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The present study focused on the roles of self-forgiveness and feeling divine forgiveness in mitigating the adverse effects of stress on substance use cravings in Trinidad and Tobago. We assessed 869 individuals (62 percent of whom were women) through self-report online questionnaires. A moderation analysis using the PROCESS macro and a bootstrapping strategy (N = 5000) revealed that greater levels of self-forgiveness weakened the positive relationship between stress and substance use cravings, though the relationship remained significant. This moderating effect was evident only when individuals reported high levels of feeling divine forgiveness. The findings suggest that both forms of forgiveness lessen the impact of stress on substance use cravings, highlighting their potential as protective factors and underscoring the importance of incorporating religious and spiritual dimensions into psychological education and intervention. However, the study's cross-sectional nature makes it difficult to make causal inferences, indicating a need for longitudinal research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic its negative effects have been highlighted globally. There is little literature that examines the positive impact on daily living. To examine the positive influences of government-imposed COVID-19 public health restrictions on adults throughout Trinidad and Tobago (TT) and their associated factors. A cross-sectional study, using an adapted pretested online survey instrument, was conducted amongst non-institutionalised, community-dwelling adults using convenience sampling. Of 1287 completed and weighted responses, the mean age (S.D.) was 39.2 (14.6) years, 49% were males, and 61% completed secondary level education. The top 5 positive experiences were more time spent with family (80%), more down-time (78%), learning new skills (68%), more time for hobbies (66%), self-care (57%), more time spent with friends (55%) and eating healthier (50%). The importance of religion, working from home, and an increase in marijuana use emerged as positive correlates for certain positive experiences, while participants with chronic illness, and a positive anxiety or depression screen, were negatively associated with most positive experiences. Despite the negative consequences of the COVID19 pandemic, several positives were highlighted in this study. These findings have implications for social policies toward building resilience within the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of HIV infection in the Caribbean is estimated at 2.4%, second only to sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS/WHO, 2002). While incidence rates in North America and Latin America have either [...], In the Caribbean AIDS has become the leading cause of death among those aged 15-45. The homeless are at high risk due to the nexus of mobility, psychiatric disorders and substance use, particularly crack. Seventy-four homeless, out-of-treatment drug users were recruited in Saint Lucia and Trinidad to assess risk behaviour and healthcare needs. Information was collected in several domains: medical, mental health, substance use, sexual risk, and barriers to care. Ninety-five percent of the sample reported crack cocaine use within the previous 30 days. Approximately 35% of the sample had ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease and 25% of the sample reported being HIV+. Approximately 40% had a history of trading sex for crack or money. Due to the range of needs in this population, interventions should be multimodal. A focus on the individual, community, and structural levels' is warranted to improve chances of program effectiveness. Key Words: Caribbean, Homeless, Substance Abuse, Crack Cocaine, HIV.

This article contributes to the still limited analysis of gender and sexuality in the exploration of HIV infection in the Caribbean. In Trinidad and Tobago, child sexual abuse was identified as a prevalent behavior. This motivated a gendered exploration of the sociocultural factors underlying child sexual abuse and the link with HIV. Using a qualitative action research methodology, researchers sought to understand the patterns of behavior, sociocultural and gendered meanings, and significance of child sexual abuse; to sensitize stakeholders to these issues; and to develop multidisciplinary community-based interventions and policies. This article reports on the analysis of data collected from the interventions carried out as part of the action research methodology, as well as a range of national and community-specific action research activities including ethnographic case studies, national stakeholders meetings, and a study of service providers. It provides a nuanced understanding of the meanings, underlying assumptions, perceptions, and taboos associated with child sexual abuse in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as new ways of understanding child sexual abuse in the Caribbean. Findings showed that the social and gender context for child sexual abuse involves several interconnecting factors located within a framework of gender ideologies and expressions, sexual expectations and behaviors, and social norms based on patriarchal values. These findings would be of significance for the prevention of child sexual abuse and the associated HIV risk in Trinidad and Tobago, and the management of victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Female crack cocaine users are at high risk for HIV infection. Data from 121 female substance abusers admitted to an all-female rehabilitation center in Trinidad and Tobago between 1996 and 2002 were reviewed retrospectively to determine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence and associated risk factors. HIV seroprevalence was 19.8%, which is six times higher than in the general population. The univariate analysis identified the following factors associated with HIV infection: poor educational attainment, history of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and use of crack cocaine. In the multivariate analysis, only poor educational attainment and history of an STI were independently associated with HIV seroprevalence. Female substance abusers, especially female crack cocaine users, are at high risk of acquiring and transmitting the HIV virus. To reduce risk of HIV infection, rehabilitation programs should address risky sexual behaviors and screen for STIs, and they also should improve educational attainment, develop skills, and provide vocational training. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Religiousness has been consistently linked to positive health outcomes and flourishing, yet the underlying mechanisms are complex and not well-understood. The forgiveness and relational spirituality model offers a framework to explore the moderated mediation among religious commitment, health, and forgiveness by God. Understanding these relationships among university students and community residents in Trinidad and Tobago can provide valuable insights into the role of religiousness in promoting wellbeing., Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 254 religious Afro-Trinidadians aged 18-78 from Trinidad and Tobago. Participants completed measures assessing religious commitment, proneness to guilt/shame, forgiveness by God, and health outcomes. Modeling using 5,000 bootstrap confidence intervals was used to analyze the hypothesized associations among variables., Results: A significant positive relationship between religious commitment and health encompassed both physical and mental aspects. Feeling forgiven by God mediated the link between religious commitment and health outcomes ( B = 0.019; SE = 0.007; 95% CI = 0.007, 0.034; R 2 = 0.12). Proneness to guilt or shame moderated the association between religious commitment and forgiveness by God. This relationship was significant primarily among individuals with high levels of proneness to guilt ( B = 0.075, SE = 0.019, p < 0.001) and shame ( B = 0.074, SE = 0.018, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of religiousness in promoting human flourishing among Afro-Trinidadians residing in Trinidad and Tobago. Religious commitment and forgiveness by God were effective resilience resources that contributed to positive health outcomes. However, the nuanced role of proneness to guilt or shame underscores the need for a deeper understanding of individual differences in emotional responses within religious contexts. Future longitudinal research is warranted to elucidate the dynamic nature of these relationships and inform targeted interventions aimed at enhancing wellbeing in religious communities., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Skalski-Bednarz, Toussaint, Webb, Wilson, Worthington, Williams, Reid and Surzykiewicz.)

The HIV epidemic in Trinidad and Tobago is primarily heterosexual, fueled by a high level of risky sex, gender inequality, and alcohol and drug use; however, the influence of alcohol and drugs has been neglected in the literature. Research shows that current HIV prevention approaches have failed to substantially impact sexual behavior change. This may be so because they do not incorporate a comprehensive understanding of the sociocultural factors underlying sexual behavior. There is an urgent need to understand how socially accepted patterns of alcohol and drug use contribute to sexual behaviors and HIV risk in Trinidad and Tobago. Moreover, specialized, evidence-based interventions are needed for HIV-infected substance abusers. Using an adaptation of the cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) protocol, this intervention project aimed to assess effectiveness in reducing relapse and risky behaviors among recovering HIV-infected substance abusers in Trinidad and Tobago.