| 书目名称 | Living Apart Together Transnationally (LATT) Couples | | 副标题 | Promoting Mental Hea | | 编辑 | Rashmi Singla | | 视频video | | | 概述 | Demonstrates how Living Apart Together Transnationally couples use emotional reflexivity.Includes data from couples of mixed ethnic heritage and co-ethnic couples.Includes recommendations for empirica | | 图书封面 |  | | 描述 | .This book provides deep insight into intimacy and distance in the complex, globalised world through the newly coined concept of couples living apart together transnationally (LATT). Based on a review of the past four decades’ seminal studies and narratives from a qualitative empirical study, including both heterosexual and same-sex couples, it shows intimacy can be maintained without geographical proximity. The book has a rich, layered, and nuanced exploration of LATT couples‘ experiences of relationship maintenance across distance and time through diverse ways, such as digital emotions, online sexual activity, and meaning–making through spirituality, which challenge existing Eurocentric conceptualisations of intimacy and relationships. It also reveals an array of “good practices” for relationship maintenance across countries, which can inspire other couples and practitioners...Thus, the book is an important resource, not only for academics in the disciplines of psychology, anthropology, cultural studies, family science, sociology, migration, and communication but particularly useful for practitioners dealing with couple relationships, such as counselors, social workers, and ment | | 出版日期 | Book 2024 | | 关键词 | Couples Living Apart Together (LAT); Couples Living Apart Together Transnationally (LATT); Counter Dom | | 版次 | 1 | | doi | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52205-5 | | isbn_softcover | 978-3-031-52207-9 | | isbn_ebook | 978-3-031-52205-5 | | copyright | The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerl |
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Front Matter |
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Abstract
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,Doing Intimacy Differently—An Emerging Trend: Living Apart Together Transnationally (LATT) Couples, |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
The first chapter focusses on the intersection between intimacy and distance, mainly when the partners are located across nations, through a newly coined acronym Living Apart Together Transnationally couples - LATT. It describes the normative expectation of cohabitation, assuming physical proximity as an essential condition of a couple‘s intimate relationship, and the increasing number of LAT (living apart together) couples. Moreover, it introduces the global context, objective, motivation, method, and the 20 LATT couples /40 partners from 18 countries of origin, living in 10 countries, constituting the participants of the empirical study, and forming the book’s basis. Through a spatial understanding and historical perspective, it presents the couples’ dynamics - LAT and subcategory LD (long distance) couples due to the job and educational conditions, and how they are seen as “doing intimacy differently,” “unconventional,” and even ‘deviants.’ The chapter provides numerical data indicating that 6-10% of couples in the Global North are LAT.
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,Exploring Intimacy and Distance—A Theoretical Framework, |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
The 2nd chapter sets out an interdisciplinary theoretical framework to explore LATT couples, drawing on decolonising psychology frame (Kessi, .; Bhatia,.), also including conceptualisations from the Global South, followed by transnationalism and intersectionality for exploring the couples’ positioning across nations and multi- categorial belonging. For investigating intimate relationships, the chapter includes emotional reflexivity (Holmes, .) and the “shared third,” a co-created inter-subjective togetherness (Benjamin, .). Digital emotions (Ellis & Tucker, .) mediated by the digital technologies used by LATT couples and cyberspace (Ben Ze’ev, .) as an alternative to one’s actual romantic setting are also part of the framework. Love is presented as a theoretical concept through the . and . theories and discussed in the transcultural contexts (Karandashev, .), followed by spirituality (Carr, .) for sense-making of some LATT couples’ unconventional situations. The chapter suggests that digital technology and spirituality may be significant simultaneously.
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,Setting the Scene for Exploring the LATT Couples: Seminal Studies, |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
The 3rd chapter reviews chronologically seminal scientific studies in intimacy and distance over the last four decades, divided into four emerging themes. Firstly, “So far, yet keeping so close” explores relationship maintenance through an expanded approach, highlighting adapting to cycles of departure, absence, and return (Stafford, .). In today‘s digital age, intrapersonal and dyadic activities are significant for maintaining relationships, including synchronous strategies such as phone, video, and beyond (Belus et al., .). The second theme, “Emotions and fulfillment,” discusses emotional reflexivity (Holmes, .) and how social and mental spaces’ are more important than physicality (Lindemann, .). The third theme, “Commitment,” relates to autonomy and relatedness and an absence of ‘structural investments‘ which leads to suspicion from those around. The fourth theme, “Sexual intimacy,” focusses on changing sexual norms and gender differences. Lastly, different terms denoting intimacy and distance are critically discussed, and a new term–living apart together transnationally–LATT proposed.
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,Exploring the Experiences of LATT Couples: The Methodological Focus, |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
The 4th chapter aims to present the empirical study conducted primarily in Denmark, with a global outreach comprising 20 LATT couples/40 partners from 18 countries of origin, living in 10 countries. It critiques and moves beyond narrow concepts such as methodological-individualism, nationalism, and conjugalism. The participant selection criteria are delineated as intimate relationship past /current non-cohabiting, and maintaining households in different countries for at least a year. This chapter delineates the couples’ demographics to situate their narratives. It explains the research design, comprising interviews and an interpretive phenomenological analytic approach (Willig, .), along with reflections on analytical generalisation and researcher positionality. Ethical principles such as participant autonomy, confidentiality, and avoidance of harm (McLeod, .) are emphasised in investigating the sensitive themes of intimacy. Innovatively, it documents the participants’ positive feelings about articulating their experiences and research contributions. Lastly, the five analytic themes are delineated, resulting from an interplay between the empirical narratives and theoretical concept
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,Legal and Societal Matters, |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
This chapter focuses on the legal and societal issues affecting the LATT couples. The definition of an intimate couple as “persons having lived together for a reasonable period” (Hosein, .)–the master cohabitation narrative, is challenged by these couples. It illustrates the immigration regime governing a couple‘s reunification and visits, influenced by the intersection of nationality, socioeconomic status, educational/job position, residency, and the associated privileges. The chapter explores how these transnational intersections affect the dynamics of LATT couples. The participants are categorized into–high and moderate/low levels, reflecting their subjective experiences of immigration restrictions. For example, Saudi Arabia hinders the visits of same-sex partners. Similarly, racially mixed LATT couples made up of partners from the Global North and South with racialised identities face almost insurmountable immigration restrictions in Denmark. However, no such restrictions exist among those working for International organisations.
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,Gendered Practices: Gender Order, Significant Others, and Parenting, |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
This chapter’s goal is to explore the LATT couples’ gender roles and practices in transnational settings. Differentiating between sex and gender, it explores the historical ‘gender order,’ zooming in on studies-based patterns about some LAT couples’ subversion of this order. It focuses on how LATT upset the traditional gender expectations about the so-called trailing partner, allowing most women more freedom, subverting gendered cohabitation norms (Upton John, 2015), and balancing autonomy and fusion. The overarching concept of transnational feminism, including differences, similarities, and connections across national borders (Mohanty, 2001), is drawn upon to investigate further gender dynamics. Moreover, the social support/ pressure to live together by the “significant others” is discussed. It also demonstrates that non-cohabitation is not a salient issue for the three same-sex LATT couples in the book’s empirical study. Lastly, the Chapter highlights the relatively rare phenomenon of parenting among LATT couples with young children, which is just 20% of the participants in the study.
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,Maintaining LATT: Emotional Dynamics and Digital Technology, |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
This chapter delves into a critical understanding of maintaining connections across distance by examining the participants’ experiences concentrating on their emotions, affects, and digital technology. It explores digital emotion through Simondon’s theory of individual and collective individuation, and the LATT couples’ emotional reflexivity (Holmes, .) based on self-expressed relationship maintenance. The chapter highlights how high emotional reflexivity points to the commonality of sharing mundane life routines and special events as well as planned exchanges in different time zones. At moderate levels, problematic sides of technology, such as missing the physical touch and spontaneity, and at low levels, the partner’s personality and poor digital connectivity are the focal points. The chapter emphasises digital technology’s enriching and problematic sides, entailing a more multi-dimensional approach for relationship maintenance than a unidimensional digital technology focus, along with interconnections between digital connections and physical mobility.
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,Sexual Intimacy—Intersections Between Material and Social, |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
Dynamics related to intimacy, sexuality in LATT relationships, and diverse ways of coping are the focus of this chapter. How do these couples view and maintain sexual intimacy without bodily immediacy? The participants are placed in two categories. Firstly, those foregrounding physical intimacy, and secondly, those with varied physical intimacy salience between the partners. The chapter explores how some couples manage explicit longing for bodily intimacy through multiple social media, especially sexting-sending/ receiving sexually explicit messages and visuals. It highlights why some couples prefer not to engage in online sexual activities (OSA), underlining mistrust and potential misuse of social media. Moreover, this chapter reveals that some participants experience the partner as a ‘stranger’ after separation and a need for emotional reconnection before sexual intimacy again, overlooked in the existing studies. Lastly, a consensual non-monogamous (CNM) relationship (open relationship) when apart, for jealousy avoidance and trust enhancement for one same-sex couple, is taken up.
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,Spirituality and Religiosity—Making Sense of an Unconventional (LATT) Situation Through “A Sense of |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
This chapter explores the significance of spirituality, other metaphysical understandings, and religiosity among the LATT couples for making sense of their unconventional relationship. Critiquing mainstream paradigms in Eurocentric psychology for excluding spirituality vis-à-vis mental health, using a decolonial framework, empirically investigates awareness or indifference to the spiritual dimension of human existence. The chapter defines spirituality as a sense of higher meaning, connecting, and becoming (Fernando, .), considering it a valuable addition to the cognitive, emotional, and practical life. It concludes with emerging patterns of spiritual meaning, which varies for the partners in the unconventional LATT relationship, and salience of spirituality for some couples, which does not resonate with the stereotypical perception of the secular Global North and spiritual Global South. Finally, it discusses how spirituality and other metaphysical phenomena are pivotal for mental health and well-being, with health promotion implications covered in the book’s last chapter.
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,Current Relationship Status, Pandemic Consequences, and Good Practices, |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
The penultimate chapter adds an applied and longitudinal perspective, not an attempt to present “happy endings” or “sad partings,” but a real-life follow-up survey conducted four years after the original interviews. It also explores the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the LATT couples. How most LATT couples have survived the pandemic, through slowing down, enhanced intimacy leading to a sense of security, creating interconnections along with anxiety and worry about the work-related demands, and extended family in far-off countries. The chapter also captures how the pandemic led to “parting ways” after a period of not meeting face-to-face due to the travel restrictions. Lastly, the focus is on the applied aspects for navigating the complexities of distance and intimacy, the “good practices” interpreted from the participants’ narratives, such as planning the next meeting, ritualistic practices, sharing activities online, the significance of an “endgame” of suitable jobs for both partners and living together.
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,Moving Beyond: Policy, Psychosocial Intervention, and Research Implications, |
Rashmi Singla |
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Abstract
The final chapter brings together the findings, future trends for LATT couples, and implications for policy, psychosocial intervention, and research. It also argues that policymakers and practitioners accept intimacy and distance intersections as genuine relationships. The chapter predicts an increase in LATT couples, where naming through the new acronym LATT brings attention and legitimacy. Relevant psychosocial intervention and research on LATT dynamics would alleviate suffering, leading to greater thriving at personal and societal levels. There are reflections on the theory, especially the value of decolonising psychology frame invoking spirituality, conceptualisations such as “flexible pragmatism,” and “professional necessity” for examining LATT dynamics. Furthermore, research suggestions are discussed, including longitudinal and symmetrical transnational collaboration across multi-sites. Ultimately, the book contributes to grasping human relationships, especially the understudied field of intimacy and distance, confirming that intimacy, proximity, and distance coexist as LATT couples navigate the challenges of maintaining intimacy across nations.
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Back Matter |
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Abstract
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发表于 2025-3-21 17:17:02
