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Background: Non-medical use of psychoactive medication is a public health problem. Studies in other contexts indicate that individual sociodemographic characteristics are associated with non-medical use, but these associations have not been assessed in the Mexican context., Objectives: To estimate the prevalence non-medical and medical use of psychoactive medication among Mexican adolescents and adults' medication users and to estimate the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and non-medical use of psychoactive medication, using data from a nationally representative sample., Methods: Secondary analysis of data collected from the National Survey of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption (ENCODAT) 2016 to 2017. The analytical sample included people aged 12 to 65 years. The sample was stratified into two age categories: adolescents (12-17 years) and adults (18-65 years). Sub-analyses were performed to describe prevalence of use and non-medical use of psychoactive medication at the state-level. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between sociodemographic characteristics and medical, non-medical, and non-use of psychoactive medication in adolescents and adults., Results: Among Mexican medication users in 2016, the national prevalence of non-medical use of psychoactive drugs was 19.6%; 22.2% among adolescents and 19.4% among adults. States adjacent to the US-Mexico border reported the highest levels of non-medical use of psychoactive medication. Illicit drug consumption was associated with non-medical use. Sociodemographic characteristics associated with non-medical use varied between adolescents and adults., Conclusions: There is a high proportion of non-medical use of psychoactive drugs among Mexican medication users, especially among young people. Understanding factors associated with the misuse of psychoactive medications in Mexico can inform policy for prevention and treatment., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors declare no relevant conflicts of interest or financial relationships., (Copyright © 2024 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The dissemination of evidence-based parent training (PT) interventions remains extremely limited in Latin American countries. This is concerning when considering the high prevalence of child maltreatment associated with punitive parenting practices across countries in the region. Furthermore, efforts to disseminate PT interventions must be conducted by adhering to the core parenting components that have established effectiveness for such interventions, while ensuring contextual and cultural relevance for focus populations. In this manuscript, we describe the cultural adaptation of an evidence-based PT intervention in the context of Chile. This initial phase of adaptation was informed by the theoretical tenets of the Ecological Validity Model of cultural adaptation (Bernal et al., J. Abnorm. Child Psychol., 23, 1995, 67). According to findings from a qualitative thematic analysis conducted with five interventionists in training, therapists perceived that the intervention's core components were relevant to Chilean caregivers who participated in the parenting program. Interventionists also provided specific suggestions to enhance the intervention's contextual and cultural relevance. This investigation illustrates the importance of culturally adapting evidence-based interventions according to comprehensive cultural adaptation frameworks, prior to engaging in large-scale dissemination of adapted interventions in Latin American contexts., (© 2022 Family Process Institute.)

Objective: As most studies focus on the initial adaptation of culturally tailored parenting programs in real-world settings, scalability and sustainability remain understudied. In this study, we used normalization process theory (NPT) as a conceptual framework to identify and understand the contextual factors impacting the scalability and sustainability of a culturally tailored parenting program, Ladnaan, in three Swedish municipalities. Method: Nineteen managers, coordinators, and group leaders completed a survey and participated in individual or focus group interviews. Results: Our analyses showed that participants agreed on the need for the Ladnaan intervention among immigrant families. However, they were concerned that insufficient resources may hinder the recruitment and retention of parents, particularly as certain resources were allocated to the delivery of other, non-evidence-based interventions. Both managers and coordinators emphasized that embedding Ladnaan into everyday practice is conditioned on the collective work and engagement of all stakeholders, which will occur only if local authorities feel they own the program. The recruitment and retention of group leaders was mentioned as a key challenge in sustaining Ladnaan as the need for the program fluctuated over time. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of promoting evidence-based programs within the services available for forcibly displaced parents, and of coordinating efforts to scale up and sustain these programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immigrant Latinas (who are foreign-born but now reside in the USA) are at greater risk for developing postpartum depression than the general perinatal population, but many face barriers to treatment. To address these barriers, we adapted the Mothers and Babies Course—an evidence-based intervention for postpartum depression prevention—to a virtual group format. Additional adaptations are inclusion of tailored supplemental child health content and nutrition benefit assistance. We are partnering with Early Learning Centers (ELC) across the state of Maryland to deliver and test the adapted intervention. Methods: The design is a Hybrid Type I Effectiveness-Implementation Trial. A total of 300 participants will be individually randomized to immediate (N = 150) versus delayed (N = 150) receipt of the intervention, Mothers and Babies Virtual Group (MB-VG). The intervention will be delivered by trained Early Learning Center staff. The primary outcomes are depressive symptoms (measured via the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale), parenting self-efficacy (measured via the Parental Cognition and Conduct Towards the Infant Scale (PACOTIS) Parenting Self-Efficacy subscale), and parenting responsiveness (measured via the Maternal Infant Responsiveness Instrument) at 1-week, 3-month, and 6-month post-intervention. Depressive episodes (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V- Disorders Research Version) at 3-month and 6-month post-intervention will also be assessed. Secondary outcomes include social support, mood management, anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, food insecurity, and mental health stigma at 1-week, 3-month, and 6-month post-intervention. Exploratory child outcomes are dysregulation and school readiness at 6-month post-intervention. Intervention fidelity, feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness will also be assessed guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Discussion: This study will be one of the first to test the efficacy of a group-based virtual perinatal depression intervention with Latina immigrants, for whom stark disparities exist in access to health services. The hybrid effectiveness-implementation design will allow rigorous examination of barriers and facilitators to delivery of the intervention package (including supplemental components) which will provide important information on factors influencing intervention effectiveness and the scalability of intervention components in Early Learning Centers and other child-serving settings. Registration.: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05873569. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child exposure to maltreatment and neglect constitutes a significant public health problem throughout Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. Although evidence-based parent training (PT) interventions constitute an empirically demonstrated alternative to prevent child maltreatment and neglect, multiple implementation barriers have prevented the large-scale dissemination of evidence-based PT interventions across LAC countries. This selective prevention study consisted of an exploratory quasi-experimental design implemented in Chile, aimed at examining the initial impact of a culturally adapted version of the evidence-based PT intervention known as GenerationPMTO©. The parenting intervention was adapted in a previous pilot study, according to a rigorous model of cultural adaptation. Based on self-reports completed by 281 caregivers, when compared to baseline measurements, significant improvements at intervention completion were observed in the majority of caregivers' parenting practices, as well as child internalizing and externalizing problematic behaviors. This study provides promising initial empirical evidence that efficacious PT interventions developed in the US can be transported to Latin American contexts, as long as they are thoroughly adapted to achieve high contextual and cultural relevance. The rates of child maltreatment across LAC countries constitute an urgent and permanent call for strongly promoting this line of prevention research., (© 2023 Family Process Institute.)

Purpose: We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention research studies focused on strengthening the social information-processing (SIP) skills of children. Methods: A systematic search and review process was employed to identify, screen, and summarize research on SIP-guided interventions. Results: The search recovered 183,184 citations published from 1997 to 2022. After screening, 42 articles were retained for a full-text review. Findings from the 15 studies using more rigorous designs [i.e., 8 individual-level randomized control trials (RCTs), 5 cluster-level RCTs, and 2 quasi-experimental studies with statistical controls for selectivity] suggest that SIP-focused interventions produced statistically significant treatment effects on cognitive skills, with mean effect sizes of 0.35 on encoding, 0.13 on hostile attribution bias, 0.13 on goal formulation, 0.16 on response decision, and—more behaviorally—0.37 on aggressive and disruptive comportment. Conclusions: SIP-focused interventions are effective. If widely implemented, they hold the potential to reduce aggressive behavior in childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cimexus is the property of Revista CIMEXUS 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.)

Objective: This study explored factors associated with public stigma toward individuals misusing alcohol in Mexico. Methods: A randomized experimental vignette methodology was used to assess multiple domains of substance use-related stigma and their relationship to the gender of the vignette subject and the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents. Results: Although levels of stigma toward women who were misusing alcohol did not differ significantly from stigma toward men misusing alcohol, stigma levels and type of stigma reported varied with the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents. Education level, gender, self-stigma and openness to seeking mental health services were differentially associated with the three stigma domains. Conclusions: Accordingly, targeted community based stigma reduction efforts are needed to decrease stigma toward those misusing alcohol, and to support treatment initiation, ongoing treatment engagement and long term recovery efforts. Suggestions for future research on the relationship between substance use and stigma are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to systematically map and synthesise literature on interventions that promote the involvement of parents of school-aged children with disabilities in education. The study focused on peer-reviewed, primary intervention studies published in English between 2000 and 2021. Nine databases were searched, and 21 articles were identified and included in the review. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and narrative analysis was used to synthesise the data. The duration of the interventions varied from 7 to 36 months. Most studies were conducted within the context of high-income countries and focused on parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Most studies reported positive effects on one or more groups: parents, children, schools, and communities. However, there was heterogeneity in the outcome measures used, which limits comparability across interventions. The quality assessment revealed high-/medium-bias risks in most articles. Future research should include higher quality studies driven by theoretical models. The results support the need for more research on parental involvement in the education of children with disabilities, especially intervention studies within the context of low- and medium-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth binge drinking is an important health problem with notable psychosocial consequences. This study estimated the prevalence of and identified factors associated with binge drinking among high school students in Acapulco, Mexico. A cross-sectional study included 5177 students from five high schools. After informed consent, participants received a supervised self-administered questionnaire that collated demographic, socioeconomic, and psycho-affective variables. Bivariate and cluster-adjusted multivariate analysis identified factors associated with binge drinking; the odds ratio adjusted by cluster (ORa) with the Mantel–Haenszel procedure and 99% confidence intervals (CIs) cluster-adjusted (99% CIcla). Period prevalence of binge drinking in the last year was 17.9% (925/5177). Nighttime leisure activities modified the key associations. Among youth with nighttime-leisure, risk factors included history of attempted suicide (ORa 1.82), employee and students (ORa 1.90); and both parents consumed alcohol (ORa 1.47). Risk factors among the group without nocturnal leisure included: age 17 years or more (ORa 1.75); lower grade average ≤8.5 (ORa 1.71); and having a partner (ORa 1.43). Understanding this constellation can help to strengthen local actions aimed at preventing binge drinking and reducing its impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent alcohol and cannabis use are common in Chile. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between perceived parenting practices and alcohol and cannabis use among adolescents in a Latin American context. Methods: We adapted and implemented a substance use prevention strategy in Chile, which included surveys of tenth-grade students from six municipalities in the Metropolitan Region of Greater Santiago. We assessed the reliability and factorial structure of the parenting scale with 16 items, which formed part of the survey. We dichotomized parenting scores into high (above the median) and low. The association of parenting practices with alcohol and cannabis use in adolescents was assessed using multivariate multilevel regression models. Results: A total of 7,538 tenth-grade students from 118 schools were included in the study. The 16-item scale of parenting practices showed good internal consistency (Omega total = 0.84), and three factors representing Relationship between parents and adolescents, Norms and monitoring, and Parents knowing their children's friends and the parents of their children's friends. High total scores of parenting were associated with lower odds of lifetime alcohol use (OR 0.57; 95% CI: 0.49-0.65), past-month alcohol use (OR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.57-0.70), lifetime drunkenness (OR 0.64; 95% CI: 0.58-0.72), and lifetime cannabis use (OR 0.54; 95% CI: 0.47-0.61). Above median scores on each parenting subscale were associated with significantly lower odds of substance use. The strongest associations were observed for the subscale Norms and monitoring. Interactions between parenting and gender showed a significantly stronger effect of parenting practices on alcohol and cannabis use among girls. Conclusion: Different types of parenting practices were associated with a lower prevalence of adolescent alcohol and cannabis use. Improving parenting practices has the potential to prevent adolescent substance use in Chile, especially among girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol and cigarettes are the psychoactive substances that adolescents use most frequently. When both addictions are combined, they carry the worst burden of disease globally. The objective of this study was to identify whether socioeconomic factors correlate with alcohol and tobacco consumption in Mexican adolescents aged 10 years or more and to establish the relationship in the consumption between the two substances. This ecological study utilized data describing alcohol and tobacco consumption among adolescents aged 10–16 years (n = 48,837 ≈ N = 11,621,100). Having ever consumed any alcohol-containing beverage constituted alcohol consumption. Smoking a cigarette within 30 days constituted cigarette consumption. For both variables, the state-level percentages reported in the survey were used. Diverse socioeconomic variables were collected from official sources. Data on the prevalence of tobacco use and alcohol consumption were entered into an Excel database estimated for each of the states of the Mexican Republic, as well as the socioeconomic variables. We performed the analysis using Stata 14. Consumption prevalence was 15.0% for alcohol and 4.2% for tobacco. Alcohol consumption was not correlated with any studied socioeconomic variable (p > 0.05). The prevalence of tobacco consumption among elementary school students correlated (p < 0.05) with the portion of the population living in private dwellings without sewage, drainage, or sanitation (r = 0.3853). The prevalence of tobacco consumption among middle-school adolescents correlated with the portion of the employed population that earned up to two minimum wages (r = 0.3960), the percentage in poverty by income 2008 (r = 0.4754) and 2010 (r = 0.4531), and the percentage in extreme poverty by income 2008 (r = 0.4612) and 2010 (r = 0.4291). Positive correlations were found between tobacco consumption and alcohol consumption among both elementary (r = 0.5762, p = 0.0006) and middle-school children (r = 0.7016, p = 0.0000). These results suggest that certain socioeconomic factors correlate with tobacco consumption but not alcohol consumption. A correlation between alcohol consumption and tobacco consumption was observed. The results can be used for developing interventions in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latinx youth, members of an ethnic minority group growing faster than the national growth rate, are at increased risk of experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) but it remains unclear how ACEs relate to externalizing behaviors, such as substance use and behaviors leading to injury and violence, in this population. In a sample of 100 Latinx youth, the current study examined how ACEs related to drug use and behaviors leading to injury and violence. Exposure to ACEs was associated with increased drug use, and that association was significantly moderated by behaviors leading to injury and violence for Latina adolescents. Given these findings, more attention needs to be diverted to screening for ACEs and externalizing behaviors in Latina girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discrepancies between parent and youth perceptions of their relationship are a common aspect of generational acculturation gaps influencing immigrant families. Programs designed to strengthen parenting practices among immigrant Latino families commonly address immigration stresses, including differences between parent and youth perceptions, but little is known about discrepancies in their appraisals of program effects on parenting behavior. A randomized trial was conducted examining effects on parent behavior of a program for immigrant families with youth aged 10-14, developed through community-based participatory research principles. Families (346 parents and youth) were recruited by organizations serving Latino families in a Midwestern metropolitan area and randomly assigned to the eight-session psychoeducation and skill-building program or a waitlist control. Parents and youth completed self-report measures at pre-intervention, post-intervention (4 months), and a 6-month follow-up regarding parents' expression of acceptance, efforts to solicit information about the child's experiences, and consistency of discipline, key foci of the program. Based on social cognition theory, the study focused on possible differences in parents' and youths' perceptions of change in parenting behavior. Parents in the treatment group reported pre-post improved acceptance, consistent discipline, and solicitation, whereas youth reported improvement only in parental solicitation, a pattern maintained at follow-up. In the control group, the only change was youth-reported reduction in parental acceptance. Parents' perceptions of improvement are encouraging, but overall lack of improvements from the youth perspective poses a potential problem for impact on parent-child relations. Interventions may need to target both parent and youth cognitions about behavior changes directly., (© 2024 The Authors. Family Process published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Family Process Institute.)

Parent training (PT) interventions constitute an empirically demonstrated alternative to promote effective parenting practices and prevent child behavioral and mental health problems. However, the dissemination of evidence‐based PT interventions across Latin America remains scarce. This qualitative study had the primary objective of evaluating the level of acceptability of a culturally adapted version of the PT intervention known as GenerationPMTO©, adapted for the Chilean context. According to qualitative reports provided by 24 Chilean caregivers exposed to the culturally adapted parenting intervention, the intervention was perceived by caregivers as useful for their parenting practices, as well as contextually and culturally relevant. Current qualitative findings indicate that the culturally adapted PT intervention holds promise for larger dissemination in the Chilean context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article focuses on the demand side of parenting programs, in addition to the traditionally studied supply side and argues that a path to scale of parenting programs must align and equally acknowledge supply and demand side domains and characteristics, whereas historically they are addressed in silos. Evidence suggests that a core set of factors such as policy and contextual affordances and personal characteristics, skills, and motivations influence entry and engagement. For effective scaling, the article argues for the synergy between systems coherence, workforce, governance, and social-political mobilization of parents.Objective.Design.Results.Conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Violence in schools is a global issue. Approximately 32% of Mexican students have experienced some form of violence in the school setting in their lives. Previous research has tended to focus on the causes of violence and antisocial behaviors in offenders or adolescent samples and has found evidence to suggest the underlying role of environmental and personal factors. The present study investigates the effect of positive school environment and agreeableness as protective factors against antisocial behaviors in a sample of undergraduate and graduate students (n = 304) from northwestern Mexico. Our results demonstrate that a positive school environment has a negative effect on antisocial behaviors via mood and anxiety disorders as well as in interaction with agreeableness, suggesting an interplay between personality and environment. These findings can provide some basis for the development of university programs aimed at fostering positive environments that promote student mental health and protect against antisocial behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: This article reports on a test of a youth substance use prevention program conducted in Nogales-Sonora, a Mexican city on the US border. Objective: The study tested the efficacy of a version of the keepin' it REAL curriculum for middle school students that was culturally adapted for Mexico and renamed Mantente REAL. Methods: Students in 7th grade classrooms in four public schools participated in the study (N = 1,418, 49% female, mean age = 11.9). Using a clustered randomized design, two schools received the intervention and two served as a treatment-as-usual control group. Regular classroom teachers were trained to deliver the twelve-lesson Mantente REAL manualized curriculum. Parents provided active consent and students gave written assent to collect pretest and posttest questionnaire data, 7 months apart, at the beginning and end of the 2017-2018 academic year. We assessed the Mantente REAL intervention with general linear models adjusted for baseline, attrition, non-linear distributions, and school-level clustering. Results: Students who participated in Mantente REAL reported relatively less frequent use of alcohol and illicit drugs other than marijuana, compared to students in control schools. Males alone reported desirable intervention effects for marijuana use. These desirable effects were especially strong among students who reported higher initial levels of involvement in risky behaviors. Among students more at risk, both females and males receiving the program reported relative reductions in the frequency of use of alcohol and illicit drugs. Conclusions: These promising results within the Mexico-US border context support a further dissemination of the intervention and additional youth prevention research in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses how decision-makers can be supported to strengthen a culture of prevention. This article presents an example of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's (UNODC) work to engage with decision-makers to create readiness, demand, and capacity for evidence-based prevention programming among them, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. First, we utilized two of the UNODC's data sources to describe the context where the UNODC's prevention efforts take place. Analysis of the first dataset on prevention activities implemented globally revealed a gap in translating evidence into practice on a global scale. The second dataset consisted of UNODC policy documents mandating and guiding global action to address substance use. The analysis showed that at the level of political frameworks, prevention is gradually gaining more attention but is still frequently left in the shadow of health- and law enforcement-related issues. In addition, these guiding documents did not reflect fully the current scientific understanding of what constitutes an effective prevention response. Against this background, the feasibility of the UNODC's efforts to bridge the science–practice gap in the field of prevention was discussed by presenting the results from the UNODC's regional capacity-building seminars focused on the role of monitoring and evaluation in prevention programming. The results showed potential of this capacity building to affect the attitudes and knowledge of targeted decision-makers. Such efforts to increase decision-makers' readiness and ultimately their endorsement, adoption, and ongoing support of evidence-based preventive interventions should be continued and intensified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relevant initiatives are being implemented in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) aimed at strengthening a culture of prevention. However, cumulative contextual factors constitute significant barriers for implementing rigorous prevention science in these contexts, as defined by guidelines from high-income countries (HICs). Specifically, disseminating a culture of prevention in LMICs can be impacted by political instability, limited health coverage, insecurity, limited rule of law, and scarcity of specialized professionals. This manuscript offers a contribution focused on strengthening a culture of prevention in LMICs. Specifically, four case studies are presented illustrating the gradual development of contrasting prevention initiatives in northern and central Mexico, Panamá, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The initiatives share the common goal of strengthening a culture of prevention in LMICs through the dissemination of efficacious parenting programs, aimed at reducing child maltreatment and improving parental and child mental health. Together, these initiatives illustrate the following: (a) the relevance of adopting a definition of culture of prevention characterized by national commitments with expected shared contributions by governments and civil society, (b) the need to carefully consider the impact of context when promoting prevention initiatives in LMICs, (c) the iterative, non-linear, and multi-faceted nature of promoting a culture of prevention in LMICs, and (d) the importance of committing to cultural competence and shared leadership with local communities for the advancement of prevention science in LMICs. Implications for expanding a culture of prevention in LMICs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family skills training programs (FSTPs) are the interventions of choice for the prevention of alcohol and drug use worldwide. However, the majority of evidence about their effectiveness comes from high-income countries, such as the United States and European countries. Several systematic reviews point to the lack of research on the effectiveness of FSTPs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Most importantly, to our knowledge, no review has explored the evidence on FSTPs exclusively in the Latin America. This critical reflection aims to (1) re-state a rationale for the prevention of alcohol and drug use through FSTPs in Latin America, (2) briefly review the existing literature, both in Spanish and English, on FSTPs in Latin America, (3) explore the challenges in the field of FSTPs in Latin America, and (4) provide recommendations for future research that could increase access and promote implementation and sustainability of FSTPs to prevent drug and alcohol use in the region. The paper is written from the perspective of a team of researchers evaluating FSTPs in Panama and narrates experiences and challenges encountered when conducting such studies in low-resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning provides a method of identifying factors that discriminate between substance users and non-users potentially improving our ability to match need with available prevention services within context with limited resources. Our aim was to utilize machine learning to identify high impact factors that best discriminate between substance users and non-users among a national sample (N = 52,171) of Mexican children (i.e., 5th, 6th grade; Mage = 10.40, SDage = 0.82). Participants reported information on individual factors (e.g., gender, grade, religiosity, sensation seeking, self-esteem, perceived risk of substance use), socioecological factors (e.g., neighborhood quality, community type, peer influences, parenting), and lifetime substance use (i.e., alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalant). Findings suggest that best friend and father illicit substance use (i.e., drugs other than tobacco or alcohol) and respondent sex (i.e., boys) were consistent and important discriminators between children who tried substances and those that did not. Friend cigarette use was a strong predictor of lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Friend alcohol use was specifically predictive of lifetime alcohol and tobacco use. Perceived danger of engaging in frequent alcohol and inhalant use predicted lifetime alcohol and inhalant use. Overall, findings suggest that best friend and father illicit substance use and respondent's sex appear to be high impact screening questions associated with substance initiation during childhood for Mexican youths. These data help practitioners narrow prevention efforts by helping identify youth at highest risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP) is a structured psychotherapeutic intervention that aims to improve existential and spiritual well-being in patients with advanced cancer. To validate it, several efficacy studies with predominantly non-Hispanic white patients have been done. Puerto Ricans residing on the island are a largely overlooked segment of the US Latinx population. They have a strong national identity and are embedded in a collectivist culture which shares the Spanish language, cultural traditions, and an emphasis on familism, a cultural factor that values the role of the family in ensuring the well-being of its members.Objective: The purpose of this study is to present a case study focused on a Puerto Rican advanced cancer patient who underwent MCP to assess the comprehension and acceptance of the MCP intervention.Method: We used a mixed-methods study design that included the taking of ethnographic notes, and pre- and post-test assessments of the scores the patient received on all the measures (using validated scales). The ethnographic notes were analyzed to determine the participant's comprehension and acceptance of the MCP intervention. Content analysis was performed on the ethnographic notes by three independent coders using a deductive coding approach. Pre- and post-interview assessments were conducted to explore changes in distress, spiritual well-being, and self-perceived quality of life.Results: A Latino patient with stage III cancer, low income, and low literacy skills showed low comprehension of the concepts of meaning, the finite, legacy, and moderate comprehension and acceptance of the concepts of the search for hope, purpose in life, connecting with life, courage, life's limitations, and sources of meaning. However, the patient showed high comprehension of death and dying (i.e., meaningful death). The patient showed low acceptance of death and dying concepts and high acceptance of the integration of family members into the therapy.Significance Of Results: Additional studies are needed to address cultural themes and to improve the comprehensibility and acceptance of the manual's content and the central MCP concepts. The findings suggest that MCP has the potential of being a feasible form of psychotherapy for Latinx patients suffering from distress, low spiritual well-being, and low self-perceived QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A binational team of investigators culturally adapted, implemented, and tested the efficacy in Mexico of keepin' it REAL, a US-designed prevention intervention for youth. This article reports on the social validity of the adapted intervention by assessing its feasibility, acceptability, and utility, as perceived by participating middle school students, teachers/implementers, and school administrators. Middle schools (N = 36) were randomly assigned to (1) the culturally adapted version for Mexico (Mantente REAL), (2) the original intervention from the USA (keepin' it REAL) translated into Spanish, or (3) a control condition (treatment as usual). Adult and child feedback about the adapted and original versions of the intervention indicate that both are feasible to implement in the Mexican context. Implementation fidelity was equally high for both versions of the manualized intervention. Students, however, were more satisfied with the culturally adapted version than with the non-adapted version. They reported gaining more knowledge, finding it more acceptable, applicable, and authentic, and they reported discussing the program with their family and friends more often. The findings support the feasibility of engaging classroom teachers to implement manualized prevention programs in Mexico. These findings also advance prevention science by documenting the importance of cultural adaptation as a means to increase students' identification with and acceptability of efficacious school-based interventions. The article discusses the practice, policy, and future prevention research implications of the findings for Mexico and their potential generalizability to other middle- and lower-income countries., (© 2022. Society for Prevention Research.)

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Implementation of evidence-based cancer prevention and early detection in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) is challenging. Limited and inappropriate introduction of novel alternatives results in an equity gap whereby low-income populations receive a lower benefit. Implementation research represents an opportunity to foster the adoption and expansion of evidence-based cancer control strategies; however, scientific development in high-income countries does not necessarily fulfill the particular needs of LMIC in the field. A review on the link between implementation research and practice, the tension between theory and pragmatism, the conflict around implementation research methods, and determinants of research priority definition was carried out by considering the perspective of cancer prevention and early detection implementers in LMIC. Basic principles and alternatives to overcome implementation research challenges in these settings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective and emotionally nurturing parenting practices constitute salient protective factors in the lives of children and youth. Although social workers have influenced in important ways the scholarship associated with the development and dissemination of culturally relevant evidence-based parenting interventions for underserved populations, low-income ethnic minorities continue to lack access to culturally relevant and efficacious parenting interventions in the United States due to widespread mental health disparities. Addressing this gap in service delivery is necessary, particularly because populations exposed to historical oppression and intense contextual adversity are at an increased risk for engaging in harsh parenting practices. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the process of change that we have documented as a group of 130 underserved Latino/a immigrant parents were exposed to a culturally adapted evidence-based parenting intervention. An emphasis on describing the process of change leading to improved outcomes is relevant for clinical social workers engaged in the direct delivery of preventative or clinical parenting interventions. Thus, this manuscript will focus on issues of engagement and retention of parents, with important consideration to the importance of integrating evidence-based knowledge, cultural relevance, and key principles of social work practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the efficacy of a version of the keepin' it REAL (kiREAL) substance use prevention curriculum for middle school students that was culturally adapted for Mexico, renamed Mantente REAL (MREAL), and tested in a cluster randomized controlled trial in Mexico's three largest cities. Student participants were in 7th grade in public middle schools (N = 5523, 49% female, mean age = 11.9). A representative sample of 12 schools from each city, stratified by whether they held morning or afternoon sessions, was randomized to three conditions: culturally adapted MREAL, original kiREAL translated into Spanish, or a treatment-as-usual control group. Regular classroom teachers were trained to deliver the adapted MREAL or the kiREAL manualized curricula. Students with active parental consent completed pretest and post-test questionnaires, 7-8 months apart, at the beginning and end of the 2017-2018 academic year. We assessed the MREAL intervention, relative to kiREAL and controls, with general linear models adjusted for baseline, attrition (24%), non-normal distributions, stratification by city, and school-level clustering. Among students already using the substance more often at pretest, MREAL students had relatively more desirable outcomes, compared to kiREAL and/or to controls, in recent use of alcohol, cigarettes, "hard drugs," heavy episodic drinking, and intoxication. MREAL students reported relatively less violence victimization and perpetration of bullying and relatively more use of three of the intervention's REAL drug resistance strategies (Explain, Avoid, Leave). The adapted version of kiREAL for Mexico showed numerous desired outcomes in areas deliberately targeted in the cultural adaptation. Full protocol can be accessed through Clinical Trials.gov. ID: NCT03233386, "'Keepin' It REAL in Mexico: An adaptation and multisite RCT".

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Copyright of Family Process is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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 Family Process is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

In this manuscript, we describe the initial steps of an international program of prevention research in Monterrey, México. Specifically, we present a feasibility study focused on exploring the level of acceptability reported by a group of Mexican mothers who were exposed to a culturally adapted parenting intervention originally developed in the United States. The efficacious intervention adapted in this investigation is known as Parent Management Training, the Oregon Model (PMTO(®)). Following a description of our international partnership, we describe the implementation of the pilot study aimed at determining initial feasibility. Qualitative data provided by 40 Mexican mothers exposed to the culturally adapted parenting intervention illustrate the participants' high level of receptivity toward the intervention, as well as the beneficial impact on their parenting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender differences in alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs use in Mexico are rapidly disappearing. This study explores the possible relationship between engaging in romantic relationships on substance use offers and the moderating effects of gender among a group of adolescents ( N = 432) living in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The data used to test these relationships were collected through self-administered surveys in 2010. OLS regressions were estimated, predicting substance offers. The results demonstrate an association between having been in a relationship and receiving substance use offers in the previous 12 months. Having had a boyfriend/girlfriend had a significant influence on the offers received by adolescent females, but not for males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Despite the large number of evidence-based practices (EBPs) ready for implementation, they are the exception in usual care, especially for ethnic minority patients, who may not have access to trained health professionals. Providing EBP training as part of a graduate curriculum could help build the pipeline of professionals to provide quality care. Methods: We conducted a before-after study to determine whether we could implement a blended learning strategy (BL; i.e., in vivo and online training) to teach an EBP in university settings. Feasibility in this pilot was operationalized as knowledge acquisition, satisfaction, fidelity, acceptability, and usability. Using GenerationPMTO as the EBP, our aim was to train graduate students enrolled in Psychology, Social Work, and Family Therapy programs in the EBP in one academic year. Two therapists from a community agency were also students in this pilot. A total of 13 students from five universities were trained in the intervention. Adaptations were made to the intervention and training strategy to optimize training fidelity. Focus groups were conducted with the students to capture their perspective about the training. Results: Students demonstrated significant knowledge acquisition from baseline (Mean = 61.79, SD = 11.18) to training completion (Mean = 85.27, SD = 5.08, mean difference = − 23.48, 95% CI = − 29.62, − 17.34). They also reported satisfaction with the BL format, as measured by teaching evaluations at the end of the course. Instructors received acceptable fidelity scores (range of 7–9 in a 9-point scale). Qualitative findings from focus groups showed support for acceptability and usability of BL training. Conclusions: BL training in university settings can be conducted with fidelity when provided by appropriately trained instructors. BL that integrates EBP and adaptations may be uniquely applicable for training providers in low-resource and ethnically diverse settings. The BL enhanced knowledge of GenerationPMTO was acceptable and usable to students, and was delivered with high instructor fidelity to the training model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]