Search

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the Multi-Component Positive Psychology Intervention (MPPI) on adolescents’ risky behaviors and psychological flexibility. The study utilized a convergent parallel design, a mixed-method research design. While the quantitative phase included a 2 × 3 factorial design, the qualitative phase included a descriptive phenomenology approach. The study group consisted of 26 adolescents (experimental group = 13, control group = 13) selected using the simultaneous/nested sampling method (Ranjage=14–17, Mage=15.35, SDage=1.09). While the adolescents in the experimental group received a ten-week MPPI program online, the adolescents in the control group were administered no interventions. Quantitative data were collected through the Risky Behavior Scale and the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory-Short Form. Qualitative data were collected through individual interviews conducted with the adolescents after the experimental procedure. The quantitative results showed that MPPI enabled a significant decrease in adolescents’ antisocial behaviors, suicide tendency, risky behaviors total and psychological inflexibility scores and an increase in their psychological flexibility scores. This effect was found to continue in the follow-up measurements taken three months later. On the other hand, MPPI was found to have no significant effects on reducing adolescents’ alcohol use, smoking, nutrition habits, and school dropout scores. Qualitative findings indicated the positive effects of MPPI on decreasing adolescents’ risky behaviors and increasing their psychological flexibility levels. Findings from quantitative and qualitative data assessing the effectiveness of MPPI were found to support each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Driving adolescents to more correct food habits and physical activity is crucial to promoting health and avoiding the increase in morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Literature has focused on these behaviors in the adult population, while studies on adolescents are more limited. This study aims to explore the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding nutrition and physical activity to acquire insight into adolescents and identify the associated predictors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years from public middle and high schools randomly selected in the Campania Region, Southern Italy. A self-administered questionnaire, including closed and open-ended questions, assessed socio-demographic and health-related characteristics, dietary habits, physical activity, and sources of health information. Results: Regarding socio-demographic and health-related characteristics, among 1433 adolescents who completed the survey, the mean age was 15.2 years, 50.5% were boys, 16.8% reported having a non-communicable disease, and 18% were overweight or obese. Multivariate analysis showed that older age, male gender, daily breakfast with at least one parent, higher self-rated knowledge on nutrition, awareness of fruit and vegetables consumption recommendations, correct dietary attitudes (daily breakfast, consumption of fruit and vegetables at least once a day, of legumes at least twice a week, and of carbonated sugary drinks less than once a day), the need for additional dietary information, meeting WHO physical activity recommendations, and less than two hours of daily screen time are determinants of a high quality diet score. Conversely, living with a single family member and current smoking were negatively associated with high quality diet. Older age, male gender, risk of alcohol abuse, higher quality diet, and lower mobile phone use are associated with meeting WHO physical activity recommendations. Since we investigated risky behaviors, potential limitations of this study could include social desirability and recall bias. Conclusions: Many adolescents lead unhealthy lifestyles, but younger adolescents and girls appear to be at higher risk of unhealthy behaviors. Targeted initiatives promoting regular physical activity and balanced diets in schools, involving parents and teachers in a collaborative plan, are essential to improving adolescents' health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractResearch shows that risky behavior peaks in young adulthood, endangering young adult’s mental health and making it difficult for them to grow up to be responsible members of society. As a result, this study aimed to adapt the Risk Behavior Scale into Amharic and examine the relationships between risky behaviors, loneliness, and coping self-efficacy. A cross-sectional research design was used and convenience sampling was employed to gather data from a total of 242 Ethiopian university students. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was carried out to test the factor structures of the Risky Behaviors Scale. The CFA results validated the scale’s four-factor structures (χ2 = 435, df = 183, (p < .001), CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.08, and SRMR =0.05). This would make it possible for mental health experts to research the psychological impacts of risky behaviors (alcohol use, suicidality, drug use, and khat use) in Ethiopian young adults. The findings of hierarchical regression analysis revealed that male gender and loneliness were predictors of risky behavior. This research holds significant implications for interventions that attempt to reduce loneliness in young adults to alter their vulnerabilities to risky behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of group emotion regulation training based on Gross's model in reducing depression and risky behaviors in adolescents. Methods and Materials: This semi-experimental research employed a pre-test--post-test control group design with a follow-up period. The research population consisted of depressed adolescent girls who referred to private counseling and psychological services centers in Isfahan in 2022. From this population, 30 individuals were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The subjects responded to the Beck Depression Inventory (1996) and the Risky Behaviors Questionnaire by Rajabi and Shafi'i (2011) during the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages. The experimental group received 8 sessions of 60-minute emotion regulation training based on Gross's model, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance with SPSS22 software. Findings: According to the results, the within-group variable had a significant effect on depression and risky behaviors (addiction and substance abuse, risky sexual behaviors, smoking, violence, alcohol consumption, and unhealthy eating patterns) (p ≤ 0.001). This means there was a significant difference in depression and risky behaviors scores and their dimensions between the groups in the post-test and follow-up compared to the pre-test. The between-group intervention variable also had a significant effect on reducing depression and risky behaviors and their dimensions (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Based on these findings, it is recommended that specialists use group emotion regulation training to reduce depression and risky behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family is the most important and fundamental social institution, and all humans belong to it until the end of their lives. This research was conducted with the aim of predicting high-risk behaviors in teenagers based on family functioning and cohesion. The research method was descriptive (non-experimental) of the correlation type and used the statistical method of regression analysis. The research sample included 360 male students in schools in Isfahan province, who were selected by a multi-stage cluster method and completed questionnaires on family cohesion, family functioning, and risky behaviors. SPSS tool was used for data analysis. The research findings showed that family functioning and family cohesion can predict high-risk behaviors in adolescents. According to these explanations, the family function variable explained 16.8 of the changes in high-risk behaviors. The family cohesion variable also explained 19.8 of the changes in high-risk behaviors. Because adolescence is a critical period of life, the function and cohesion of the family can be fruitful in the formation of personality and behavioral patterns. Therefore, the family's communication patterns will play a significant role in the emergence of high-risk behaviors among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined ecstasy past-year use among 7th–12th grade students (N = 38,753) in Greater Cincinnati schools. The PRIDE National Drug Use survey for grades 7–12 was administered to youth in their school classrooms. Results indicated that male students, 9th–12th grade students, non-Caucasian students, and employed students were at highest risk for ecstasy use. In addition, students with low involvement in protective factors (participation in community activities, school activities and clubs, sports, faith-based institutions, and getting good grades), parent factors, teacher factors and school factors, and high involvement in risk factors (taking part in gang activity, friend's use of drugs, access to substances, and getting into trouble at school or with the law) were more likely to use this substance. These findings should be considered when developing programs to prevent ecstasy use among youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of non-partner sexual violence among college students is a pressing concern that demands urgent attention. Although an integral part of the education system, international college students are often underrepresented in various studies. This calls attention to understanding the cultural nuances and multiple factors affecting this population. The current research delves into the experiences of sexual abuse among international students within the last 12 months, focusing specifically on incidents where sexual penetration or unwanted sexual touching occurred without consent. The study sheds light on the frequency and demographics associated with these distressing incidents using data from a large-scale survey conducted over the past year, encompassing a sample size of 13,242 international student respondents. Results reveal alarming statistics, with a substantial proportion of international students reporting experiences of non-partner sexual violence. Specifically, 4.8% of participants reported being sexually touched without consent, 1.9% reported attempted sexual penetration without consent, and 1.6% reported actual sexual penetration or being made to penetrate someone without consent. Moreover, the analysis indicates significant associations between experiences of sexual abuse and key demographic variables such as gender, relationship status, and number of sexual partners. Further exploration through univariate regression unveils compelling insights into the intersectionality of sexual violence, highlighting disparities based on biological sex, relationship status, and number of sexual partners among international students. The present study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive prevention and intervention strategies to address the pervasive issue of non-partner sexual violence among international college students. By understanding the dynamics of these incidents and their correlates, institutions can tailor support services, advocacy efforts, and educational initiatives to create safer and more inclusive environments for all international students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pedestrian behavior at five signalized crosswalks in Kielce, was analyzed in this study with a particular focus on the increasing use of mobile phones and other electronic devices while crossing the street. Compared to previous ITS studies, which showed that 7% of pedestrians used phones, the current study reveals a significant increase in this phenomenon, with percentages ranging from 14 to 60%. The highest levels of phone usage and risky behaviors were observed at the intersection of Aleja Solidarnosci and Swietokrzyska Street. The results also indicate a decrease in the number of cases of crossing on a red light but an increase in the number of pedestrians crossing during the flashing green signal. The study results point to the need for targeted educational campaigns and the adaptation of infrastructure to address the new challenges associated with mobile device use by pedestrians.

Introduction: This observational study investigated the effects of sleep deprivation and ad libitum caffeine consumption on cognitive performance, risk behavior, and mood among 28 Israeli Special Forces (SF) soldiers (mean age: 20.57 ± 0.92 years) during a 96-hour combat exercise. Methods: Actigraphy was used to monitor sleep and activity; cognitive function, risk-taking propensity, mood states, and self-reported sleepiness were assessed using the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), Evaluation of Risks Scale (EVAR), Profile of Mood States (POMS), Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS); and caffeine consumption by questionnaire at 0, 50, and 96 hours. For analyses, participants were divided into Low (<400mg) and High (=400mg) caffeine consumption groups. Results: The soldiers hiked 108.5 ± 0.52 km and slept for 12.7 ± 0.5 h, with a notable transition from multiple short sleep epochs in the initial 50 hours to a consolidated 5-hour sleep period subsequently. In the High caffeine group, PVT reaction time was faster (p = 0.024) compared to the Low caffeine group, with fewer premature response errors (p = 0.026). However, this group showed increased risk-taking (p = 0.037), particularly reduced Self-Control (p = 0.010). No significant impact of ad libitum caffeine intake on mood was observed. However, degradation over the course of the exercise in both groups in mood states, including anger, fatigue, tension, and vigor, was noted (p < 0.05). KSS scores increased significantly at 50 and 96 h (p < 0.001). Discussion: These results suggest that while caffeine enhances cognitive function, its ad libitum consumption did not consistently improve these measures in this cohort of SF soldiers. The study highlights the complex relationship between sleep deprivation and caffeine intake and their combined effects on soldiers' cognitive and behavioral functions, indicating a need for evidence-based caffeine use guidelines for using caffeine in military settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction group training on high-risk behaviors and resilience of students with experience of injury in Raz and Jarglan cities. Method: The current research is semi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the research is all secondary school students in Raz and Jorglan cities. The research sample included 40 students who were selected from among the students with a history of self-harm using a purposive sampling method and randomly replaced in two experimental and control groups. After that, the experimental group was taught mindfulness skills once a week for an hour and a half and in total 10 sessions. Research data was collected through the Conner and Davidson’s resilience scale (2003) as well as the risk of Iranian adolescents using Zadeh Mohammadi and Ahmad Abadi’s (2008) scale. After the last training session was completed, the same post -test conditions were implemented at the same time for the two groups of experimental and control. And the data obtained was analyzed via multi -variable analysis (MANCOVA). Findings: The obtained results confirm the effect of mindfulness training on increasing resilience and reducing risky behaviors and its components in the experimental group. Discussion: It can be said that managers are like parents in the family, and their personality, behavior and performance can play a significant role in the productivity of employees, therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the personality and behavioral characteristics of people in choosing management positions in organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head injuries resulting from e-scooter use have led to calls for helmet use to be promoted or mandatory. Helmet use is mandatory for e-scooters in Australia but observational studies have reported significant levels of nonuse, particularly by riders of shared e-scooters. The aim of this study is to understand whether nonuse in the mandatory context is a consistent behavior for an individual or is situationally-influenced, and what are the factors associated with nonuse. An online survey was completed between 2022 and 2023 by 360 adult e-scooter riders in Canberra, Australia. Riders were asked whether they had worn a helmet on their last ride and how often they had not worn a helmet when riding in the last 30 days. The survey also asked about rider characteristics (demographics, frequency of e-scooter and bicycle use, perceived risk of e-scooter use, e-scooter ownership, and risky behaviors while riding), trip duration and perceptions of the helmet requirement (knowledge of and support for the law). Respondents were mostly male, young, highly educated, and full-time workers. Of the 29.1% of riders who reported riding without a helmet in the last 30 days, 24.4% had worn a helmet at least once during that period and 4.8% had consistently not worn a helmet. Younger age, shared e-scooter use and more frequent riding frequency (shared e-scooters only) were associated with helmet nonuse in the bivariate analyses but not in the logistic regression. Logistic regression showed that the independent predictors of helmet nonuse were the number of risky riding behaviors, lack of knowledge, and lack of support for the law. Most nonuse of helmets in a mandatory context seems to be situational, rather than consistent. Many of the factors associated with nonuse of helmets for e-scooters are similar to those reported for bicycles. Nonuse of helmets appears to be one of a number of risky behaviors performed by riders, rather than being primarily an outcome that is specific to factors associated with helmets (e.g., concerns about hygiene, discomfort or availability). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and poor health outcomes is well-established in high-income countries. However, the evidence is limited for the association of ACEs, mental health, and risky behaviors for low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, studies often overlook prescription drug misuse and risky driving when examining the association of ACEs with risky behaviors. In our study, we examined the associations between ACEs, suicidal ideation, and risky behaviors (binge drinking, prescription drug misuse, and risky driving) among Brazilian college students. Methods: Participants consisted of a convenience sample of students recruited from undergraduate courses primarily in two states in Southern Brazil (93%). Data were collected via an online survey between December 2020 and August 2021. The analytical sample comprised 503 participants, most were female (71%), and the mean age was 24 years. Survey instrument included questions on ten different ACE types, mental health, and risky behaviors. Statistical analyses included univariate descriptive analysis, binary and multivariable regression models. Results: Across the ten ACE types assessed, only 14% of participants reported no ACEs, and 29% of participants experienced polyvictimization (i.e., four or more ACES). Multivariable models showed that, compared to those with no ACEs, participants who experienced polyvictimization had significantly increased odds of reporting suicide ideation (AOR = 6.21, p <.001), prescription drug misuse (AOR = 8.78, p <.01), and riding with an impaired driver (AOR = 3.58, p <.01). Conclusions: Our findings support the need for psychological support and services available for college students with multiple ACEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gambling addiction is increasing and is becoming a public health concern due to the rise of gambling-related harms affecting the youth. Previous studies suggest a strong link between problem gambling (PG) and substance use and psychosocial and familial factors. Our main objective was to analyze the association between PG and factors like sport, leisure-time activities, and risk-taking behaviors in adolescents. A survey on substance use and addictive behaviors was performed in 2019 on a representative sample of 2240 subjects (14–18 years) from the Southern Spain Region. Data variables like socio-demographic characteristics, sport, leisure and free time activities, family environment, PG (Lie-Bet Scale), compulsive internet use (CIUS Scale), and consumption of alcohol and cannabis were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Weighted PG prevalence was estimated in either sex, as well as the differences between various levels of PG using chi-square tests. Crude and adjusted weighted logistic regression models were used to identify predictors associated with PG. The prevalence of PG was associated with shopping frequency, compulsive internet use, cannabis use in the previous month, higher family economic status, and having a homemaker father which increased the likelihood of PG. On the contrary, cultural hobbies such as playing an instrument, painting, singing, and writing, and having a working mother were inversely associated with PG. Our results suggest that encouraging participation in creative activities along with supervised shopping and monitoring compulsive internet use and cannabis consumption may contribute some protection against adolescent PG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Journal of Faculty of Education / Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Journal of Faculty of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Materialism is an attitude that considers material goods to be central in life. Nowadays, adolescents appear to have a high level of materialism, which is related to risky behaviors. Nevertheless, there is a lack of measurement tools with adequate psychometric properties to assess materialism in this age group. For this reason, two studies were conducted to investigate the psychometric properties of the original and short Material Values Scale (MVS) in adolescents. Methods: In Study 1, participants were randomly split into two subsamples to compare psychometric properties of the original version of MVS with those of the short one. The first subsample consisted of 1054 adolescents (58% male; Mage = 16.34; SD = 1.15), and the second one of 1058 adolescents (57% male; Mage = 16.26; SD = 1.04). In Study 2, the psychometric properties of a revised version of the short MVS (without item 8) were investigated to confirm its adequacy with a new sample composed of 1896 adolescents (60% male; Mage = 16.40; SD = 2.76). Results: Results of Study 1 showed that the short version appeared to be a better measuring tool with respect to the long form to investigate materialism in adolescents. Nevertheless, problems with item 8 emerged. Results of Study 2 attested to the adequacy of the psychometric properties of the revised version of the short MVS (by excluding item 8) in this age group, in terms of dimensionality, reliability, and validity. Conclusions: Findings show that the revised short version of the MVS could be a valid and reliable tool for measuring the multidimensional construct of materialism in Italian adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High risk behaviors are behaviors that endanger the health and well-being of adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of emotion regulation and social support in the relationship between religious beliefs and self-compassion with tendency to risky behaviors in adolescents. This research is a correlational study conducted in the form of path analysis. The population included all high school male students in Tehran, 220 of whom were selected using multistage cluster sampling. To collect data, Sirajzadeh (2007) Religious Attitudes Questionnaire, Tendency to High-Risk Behaviors of ZadehMohammadi et al. (2008), Perceived Social Support Questionnaire by Vaux et al. (1986), Self-compassion Questionnaire by Neff et al. (2003) and emotion regulation by Garnefski et. al (1999) were used. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS/Amos version 25. The results of Pearson correlation test showed that there is a significant correlation between religious beliefs and tendency to high-risk behaviors (r=0.21; p= 0.01). Also, the final model of the study showed that religious beliefs mediate social support (β=-0.23 and negative emotion regulation (β= 0.53) to explain almost half of the variance of high-risk behaviors. The findings also showed that its fit indices were at the desired level (RMSEA= 0.07; GFI= 0.99; CFI= 0.99; NFI= 0.92). Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that religious beliefs can be provided by providing social support and effective strategies to regulate the emotion of trauma versus the tendency to high-risk behaviors of adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Bayburt Education Faculty / Bayburt Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Bayburt University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are known as the most common blood-borne viral infections worldwide. Individuals referring to drop-in centers (DICs) are considered high-risk people exposed to infection with blood-borne viruses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV infections among women referred to DICs in Lorestan Province, western Iran. During this cross-sectional study, after obtaining informed consent and completing a demographic form, two blood samples were collected from 118 women referred to Lorestan DICs to be evaluated for HIV, HBV, and HCV infections. Accordingly, the samples were first screened by using the most common serological methods and then by Real-Time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect viral genomes. The results were analyzed using Chi-square statistical test and binary logistic regressions. Out of the 118 blood samples, 8 (6.8%), 4 (3.4%), and 10 (8.5%) subjects tested positive for HIV, HBV, and HCV infection, respectively. Furthermore, our study showed that 5 (4.2%) subjects were positive for HCV/HIV coinfection and 3 (2.5%) cases for HBV/HCV coinfection. Moreover, our data revealed that incarceration and STDs were the most important risk factors for HIV (odds ratio [OR]=15.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.74-62.89; P=0.01) and HBV (OR=16; 95% CI: 1.57-42.34); P=0.018) infections, respectively. Our results suggested that women referring to DICs are at risk of infection with blood-borne viruses due to risky behaviors. Thus, precise diagnostic testing and implementation of preventive methods against blood and sexually transmitted infections are urgent in these high-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe study’s main objectives were to evaluate the distribution of levels of procrastination and its relationship with sleep quality, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and skipping breakfast, as a proxy measure of an unhealthy dietary pattern, among Italian university students.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at the “Magna Græcia” University of Catanzaro in the Southern part of Italy, using stratified random sampling techniques. Eligible students were sent an anonymous online survey aimed at assessing sociodemographic characteristics, procrastination levels using the Pure Procrastination Scale, sleep quality using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, smoking status, alcohol consumption using WHO’s Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tool, and breakfast habits.ResultsThe study included 518 participants with a mean age of 23 year. More than half of the sample was enrolled in medicine or life science majors and the procrastination mean score was 15 (±5.9 SD). Being procrastinators was significantly more frequently among students who were poor sleepers, hazardous alcohol consumers and breakfast skippers. When analyzing the clustering of risky behaviors, it was found that as the number of risky behaviors increased, the procrastination score exhibited an exponential increase.ConclusionThe study findings showed that university students who engage in procrastination tend to adopt risky health behaviors. The data gathered could be useful to derive targeted interventions aimed at groups more exposed to harmful health behaviors and to encourage institutional policies to promote healthy lifestyles within universities. Universities can act as hubs for cultivating a culture of well-being and promoting a healthy environment.

Psychedelics can profoundly alter cognition and consciousness. Their use in Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, is ambiguous. We aim to investigate psychedelic awareness and use among Iraqi and Polish medical students. We surveyed 739 university students from Poland (315) and Iraq (424) using 31 adapted questions from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). We conducted multivariable analyses based on binary logistic regression to identify the factors associated with psychedelic awareness and use. Most of the respondents were females (65.6%) and senior medical students (69.6%). Notably, the Polish students displayed a higher prevalence of psychedelic use (21.6% compared to 1.2%, p < 0.001), while the Iraqi participants exhibited a lower familiarity with psychedelics (p < 0.001). The multivariable model demonstrated a commendable level of statistical accuracy and satisfactorily conformed to the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test (statistical accuracy = 91.61%, Nagelkerke R2 = 0.488, p-value = 0.848). Several factors emerged as correlates of increased psychedelic use, including lacking an intact religious belief system or commitment to its practice (OR = 7.26, 95% CI [2.33, 22.60]). Additionally, those who perceived a low risk associated with sporadic psychedelic use (3.03, [1.44, 6.36]) were likelier to engage in such behavior. Other factors included residing in Poland (2.82, [0.83, 9.55]), maintaining positive attitudes toward psychedelics (2.49, [1.20, 5.14]), frequent social nightlife activities (2.41, [1.26, 4.61]), male gender (2.05, [1.10, 3.85]), and cigarette or tobacco smoking (2.03, [1.06, 3.86]). Significant disparities exist between Poles and Iraqis, influenced by religiosity, perceptions of the usage risks, geographical location, gender, attitudes toward psychedelics, parental leniency, and social freedom, especially concerning nightlife activities. Addressing the factors influencing psychedelic usage is paramount to responsible psychedelic engagement and culturally sensitive interventions to prevent misuse.

AbstractAn existing theoretical framework proposes that aberrant temporal processing and a fast internal clock, denoted by overestimation and under-reproduction of time, increases the likelihood of engagement in risky behaviors (ERB). The primary aim of this project was to improve our understanding of the relationship between temporal processing and ERB in college students. The present study used the Wittmann and Paulus (2008) theoretical framework to examine the associations between temporal processing and ERB in college students. College student participants (N = 215) completed self-report measures of ERB, delay aversion, inhibitory control, ADHD symptoms and objective cognitive time estimation and time reproduction tasks. Time estimation accuracy was significantly associated with lower engagement in sexual risk behaviors (OR = .988; 95% CI: .979, .996; p = .006) and aggressive behaviors (OR = .989; 95% CI: .980, .998; p = .018). Time reproduction was not significantly associated with ERB. The present study established preliminary support for the associations between aberrant temporal processing, namely aberrant time estimation, and ERB among college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What do young people know about youth risky and antisocial behaviors (RASB) and what do they suggest could be done to address these behaviors? Although there is much literature on youth RASB, there has been little qualitative exploration of the question stated here. The current study aimed to broach the question and to fill the gap. The study contributes to extant literature by exploring types of RASB among youth, reasons for these behaviors, and possible ways to address them from the perspectives of young people in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Constructivist and interpretive perspectives where reality is determined through the social processes of subjectivity and intersubjectivity informed the study. Eighteen young people aged 15 to 24 years participated in three focus group discussions (FGD), and data were analyzed thematically. The three main themes resulting from the process were: (1) a spectrum of behaviors, which comprised six types of behaviors; (2) constructed explanations, where participants identified five possible reasons for RASB; and (3) suggested interventions, which comprised three subthemes on interventions to address youth RASB. The findings and their implications for further research and for policy and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjective knowledge is a significant factor influencing individuals' behaviors. It plays a critical role in preventing people from tragic event during open water activities (OWAs). However, a measurement scale for subjective knowledge in OWAs has not been developed and comprehensively investigated in the field of maritime and coaching studies. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate a subjective knowledge scale in OWAs (SKS-OWA) to better understand participants' safety perceptions. We collected data from individuals who participated in OWAs within three years in Singapore. This study conducted the pilot study (n = 260) and the main study (n = 453) and employed a rigorous scale development procedure to assess the psychometric properties of the SKS-OWA. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of subjective knowledge in OWAs, and the SKS-OWA can be used to help coaches and practitioners to plan their training programs, increase public awareness, and reduce the rates of deaths from drowning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underage drinking is a high-risk behavior associated with adverse health consequences among children and youth. Globally, underage drinking is the leading cause of social crimes, disability, and premature accidental and suicidal deaths among the young population. Despite leading to serious health and social problems, it has been a scarcely studied issue in India. This study assessed the prevalence and socio-economic predictors of underage drinking in India using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2021 data from 306,929 individuals in the age group of 15–20 years. Analyzing these data, the prevalence of underage drinking was assessed, and regression analysis was undertaken to identify the significant predictors of underage drinking in India. The population prevalence of underage drinking in India was 2%. Age, sex, education, marital status, family structure, house type, religion, social category, wealth index, place of residence, region, and tobacco use were the statistically significant predictors of underage drinking. Despite restrictions on the purchase and consumption of alcohol by the underage population, the prevalence is high in most of the Indian states and varies across individual, behavioral, familial, socio-economic, and demographic factors. There is a pressing need to delay the minimum legal drinking age, establish uniform criteria for age restrictions across India, enforce age restrictions, and create awareness about the harms of underage drinking in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychedelics can profoundly alter cognition and consciousness. Their use in Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, is ambiguous. We aim to investigate psychedelic awareness and use among Iraqi and Polish medical students. We surveyed 739 university students from Poland (315) and Iraq (424) using 31 adapted questions from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). We conducted multivariable analyses based on binary logistic regression to identify the factors associated with psychedelic awareness and use. Most of the respondents were females (65.6%) and senior medical students (69.6%). Notably, the Polish students displayed a higher prevalence of psychedelic use (21.6% compared to 1.2%, p < 0.001), while the Iraqi participants exhibited a lower familiarity with psychedelics (p < 0.001). The multivariable model demonstrated a commendable level of statistical accuracy and satisfactorily conformed to the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test (statistical accuracy = 91.61%, Nagelkerke R2 = 0.488, p-value = 0.848). Several factors emerged as correlates of increased psychedelic use, including lacking an intact religious belief system or commitment to its practice (OR = 7.26, 95% CI [2.33, 22.60]). Additionally, those who perceived a low risk associated with sporadic psychedelic use (3.03, [1.44, 6.36]) were likelier to engage in such behavior. Other factors included residing in Poland (2.82, [0.83, 9.55]), maintaining positive attitudes toward psychedelics (2.49, [1.20, 5.14]), frequent social nightlife activities (2.41, [1.26, 4.61]), male gender (2.05, [1.10, 3.85]), and cigarette or tobacco smoking (2.03, [1.06, 3.86]). Significant disparities exist between Poles and Iraqis, influenced by religiosity, perceptions of the usage risks, geographical location, gender, attitudes toward psychedelics, parental leniency, and social freedom, especially concerning nightlife activities. Addressing the factors influencing psychedelic usage is paramount to responsible psychedelic engagement and culturally sensitive interventions to prevent misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study documents the correlates associated with the severity of sexual victimization among women enrolled in a 2-year community college. Comparisons between women with a history of severe sexual victimization (i.e., rape and attempted rape), moderate sexual victimization (i.e., unwanted contact and sexual coercion), and no history of sexual victimization revealed that women with a history of severe sexual victimization endorsed more drinks per week, increased problem drinking behavior, and more use of drug before sex and higher levels of self-protective dating behaviors compared with women with no history of sexual victimization. These findings suggest that programs should target the intersection of alcohol and drug use as correlates of sexual victimization among community college women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThis observational study investigated the effects of sleep deprivation and ad libitum caffeine consumption on cognitive performance, risk behavior, and mood among 28 Israeli Special Forces (SF) soldiers (mean age: 20.57 ± 0.92 years) during a 96-hour combat exercise.MethodsActigraphy was used to monitor sleep and activity; cognitive function, risk-taking propensity, mood states, and self-reported sleepiness were assessed using the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), Evaluation of Risks Scale (EVAR), Profile of Mood States (POMS), Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS); and caffeine consumption by questionnaire at 0, 50, and 96 hours. For analyses, participants were divided into Low (

Introduction and purpose: Self-compassion is a psychological concept that refers to the ability to understand the pain, suffering, and emotions of others and to show empathy and support them. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the impact of self-compassion training on self-esteem and risky behaviors of adolescents. Methods: This experimental research had two experimental and control groups that were examined before and after the intervention. The population of this research consisted of all high school adolescents in Minoodasht, Iran, in 2022-2023, who were randomly selected. The sample size for this study was consisted of 50 individuals (25 in the experimental group and 25 in the control group). The tools used in this study included three questionnaires: a demographic information questionnaire, Cooper Smith Self-esteem Inventory, and a risky behaviors questionnaire. Three months after the intervention, a post-test was administered to both groups. The collected data was entered into the SPSS statistical software (version 22) and was analyzed using independent samples t-test, Chi-square test, and ANCOVA. Results: The findings indicated that the mean age of individuals in the control and experimental groups was 14.04 ± 0.84. The independent t-test before the intervention showed no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in some dimensions, such as tendency to dangerous driving and relationship with the opposite sex (P>0.05). After the intervention, the independent t-test showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in all areas of the Iranian adolescent risk-inventory Scale (IARS) as well as the IARS total score (P0.05), while the independent t-test after the intervention showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in all scales of SEI as well as the SEI total score (P

Adolescence is one of the most critical periods of life. The most behavioral inconsistencies, including the tendency to risky behaviors, appear in this period. This research aimed at predicting high-risk behaviors based on identity styles and parental monitoring in adolescents with the role of self-efficacy as a mediator. The research design was descriptive-correlational. The population included all secondary school students of Kohpayeh city in the academic year of 2022. By multi-stage cluster random sampling, 260 people were selected as a sample. The research tools were risk-taking scales for Iranian teenagers, Brozensky's identity styles, Singer's parental monitoring and Sherer's general self-efficacy. Statistical analysis of the data was done by Pearson correlation method and path analysis. The results of path analysis showed that normative identity style, parental monitoring and self-efficacy had direct effects on high-risk behaviors. The results of the bootstrap test showed that the self-efficacy variable played a mediating role in the relationship between parental monitoring of identity style and risky behaviors. As a result, it is recommended to plan relevant institutions and educate parents, considering the important role of parental monitoring, self-efficacy level and adolescent's identity style in the occurrence of high-risk behaviors.

The aim of the paper was to analyze risky behaviors in the mining industry on the example of the indicator analysis of the statistics on accidents at work. Selected criteria of generic analysis (structure index – causes of accidents) and indicator analysis (intensity index – frequency indicator of accidents) were used in the research. The source of data for the analysis of accident rate were the publications of the Statistics Poland entitled “Accidents at work” in Poland for 2010-2021. The study aimed at human causes, which included the following five groups: lack or improper handling of a material factor by the employee, failure to use protective equipment by the employee, improper willful behavior of the employee, improper mental and physical state of the employee, improper behavior of the employee. For the analysis of risky behaviors, the proposition of the frequency indicator of accidents at work was used in the form of the probability indicator of accidents caused by risky behaviors per 1,000 working people. Based on the indicator analysis of risky behaviors, a comparative analysis of statistics on accidents at work in the period 2010-2021 according to the criterion of human causes was developed for Poland and mining. The research is based on the data of the Statistics Poland (GUS), but can be extended with other data, e.g. industry data according to the State Mining Authority (WUG). The results of the research can be used for a comparative analysis of the statistics on accidents at work in relation to other sectors and sections of economic activity of the NACE (PKD). The publication contains the original results of the indicator analysis of the statistics on accidents at work according to the criterion of human causes in the mining industry, and they can be addressed to persons managing of mining plants and managers of mining supervision authorities.

ObjectivePsychiatric disorders increase risk for contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but we know little about relationships between psychiatric symptoms and COVID-19 risky and protective behaviors. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with increased propensity to engage in risky behaviors, but may also be associated with increased COVID-19 protective behaviors due to increased threat sensitivity and social isolation.MethodWe examined associations of PTSD symptoms with COVID-19-related protective and risky behaviors using data from a cross-sectional online United States study among 845 US adults in August through September 2020. PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist-5), sociodemographics, COVID-19-related experiences and vulnerabilities, and past 30-day engagement in 10 protective and eight risky behaviors for COVID-19 were assessed via self-report. We examined associations between PTSD symptoms and COVID-19 protective and risky behaviors with linear regressions, adjusting for covariates.ResultsProbable PTSD and higher PTSD symptom severity were associated with greater engagement in protective behaviors, but also greater engagement in risky behaviors. Associations were only slightly attenuated by adjustment for COVID-19 exposures and perceived likelihood and severity of COVID-19. Associations varied by PTSD clusters: intrusions and arousal were associated with both more protective and more risky behaviors, whereas negative cognitions or mood was associated only with more risky, and avoidance only with more protective, behaviors.ConclusionHigher PTSD symptoms were associated with engagement in more protective but also more risky behaviors for COVID-19. Mental health should be considered in the design of public health campaigns dedicated to limiting infectious disease spread. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Individual behaviors are critical for preventing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Given that both protective and risky behaviors influence risk of infection, it is critical that we understand how such behaviors cluster together and in whom. Using a data-driven approach, we identified clusters of COVID-19-related protective and risky behaviors and examined associations with socio-demographic, pandemic, and mental health factors. Data came from a cross-sectional online U.S. nationwide study of 832 adults with high levels of pre-pandemic trauma. Latent class analysis was performed with ten protective (e.g., washing hands, wearing masks) and eight risky (e.g., attending indoor restaurants, taking a flight) behaviors for COVID-19. Then, we examined distributions of socio-demographic and pandemic factors across behavior classes using ANOVA or Chi-square tests, and associations between mental health factors (depressive, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms) and behavior classes using multinomial logistic regression. We identified four classes, including three classes with relatively low risky but high (28.8%), moderate (33.5%) and minimal (25.5%) protective behaviors and one high risky behaviors class with associated moderate protective behaviors (12.1%). Age, sexual orientation, political preference, and most pandemic factors differed significantly across behavior classes. Anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms, but not depression, were higher in the High Risk, but also Highly and Moderately Protective classes, relative to Minimally Protective. Prevention and intervention efforts should examine constellations of protective and risky behaviors to comprehensively understand risk, and consider current anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms as potential risk indicators.

Technology-mediated dangerous behaviors (TMDBs), such as posting selfies while driving or posting private information, are prevalent and potentially require interventions. Knowledge about the drivers of these, and specifically the role of information in stimulating such behaviors, is limited. To address this gap, this paper turns to foraging and risk-sensitivity theories. These theories suggest that animals engage in more dangerous behaviors when their perceived need for calories is high. Similarly, humans increase financial risk-taking when they perceive dissatisfaction with what they have. Importantly, inequality information can increase such perceptions and change people's risk-taking propensity. Adapting these ideas, the paper postulates that TMDBs resemble food-seeking in animals in that they are goal oriented, can be dangerous, and yield unknown (probabilistic) rewards. Therefore, TMDBs are explained using foraging and risk-sensitivity theory angles. Focusing on social media users (Studies 1-4; four experiments; total n = 2,504), I argue that (1) it is reasonable to view users as foraging the "fields of social media" for social-hedonic rewards, (2) it is possible to alter their risk appetite and TMDBs through inequality information and upward comparison mechanisms, (3) this process can be mediated not only through cognitions, but also emotions, and (4) perceived scarcity of rewards and social comparison orientation affect this process. With Study 5, the paper extends the core aspects of this theoretical perspective to the U.S. state level and argues that objective financial inequality can explain differences between states in terms of TMDBs such as texting while driving and relative interest in TMDBs such as prank videos. The findings largely support these assertions. They illuminate the role of information, notably inequality, in driving TMDBs, extend prior research focused on basic needs (e.g., physiological needs in the case of food intake decisions) to an evaluation of higher-order human needs (e.g., needs for belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization) catered to by nonphysiological, social-hedonic rewards, and point to important mechanisms that translate inequality into TMDBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Background: Internet addiction is a behavioral addiction in which a person becomes dependent on using the Internet or other online devices as an incompatible way to deal with life stressors, which has many consequences for the person. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of quality-of-life therapy on sensation seeking, risky behaviors and relationships with peers in adolescents with Internet addiction. Methods and Materials: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and follow-up with the control group. 30 teenagers with Internet addiction in Isfahan city in a targeted way according to the entrance criteria among teenagers who had Internet addiction; They were selected and randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. The intervention experimental group received quality of life therapy. And the control group did not receive any treatment. The questionnaires included Kimberly -Young's Internet Addiction (1998), Zuckerman's sensation seeking (1978), Zadeh Mohammadi's risky behaviors (2008) and relationships with peers by Razaghi et al. (2016). The data were analyzed through analysis of variance with repeated measures. Findings: The findings showed that the therapeutic quality of life intervention had a significant effect on emotional seeking, risky behaviors and relationships with peers of the experimental group in the post-test and follow-up phase (P

Abstract Objective The present study aims to develop and assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Machiavellian Personality Scale (P-MPS), and evaluate its relationship with social adjustment and risky behaviors in Iranian college students. Methods Participants were 500 healthy college students (270 females and 230 males) from medical and non-medical universities in Sanandaj, Iran. They completed the P-MPS, the social adjustment subscale of the Bell Adjustment Inventory, and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) questionnaire. The factor structure of the P-MPS was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to examine the internal consistency of the P-MPS and Pearson correlation test was used to investigate the relationship of the P-MPS score with the scores of social adjustment subscale and YRBSS. Results The P-MPS showed good content validity (Content validity ratio = 0.73, content validity index = 0.90), construct validity, and internal consistency (α = 0.802). The CFA results supported the four-factor solution of the questionnaire. The total score of P-MPS and its dimensions showed a significant negative relationship with social adjustment (p

Bu çalışma; üniversite öğrencilerinde görülen riskli davranışların, ahlaki uzaklaşma ve algılanan sosyal destek kavramları ile ilişkisini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Riskli davranışlar, bireylerin hayatlarını olumsuz yönde etkileyen ve onlar için risk içeren davranışlarını açıklayan bir kavramdır. Riskli davranışlar, özellikle ergenlik ve geç ergenlik dönemindeki bireylerde daha fazla görülen bir durum olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Bu nedenle bu çalışmada üniversite öğrencileri ile çalışılması uygun görülmüştür. Çalışmaya katılan grup, 2019-2020 öğretim yılında Erzincan Binali Yıldırım Üniversitesi’ne bağlı beş farklı fakültede öğrenim gören 646 üniversite öğrencisinden oluşmaktadır. Çalışmanın yöntemi nicel olup ilişkisel tarama yöntemi ile çalışma yürütülmüştür. Riskli davranışların ahlaki uzaklaşma ve algılanan sosyal destek yordayıcı değişkenleri tarafından ne düzeyde yordandığı incelendiğinden ilişkisel çözümleme yöntemlerinden regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Yapılan analizler sonucunda üniversite öğrencilerinde ahlaki uzaklaşma değişkeninden elde edilen puanın artması durumunda, riskli davranış tüm alt boyutlarında da artışa sebep olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Özel insandan algılanan sosyal desteğin artmasının bazı riskli davranışları arttırdığı, aile ve arkadaş desteğinin artmasının ise bazı riskli davranışları azalttığı tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca erkek öğrencilerin kadın öğrencilerden daha fazla riskli davranış sergileme eğiliminde oldukları bulunmuştur. Nitekim bireylerin riskli bir davranışı sergilerken, davranışın ahlaka uygun olup olmadığını sorguladıkları zaman ve genelde sosyal çevrelerinden destek aldıklarını düşündükleri zaman, riskli davranış sergileme olasılıklarının azaldığı tespit edilmiştir.

Abstract Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonotic disease with high morbidity and case fatality rates (CFR) in humans, especially among the high-risk groups, including butchers. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Kabul City to determine the knowledge gaps and risky behaviors of Kabul City’s butchers about CCHF. Data were collected from 123 butchers by structured interview using a pre-designed questionnaire. The finding of the present study revealed that of the total CCHF cases in the butchers, their family members, and co-workers, 37.9% died. Nearly half of the butchers (45.0%) experienced splashing of animal blood on their faces, while 70.1% of them had cut their hands with a knife during their occupation life. In addition, 27.0% of the respondents held the knife in their mouth while dressing the animal carcasses, and 27.3% of the butchers consumed raw liver. Hand washing and PPE application were practiced by 94.3% and 22.8% of the respondents, respectively. About 92% of the respondents had heard about CCHF, and 67.4% of the participants had good knowledge about CCHF. The knowledge level of the respondents (poor or good) was statistically related to their age, history of blood splash in the face and eyes of the butchers, holding work knives in the mouth, blowing the skin of animals, hand washing with soap and water, and slaughter places (p < 0.05). A medium correlation between education and total knowledge of the butchers was observed (r = 0.3; p < 0.05). It is necessary to change such high-risk behaviors by continually coordinating awareness campaigns through mass media, workshops, and informative leaflet distribution to improve knowledge. One Health impact statement CCHF is a multifaceted zoonotic disease where tick bites, direct contact with the tissue, secretions, and body fluids of the infected animals and humans, and consumption of raw milk, meat, and liver of infected animals are the main transmission methods of the disease to humans. Although livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and ostrich are the main reservoirs of the virus, they are infected in subclinical form, and humans are the only hosts where fatal clinical disease develops. Since the CCHF virus circulates in nature between tick-vertebrates-ticks, the only method that can effectively control and prevent the disease in humans is by using a targeted One Health approach between the human, veterinary, and environmental health sectors. Meanwhile, it has been proven that public awareness campaigns through the use of mass media, community leaders, and integrated workshops are the most effective tools to prevent the transmission of the CCHF virus from infected animals and ticks to humans.

Introduction: The recent data indicate almost a fifth of Jamaican adolescents used marijuana in the past 30 days. To ensure the optimal allocation of resources, a country-specific understanding of factors associated with marijuana use among adolescents is essential. Therefore, this study aimed to address this gap among adolescents aged 13-17 years in Jamaica. Methods: We analyzed data from the recent Jamaica Global School-Based Student Health Survey conducted in 2017. The sample consists of school-going Jamaican adolescents of 7th-12th grades. The prevalence of recent marijuana use was assessed and compared across different demographics, substance use, and risk behaviors using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Older adolescents and men had a higher likelihood of recent marijuana use. Psychosocial risks, such as loneliness, frequent worry, suicidal ideation, physical attacks, and school absenteeism, were associated with higher marijuana usage. Parental smoking increased the odds, whereas strong parental support and awareness decreased it. Other substance uses, especially amphetamine and tobacco products, had strong associations with marijuana use. Early initiation of substances was associated with a higher risk of marijuana use. Sexually active adolescents, especially those initiated before the age of 14 years, had higher rates of marijuana use. Conclusion: The intricate link between harmful and supportive psychosomatic and risk behaviors with recent marijuana use highlights the importance of holistic interventions and policies focusing on emotional health, parental guidance, substance education, and sexual activity implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Social Rehabilitation / Resocjalizacja Polska is the property of Pedagogium Foundation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polish Journal of Social Rehabilitation / Resocjalizacja Polska is the property of Pedagogium Foundation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We examine the heterogeneous effects of childhood bullying victimization and chronic bullying victimization on a wide range of outcomes using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth in the United States. Bullying victimization is categorized as childhood or chronic depending on the duration of victimization. We find that bullying victimization negatively affects the physical and mental health of youths, and increases the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, such as, smoking and marijuana use. The adverse effects tend to increase in magnitude with chronic bullying victimization. In addition, chronic bullying victimization increases the likelihood of utilizing mental health services and experiencing life-disrupting emotional problems in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among undergraduate class status, risky behaviors (i.e., alcohol and marijuana use, sexual activity), life satisfaction, and ability to cope. Methods: Undergraduate students (N = 2,961) completed an electronic survey to assess for mental health status and risky behaviors. Results: Compared with others, first-year students reported fewer days of having at least one alcoholic drink, fewer days of having five or more alcoholic drinks in a row, and less frequency of marijuana use. First-year students reported fewer sexual partners and less frequency of sexual activity compared with others. First-year students were more likely to report greater life satisfaction, being able to cope with difficult situations, and greater self-worth, compared with others. Conclusions: As undergraduate students progress through their academic career, they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors and experience life dissatisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with increased potential for morally injurious events, during which individuals may experience, witness, or learn about situations that violate deeply held moral beliefs. However, it is unknown how pandemic risk and resilience factors are associated with COVID-related moral injury.MethodsIndividuals residing in the U.S. (N = 839; Mage = 37.09, SD = 11.06; 78% women; 63% White; 33% PTSD) participating in an online survey reported on COVID-19 related moral injury (modified Moral Injury Events Scale), perceived current and future threat of pandemic on life domains (social, financial, health), and COVID-19 risky and protective behaviors. Multivariate linear regressions examined associations of perceived threat and risky and protective behaviors on type of COVID-19 related moral injury (betrayal, transgression by others, self).ResultsParticipants endorsed MI betrayal (57%, N = 482), transgression by other (59%, N = 497), and by self 17% (N = 145). Adjusting for sociodemographics, only future threat of COVID-19 to health was significantly associated with betrayal (B = 0.21, p = .001) and transgression by other (B = 0.16, p = .01), but not by self. In contrast, high frequency of risky behaviors was associated with transgressions by self (B = 0.23, p

Adolescent sleep research has focused heavily on duration and quality with less work examining chronotype, defined as individual differences in sleep-wake timings driven by the circadian rhythm. This study filled a gap in the literature by utilizing actigraphy-based sleep estimates in an accelerated longitudinal design in order to better understand the developmental trajectory and individual stability of chronotype during adolescence, as well as the associations between chronotype with risky behaviors, substance use, and depressive symptoms. A total of 329 adolescents (57% female; 21% Asian American, 31% European American, 41% Latino, 7% other ethnicity) provided actigraphy-based estimates of sleep and completed questionnaires at up to three time points, two years apart, beginning at 14-17 years of age. Multilevel modeling revealed a non-linear developmental trend in chronotype whereby eveningness increased from 14 to 19 years of age followed by a trend toward morningness. Individual differences in chronotype exhibited modest stability during adolescent development. Furthermore, greater evening chronotype was associated with more risky behaviors and substance use among males, and more substance use among older adolescents, whereas depressive symptoms were not associated with chronotype. The findings from this study may have practical implications for adolescent behavioral health interventions targeted at reducing risky behaviors and substance use among youth.

Background: Materialism is an attitude that considers material goods to be central in life. Nowadays, adolescents appear to have a high level of materialism, which is related to risky behaviors. Nevertheless, there is a lack of measurement tools with adequate psychometric properties to assess materialism in this age group. For this reason, two studies were conducted to investigate the psychometric properties of the original and short Material Values Scale (MVS) in adolescents. Methods: In Study 1, participants were randomly split into two subsamples to compare psychometric properties of the original version of MVS with those of the short one. The first subsample consisted of 1054 adolescents (58% male; Mage = 16.34; SD = 1.15), and the second one of 1058 adolescents (57% male; Mage = 16.26; SD = 1.04). In Study 2, the psychometric properties of a revised version of the short MVS (without item 8) were investigated to confirm its adequacy with a new sample composed of 1896 adolescents (60% male; Mage = 16.40; SD = 2.76). Results: Results of Study 1 showed that the short version appeared to be a better measuring tool with respect to the long form to investigate materialism in adolescents. Nevertheless, problems with item 8 emerged. Results of Study 2 attested to the adequacy of the psychometric properties of the revised version of the short MVS (by excluding item 8) in this age group, in terms of dimensionality, reliability, and validity. Conclusions: Findings show that the revised short version of the MVS could be a valid and reliable tool for measuring the multidimensional construct of materialism in Italian adolescents.

IntroductionThe recent data indicate almost a fifth of Jamaican adolescents used marijuana in the past 30 days. To ensure the optimal allocation of resources, a country-specific understanding of factors associated with marijuana use among adolescents is essential. Therefore, this study aimed to address this gap among adolescents aged 13–17 years in Jamaica.MethodsWe analyzed data from the recent Jamaica Global School-Based Student Health Survey conducted in 2017. The sample consists of school-going Jamaican adolescents of 7th−12th grades. The prevalence of recent marijuana use was assessed and compared across different demographics, substance use, and risk behaviors using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses.ResultsOlder adolescents and men had a higher likelihood of recent marijuana use. Psychosocial risks, such as loneliness, frequent worry, suicidal ideation, physical attacks, and school absenteeism, were associated with higher marijuana usage. Parental smoking increased the odds, whereas strong parental support and awareness decreased it. Other substance uses, especially amphetamine and tobacco products, had strong associations with marijuana use. Early initiation of substances was associated with a higher risk of marijuana use. Sexually active adolescents, especially those initiated before the age of 14 years, had higher rates of marijuana use.ConclusionThe intricate link between harmful and supportive psychosomatic and risk behaviors with recent marijuana use highlights the importance of holistic interventions and policies focusing on emotional health, parental guidance, substance education, and sexual activity implications.

IntroductionOnline food delivery (OFD) applications provide easy access to food, eliminating the need for cooking and meal planning. However, they predominantly promote processed and calorie-dense foods, potentially impacting diet and health. This study aimed to describe the use of OFD services in a sample of Italian workers and students, to explore potential determinants of OFD usage and to assess possible differences in use between these two categories.MethodsData were collected through an online survey (convenience sampling) distributed on social media platforms between July 12, 2022, and February 1, 2023. The sample included individuals aged 18 and above, currently residing in Italy. The sample was stratified according to worker/student status. Descriptive analyses were performed on key variables. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the effects of variables on OFD usage, treated as a dichotomous variable (usage or non-usage).ResultsThis study analyzed 3,502 questionnaires (2,594 from workers and 908 from students) after excluding 323 non-student and non-worker responses. Positive associations with OFD use included higher income, remote working, smoking, elevated BMI, depression risk, and impulsive buying among workers, while being female, frequent screen-watching during meals, daily smoking, higher BMI, and impulsive buying were associated with OFD use among students. Factors negatively associated with OFD use included older age (workers and students), living in suburbs (workers and students) or in an outline town (workers), being single (workers and students), adhering to the Mediterranean diet (students), having low health literacy (students), and job dissatisfaction (workers).DiscussionOFD consumption was associated with some risky behaviors and conditions, such as high BMI or smoking, suggesting that it might be influenced by individual tendencies. Healthier habits, such as physical activity, did not significantly impact OFD usage, especially among workers. Whereas, among students, factors such as low health literacy and better eating habits were associated with less use of OFD, so that they could be more prone to use OFD in a measured way. Further research is needed to better understand potential associations between OFD and risky habits, as well as its role in promoting access to healthy food in underserved areas.

Understanding the causal relationship between vaccination and individuals' risky behavioral responses has important policy implications as it affects the ultimate effectiveness of increasing access to vaccination. This paper examines the causal effects of vaccination on risky behaviors by exploring the 1992 hepatitis B vaccination campaign in China. Our empirical strategy exploits variations in age at the campaign as well as the pretreatment infection risks across provinces. Using a large cross-section of individuals born between 1981 and 1994, we find that more exposure to the hepatitis B vaccination leads to lower alcohol use during adulthood, and such impacts are almost entirely driven by men. Individuals from more educated families and people who live in urban areas tend to react more. Improved educational attainment and dissemination of related knowledge are important contributors. Our results uncover an unexpected benefit of promoting access to vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]