Mohsen Bazargan, PhD.Professor

President of Academic SenateDirector of Research

Department of Family Medicine Public Health Program

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & ScienceUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

May 20, 2015Kermanshah – Islamic Republic of Iran

Percentage of Divorce in Percentage of Divorce in USAUSA

Who Initiates the Divorce Who Initiates the Divorce

Divorce Statistics In USADivorce Statistics In USA

A shocking 62% of unmarried U.S. residents 18 and older reported

never being married

24% were divorced14% were widowed

Children of Divorced FamiliesChildren of Divorced Families

Who Initiate the DivorceWho Initiate the Divorce

Physical Violence Against Women in Physical Violence Against Women in USAUSA

Physical Violence Against Women in Physical Violence Against Women in USAUSA

Physical Violence Against Physical Violence Against Women in USAWomen in USA

The majority of female victims of The majority of female victims of intimate partner violence are intimate partner violence are repeatedly abused by same offender.repeatedly abused by same offender.

Approximately 22-35% of women with Approximately 22-35% of women with domestic violence related symptoms domestic violence related symptoms seek care at emergency departments.seek care at emergency departments.

Infidelity and Divorce and Spousal Infidelity and Divorce and Spousal Battering Battering

Psychological Suffering of Psychological Suffering of InfidelityInfidelity

Anguish, psychological pain, Anguish, psychological pain, depression, anger, and depression, anger, and humiliation are among the humiliation are among the emotional experiences of the emotional experiences of the partner of someone who has partner of someone who has been unfaithfulbeen unfaithful

Suffering of WomenSuffering of Women

Empirical evidence suggests Empirical evidence suggests that the suffering of women is that the suffering of women is no less than that of men, no less than that of men, especially if the affair is especially if the affair is accompanied by emotional accompanied by emotional involvement involvement

Physical Violence Against Women in USAPhysical Violence Against Women in USA

Lifetime Prevalence of Physical Violence by Lifetime Prevalence of Physical Violence by an Intimate Partner by Race/Ethnicityan Intimate Partner by Race/Ethnicity

How do children of divorce react to counseling by age How do children of divorce react to counseling by age group?group?

• Early Latency (ages 5-8). Children that are in Early Latency (ages 5-8). Children that are in this age group at the time of their parents' this age group at the time of their parents' divorce tend to react with great sadness. Some divorce tend to react with great sadness. Some may feel fearful, insecure, helpless and may feel fearful, insecure, helpless and abandoned by the missing parentabandoned by the missing parent

• The younger children in this group often The younger children in this group often express guilt and blame themselves for their express guilt and blame themselves for their parents' divorceparents' divorce

How do children of divorce react to counseling by How do children of divorce react to counseling by age group?age group?

•Late Latency (ages 9-12). Children in late Late Latency (ages 9-12). Children in late latency at the time of their parents' divorce latency at the time of their parents' divorce are distinguished from younger children by are distinguished from younger children by their feelings of intense anger their feelings of intense anger

•They may still feel loneliness, loss, shock, They may still feel loneliness, loss, shock, surprise, and fear, but anger and possibly surprise, and fear, but anger and possibly the rejection of one parent are the the rejection of one parent are the predominant reactions of this age grouppredominant reactions of this age group

How do children of divorce react to How do children of divorce react to counseling by age group?counseling by age group?

•Adolescence (ages 13-18). Adolescents whose Adolescence (ages 13-18). Adolescents whose parents are divorcing also experience loss, parents are divorcing also experience loss, sadness, anger, and pain. A typical adolescent sadness, anger, and pain. A typical adolescent reaction to parental divorce, however, often reaction to parental divorce, however, often involves acting-out behaviors involves acting-out behaviors

•Sexual promiscuity, delinquency, the use of Sexual promiscuity, delinquency, the use of alcohol and drugs, and aggressive behavior alcohol and drugs, and aggressive behavior have all been identified as adolescent reactions have all been identified as adolescent reactions to parental divorceto parental divorce

Personality Factor and Personality Factor and Susceptibility to InfidelitySusceptibility to Infidelity

Personality factors most strongly linked to Personality factors most strongly linked to susceptibility to infidelity are low susceptibility to infidelity are low

Conscientiousness, high Narcissism, and Conscientiousness, high Narcissism, and high Psychoticismhigh Psychoticism

Relationship contexts most strongly linked to Relationship contexts most strongly linked to susceptibility to infidelity include sexual susceptibility to infidelity include sexual dissatisfaction, and specific sources of dissatisfaction, and specific sources of

conflict such as partner complaints about conflict such as partner complaints about jealousyjealousy

Rate of Affairs Rate of Affairs

Estimates of American men involved in Estimates of American men involved in extramarital affairs range from 22% to 75%; extramarital affairs range from 22% to 75%; whereas, estimates for women range from whereas, estimates for women range from

14% to 60%14% to 60%

It is estimated that 30-60% of all married It is estimated that 30-60% of all married individuals in the United States will engage in individuals in the United States will engage in infidelity at some point during their marriageinfidelity at some point during their marriage

Infidelity and DivorceInfidelity and DivorceIn the United States, about 17% of all divorces In the United States, about 17% of all divorces

are due to adultery on the part of either or are due to adultery on the part of either or both partnersboth partners

Furthermore, nearly 31% of marriages last after Furthermore, nearly 31% of marriages last after an affair has been admitted to or discoveredan affair has been admitted to or discovered

Interestingly, 74% of men and 68% of women Interestingly, 74% of men and 68% of women claim they would engage in infidelity if they claim they would engage in infidelity if they

would never get caughtwould never get caught

Structure of Family: Feminist Structure of Family: Feminist MovementMovement

• According to the Michigan Family Review, feminism has According to the Michigan Family Review, feminism has revolutionized the structure of family experience, conceptualized revolutionized the structure of family experience, conceptualized family forms and family processes and has most likely influenced the family forms and family processes and has most likely influenced the field of family more than any other fieldfield of family more than any other field

• First wave (circa 19-20First wave (circa 19-20thth century) of feminist movement advocated century) of feminist movement advocated for womenfor women’’s suffrage, culminating with the pass of the 19s suffrage, culminating with the pass of the 19thth amendment in 1920 (right to vote)amendment in 1920 (right to vote)

• Second wave (circa 1960) of feminist movement advocated for Second wave (circa 1960) of feminist movement advocated for dismantling workplace inequality; publication of the popular text dismantling workplace inequality; publication of the popular text ““The Feminine MystiqueThe Feminine Mystique”” by Betty Friedan by Betty Friedan

• Third wave (circa 1990) of feminist movement exposed accounts of Third wave (circa 1990) of feminist movement exposed accounts of sexual harassment and utilized the internet to reach a large audience sexual harassment and utilized the internet to reach a large audience regarding numerous issues regarding numerous issues

Structure of Family: Hippies Structure of Family: Hippies MovementMovement

• According to a recent study regarding marriage and According to a recent study regarding marriage and family values, the hippie movement was described as a family values, the hippie movement was described as a separation from the traditional aspects of familyseparation from the traditional aspects of family

• The hippie movement (circa 1960The hippie movement (circa 1960’’s) was structured s) was structured around the principles of harmony with nature, communal around the principles of harmony with nature, communal living and artistic expressionliving and artistic expression

• In addition, the hippie movement was associated with In addition, the hippie movement was associated with the use of recreational drugsthe use of recreational drugs

Structure of Family: LGBT Structure of Family: LGBT Movement Movement

• According to prominent sociologists, LGBT movement According to prominent sociologists, LGBT movement cultural goals include challenging dominant constructions cultural goals include challenging dominant constructions of masculinity and femininity, homophobia, and the of masculinity and femininity, homophobia, and the nuclear family nuclear family

• Same-sex civil unions were recognized under Vermont Same-sex civil unions were recognized under Vermont law in 2000, and Massachusetts became the first state to law in 2000, and Massachusetts became the first state to perform same-sex marriages in 2003 perform same-sex marriages in 2003

• In 2008In 2008, , CaliforniaCalifornia’’s Supreme Court rules that gays and s Supreme Court rules that gays and lesbians should be allowed to wedlesbians should be allowed to wed

Structure of Family: Social Structure of Family: Social NetworkingNetworking

In-person conversation with family members was once In-person conversation with family members was once viewed as the primary mode for social networkingviewed as the primary mode for social networking

According to a recent article, 20% of individuals admit According to a recent article, 20% of individuals admit they only know what family members are doing by they only know what family members are doing by checking online checking online

The evolution of internet has generated numerous social The evolution of internet has generated numerous social networking internet-based social networking platforms networking internet-based social networking platforms that may challenge family structure that may challenge family structure

Structure of Family: Structure of Family: PornographyPornography

• With the rise of the popularity of the Internet in recent years, With the rise of the popularity of the Internet in recent years, the accessibility of pornography has been a growing concern the accessibility of pornography has been a growing concern

• One particular concern is the potential risk for addictive One particular concern is the potential risk for addictive behaviors to occur as a result of the ease of viewing online behaviors to occur as a result of the ease of viewing online pornographic material and the impact on intimate pornographic material and the impact on intimate relationshipsrelationships

• An emerging body of research has shown associations An emerging body of research has shown associations between pornography and certain behaviors and attitudesbetween pornography and certain behaviors and attitudes

• Moreover, online pornography use motivated by social needs Moreover, online pornography use motivated by social needs is perpetuated by deficient self-regulation and may lead to is perpetuated by deficient self-regulation and may lead to negative life consequences in some individualsnegative life consequences in some individuals

Divorce Rates in the Islamic Divorce Rates in the Islamic Republic of Iran Republic of Iran

In 2006, the divorce rate in the Islamic Republic of Iran was 119 for every 1,000

marriages

In 2014, the divorce rate in the Islamic Republic of Iran nearly doubled to 225

divorces for every 1,000 marriages

Divorce Rates in the Islamic Divorce Rates in the Islamic Republic of Iran Republic of Iran

of Iranof IranIn looking at the increasing divorce rate, an alarming

30% of divorces occurred within the first year of marriage

It has been previously reported that unhealthy relationships, intimacy problems, and moral

degeneration are the primary causes of divorce

Furthermore, infidelity and remarriage has been reported as a cause for divorce in the Islamic

Republic of Iran

بحران هویت جنسی

• پسران و مردان جوان 'در خطر بحران

• ’هویت جنسی هستند’

افراط در بازی های کامپیوتری و تماشای پورنوگرافی مردان جوان را در معرض

جدایی اجتماعی و جنسی از واقعیت قرار داده است، آنها به جای آنچه به

طور طبیعی یک مرد جوان باید انجام دهد، در اتاق های خود در تنهایی و در

.دنیایی مجازی زندگی می کنند

•

Future RecommendationsFuture Recommendations

Our findings suggest an urgent need for comprehensive multidimensional investigational

interventions to prevent divorce and infidelity among this study population

Specifically, interventions should address the increasing rate in divorce among young Iranian

couples, which is particularly alarming

Interventions, such as an innovative health skills curriculum with mental health objectives, may be of

particular value

Questions…Questions…

Email: Email: mobazarg@cdrewu.emobazarg@cdrewu.e

dudu

Tel. 1-323-357-3655Tel. 1-323-357-3655

1731 E. 1201731 E. 120thth Street Street

Los Angeles CA Los Angeles CA 9008990089