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Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) techniques are used to evaluate the fit of a seven-dimensional concept mapping-based model of key dimensions of faith-based substance abuse treatment, using data from 310 staff and clients of 12 faith-based Teen Challenge programs. The initial seven-dimensional model fit poorly (fit indices of .62-.64), though, after trimming items with low loadings or redundant item content, model fit was increased substantially (fit indices of .87-.89). Overall, the current analyses provide preliminary support for the meaningfulness of the seven-dimensional model of faith-based treatment programs, despite different statistical approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of the 2002 U.S. National Health and Examination Survey (1,490 adults) examined relationships between alcohol frequency, quantity, and total weekly consumption and preventive and emergency dental service use during the past 12 months. Logistic regression analyses indicated a significant, small percentage of variance in dental service use explained by alcohol use (1%), controlling for predisposing (19%), enabling (18%), or need (4%) covariates. Preventive and emergency service use were associated with higher frequency drinking, but lower total consumption (significant only for preventive services). Limitations and implications for brief alcohol interventions in dental practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increasing attention directed to conceptual and methodological issues surrounding spirituality and despite the centrality of "spiritual transformation" in the recovery literature, there is little systematic evidence to support the role of spiritual change as a necessary condition for substance abuse behavior change. As an explicit conceptualization of mechanisms underlying behavior change is fundamental to effective interventions, this article: 1) briefly reviews relevant behavior change theories to identify key variables underlying change; 2) presents an integrative conceptual framework articulating linkages between program components, behavior change processes, spiritual change mechanisms and substance abuse outcomes; and 3) presents a discussion of how the mechanisms identified in our model can be seen in commonly used substance abuse interventions. Overall, we argue that spiritual transformation at an individual level takes place in a social context involving peer influence, role modeling, and social reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on spiritual mechanisms underlying substance abuse behavior change in faith-based substance abuse treatment. Several definitions of faith-based organizations are being discussed. An integrative conceptual framework articulating connections between spiritual intervention components, behavior change processes and substance abuse outcomes is presented. Faith-based substance abuse treatment programs concerns the distinction between religion and spirituality. The article states that the ecological perspective and the model of social work practice provide for the incorporation of the element of personal spirituality, and therefore spiritual change, in viewing any individual presenting for services. A number of human and social service organizations have been addressed by faith-based programs. It has been found that religious or spiritual involvement may serve as a protective factor against the development of substance abuse problems. During substance abuse treatment some spiritual changes occur and substance abuse interventions may be effective for those for whom religion or spirituality is salient.

In order to examine the relative importance of general individual orientations (mastery and self-esteem) and specific coping styles with regard to psychological distress among women with HIV, data are examined from a pilot study involving in-depth face-to-face interviews with 32 HIV+ Latinas receiving care at 4 clinics serving the South Texas population. Interviews were conducted to provide preliminary psychometric information on coping and distress instruments in this predominantly Mexican American population as well as to examine psychosocial factors related to individual adjustment to HIV among Latina females. Refusal rates were low in this study (approximately 10%) and measurement instruments generally had acceptable internal consistency reliability. Results of exploratory multiple regression analyses suggest that self-esteem and mastery may be more salient predictors of depression and anxiety symptoms than are specific coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

gesting interventions should emphasize individual risk perceptions and alcohol expectancies. Understanding these relationships between race/ethnicity and HIV risk behaviors may help design culturally specific intervention and service programs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The predictive validity of a treatment readiness measure designed for out-of-treatment drug users, tapping dimensions of perceived problem severity, perceived need for formal treatment, motivation for treatment, and negative attitudes toward treatment is examined using data from a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded HIV outreach intervention in San Antonio, Texas. Logistic regression is used to predict use of substance abuse treatment services three months after program intake on the basis of readiness scores, controlling for demographic and drug history variables. Analyses of data from 673 drug users in an HIV outreach intervention indicated that treatment readiness dimensions accounted for a 12% increase in variation in "use of any modality" and 14% for "use or attempted service use". Only Motivation to Quit was a significant predictor of "use of any modality" and both Perceived Need for Treatment and Motivation to Quit were significant predictors of "use or attempted use". Findings support the importance of the individual's perception of "readiness" to change their substance-abusing behavior and enter treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates a causal model of the Health Belief Model in HIV infections. Emphasis on possible indirect paths linking distal demographic susceptibility variables to HIV infections; Ethnic comparison of the data; Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS.

Background: Although great emphasis has been placed on educating the public regarding HIV and sexually trasmitted disease (STD)prevention, equally important is provider education, as primary care and other health care practitioners have considerable potential for patienteducation.Recentreviews ofthe continuing medical education (CME) literature 1,2 have proposed the need for innovative educational approaches, suggesting limited support for the effectiveness of traditional didactic 1-day or shorter conferences that do not specifically involve enabling or reinforcing approaches such as role modeling, rehearsal, and case discussion. 2 Purposes: To examine short-term (2-month)and long-term (12-month)effects of the interventions with regard to STD knowledge, attitudes toward STD/HIV risk assessment,and frequencyofboth STDdiagnosis and STDpatienteducation and counseling. Methods: Pre- and postintervention (2-month and 12-month)data were obtained from a CME conference (n = 32) and 3 Clinic Workshop interventions (n = 93) held in South Texas. Results: Consistentpre-postgains in outcome measures were found in both CMEand CWmodels and among both STD practitioners and nonpractitioners among participants with lower initial knowledge or practice levels. Analyses did not support the posited facilitative effect of having multiple staff members from specific clinics in the CWcondition. Conclusions: For both models,significantgains frombaseline were found among those with initially lower knowledge/practice levels for knowledge and attitude dimensions, with the largest gains observed for patient education/counseling frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure of the labeling perspective to account for informal reaction processes is noted. Viewing informal labeling in terms of emergence and the documentary method, definitional processes are divided into two categories: (1) intra-situational definitions concerning the practical problems of negotiating an interactional encounter, and (2) frans-situational definitions in which the actor is evaluated in terms of cultural knowledge and prior experience. A repeated measures experimental study is discussed which indicates that intra-situational and trans-situational definitions are differentially responsive to variations over time in the typicality of an actor's behavior. Implications for the concept of "aligning actions" are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the role of marital transition among Anglo, African American and Mexican American adult regular drinkers with regard to the number of reported sex partners over a 12-month period. Background information on HIV risk behaviors and marital disruption; How the study was conducted; Results and discussion.

Marital status differences in depressive symptoms are examined in a random sample of 559 Anglos, 403 Blacks, and 822 Mexican American adults. Findings were generally consistent with a "crisis" model, with highest levels of depression observed among the separated, with lower distress levels among the divorced, although, marital differences remained significant after controls only among Anglo males. Differences were negligible among Blacks and Mexican Americans and lower levels of distress were found among never married than married Black females. Further analyses indicated that observed racial/ethnic differences can be partially explained by differences between groups in length of time since separation/divorce and likelihood of previous marriage, though significantly higher levels of depression and marital strain among married Black females relative to Anglo and Mexican American females-even among those in their first marriage-suggests differences between groups in the relative rewards or costs of marriage. These preliminary analyses underscore the need to examine alternative explanations of racial/ethnic and marital status differences in distress in a larger, prospective data base. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, we examine ethnic differences in divorce likelihood for a sample of 900 divorce petitions filed in San Antonio, Texas, during 1985. The present study explores ethnic differences in the nature of the divorce process and examines the extent to which observed ethnic differences in divorce likelihood are accounted for by differences between groups in dimensions such as socioeconomic status, marital history, and nature of complaints. Divorce likelihood is viewed from the perspective of Levinger's (1965) exchange model of marital instability, as recently applied to the phenomenon of divorce petition withdrawal by Kitson et al. (1983). Observed differences between Spanish surname and non-Spanish surname petitions in divorce likelihood and divorce delay are largely explained by controls for background and exchange model variables. Significant interaction effects with ethnicity suggest the complexity of the divorce process. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]