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Objective : Examine predictors of alcohol misuse among university students amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants : University students who completed the National College Health Assessment III before, during, and after the pandemic lockdown. Methods : Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined associations between psychological functioning, time spent with family and friends, and problematic alcohol use. Results : Alcohol use decreased, and psychological functioning was poorest one year after COVID-19-related university closures. While indicators of psychological functioning started to improve in the second year after the school closures, alcohol use started to increase. Overall stress, spending more time with friends, and fraternity/sorority residence significantly predicted moderate to high risk for alcohol dependence and binge drinking two years post-pandemic. Severe psychological distress (OR= 1.36, CI = 1.22, 1.52, p  < 0.001) predicted moderate to high risk for alcohol dependence but not binge drinking. Conclusion : Innovative mental health interventions are needed to reduce alcohol misuse among university students.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to major disruptions in the lives of university students, which is a population that is already at a greater risk of mental health concerns. Little is known about how the pandemic impacted distress and mental health services utilization among university students across the United States., Methods: Using survey data from the National College Health Assessment, both before the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-March 2020, n  = 88,986) and during the pandemic (Spring 2021, n  = 96,489), the present study examined mental health symptoms and utilization of mental health services among undergraduate students attending four-year universities in the United States., Results: There were notable increases in measures of psychological distress and reductions in well-being from before the pandemic to during the pandemic. However, overall utilization rates of mental health services slightly decreased from pre-pandemic to during the pandemic. Predictors of severe psychological distress included those who experienced loneliness, COVID-19 related stressors, and loss of a loved one from COVID-19. COVID-related stressors and loneliness were associated with higher utilization rates of mental health services, while well-being and resilience were associated with lower utilization rates., Discussion: Analyses revealed that several demographic groups were at an elevated risk for severe psychological distress, including non-binary, female, and sexual minority students, and especially those who identify as both non-binary and non-heterosexual. Results indicated that students of color, especially female students of color, were less likely to receive mental health services. Future research is needed to increase our understanding of the barriers to mental health service use among high-risk university students., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Russell, Abidogun, Lindley and Griffin.)

Objectives: New prevention approaches that use engaging and innovative technologies are needed to reduce high rates of substance use and violence among university students. The present study developed and pilot-tested virtual reality (VR) technology that presented university students with immersive environments where they practiced skills with virtual peers. Methods: After viewing e-learning modules with prevention content, students engaged with immersive VR module prototypes to practice cognitive-behavioral skills for preventing risk behaviors, including assertive communication, negotiation, compromise, conflict resolution, and bystander intervention strategies. Results: Paired t-tests showed increases in life skills knowledge and anti-violence attitudes among students from the pretest to posttest assessments. Students and educators were enthusiastic about the VR prototypes, rating them as feasible, relevant, appealing, engaging, and innovative for prevention. Participants provided feedback on ways to improve the VR experience by including a greater variety of conflict situations, more nuanced branched scenarios and response options, and a more complete representation of all scenario outcomes. Conclusions: Findings suggest that VR scenarios are a promising strategy for enhancing life skills to help prevent health risk behaviors among university students., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Authors G.J.B., C.W., and S.M.S. are employees at National Health Promotion Associates (NHPA), which markets the Life Skills Training prevention program. K.W.G is a former employee of NHPA and currently serves as a consultant to NHPA.

This study examined the prevalence and psychosocial predictors of the non-medical use of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications and compared these to cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol use in a cohort of early adolescents ( N = 1887) aged 11 to 13, a critical risk period for the initiation of substance use. Participants were students attending 22 middle schools in the northeastern United States. Participants completed surveys in the classroom, the first in the sixth grade and a second in the seventh grade, and the rate of overall substance use more than doubled from 5.5% to 11.9% over this period. Predictors of the onset of non-medical prescription and over-the-counter drug misuse overlapped substantially with those for marijuana and other substances. The perception of friends' substance use and the belief that substance use can help you deal with problems predicted the onset of marijuana use, OTC medication misuse, and prescription drug misuse. Decision-making skills were protective for the onset of all substance use outcomes. The findings of this study have important implications for prevention and suggest that a single comprehensive approach may be sufficient for preventing multiple forms of substance use onset during early adolescence.

Most universal drug abuse prevention efforts target early adolescents with the goal of delaying or preventing the onset of substance use. The present study examined long-term follow-up data from a large-scale randomized trial of a school-based prevention program that used cognitive-behavioral skills-training techniques to enhance social and personal competence skills and drug refusal skills. The preventive intervention was implemented in junior high schools, and pretest data were collected from students in the classroom. Approximately 13 years later, follow-up data were collected by mail from 2042 young adults. Rates of overall lifetime illicit drug use, as well as lifetime marijuana use, marijuana intoxication, and lifetime non-medical pill use, were lower among students who received the prevention program (Life Skills Training) during junior high school compared to control group participants. These findings support the hypothesis that comprehensive, universal school-based prevention programs can produce long-term effects on illicit drug use behavior., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr. Botvin has a financial interest in the Life Skills Training (LST) program and his consulting company, National Health Promotion Associates (NHPA), provides teacher training and technical assistance for LST. Dr. Griffin is a consultant to NHPA., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Sexual violence and substance use are important public health problems among university students. The present study examined rates of sexual violence victimization, perpetration, and substance use among first-year university women. Participants ( n = 974) attending 14 universities across the United States completed an online confidential survey at the beginning and again later in their first year. The sample included women who identified as heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian, and asexual or questioning. The mean age was 19.1 years and 71.4% were White. Rates of victimization involving sexual harassment and sexual acts without consent were higher among sexual minority women relative to heterosexual women, with bisexual women being most likely to report these outcomes. Compared to heterosexual women, sexual minority women reported more frequent cigarette smoking, marijuana use and intoxication, use of club drugs, and overall illicit drug use. Across sexual violence and substance use outcomes, bisexual women reported the highest rates. Sexual minority women reported more accurate beliefs about sexual violence and consent relative to heterosexual women. Over the course of the first year, bisexual women and those who used illicit substances were more likely to report new incidents of sexual violence victimization. Implications for prevention of sexual violence among women, including sexual minorities, are discussed.

Background: Effective school-based programs for preventing substance abuse offer considerable public health potential. Yet limited class time and uneven implementation fidelity can be barriers to widespread adoption and high-quality implementation. A hybrid digital approach may be effective and help address these barriers., Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a hybrid substance abuse prevention program for middle school students consisting of e-learning modules and in-person class sessions., Design: Twenty-three United States (U.S.) middle schools were randomly assigned either to an intervention condition (13 schools) or a treatment-as-usual control condition (10 schools) where standard health education material was delivered. There were 1,447 participants who completed the pre-test and post-test assessments, of which 48.3% were male and 51.7% female., Intervention: The hybrid digital intervention consisted of 14 brief e-learning modules and six classroom sessions adapted from an evidence-based program designed for classroom implementation to increase knowledge of adverse consequences of substance use and improve social skills, personal coping skills, and skills for resisting social influences to smoke, drink, or use drugs., Measures: Participating students completed online pre-test and post-test surveys to assess substance use, knowledge, and life skills., Results: There were significant reductions in substance use for the hybrid digital condition compared to the control condition as well as significant increases in health knowledge, skills knowledge, and life skills., Conclusions: A hybrid digital approach to substance abuse prevention is effective and offers potential for overcoming common barriers to widespread adoption and high-quality implementation., Competing Interests: Authors CW, CB, SS, and GB are employees at National Health Promotion Associates (NHPA), which markets the program adapted and tested in this project. Author KG is a former employee of NHPA and currently serves as a consultant to NHPA., (Copyright © 2022 Griffin, Williams, Botvin, Sousa and Botvin.)

Typically, schools implement health promotion programs that focus on a single behavioral domain. Multiple related health topics may be addressed using separate interventions, potentially producing overlap in program content. However, integrative approaches in health promotion have the potential to produce interventions capable of improving multiple health behaviors. In particular, more research is needed to identify the conditions and the factors that can promote the transfer of learning to broaden the target outcomes of health promotion programs. The present study aims to identify the characteristics of an evidence-based life skills education program that can facilitate the transfer of learning to different health behaviors not initially targeted by the program, and the strategies for achieving successful transfer. A two round Delphi method was used with a diverse group of 21 experts in health promotion, life skills education, and methods of pedagogy for early adolescent students. Questionnaires with open and closed-ended questions were administered on-line. Content qualitative analysis was run, integrating codes, subcategories, and categories of the two rounds of the study. Results showed strong consensus among experts about the potential for promoting the transfer of skills from one health domain to another. Many elements were identified as important factors that facilitate the transfer of learning. Strategies for successful transfer were related to teaching methods, educational approaches, and consistency with the broader school curriculum. Findings suggest that the successful transfer of learning to a new health domain requires that educators recognize its importance and explicitly designate it as an educational aim., Competing Interests: KG is a consultant to National Health Promotion Associates, Inc., which markets materials for the LifeSkills Training prevention program. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Velasco, Celata, Griffin and Estensione LST group.)

This study tested the effectiveness of a small-group preventive intervention designed to prevent unwanted sexual contact among cadets at the US Air Force Academy. Among cadets in the incoming class of 2021, unwanted sexual contact was cut by nearly half in the intervention group relative to the control group. This study is one of the first rigorously designed trials to demonstrate a significant impact on unwanted sexual contact among students attending a US military service academy. Trial Registration . ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03839797.

The legalization of medical and recreational marijuana has raised concerns about a potential increase in the availability and illegal use of marijuana by adolescent minors. To better understand the etiology, patterns, and consequences of adolescent marijuana use, this article reviews high quality, methodologically rigorous, longitudinal studies that focus on the role of personality factors such as sensation-seeking in the etiology of use, developmental trajectories of use and the effects of chronic use, potential gateway effects of marijuana on other illicit drugs, and its role in the onset of psychiatric disorders in adolescents and young adults. Implications are discussed in terms of mechanisms that account for initial and continued use of marijuana by adolescents, how use is associated with key developmental milestones and adult role socialization, and the potential of marijuana use during adolescence in furthering later drug involvement., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Individuals use a variety of strategies to manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors across the lifespan. In this study, we used latent class analysis to derive distinct subtypes of self-management skills in early adolescence and latent transition analysis to examine whether movement between different classes was associated with later young adult alcohol use. Assessments of behavioral self-control, affective self-regulation, and cognitive self-reinforcement were obtained in the seventh and 10th grades from students participating in two independent drug prevention trials (control group participants only, N = 3,939). Assessment of alcohol use was obtained when participants were young adults (23-26). A model distinguishing four subtypes of self-management skills fit best for both the seventh and 10th grades. While findings indicated modest stability in class structure over time, maintaining class membership characterized by high cognitive self-reinforcement and high affective self-regulation was consistently protective in terms of young adult alcohol use relative to movement from this to other classes. Transitions in class membership involving an expansion of self-management strategies were protective and associated with lower levels of young adult alcohol use and transitions involving a contraction of self-management strategies associated with higher young adult alcohol use. This study illustrates the important use of person-centered techniques to exemplify how typologies of self-management during adolescence can play a protective role in young adult alcohol use.

Background: Universal school-based prevention programs for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use are typically designed for all students within a particular school setting. However, it is unclear whether such broad-based programs are effective for youth at risk for substance use and violence in juvenile justice settings., Method: The present study tested the feasibility, appropriateness, and efficacy of a preventive intervention to reduce risk factors for substance use and delinquency among youth in juvenile justice diversionary settings by promoting positive youth development and building personal strengths and prosocial relationships. Participants in the study (N = 288) were predominantly male (69%) and in the 9th grade (14 years old) or higher (91%), received the preventive intervention, and completed confidential questionnaires at the pre-test and post-test., Results: The majority of youth who participated in the intervention rated the program topics (77.9%) and activities (72%) as appropriate for their age, would recommend it to their peers (73.6%), and would use the skills learned in the future (85.4%). Comparison of post-test adjusted means revealed that the prevention program had a significant positive impact on key knowledge, attitudes, and skills including goal-setting, stress-management, and communication skills., Conclusions: The findings indicate that an evidence-based prevention approach adapted for youth diversionary settings can be effectively implemented and well-received by participating youth, and can produce positive changes in psychosocial skills and protective factors known to prevent multiple risk behaviors among youth. Future efforts to implement substance use prevention in community juvenile justice settings may benefit from highlighting a positive youth development, skills-based approach.

The present longitudinal study examined the relationship between patterns of cigarette smoking and alcohol use during adolescence and illicit drug abuse (DA) and prescription drug abuse (PDA) in early adulthood. The sample consisted of 984 predominantly minority young adults (57% women) who completed (a) six annual surveys as adolescents attending New York City public schools (grades 7 through 12) and (b) a follow-up telephone interview as young adults (mean age = 23). Findings from a series of latent growth models indicated that growth in cigarette smoking and alcohol use during adolescence each independently predicted DA in adulthood. Baseline levels of alcohol use in 7th grade also predicted DA in adulthood. Growth in alcohol consumption during adolescence predicted PDA in young adulthood. Results indicate that an escalation during adolescence in the use of substances that are legal for adults (cigarettes and alcohol) contributes to greater DA and PDA in young adulthood. One implication of these findings is that interventions that can prevent cigarette smoking and alcohol use during adolescence may also reduce DA and PDA in young adults.

Aim: To evaluate health- and vision-related quality of life (HR- and VR-QoL) and perceptual visual dysfunction (PVD) in adolescents with hydrocephalus surgically treated in infancy., Methods: In total, 23 adolescents (15 males and 8 females; median age 14.9 years) with hydrocephalus and 31 controls were evaluated using validated instruments to measure HR-QoL and VR-QoL. PVDs were reported by history taking in five areas: recognition, orientation, depth, movement and simultaneous perception., Results: Adolescents with hydrocephalus and the parent proxy reports showed lower mean total Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 scores (75.8 and 63.7, respectively) compared with controls (87.6 and 91.5), p = 0.016 and p < 0.0001. Parent-reported scores were lower than self-reported scores (p = 0.001). Adolescents with myelomeningocele (n = 10) showed lower physical health scores (p = 0.001). No VR-QoL difference was found between groups. PVDs were reported in ≥1 area by 14/23 hydrocephalus participants and 2/31 controls (p < 0.0001). Associations were found in the hydrocephalus group between VR-QoL and HR-QoL (r s  = 0.47, p = 0.026) and number of PVD areas (r s  = -0.6, p = 0.003)., Conclusion: Adolescents with hydrocephalus and their parents reported lower HR-QoL and more PVDs. These problems indicate the need for not only ophthalmological follow-ups but also evaluation of QoL and PVDs in individuals with infantile hydrocephalus., (© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Paediatrica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation Acta Paediatrica.)

Evidence-based preventive interventions for adolescent substance use, violence, and mental health issues are increasingly being adapted and disseminated internationally. In the present paper, we report the results of an effectiveness study that was part of a comprehensive initiative by a coalition of health promotion organizations in the Lombardy region of Italy to select, culturally adapt, implement, evaluate, and sustain an evidence-based drug abuse prevention program developed in the USA. Findings are presented from a large-scale effectiveness study of the Life Skills Training prevention program among over 3000 students attending 55 middle schools in Italy. The prevention program taught drug refusal skills, antidrug norms, personal self-management skills, and general social skills. Relative to comparison group students, students who received the prevention program were less likely to initiate smoking at the post-test and 2-year follow-up, and less likely to initiate weekly drunkenness at the 1-year follow-up. The program had direct positive effects on several cognitive, attitudinal, and skill variables believed to play a protective role in adolescent substance use. The findings from this study show that a drug abuse prevention program originally designed for adolescents in the USA is effective in a sample of Italian youth when a rigorous and systematic approach to cultural adaptation is followed that incorporates the input of multiple stakeholders.

Objective: The onset of psychosis typically occurs during adolescence or early adulthood and can have a detrimental impact on social and cognitive development. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) shows promise in reducing the risk of psychosis. Teaching families to apply CBT with their offspring may bolster therapeutic gains made in time-limited treatment. We developed a comprehensive group-and-family-based CBT (GF-CBT) program that aims to facilitate psychosocial recovery, decrease symptoms and prevent transition to psychosis in youth at risk. GF-CBT is grounded in ecological systems and cognitive theories, resilience models and research on information processing in delusions. The theoretical rationale and description of GF-CBT are presented together with a pilot study that evaluated the program's feasibility and explored participants' outcomes., Methods: Youth ages 16-21 at risk for psychosis and their families participated in an open trial with pre, post and 3-month follow-up assessments conducted by an independent evaluator. The Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States was the primary clinical outcome measure., Results: All enrolled participants (n = 6) completed GF-CBT and all remitted from at-risk mental state (ARMS). As a group participants showed statistically significant decreases in attenuated psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms, depression, cognitive biases and improvements in functioning. Family members showed significant improvements in use of CBT skills, enhanced communication with their offspring, and greater confidence in their ability to help. Gains were maintained at follow-up., Conclusions: GF-CBT may delay or prevent transition to psychosis in youth at risk, and potentially facilitate recovery from ARMS. More rigorous, controlled research is needed to further evaluate this program., (© 2015 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

The current study explored the relationships between parenting practices and adolescent drug use. Suburban middle school students (N = 2129) completed survey that included measures of perceived parental monitoring, discipline and setting an anti-drug message as well as measures of drug-related knowledge, attitudes and peer norms. Results indicated that effective parenting practices had a direct protective effect in terms of adolescent drug use and that the protective effect of parenting practices remained signifcant after including the effects of parenting on adolescent drug-related knowledge, attitudes and perceived norms in a structural equation model. These findings suggest that effective parenting practices have a robust protective effect on youth drug use via multiple pathways that extend beyond parenting effects on the most proximal predictors of adolescent drug use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between low perceived chances for success in life and binge drinking in a sample of economically disadvantaged, predominantly minority, urban adolescents. METHODS: A sample of predominantly black and Hispanic students (N = 774) from 13 inner-city schools completed confidential questionnaires in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. Eight items measured students' estimation of achieving certain adaptive life goals. Students who reported that they typically drink five or more drinks per drinking occasion were identified as binge drinkers. RESULTS: Chi-square proportional analyses indicated that rates of binge drinking increased and perceived life chances decreased for both boys and girls from the 7th to 9th grade. A cross-lagged path analytic model revealed that higher perceived life chances in the 7th grade predicted less binge drinking in the 8th grade, whereas binge drinking in the 8th grade predicted lower perceived life chances in the 9th grade, controlling for change over time in both variables. CONCLUSIONS: Low perceived chances of success in life appear to play a role in the initiation and escalation of binge drinking during early adolescence, with a reciprocal relationship between the two factors developing over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the effectiveness of a substance abuse prevention program in preventing tobacco and alcohol use among elementary school students in grades 3 through 6. The prevention program teaches social resistance skills and general personal and social competence skills. Rates of substance use behavior, attitudes, knowledge, normative expectations, and related variables were examined among students (N =1090) from 20 schools that were randomly assigned to either receive the prevention program (9 schools, n = 426) or serve as a control group (11 schools, n = 664). Data were analyzed at both the individuallevel and school-level. Individual-level analyses controlling for gender, race, and family structure showed that intervention students reported less smoking in the past year, higher anti-drinking attitudes, increased substance use knowledge and skills-related knowledge, lower normative expectations for smoking and alcohol use, and higher self-esteem at the posttest assessment, relative to control students. School-level analyses showed that annual prevalence rate was 61% lower for smoking and 25% lower for alcohol use at the posttest assessment in schools that received the prevention program when compared with control schools. In addition, mean self-esteem scores were higher in intervention schools at the posttest assessment relative to control schools. Findings indicate that a school-based substance abuse prevention approach previously found to be effective among middle school students is also effective for elementary school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research suggests that alcohol and drug use among youth may be a function of the total number of etiologic factors present, rather than a specific type of factor. Furthermore, a growing number of studies have found that psychosocial protective factors are important in countering the effects of psychosocial risk. The present study evaluated the buffering effect of cumulative protection on adolescent alcohol use in the presence of high and moderate cumulative risk. A sample of 4,851 7th graders from 37 inner-city schools participated. Students with high scores on the cumulative risk factor index engaged in more alcohol use compared to those with low scores; those with high scores on the cumulative protective factor index engaged in less alcohol use relative to those with low scores. For participants at low risk, level of protection did not affect most measures of alcohol use. However, for both moderate and high risk groups, adolescents with high protection engaged in less alcohol use than those with low protection. These findings suggest that comprehensive alcohol use prevention programs for youth should focus on enhancing a variety. of protective factors in addition to reducing risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across developed countries, experimentation with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs often begins in the early adolescent years. Several evidence-based programs have been developed to prevent adolescent substance use. Many of the most rigorously tested and empirically supported prevention programs were initially developed and tested in the United States. Increasingly, these interventions are being adopted for use in Europe and throughout the world. This paper reports on a large-scale comprehensive initiative designed to select, adapt, implement, and sustain an evidence-based drug abuse prevention program in Italy. As part of a large-scale regionally funded collaboration in the Lombardy region of Italy, we report on processes through which a team of stakeholders selected, translated and culturally adapted, planned, implemented and evaluated the Life Skills Training (LST) school-based drug abuse prevention program, an evidence-based intervention developed in the United States. We discuss several challenges and lessons learned and implications for prevention practitioners and researchers attempting to undertake similar international dissemination projects. We review several published conceptual models designed to promote the replication and widespread dissemination of effective programs, and discuss their strengths and limitations in the context of planning and implementing a complex, large-scale real-world dissemination effort., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for motor vehicle accidents in young drivers. Crashes associated with alcohol consumption typically have greater severity. This study examines the prevalence of driving under the influence among Spanish youth and tests the theory of reasoned action as a model for predicting driving under the influence. Participants included 478 Spanish university students aged 17-26 years. Findings indicated that alcohol was the substance most associated with impaired driving, and was involved in more traffic crashes. Men engage in higher levels of alcohol and other drug use, and perceived less risk in drunk driving (p < .01). The study confirms that alcohol use and driving under the influence of alcohol are highly prevalent in Spanish young people, and some gender differences exist in these behaviors (p < .01). Furthermore, the study confirms the validity of theory of reasoned action as a predictive model of driving under the influence of alcohol among youth in Spain (p < .001) and can help in the design of prevention programs.

This study explored the relationship between trajectories of affective self-regulation skills during secondary school and young adult substance use in a large multi-ethnic, urban sample ( N = 995). During secondary school, participants completed a measure of cognitive and behavioral skills used to control negative, unpleasant emotions or perceived stress. As young adults, participants reported on the frequency and quantity of their alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use in a telephone interview. Controlling for demographic variables, self-regulation did not significantly change over adolescence, although there was significant variation in participants' rates of growth and decline. Lower seventh grade self-regulation and less steep increases in self-regulation were predictive of higher young adult substance use. Male participants had significantly lower initial self-regulation and higher young adult substance use. The results suggest that interventions that build affective self-regulation skills in adolescence may decrease the risk of young adult substance use.

Drug addiction often correlates with criminal behavior. When investigating criminal behavior among individuals grappling with drug addiction, it becomes crucial to scrutinize the influence of dopamine. Substances such as heroin, morphine, methamphetamine and other drugs can cause abnormal dopamine secretion when people are addicted to them, which promotes changes in the brain's reward circuit and emotional balance, thereby increasing susceptibility to criminal behavior. The pivotal role of dopamine within the reward pathway and its regulatory function in emotional processes exert profound influence on behavior following drug simulation. These influences are primarily manifested by three distinct attributes: a singular criminal motive and objective, lack of moral sense, and impulsive decision-making processes. Drawing upon the distinctive dopaminergic dynamics inherent in individuals afflicted by drug addiction, this study advocates for targeted corrective interventions. The preventive paradigm encompasses the cultivation of supportive community environments, the establishment of comprehensive databases, and providing legal education and protection, among other initiatives. In terms of treatment, along with judicial sanctions and protections, exercise regimens and psychotherapeutic interventions are advocated. The corrective endeavor necessitates a synergistic integration of community-based and legalistic frameworks. The objective is to furnish guiding principles for tackling criminal behavior precipitated by aberrant dopamine secretion, underpinned by a scientifically informed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review provides a comprehensive assessment of risk factors related to early sexual intercourse (ESI) among adolescents. We used PRISMA guidelines to identify eligible cohort studies published between January 1999 and December 2020. We searched on three databases: PubMed, Embase and LILACS. Studies were screened for quality and eligibility. Of 2787 identified studies, seven met our inclusion criteria. The studies examined a range of factors, which were organized into four dimensions – individual, family, social and environmental, and sociodemographic. Risk factors with strong associations for ESI were: adolescent and parental substance use, aggression and conduct disorders, family attachment, school achievement, family living situation, and maternal education. Three studies were birth cohorts. This review demonstrates the important roles of substance use, family attachment and academic factors in shaping adolescents' sexual behavior. A strength of this review is its focus on longitudinal studies, enabling exploration of exposures collected before initiation of sexual intercourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many approaches used to deliver social and emotional learning (SEL) in schools. These include both explicit skills-based curricula and more micro strategies, such as behavioral modeling by teachers, incorporating concepts into academic lessons, and creating opportunities for students to apply skills throughout the school day. However, in most SEL studies, implementation "dosage" is measured only as the number of lessons delivered from a curriculum, failing to account for the various approaches to SEL delivery. Currently, there is a lack of measurement approaches that capture SEL implementation dosage across diverse "dose forms." To fill this gap, this study proposes a measure of "Multiform Dosage," which captures four different dose forms: delivering lessons, modeling, incorporating, and applying intervention concepts. We tested a measurement model of Multiform Dosage with data collected during the implementation of TOOLBOX, a school-based SEL program. Multiple forms of implementation dosage were measured through self-report surveys of K-5 classroom teachers (n = 94) in October, December, and May. The four-factor measurement model with one cross-loading showed a good fit to the data with acceptable loadings at each occasion. Measurement weights were equivalent between K-2 and 3–5 grade subgroups except one loading of the Incorporation factor in October. Implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive relationships between the home literacy environment and children's language and literacy development are well-established. However, existing literature has overlooked the potential contributions of the home music environment. Initial evidence indicates positive relationships between the home music environment and children's emerging language and literacy skills, yet it remains unclear whether and how children's home music and literacy environments may be related. Furthermore, parents' sense of self-efficacy is known to impact the home environment provided for their children. Despite being linked with the home literacy environment, parental self-efficacy has not been directly investigated in relation to the home music environment. In the present study, 124 caregivers of preschoolers completed a one-time online survey about their children's home music environment, home literacy environment, and parental self-efficacy. Partial correlations and hierarchical regressions reveal that children's amount of music exposure is associated with qualitative (not quantitative) aspects of the home literacy environment, specifically parents' use of interactive techniques during shared reading. Moreover, parental self-efficacy is associated with children's amount of exposure to music. Overall, these findings support the need to further examine how the home music environment may meaningfully contribute to an enriching learning environment, especially to support language and literacy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early marriage and motherhood have long been prevalent in India, with 44.5% of women aged 20–24 reporting marriage before 18 in NFHS 3 (2005–2006), dropping to 26.8% in NFHS 4 (2015–2016). Early motherhood has also seen a significant decline, with first births by age 18 decreasing from 34.3% in NFHS I to 8.2% in NFHS V. Despite these improvements, significant regional disparities persist due to social, normative, and legal factors. This study investigates the spatial heterogeneity of early marriage and motherhood across Indian districts, offering a multilevel analysis that reveals critical local variations often obscured at broader levels. Understanding these patterns is crucial for targeted policy interventions and addressing the root causes of early marriage and motherhood. Methods: Utilizing data from the fifth round of National Family Health Survey, this study employs multilevel logistic regression and geospatial analysis to assess the determinants and spatial distribution of early marriage and early motherhood among ever-married women in India. The analysis incorporates individual, household, and community-level variables, complemented by spatial analysis techniques, including Empirical Bayes Bivariate Moran's I values and LISA cluster maps, to identify regional patterns and hotspots. Results: This study revealed that educational attainment emerged as a critical determinant, with uneducated women significantly more likely to marry early. Socioeconomic factors, such as poverty and limited mass media exposure, also heightened the risk of early marriage and motherhood. Caste and religion were significantly associated with these events, with marginalized groups facing higher prevalence. Spatial analysis revealed significant geographic disparities, with central and eastern regions showing higher concentrations of early marriage and motherhood. District-level characteristics and the influence of neighboring districts were also significant, highlighting the importance of localized interventions. Conclusions: The findings underscore the critical role of education, economic empowerment, and media literacy in mitigating early marriage and motherhood risks. The study calls for multi-sectoral interventions in geographical hotspots to break the cycle of early family formation and promote reproductive health. Policies enhancing educational opportunities, addressing economic disadvantages, and considering district-specific factors are essential. Comprehensive strategies are necessary to empower women, foster reproductive health, and address the multifaceted nature of early marriage and motherhood in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents' sexual consent behaviors are critical for developing healthy sexual relationships and preventing experiences of sexual violence. This report uses 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data to describe prevalence of asking for sexual consent verbally at last sexual contact among U.S. high school students. Differences in prevalence of asking for sexual consent verbally by sex, age, race and ethnicity, sexual identity, sex of sexual contacts, and gender identity were examined. Differences in asking for sexual consent verbally also were examined by experiences of sexual violence and sexual behaviors. Sex-stratified logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between asking for sexual consent verbally with experiences of sexual violence and sexual behaviors. In addition, data were analyzed using adjusted logistic regression models controlling for age, race and ethnicity, and sexual identity. Among high school students who reported ever having sexual contact, 79.8% reported asking for sexual consent verbally at last sexual contact. A lower percentage of female students (74.5%) reported asking for sexual consent verbally than male students (84.6%). In adjusted sex-stratified analyses, female students who asked for sexual consent verbally had higher prevalence of ever having had sexual intercourse. Male students who asked for sexual consent verbally had higher prevalence of ever having had sexual intercourse and being currently sexually active. Female and male students who asked for sexual consent verbally had higher prevalence of having first sexual intercourse before age 13 and using condoms. In addition, female students who asked for sexual consent verbally during last sexual intercourse had lower prevalence of using alcohol or drugs at last sexual intercourse. Public health researchers and practitioners, health care providers, schools, and youth-serving organizations can use these findings to better understand high school students' verbal sexual consent, improve complex measurement of consent-seeking behaviors, and guide multicomponent sexual health and violence prevention efforts across various settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background More than half (56%) of Canadian children aged 0 to 5 years are in non-parental child care, but data on child care attendance among children with disabilities is limited. This study examines child care participation among young children with disabilities in Canada, with a focus on different disability types. Data and methods Analyses were conducted on 1,189 children aged 0 to 5 years identified with disabilities from Statistics Canada’s 2023 Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements – Children with Long-term Conditions and Disabilities. Rates of child care participation, difficulties finding child care, difficulties within child care, and whether parents reported that their child had ever been denied a child care space because of their condition were examined. Logistic regression models tested for differences in the main child care arrangement and difficulty finding child care based on the child’s disability while controlling for sociodemographic variables. Results Among children aged 0 to 5 years with disabilities, 45% attended a daycare centre, preschool, centre de la petite enfance, or before or after school care as their main child care arrangement; 17% attended another type of child care, such as a family child care home or care by a relative; and 38% did not regularly attend non-parental child care. The parents of nearly half of children with disabilities reported difficulty finding a child care arrangement, particularly for children with emotional conditions. Close to 1 in 10 parents of children with disabilities who were using child care reported that their child had been denied a child care space because of their condition. Interpretation These findings highlight the need for information to support inclusive policies, practices, and resources for children with disabilities within the Canada-wide early learning and child care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing prevalence of tumors, effective symptom management has emerged as a cornerstone of patient care. While surgical interventions remain pivotal, non-surgical nursing methods have gained prominence in providing relief from pain, discomfort, and other tumor-related symptoms. This review delves into the various non-surgical approaches employed, emphasizing tumor sedation and analgesia. We discuss the array of non-pharmacological and pharmacological strategies, shedding light on their indications, contraindications, and potential side effects. Furthermore, the importance of addressing individual differences in pain perception and the ethical considerations in symptom management are highlighted. We conclude by providing insights into the recent innovations in the field, emphasizing the need for personalized and comprehensive care to enhance patients’ quality of life. Tumor sedation, Tumor analgesia, Non-surgical nursing care, Pain management, Non-pharmacological interventions, Palliative care, Recent innovations, Symptom management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Clinical trial data help guide physician treatment choices for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), but when data are lacking, treatment choices are largely driven by physician preference. Our aim was to examine AAV treatment preferences to determine if patient gender and age, and physician subspecialty affect treatment choices., Methods: Rheumatologists, nephrologists and pulmonologists from an academic medical centre participated in a web-based survey. Three scenarios (remission induction in severe disease; remission maintenance in severe disease; remission induction in limited disease) were presented for 4 patient profiles (28- and 68-year-old female/male). Physician treatment choices and reasons for these choices were obtained. Differences between groups were analysed using Chi-Square and Fisher's exact tests., Results: Physicians were significantly more likely to choose rituximab for young females for remission induction in severe AAV, with toxicity being the main reason for this choice. There was a trend toward rheumatologists choosing rituximab over cyclophosphamide compared with other subspecialties for this scenario. Most physicians switched to a less toxic agent for remission maintenance, but there was little agreement as to choice of maintenance therapy among subspecialties. For remission induction in limited disease, most physicians chose rituximab, particularly for young females., Conclusions: Currently, there are very few data for remission maintenance therapy following rituximab in severe disease, as well as the use of rituximab in limited disease. Choices for treatment of AAV differ among subspecialties, are affected by patient gender and age, and tend to be largely driven by physician preference when data are limited or lacking.

Research concerning the etiology and prevention of substance misuse has led to the development of preventive interventions that are theory-based and effective. One such approach, Life Skills Training (LST), targets key etiologic factors using a conceptual framework derived from social learning theory and problem behavior theory. LST has been extensively tested in a series of randomized trials and found effective in preventing the use/misuse of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other psychoactive drugs. Research demonstrates that it is effective when implemented under different delivery conditions, by different program providers, with different age groups, and with different populations. Follow-up studies provide evidence of the long-term effectiveness of LST. Independent economic analysis indicates that LST produces cost savings of as much as $38 for every dollar invested. Finally, LST offers the potential of reducing other health risk behaviors and fostering academic success., (© WILEY PERIODICALS, INC.)

Adolescents (aged 12-14 years) from the United States (n = 539) and Japan (n = 644) completed surveys regarding tobacco use, perceptions of friend and peer smoking, and their own likelihood of using smoking refusal skills. U.S. youth were more likely to report lifetime or monthly tobacco use, whereas Japanese youth were more likely to smoke ≥20 cigarettes per week. High perceived friend and peer smoking prevalence predicted lifetime smoking, whereas direct refusal skill use (e.g., "saying no") predicted less lifetime tobacco use. Results are discussed in terms of cultural influences that may mediate the effect of risk factors on U.S. and Japanese youth.

Prevalence studies consistently show that most people with HIV illness do not have elevated rates of psychiatric disorder at any given time, but these studies do not permit characterization of overall levels of psychological distress in this population. This paper reviews published studies examining distress and depressive symptomatology in people with HIV/AIDS and matched comparison groups as assessed by self-report rating scales. Findings indicate that distress levels differ considerably across studies in comparison to population norms, although scores typically are not highly elevated for either seropositive or seronegative groups. Methodological issues that may explain variation across studies are discussed, including recruitment methods, composition of samples, and methods of assessing distress. It is suggested that psychological distress in those with ERVAIDS should be examined with an understanding of the diversity of factors that can contribute to distress, as well as the differential availability of resources to cope with stressors among those infected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to investigate risk and protective factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization in a high-risk sample of predominantly minority young adults from low-income urban communities. Participants were 1,130 individuals (57.9% women) ages 21 to 26 who participated in a telephone interview assessing IPV victimization, violence-related behaviors, and sexual behaviors. Results indicated that about 20.9% of participants reported experiencing one or more IPV incidents in their lifetime. Based on previous research, we examined lifetime violence, lifetime number of sexual partners, number of children, education, and religious service attendance as predictors of IPV. Results from a multivariate logistic regression showed that lifetime violence-related behaviors, number of lifetime sexual partners, and number of children were significant risk factors for IPV. The link between children and IPV risk: (a) was moderated by education for women and men and (b) was stronger for women (vs. men). These findings suggest that training for coping with stress and anger, endorsement of safe sex practices, and greater support for education may be effective strategies for preventing and reducing IPV among high-risk populations.

The objective of the present study was to examine the contribution of three intervention components (public commitment, resistance to advertising, and leisure promotion) on alcohol and protective variables in a school-based substance use prevention program. Participants included 480 Spanish students aged from 14 to 16 who received the Saluda prevention program in one of the following five experimental conditions: complete program, program minus public commitment, program minus resistance to advertising, program minus leisure promotion, and a waiting-list control. The students completed self-report surveys at pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up assessments. When excluding the healthy leisure promotion component, the Saluda program showed no loss of efficacy neither on alcohol use nor on other substance-related variables, while public commitment and resistance to advertising improved the aforementioned program's efficacy.

We explored changes in self-management skills and substance use from 7th to 11th grade in a multiwave study of predominantly minority adolescents ( N = 1,756). Using latent growth curve analysis, we found that substance use significantly increased, whereas self-management skills significantly decreased. In a parallel process model, we found that participants who reported higher self-management skills in the 7th grade had smaller increases in substance use. Participants who had larger decreases in self-management skills tended to have greater increases in substance use. We also explored the influence of grades and gender and found that (a) participants with higher grades at baseline had lower initial substance use, higher initial self-management skills, and smaller increases in substance use, and (b) male participants had greater increases in substance use. These results suggest that the provision of self-management skills may be an effective strategy for preventing substance-use initiation and escalation during adolescence.

In most developed countries, motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death among young people, and a large proportion of motor vehicle accidents are alcohol-related. In Spain there are no currently available instruments for assessing positive expectancies related to drinking and driving behavior. Attempting to modify these expectancies may be an effective prevention approach, so there is a need for a valid and reliable scale to measure the construct. The aims of the present study were to translate, culturally adapt, and examine the psychometric properties of a Spanish-language version of the Positive Expectancies for Drinking and Driving for Youth (PEDD-Y) in a sample of Spanish young adults. A total of 352 college students with drivers licenses were recruited at a university in southeast Spain. We examined the factor structure, psychometric properties (reliability and validity) and temporal stability of the Spanish version of the PEDD-Y among Spanish young adult drivers. Findings indicated that the Spanish version of the PEDD-Y demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and was shown to significantly predict lifetime prevalence and future intentions to drink and drive as well as riding with a drunk driver. The Convenience factor performed with the most consistent reliability and predictive validity. Limitations and future research questions are discussed.