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This study tested the hypothesis that positive expectancies (i.e., the belief that gaming will be rewarding) and avoidance expectancies (i.e., the belief that gaming will relieve stress) would mediate the impact of peer social influence on problematic internet gaming behavior. Internet game players (n = 120) accessed the link to the study through the psychology department research pool website as well as through Reddit gaming threads. After providing informed consent and demographic information, participants completed the remaining measures in a randomized order. Social influence was measured using the Peer Influence for Internet Gaming Addiction (IGA) scale which assessed approval of gaming, perceived frequency of gaming, and invitations to play. The Game-Use Expectancies scale assessed positive and avoidance expectancies of online gaming. Problematic internet gaming behavior was assessed using the Internet Gaming Disorder Test-20 (IGDT). Participants played internet games at least once per week and had an average IGDT score of 43.1 (SD = 10.42; Median = 44) with scores ranging from 21 to 68. None of our participants met criteria for IGD. Mediation was tested using Hayes (2022) PROCESS Macro model 4. Stronger peer influence and stronger expectations of relief (i.e., avoidance expectancies) were associated with higher IGDT scores. Moreover, stronger peer influence was associated with more positive outcome expectancies. Neither positive nor avoidance expectancies mediated the association between peer influence and IGDT score. Our results indicate that avoidance, as opposed to positive, expectancies are important predictors of problematic internet gaming behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have assessed whether women and infants in rural and peri‐urban communities in South Asia experience seasonal fluctuations in nutritional status; however, a handful of studies have documented seasonal variability in risk factors for undernutrition including food availability, physical activity and infections. We used data from the Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) registry, a population‐based pregnancy and birth registry in Eastern Maharashtra, India, to analyse seasonal trends in birthweight and maternal nutritional status—body mass index (BMI) and haemoglobin—in the first trimester of pregnancy. We plotted monthly and seasonal trends in birthweight, and maternal BMI and haemoglobin, and used multivariable regression models to identify seasonal and maternal characteristics that predicted each outcome. Between October 2014 and January 2018, MNH included 29,253 livebirths with recorded birthweight. BMI was assessed in 15,252 women less than 12 weeks of gestation and haemoglobin in 18,278 women less than 13 weeks of gestation. Maternal characteristics (age, education, parity and height) were significantly associated with nutritional status; however, there were minimal seasonal fluctuations in birthweight or maternal nutrition. There were significant secular trends in maternal haemoglobin; between 2014 and 2018, the prevalence of maternal anaemia decreased from 91% to 79% and moderate or severe anaemia from 53% to 37%. The prevalence of maternal underweight (45.3%) and overweight (9.8%) and low birthweight (19.1%) remained relatively constant over the study period. Our findings highlight that in some rural and peri‐urban areas in South Asia, tackling systemic drivers of malnutrition may be more effective than targeted interventions based on season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research on health professional's attitudes toward medical marijuana have failed to include addictions treatment professionals. The current study attempted to address this gap in the literature. Methods: Study participants were recruited by e-mail using mailing lists supplied by multiple state licensing/certification boards and through snowball sampling. Participants completed a 22-item survey addressing attitudes toward medical and recreational marijuana. The 13 items relating to medical marijuana were analyzed. Results: Our sample (N = 966) was largely female (69.1%) with a Masters' or Doctoral degree (80%) and a mean age of 46.5 (SD = 12.8). Participants were mostly split between the mid-west and east coast. Overall, participants held mixed views toward medical marijuana. For example, 71.3% of the sample supported legalization of marijuana for medical purposes and yet 63.6% believed that medical marijuana is often abused. Conclusions: More research is needed to develop a more nuanced understanding of substance use treatment provider's mixed attitudes toward medical marijuana legalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Research has shown that alcohol outcome expectancies are predictive of heavy alcohol consumption, which can lead to risky behavior. The purpose of the present study was to assess the incidence of various low-risk social behaviors while drinking among college students. Such social behaviors may later be regretted (referred to as regrettable social behaviors) and include electronic and in-person communications. Methods: College students (N = 236) completed measures of alcohol outcome expectancies and regrettable social behaviors. Results: Regrettable social behaviors were reported by 66.1% of participants, suggesting that they may occur at a much higher rate than more serious drinking-related consequences (e.g. drinking and driving, violence, etc.). Expectancies for social facilitation predicted regrettable social behavior. Further, this relationship was mediated by amount of alcohol consumed. Conclusion: Given the high incidence, regrettable social behaviors may be effective targets in alcohol prevention programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aims To determine whether collaborative behavioral management (CBM) reduces substance use, crime and re-arrest among drug-involved parolees. Design Step'n Out was a randomized behavioral trial of CBM versus standard parole (SP) during 2004-08. CBM adapted evidence-based role induction, behavioral contracting and contingent reinforcement to provide parole officer/treatment counselor dyads with positive tools in addition to sanctions to manage parolees' behavior over 12 weeks. Setting Six parole offices in five states in the USA. Participants Parolee volunteers with a mandate for addiction treatment and a minimum of 3 months of parole ( n = 476). Follow-up was 94% at 3 months and 86% at 9 months. Measurements Drug use and crime in a given month from calendar interviews 3 and 9 months after parole initiation, and re-arrests from criminal justice administrative data. Findings The CBM group had fewer months in which they used their primary drug [adjusted risk ratio (ARR) 0.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05, 0.78, P = 0.02] and alcohol (ARR 0.38, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.66, P = 0.006) over follow-up. CBM had its greatest effects among parolees who reported marijuana or another 'non-hard' drug as their primary drug; parolees who preferred stimulants or opiates did not benefit. No differences were seen in total crime, re-arrests or parole revocations. Conclusions Collaborative behavioral management may reduce substance use among primary marijuana or other 'non-hard' drug-using parolees without increasing revocations. Because the majority of drug violation arrests in the United States are for marijuana, these findings have important implications for the management of a substantial proportion of the US community correctional population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]