What do young people think makes their relationships good? Factors associated with assessments of dating relationships in South Africa

Abstract

Little is known about the factors and outcomes associated with young people’s subjective relationship assessments. Understanding what young people think makes their relationships ‘good’ or ‘bad’ would give us insight into what is important to them in their relationships as well as their decision-making and behaviour within them. Self-report data from 757 girls (mean age = 17.09 years) and 642 boys (mean age = 17.23 years) were analysed using logistic regression. Relationship primacy was significantly associated with positive relationships for girls and boys. Among girls, partner education and open communication about sexual and reproductive health were additionally related to relationship assessments. Among boys, very little quarrelling was the only additional factor associated with positive relationship assessment. Although relationship assessment was not associated with depression or problem drinking for either girls or boys, drug use was less likely among both girls and boys who reported having a positive relationship. Boys in positive relationships were also more likely to have used a condom the last time they had sex with their main partner. Intervention programmes should equip teenagers with skills to develop and maintain positive relationships.

Exploring the socio-ecological levels for prevention of sexual risk behaviours of the youth in uMgungundlovu District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal

“…31 The findings of our research confirm the harmful social norms and the acceptance of the male’s dominant role in our society that perpetuates gender inequality to the detriment of females. 32 Although the South African Constitution entrenches gender equality, 33 these negative harmful norms are upheld by society and place young girls in a subservient role and at risk of unplanned pregnancy, 4 HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. 4 Males are socialised in an environment that promotes early sexual initiation and multiple sexual partners, whilst females are socialised to be submissive.…”

“…With high-risk sexual behaviours evident among many South African youth aged 14–24 years, numerous interventions have been implemented intending to promote their sexual health. 1 , 2 The ability of youth to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancy, 3 intergenerational sex, intimate partner violence, 4 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) remains a challenge. 5 The risk factors that have been found to increase this vulnerability to HIV, other STIs and unplanned teenage pregnancy include poor decision-making and peer pressure, 6 social norms and gender-based violence, 7 early sexual debut without protection, 5 concurrent partners, 8 intimate partner violence 9 and intergenerational sex.…”

Power and the association with relationship quality in South African couples: Implications for HIV/AIDS interventions

“…Incorporating an innovative measure of “power with” allows us to study power as a shared couple attribute rather than an individualistic construct (e.g., women’s functional autonomy)—which is how couples from settings such as Malawi and South Africa have conceptualized power in their relationships (Conroy, 2013; Shefer et al, 2007). Using these measures, we test for associations with dimensions of relationship quality found to be salient in parts of southern Africa: intimacy, trust, mutually constructive communication (MCC), and conflict (Conroy, 2013; Gevers et al, 2013; Hunter, 2010). Our findings can be used to build the evidence base for how female empowerment and gender transformative interventions among men may positively or negatively affect relationship dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa, which has important implications for the HIV/AIDS epidemic.…”

Understanding the meaning of marital relationship quality among couples in peri-urban Ethiopia

“…Another study conducted only among female partners in Ghana using the same data as the current study also found that items of the satisfaction scale were not relevant for them (Cox et al 2013). Similarly, a qualitative study conducted among adolescents in South Africa found a gendered pattern in relationship quality, with girls giving importance to communication, while the boys were concerned about the presence or absence of conflict (Gevers et al 2013, Gevers et al, 2012). …”