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Author(s): Mehmet Çakici [sup.1] , Gizem Yesil Dirisu [sup.1] , Meryem Karaaziz [sup.1] , Ayse Buran [sup.1] , Ebru Çakici [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Arts and Science Faculty, Department of [...], This study aimed to analyze the prevalence, risk factors and relation to the acculturation of psychoactive substance abuse in adults living in North Cyprus (NC). Method: Data was collected from 1064 people who were living in NC using multiple stepped stratified random sampling method between April-May 2018. Socio-demographic information form, Model Europe Survey and Acculturation Attitudes Scale were used as study instruments. 2018 data were compared with 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015 and 2017 studies in which the same survey and method were used. Results: Five hundred and forty five participants were male and 519 female. Also, 33.6% of the participants were between the ages of 18-29, 58% of participants were born in Cyprus, 38.2% were university graduate or above and 48.2% of the participants were living with their spouses. According to the study, the prevalence of cigarette usage at least once in a lifetime was 64.9%, alcohol 74.5%, other psychoactive substance (OPS) 11.4% and illicit substance (IS) 9.0%. Being under 25 years of age, Turkey-born, not religious, using alcohol and cigarettes and experiencing drunkenness constituted the risk factors of IS users. Marginalization scores were lower both for drug users born in Turkey and NC. Discussion: It was observed that both OPS and IS usage have increased in the last 15 years. Cannabis, synthetic cannabinoid and ecstasy are more widely used. It was also observed that OPS is more used among those who cannot create a marginal response to acculturation stress. In prevention programs and treatments, sociocultural characteristics should be considered.

This study explored the relationship between acculturation stress and depression among first-year Chinese and Indian international graduate students enrolled at a large Southeast university in the United States (US). It examined the role that social support plays in that relationship and identified changes in depression levels over one academic year. Data were collected through an online survey which consisted of demographic and psychosocial measures of acculturation stress, depression, and perceived social support. Fifty-five students completed the survey and met inclusion criteria. A hierarchal regression analysis revealed that acculturation stress was a significant predictor of depression among participants at the beginning of the academic year, and the relationship between acculturation stress and depression did not differ by the availability of social support. A general linear mixed model was used to identify changes in depression levels. The analysis showed that changes were not statistically significant. Practical implications were elucidated for university services and programs. Keywords: Asian international students, collectivist cultures, acculturation stress, social support, depression, Problem Statement During the 2018-2019 academic year, well over a million international students enrolled in U.S. universities and colleges, with more than half coming from China, India, and South Korea [...]