Ami Rokach

York University · Department of Psychology

Loneliness, social isolation, aloneness, and solitude are frequently used interchangeably but are actually different. Loneliness is particularly salient now, due to the international restrictions on social activities imposed as a result of COVID-19, which brought loneliness into open discussion worldwide. The article highlights loneliness as a mult...

Loneliness has been with us since the beginning of time. Many ask themselves what can they do about loneliness? It is impossible, of course, to eradicate it. It is simply part of being human, just like hunger and physical pain. We can, though, address its pain and possibly lower its frequency in our lives. This article reviews the field of treatmen...

The authors regret to inform that the anonymous version of the article was published, as indicated by the instances “blinded for review” throughout the manuscript. The following information needs to be added: 1. The protocol number registered on Prospero is CRD42022337874. 2. Author roles throughout the review process: SA screened all abstracts. IP...

In this paper, through a thematic literature review of recent studies, our objective was to explore the impact of loneliness and its effects on health. We emphasize the human need for a sense of belonging and societal inclusion. We further discuss the link of loneliness to physiological alterations, to the development and exacerbation of mental hea...

Being hospitalized or undergoing a surgical procedure may be quite an isolating and lonely experience. This review explored loneliness in the hospital and surgical setting, and highlights the emotional and psychological challenges experienced by patients during their healthcare journey. While hospitals traditionally provide medical and surgical car...

The healthcare industry is the largest and fastest growing industry in the world; however, being a part of the healthcare system involves being at an increased risk of experiencing mental health problems, loneliness, stress, and increased susceptibility to experiencing compassion fatigue related to the emotional wear associated with providing patie...

Loneliness was a major concern of people during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Now, that the pandemic is mainly gone, it is still a global issue. This commentary reviews the impact on that loneliness has on our cognitive, behavioral and affective functioning. These effects are described, along with the stigma that often accompanies loneliness and wh...

This paper, relying on a thematic review of the literature, aimed to explore the influence of culture on human relations, particularly on love. We highlighted the innate need of humans to belong and be part of a community and, moreover, partake in an intimate relationship. Most humans yearn for intimacy, and thus it was defined and described. In ou...

This review provides an overview of the consequences of early adverse experiences across various domains of life. Drawing on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) conceptual framework, we discuss the ACE pyramid and the varying degrees of consequences that ACE exposure may elicit. Using online search engines such as Google Scholar, the authors s...

Social support has been shown to have many positive effects on our lives, health, and ability to grow and flourish. Lack, or diminished social support results in loneliness. This thematic review focuses on the elderly, and the loneliness that is part of the life of many of them. The review highlights the social connections and the expectations that...

This is a narrative review addressing the topic of romantic infidelity, its causes and its consequences. Love is commonly a source of much pleasure and fulfillment. However, as this review points out, it can also cause stress, heartache and may even be traumatic in some circumstances. Infidelity, which is relatively common in Western culture, can d...

Background It remains unclear whether persistent loneliness is related to brain structures that are associated with cognitive decline and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to investigate the relationships between different loneliness types, cognitive functioning, and regional brain volumes. Methods Loneliness was measured l...

Intimate relationships have been shown to be loneliness positively related to self-esteem. Happiness and well-being and have also been regarded as a buffer against loneliness. Nevertheless, substantive research indicates that intimate relationships and marriage can produce or result in loneliness and thus seriously affect the person's physical, emo...

Physical child abuse has been practiced since the early days of humanity, but it is only in the past twenty years that it has been recognized that hitting or physically maltreating a child is actually abusing them. This article reviews the prevalence, symptoms, types and causes of child physical abuse, ending with examining what are the ramificatio...

Research in sexuality is relatively new and has faced various obstacles, social frowning, and academic rejection. This paper reviews the early days of sexuality, the church’s negative view of it, and how it progressed to the 21st century. Sex research is then described and the various methodological issues reviewed. In addition, research on sexuali...

COVID-19 is a frightening, stress-inducing, and unchartered territory for all. It is suggested that stress, loneliness, and the emotional toll of the pandemic will result in increased numbers of those who will seek psychological intervention, need support, and guidance on how to cope with a time period that none of us were prepared for. Psychologis...

This article addresses child maltreatment during the period where COVID-19 entered our lives in 2020. Repeated lockdowns kept children at home, away from school, from their support systems, and from their daily routines. Parents have also been plagued by the economic challenges associated with remote living. This not only places additional stress o...

Almost all forms of abuse include child neglect, and still the professional and clinical community is only now starting to focus attention to this phenomenon and its short- and long-term effects. This paper begins with defining child neglect, what causes parents to neglect the children which they are supposed to love and protect, and the protective...

This article addresses child maltreatment during the period where COVID-19 entered our lives in 2020. Repeated lockdowns kept children at home, away from school, from their support systems, and from their routine. Economic difficulties and having to look after the children who were at home were quite onerous on parents. The article explores the rea...

Intimate relationships are not just between lovers, but is also present in parenting as well as the individual’s relationship with the larger family and kin. This article sheds light on those who underwent abuse and have consequently been marked for life and in many areas of their personhood, their ability to relate, and to intimately connect with...

Emotional maltreatment is a form of child abuse that may leave no physical scars, but has deep and long-term consequences. When compared to the effects of physical and sexual abuse, its impact has been historically neglected by researchers, despite its existence in all other forms of maltreatment. Beyond its recipient, the alarming effects of emoti...

Loneliness has been termed a social epidemic, especially when experienced by people with disabilities. In order to better understand how loneliness is experienced in vulnerable populations, the present study compared the qualitative dimensions of loneliness of the blind and visually impaired with the general population not on the frequency or inten...

Loneliness has been termed a social epidemic, especially when experienced by people with sight challenges. The present study compared how the sight challenged and the blind cope with loneliness, compared to the general population groups, amongst a total of 187 participants. The questionnaire which we used, included 34-items to which a yes/no respon...

Reminiscing by older adults can facilitate beneficial outcomes through the preparation for the end of life, the cohesiveness of life narratives, and creation of life meanings. Given this, and the historical challenges of communication between generations, the objective of this study was two-fold: (1) to harness the beneficial role reminiscence can...

This chapter reviews the multitude of sexual dysfunctions that men and women can be faced with. Sexual dysfunction is the umbrella term for the inability, for a variety of reasons, to participate in and enjoy sexual activities. In this chapter we examine the various dysfunctions, their biological, emotional, and psychological origins, and the treat...

Kleinplatz and her research team (Kleinplatz et al., 2009) set out to study what the “sex of our dreams” consists of. They interviewed 67 participants who were in relationships for at least 25 years and identified their sex as “great.” They were aged, on average, 66 years (ranging from 60 to 82), and described various components to their great sexu...

In this chapter we explore sexuality and how it is affected by various medical illnesses and psychological disturbances. We review the physical effects of illnesses on males and females and discuss how sexuality is affected by such emotional conditions as depression and anxiety.

Human sexual response is covered in this chapter, including the male and female genitalia, the biological and psychological influences on our sexual response, theories of sexual response, sexual arousal, and sexual desire.

This chapter reviews the early days of sexuality, the negative connotation that the subject had in the church’s and the public’s eyes, and how it progressed to the 21st century. It then describes progress in conducting sex-related research in North America, and the various methodological issues embedded in doing research on sexuality and alcoholism...

This introductory chapter provides a brief overview of sexuality, its functions—in the animal and the human worlds—and how it is affected by culture, religion, and tradition. The chapter concludes with a review of sexuality in the 21st century, including the positive changes that have occurred as well as the dangers that these changes may pose.

This chapter is about sex offenders, covering the difference between a sexual offense versus a paraphilia, various sex offenses, the public’s view of sexual offending, incarceration, and different treatment approaches for sexual offenders. It ends with a review of studies that focus on treatment efficacy.

This chapter covers the intricate relationship between and influence of sexuality, intimacy, relational dynamics, and love. It describes what enhances satisfactory sexual relationships, what encourages couples to maintain intimacy, and what the concerns and obstacles are in reaching, or keeping, a satisfying intimate and sexual relationship.

Sexual orientation and sexual fluidity are examined in this chapter. The antecedents and the environmental and cultural influences on our sexual orientation are described, along with the difference between sexual orientation, identity, behavior, and preference. The chapter ends with an attempt to provide an answer as to whether changing one’s orien...

This chapter explores what love is, how it is related to intimacy, various definitions of both concepts, love in ancient times, the universality of love, the functions that love serves, romantic passion, and the relation of sexual satisfaction and love.

In this chapter we review some of the sexual behaviors that are not regarded as common or “normal.” By attempting to understand them, we hope to gain a better understanding of behaviors that are normally practiced.

The chapter starts by describing what communication is, how it differs from sexual communication, and how sexual communication affects marital relations. It ends with suggestions to improve sexual communication in order to enhance a couple’s bonding.

Reminiscing by older adults can facilitate beneficial outcomes through the preparation for the end of life, the cohesiveness of life narratives, and the creation of life meanings. Given this, and the historical challenges of communication between generations, the objective of this study was two-fold: (1) to harness the beneficial role reminiscence...

This brief review of medical child abuse and treatment approaches is meant to highlight a problem which gains in frequency lately. That of a parent, usually, who is expected to love and care for the child actually harming that child in ways that may result in many medical examinations, painful invasive procedures, and even unnecessary surgeries.

This article provides a narrative review on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) through a psychosocial lens and examines how this impairment affects its sufferers during adolescence and adulthood, as well as how it impacts family caregivers and healthcare professionals' mental health. Since there has been a lack of investiga...

This review highlights the relationship between sexuality and Internet use, the various ways in which the Internet includes and enhances sexuality, how it affects sexual behaviors and attitudes, and the important role it has in peoples’ sexual behavior, education, interaction, and satisfaction. This article also presents the ‘two faces’ of the Inte...

This brief review of medical child abuse and treatment approaches is meant to highlight a problem which gains in frequency lately. That of a parent, usually, who is expected to love and care for the child actually harming that child in ways that may result in many medical examinations, painful invasive procedures, and even unnecessary surgeries.

In order to become a full-fledged psychologist, one must undertake a long, demanding, and quite difficult journey in academia. The academic journey holds a promise of delivering knowledge, interesting theories, and strategies on helping those who need psychological assessment and/or treatment. However, the constant expectation of keeping up with th...

This article reviews the connection between intimate relationships, which provide support, safety and belonging, and illness in general, and particularly, coronary heart disease which is on the rise. Personal and environmental contributors to CHD are reviewed, and the strong connection between intimacy, or lack of, and health are highlighted.

This review explored the experience of hospitalization and the experience of cancer patients who were undergoing Ear Nose and Throat [ENT] surgery. Hospitals, which were designed with treatment and healing in mind, are known to be the source of uncontrollable noise, physicians who talk in a language that patients do not understand. Entering the hos...

There are three universal experiences that we cannot escape: loneliness, illness, and death. The Psychological Journey To and From Loneliness addresses what was termed the plague of the 21st century--loneliness. Loneliness is stigmatized in our society, so untold number of people walk around lonely, unable to do what is so naturally called for--mak...

The present study examined the experience of loneliness and the ways of coping with its pain as utilized by people with chronic pain and caregivers. Specifically, a large sample (N = 827) recruited in two major pain clinics in Israel, completed the Loneliness and the Coping with loneliness questionnaires. Results indicated that patients had higher...