M.A. / Shyness is an individual difference variable that has the potential to impact on the processes that facilitate the development of emotional intimacy. There has been little research that has focussed on shyness within the conext of close relationships, providing an opportunity for further research. Reis and Shaver (1988) and Reis and Patrick (1996) described the interpersonal process model of intimacy, which provides comprehensive and integrated model from which to examine emotional intimacy. The model is supported by research within the field of interpersonal relationship studies. Emotional intimacy is believed to experienced as a subjective sense of connectedness, which is the outcome of an interpersonal, transactional and dynamic process that consists of self-disclosure and partner responsiveness. The model incoporates the notion that individual difference variable can interfere with the development of emotional intimacy as the level of these processes of self-disclosure and partner responsiveness.

Relationships in which one partner is transgender are disproportionately challenging compared to other LGBQ+ relationships (Gamarel et al., 2014; Pulice-Farrow et al., 2017). While research has yet to examine how transgender-cisgender couples experience emotional intimacy, it is theorized that this process may be critical for relationship health during gender transition. This study explored how transgender-cisgender couples experience emotional intimacy during their transition process. Symbolic interactionism was used to examine the questions: (1) How do perceptions of couple emotional intimacy influence how each partner assigns meaning to their experiences with transitioning? and (2) How do partners communicate about their emotional experiences during their transition process? Constructivist grounded theory was used to analyze individual interviews with 20 transgender and cisgender participants (ten couples) using group-level analysis. The process model that emerged from the data indicated that transgender and cisgender partners experienced emotional tensions internally and within their relationships as they created meaning from their experiences with transitioning. Tensions created pathways for partners to emotionally withdraw from or engage in communication about their experiences. Communication processes ebbed and flowed as partners created meaning for their relationship in transition. When couples engaged in communication, they created shared meaning about their experiences and strengthened emotional intimacy. Data revealed that these processes of building and sustaining emotional intimacy were interactional and iterative. Recommendations for research and clinical work with these couples are provided, in light of these findings. / Doctor of Philosophy / Relationships in which one partner is transgender are particularly challenging compared to other LGBQ+ relationships (Gamarel et al., 2014; Pulice-Farrow et al., 2017). Research has yet to examine how transgender (a person whose gender identity does not align with their assigned sex at birth) and cisgender (a person whose gender identity aligns with their assigned sex at birth) intimate partners experience emotional intimacy. However, emotional intimacy may be critical for relationship health during transition (a person's process of developing a gender expression that matches their gender identity). This study explored how transgender-cisgender couples experience emotional intimacy during their transition process. I explored how each partner emotionally experienced their relationship during transition and how partners communicated about their emotional experiences during their transition process. I analyzed individual interviews with 20 transgender and cisgender participants (ten couples) (Charmaz, 2006). The findings revealed that both transgender and cisgender partners experienced emotional tensions within themselves and within their relationships as they created meaning from their experiences with transitioning. While experiencing tensions, partners chose to either engage or withdraw from communication. Communication ebbed and flowed as partners created meaning for their relationship as they transitioned. Efforts to communicate brought couples closer and strengthened emotional intimacy. Recommendations for research and clinical work with these couples are provided.

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Résumé : L’expression de comportements sexuels et intimes sont directement reliés à la santé et à la qualité de vie au cours de la vie (Waite & Das, 2010). Pourtant, la sexualité et l’intimité des personnes âgées sont rarement abordées dans les écrits scientifiques ou dans la pratique professionnelle (Syme, 2014). Cette étude comble certaines lacunes de la recherche en approfondissant la compréhension des concepts de sexualité et bien-être sexuel des personnes âgées à partir de 15 entrevues qualitatives et d’une analyse thématique rigoureuse (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Chez les ainés à la retraite, vivant en couple hétérosexuel, en bonne santé générale et âgés de 65 ans et plus, cette recherche a permis d’explorer et de décrire 1) le sens donné à la sexualité, 2) le sens donné au bien-être sexuel, 3) les conditions et 4) les stratégies jugées favorables à leur bien-être sexuel. L’analyse thématique a conduit à l’élaboration de définitions de la sexualité et du bien-être sexuel chez les ainés répondant aux critères mentionnés ci-haut. Chez ces ainés, la sexualité se définit comme un processus dynamique en évolution constante orienté vers le bien-être sexuel et dépendant de la valeur, de la place et du sens qui sont attribués à quatre sources potentielles de sens : le répertoire génital, l’intimité affective, la communion/connexion sexuelle et les pertes sexuelles. Le bien-être sexuel est une composante de la sexualité, son sens fondamental et son but. Il comprend des sentiments de satisfaction physique et psychologique en lien avec la vie sexuelle, ainsi que des sentiments de bonheur avec soi-même et avec l’autre en général ?. La satisfaction sexuelle, enfin, comprend la satisfaction physique, c’est-à-dire le plaisir physique, la satisfaction de la fréquence des rapports sexuels, et la satisfaction psychologique, c’est-à-dire le plaisir de faire plaisir à l’autre et l’intimité affective du couple pendant et en dehors des relations sexuelles. Ces définitions inclusives de la sexualité et du bien-être sexuel des ainés ont été possibles grâce à un canevas de questions basé sur une théorie de l’actualisation du potentiel pendant le vieillissement en lien avec le sens à la vie de Leclerc (2007). C’est ainsi que ces définitions rejoignent des disciplines aussi diverses que la médecine, la psychologie humaniste, la gérontologie ou la sociologie. La présente recherche a permis de mettre en évidence et de décrire deux catégories de conditions favorables au bien-être sexuel des ainés : les conditions antérieures et les conditions actuelles. La compréhension de ces conditions pourra permettre aux professionnels de la santé de mieux orienter les ainés vers les conditions les plus propices à servir de point d’ancrage à leur actualisation sexuelle. Le thème des conditions antérieures est composé de l’éducation familiale, l’éducation religieuse et les relations précédentes. Le thème des conditions actuelles, quant à lui, regroupe les valeurs fondamentales, la retraite, le rapport au corps et la santé. Enfin, l’analyse des résultats a mis en évidence plusieurs stratégies relationnelles et sexuelles qui pourront être utilisées dans les plans d’intervention des professionnels de la santé ou les cours destinés aux retraités. Les stratégies relationnelles comprennent la création d’un climat positif, la gestion des activités et du temps et la gestion des conflits. Les stratégies sexuelles se composent de la gestion des relations sexuelles et de la gestion des problèmes sexuels. // Abstract : Sexuality, sexual well - being, and sexual actualization of healthy retired elderly the objective of this qualitative study was to explore: 1) the meaning given to sexuality and 2) sexual well - being, and 3) the conditions and 4) strategies fostering the elderly’s sexual well - being. The sample consisted of 15 healthy, retired individuals in heterosexual and committed relationships, aged between 65 and 7 8 from the province of Quebec, Canada. A thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) revealed definitions of sexuality and sexual well - being. Sexuality in aging is a dynamic and evolving process leading to sexual well - being based on the value and place assigned to four sources of potential meaning: genital repertoire, emotional intimacy, communion /connection, and sexual losses. Sexual well - being includes feelings of physical and psychological sexual satisfaction and feelings of well - being and happiness with oneself, with others, and in general. Finally, results showed a series of previous and current conditions as well as relationship and sexual strategies fostering the elderly’s sexual well - being.

No description available.