Single fathers by choice using surrogacy. Why men decide to have a child as a single parent

STUDY QUESTION: Why do men decide to have a child by surrogacy as a single parent? SUMMARY ANSWER: Reasons included feeling that it was the right time (i.e. having 'worked through' concerns about single parenthood; career and financial stability; a fear of getting older; no longer wanting to wait for the 'right' relationship), external encouragement, a desire to reproduce and a fear of separation/divorce. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Because no research has been conducted on single fathers who used surrogacy, their characteristics, motivations and experiences are unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This study used a cross-sectional design as part of a larger, multi-method, multi-informant investigation of single father families created by surrogacy. Multiple strategies were used to recruit participants (i.e. from an association of gay parents, Facebook groups of single parents and snowballing) between November 2016 and April 2017. Data were obtained from 33 Italian single fathers (Meanage = 47.33 years, SD = 4.63), most of whom self-identified as gay (n = 24, 72.7%). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in family homes (n = 20, 60.6%) or over Skype (n = 13, 39.4%). Each interview lasted approximately 40 min and was audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic and qualitative content analysis, with the aid of the software package MAXQDA. Where appropriate, a two-sided Fisher's exact test was used to compare the gay and heterosexual fathers, and illustrative quotations were reported. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Although all of the single men had experienced mature relationships, about one-third of the fathers (n = 10, 30.3%) had never thought of having a child and the majority of the heterosexual men (n = 7, 77.8%, P = 0.05) had tried to conceive in previous relationships. The gay and heterosexual men differed in their preferred path to parenthood (P = 0.01), with the former (n = 17, 70.8%) having always preferred surrogacy and the latter (n = 6, 66.7%) having considered or attempted conception via casual sex with women. Irrespective of their sexual orientation, most of the fathers chose surrogacy because they wanted a genetic relation to their child (n = 28, 84.8%) and because they felt that surrogacy would be more secure compared to adoption, upon their return to Italy due to Italian laws (n = 26, 78.7%). The majority (n = 20, 60.6%) were satisfied with their decision to 'go it alone', although nearly all (n = 16, 80%) would have preferred to have a child within the context of a relationship. After their child's birth, the majority received support from both their parents/siblings (n = 21, 63.7%) and friends (n = 24, 72.7%). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The risk of socially desirable responding should be taken into account when interpreting the findings, given the ethical concerns surrounding single fatherhood and surrogacy. Furthermore, fathers with a negative surrogacy experience were less likely to participate in this research. The small sample and participant characteristics of older age, an Italian nationality, a mainly gay sexual orientation and high income may limit the generalizability of the findings. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study is the first to provide insight into the reproductive experience of single men seeking surrogacy. The findings warn practitioners and policy-makers against making assumptions about people with access to fertility treatments on the basis of marital status, gender or sexual orientation. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): None

Production of metal nanoparticles by agro-industrial wastes. A green opportunity for nanotechnology

The feasibility of producing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using phenolic extracts from agro-industrial wastes as reducing agents was investigated. Phenolic extracts were obtained from bilberry wastes (BW) and spent coffee grounds (SCG) with aqueous ethanol as extraction solvent. Experiments were carried out in batch at 25 °C by adding appropriate amounts of phenolic extracts to a silver nitrate aqueous solution. The formation of Ag NPs was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the intensity of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of silver at 415-435 nm. Depending on the process conditions, the synthesis of Ag NPs was completed in 3 to 5 hours. Characterization of the resulting reaction products by XRD, SEM and DLS showed that nanoparticles were formed with a spherical shape and an average size of 10-20 nm. Overall, the results obtained suggest that BW and SCG could be used as a source of reducing agents for the production of metal NPs and that agro-industrial wastes may represent a valid alternative to the use of microorganisms, whole plants or plant parts for the biogenic synthesis of NPs

What does the intention to be a volunteer for a student with autism predict? the role of cognitive brain types and emotion and behavior characteristics

The study was designed to verify which cognitive brain types and behaviors in classroom predicted the intention to volunteer to become a peer buddy for a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Five hundred and sixteen adolescents attending the first grade of public high schools were enrolled. Gender-related differences were discussed according to the empathizing-systemizing theory. As expected, empathy and prosocial behavior predicted volunteering in ASD intervention. We conclude that the selection of peers as intervention agents should require more informative sources. Clinical and research implications are discussedEste estudio se diseñó para verificar qué tipos de cerebro cognitivo y comportamientos en el aula predecían la intención de ofrecerse voluntario a acompañar a un alumno con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA). Se apuntaron 516 adolescentes de primer curso de enseñanza secundaria. Se abordaron las diferencias relativas al género de acuerdo a la teoría empatía-sistematización. Según lo esperado, la empatía y el comportamiento prosocial predecían la voluntariedad para intervenir en el TEA. Se concluye que la elección de compañeros como agentes de intervención necesitaría de más fuentes de información. Se comentan las implicaciones clínicas y de investigació

Atteggiamenti nei confronti di atleti gay, lesbiche e bisessuali che rivelano il proprio orientamento sessuale all’interno dei contesti sportivi

The scientific literature reported that sport environments are generally hostile toward coming-out of gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) athletes. The present study tested gender and sexual orientation differences in negative attitudes toward coming-out in Italian sport contexts. An ad hoc measure, developed for the current study, was used for evaluating negative attitudes toward coming-out in sports related contexts. A sample of 75 Italian soccer players (61.3% heterosexuals and 38.7% GLB athletes) was used to verify two hypotheses; (a) men and heterosexuals will show more negative attitudes toward coming-out in sports related contexts than those of women and sexual minorities, respectively; and (b) elite players will show more negative attitudes than non-elite players. The results showed that men and heterosexuals reported more negative attitudes toward coming-out in sports-related contexts than women and sexual minorities, respectively There were no significant differences between elite players and non-elite players These results suggest that negative attitudes toward coming-out may reflect heterosexism and homophobia in Italian sport-related contexts. It is necessary to promote anti-discriminatory policies in order to reduce prejudice toward GLB people in Italian sports-related contexts

Adolescenza e omosessualità in un’ottica evolutiva

Il lavoro tratta il tema dello sviluppo dell'orientamento (omo)sessuale in adolescenza

“Be as You Are” Clinical Research Center at the Sapienza University of Rome

Italy's government has enacted few supportive policies for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and all other sexual orientations and gender identities with which persons may identify (LGBTQ+), and most of the fundamental rights for sexual minorities are still not recognized. Despite this social and political situation, the Department of Developmental and Social Psychology of the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome established "Be as You Are," the first Italian clinical research center specifically created for LGBTQ + people on a university campus. The facility offers several public services, such as: (a) counseling or individual psychotherapy for LGBTQ + adolescents and young adults; (b) family therapy supporting LGBTQ + adolescents; (c) parent training programs; (d) interventions in different social contexts. This letter to the editor aims to present the clinical research center and to introduce the role played by LGBTQ + health care services to improve the well-being and mental health of sexual minority individuals, especially in stigmatized contexts where sexual prejudices are still rife, such as in Italy

Sports as a risk environment: homophobia and bullying in a sample of gay and heterosexual men

Research on bullying and homophobic bullying has mainly focused on school contexts, with little research in sports-related contexts. This study used a sample of 88 gay males and 120 heterosexual males between 18 and 36 years of age to examine the frequency of bullying experiences in Italian sports-related contexts. The results showed that gay men reported more frequent bullying and homophobic bullying than heterosexual men. Gay men reported dropping out of sports more frequently, namely due to a fear of being bullied and greater familial pressure to conform to masculine-type sports. It is necessary to promote safer sports-related contexts for people who self-identify as a sexual minority

Personal and family correlates to happiness amongst Italian children and pre-adolescents

This study examines how family functioning, the parent-child relationship and personal factors are related to happiness in 1549 children aged 7 to 14 years old (53% females) in Italy. Children and pre-adolescents completed a set of questionnaires on self-rated happiness, self-concept and loneliness. At least one of their parents filled in questionnaires on family functioning, attachment and their child’s happiness level. No gender differences were found in the direct measure of happiness, but younger participants were happier than older participants, according to both the children’s and parents’ evaluations. Happiness is influenced by positive self-concept, self-esteem and low levels of satisfaction but family functioning does not seem to play a major role. The clinical and social implications of the study are discussed.peer-reviewe

Il benessere dei bambini e delle bambine con genitori gay e lesbiche

La finalità di questo documento è quella di chiarire parole e dimensioni concettuali legate al genere, con specifico riferimento alle famiglie omogenitoriali, mirando a fornire informazioni basate sulla competenza e la ricerca di esperti del settore. Le famiglie omogenitoriali, specie quelle visibili, in cui i figli sono cresciuti da due madri o due padri, sono infatti considerate da alcuni quasi “la somma di tutti i mali” perché rimettono in discussione concetti chiave della nostra storia culturale (come la filiazione e i ruoli di genere all’interno della copia genitoriale). In effetti, chi fomenta paura rifacendosi alla spaventosa “teoria del gender” sogna un mondo immutabile e immutato, in cui le donne e gli uomini hanno ruoli ben definiti, in cui c’è un solo modo di essere e un solo modo di comportarsi e le donne devono rimanere al loro posto. I cambiamenti terrorizzano chi non vuole cambiare, non chi aspira a più libertà e più diritti per tutti e lavora alla convivenza civile, al superamento delle disuguaglianze, al miglioramento delle relazioni fra le persone al di là del loro genere, orientamento sessuale, sesso biologico

How HEXACO personality traits predict different selfie-posting behaviors among adolescents and young adults

Selfies are usually defined as self-portrait photos shared on social networks. Recent studies investigated how personality traits, and specifically narcissism, can be associated to different kinds of selfies. The HEXACO model, a new theory on personality structure, investigates personality on six dimensions, among which there is the Honesty/Humility trait, found strongly and negatively associated to narcissism. Thus, this study aims to investigate how different kinds of selfies could be predicted by HEXACO personality traits, controlling for age, gender and sexual orientation. Participants were 750 adolescents and young adults (59.1% girls, N = 443) from 13 to 30 years (Mage = 20.96; SDage = 4.23) who completed an online survey composed by the Kinsey scale, three questions about the frequency of different kinds of selfies (i.e. own selfies, group selfies and selfies with partner) and 60-item Hexaco Personality Inventory-Revised. Results showed that females, adolescents and not- exclusively heterosexuals posted more own selfies, and that adolescents posted also more group selfies and selfies with partner. Moreover lower Honesty/Humility, lower Conscientiousness, higher Emotionality and higher Extraversion significantly predict both own selfies and group selfies. Finally, only lower Honesty/Humility and higher Emotionality predict selfies with partner. Results suggested a common pattern of personality traits that can explain selfies behaviors according to literature on HEXACO model. Specifically, these findings enlightened that Honesty/Humility and Emotionality traits seem to be relevant in understanding selfies. People who post more selfies are lower in Honesty/Humility, showing a strong sense of self-importance and feeling superior. Moreover, they show higher Emotionality that is related to looking for social reinforcement on social networks. Only for own and group selfies, people high in Extraversion probably feel self-confident in groups, also in the online dimension, and low extraverted people probably posted less frequently because they feel uncomfortable being at the center of attention. Finally, people with high Conscientiousness spend less time online because they consider social networks as a distraction from their tasks. Thus, HEXACO model allows to better understand which personality traits can predict different kinds of selfies. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed