Love may drive away the blues for women more easily than for men, according to a new study. Supportive, loving relationships offer women protection against major depression but don't seem to play a role in male depression, say researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States Their study involved 1,000 pairs of adult, opposite-sex fraternal twins.
As many as half of dating couples split up on Valentine's Day, estimates Jodi Smith, an etiquette expert and president of Mannersmith Consulting. Research conducted by Pennsylvania psychologist Barry Kuhle finds that men do most of the February 14 dumping.
Sources: HealthDay news service, The Christian Science Monitor
"Scientists have discovered that caressing a woman in a non-sexual way can lower her blood pressure as much as a dose of prescription drugs," says The Sunday Times of London.
"The finding, however, only holds true for women. As for men, they might as well chill out on the sofa. Stroking has no perceptible effect on their blood pressure ... Experts say (stroking) works best if it is not part of any foreplay -- sex can have quite the opposite effect on blood pressure."
The study was led by Kathleen Light, a psychiatry professor at the University of North Carolina's school of medicine.
"At what point does adolescence end? Perhaps at the point when we start going to bed progressively earlier rather than later and later," says New Scientist magazine. In a study of the vacation sleeping habits of 25,000 individuals of all ages in Switzerland and Germany, there was a distinct peak of night-owlishness at around age 20.
"Women reach this peak at 19.5 years old on average, and men at 20.9 years. After that, individuals gradually return to earlier and earlier sleeping patterns, until things go haywire in old age."
SO WHAT ELSE DOES THE HARLEQUIN SURVEY SAY?
Both men and women agreed that a romantic getaway with that special someone ranks high as a decadent indulgence, but shopping still seems to be the ultimate indulgence for many women.
Both sexes ranked an expensive car, a shopping spree and an exquisite meal as the ultimate treat.
Surprisingly, spending a night of passion with one's significant other was only tops for 7 per cent surveyed.
Rekindling a romance with a first love figured highly, according to the survey. The idea of rekindling an old flame was more popular for women than having sex with a celebrity. But for men, the notion of sex with a celebrity was a huge turn-on.
BUT IT ISN'T ALL ABOUT SEX FOR MEN.
The survey found that about one-third of both sexes surveyed want to be more affectionate and remember to do something special for their birthday, Valentine's Day or their anniversary.
And, oh yes, one of their other guilty pleasures: watching more sports, uninterrupted.
HEY FOLKS, LET'S FIND OUT ABOUT THE SECRET PLEASURES OF JAMAICANS
Tell us your secret pleasures and we'll publish the results in an upcoming issue of Flair. We promise we won't reveal names or contact information. Send to Flair, Secret Pleasures: E-mail lifestyle@gleanerjm.com; fax, 922-6223; mail The Gleaner, 7 North Street Kingston.
What's your guilty pleasure or favourite fantasy or indulgence? Is it eating junk food, shopping, watching reality television, fantasising about sex with someone who is off limits (just leave out the graphic details)? Whatever, let us know.
