimize women’s experiences both in the intra- and postpartum period. Central to such an approach is the relationship between women and maternity care staff. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of maternity care staff on women’s experiences, and feelings associated with the childbirth process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 primiparous and multiparous women, and transcripts analysed using open and axial coding with triangulation. Three main themes emerged from women’s accounts: perceptions of control, staff attitudes and behaviours, and resource issues. Each of these themes was evident throughout the various stages of the childbirth process, in the delivery suite, on the maternity ward, and specifically in relation to breastfeeding. In the women’s accounts, feelings of little control were related to inadequate information provision, poor communication, and no opportunity to influence decision making. These, together with the negative attitudes and behaviours of maternity staff, and issues of under-resourcing, were often linked to negative feelings such as fear, anger, disappointment, distress, guilt, and inadequacy. These findings illustrate the importance of maternity care staff recognizing women’s psychological and emotional needs during the childbirth process, and the impact that they themselves may have on women’s experiences. These issues are discussed with reference to the wider debate on authority and power within the medical relationship, from a feminist viewpoint.

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Substantial evidence now suggests that increased aggression is associated with illicit use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) by athletes. Anecdotal reports claim that wives and girlfriends of the athlete sometimes become victims of physical abuse when their significant other is using these drugs. We sought to investigate these claims empirically. Twenty-three AAS user strength athletes and 14 nonuser athletes, recruited in the course of a larger study, were interviewed using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Conflict Tactics Scales to assess their relationships with their significant other. AAS users were asked about their relationship during their most recent "cycle" of AAS use and their most recent AAS-free period. Nonusers were asked about their relationship in the last 3 months. AAS users reported significantly more fights, verbal aggression, and violence toward their significant others when using AAS than when not using AAS. The AAS users on-drug differed significantly from nonusers on two of these indices, but AAS users off-drug did not significantly differ from nonusers. These findings support the anecdotal evidence that wives and girlfriends of AAS users may be at risk of serious injury from users while they are on-drug. Thus, AAS use may impose risks not only to the user, but also to the women close to them.

Recently more men have reported a desire for larger, more muscular bodies. Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is a new syndrome in which individuals (usually men), although highly muscular, have a pathological belief that they are of very small musculature. As more men are motivated to take up training with weights in order to develop greater musculature, more cases of MD are likely to be encountered. A greater understanding and awareness of the syndrome are therefore needed. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate perceptions of physical self in male weightlifters, one group with MD (n = 24) and one without (n = 30). Between group comparisons were made using the multidimensional body-self relations questionnaire. The findings confirm the nature of the disorder in that those with MD syndrome have poorer body image and are less happy with their bodies. Moreover, in addition to a desire for greater muscularity, they are very concerned not to gain fat. The results also suggest that future research into perceptions of specific body parts and health is warranted. R esearch evidence indicates that body dissatisfaction in men has increased in recent years 1 and that the nature of this dissatisfaction is not so much a desire for smaller and thinner bodies, as is the case with women, but larger and more muscular ones.2 3 One study 3 of men in Austria, France, and the United States found that their ideal bodies were about 28 lbs more muscular than their perceived actual bodies. The authors suggest that this discrepancy may be a contributing factor in the apparent rise in eating and body dysmorphic disorders, including muscle dysmorphia (MD), in men.MD has been observed to be a condition that afflicts primarily men, although it can be present in women. 4 It is a unique form of body dysmorphic disorder where, instead of being pathologically dissatisfied with a single body part, the person is dissatisfied with their whole body. Those with MD, although often highly muscular, believe themselves to be of very small musculature. This belief leads them to become obsessed with exercising, particularly weightlifting, and at risk of misusing anabolic-androgenic steroids. People with MD also tend to avoid situations and places where they might be seen without clothing (and if that is unavoidable it causes them severe distress) and often wear many layers of clothing, even in hot weather, to avoid their bodies being seen. For many, social relations and occupational functioning are adversely affected as a result. For full diagnostic criteria see Pope et al. 4 These criteria were later confirmed in a psychiatric case-control study of 24 men with MD and 30 comparison weightlifters.5 There are no prevalence estimates for MD, as epidemiological studies are still to be conducted on this new disorder. It is therefore an under-researched condition and the aim of this study was to explore further its nature by examining body image perceptions in those with MD compared with weight lifting controls using the multidimensional body-self relations qu...