Alcohol, binge drinking and associated mental health problems in young urban Chileans

Cheers to anxiety: Granger causality insights on alcohol consumption patterns across 13 South American countries

BACKGROUND

The relationship between alcohol consumption and mental health is complex; drinking may exacerbate anxiety, and in turn, anxiety can lead to excessive drinking. This study explores the relationship between alcohol consumption patterns including wine, beer, and spirits, and anxiety prevalence in selected 13 South American nations.

METHODS

This study utilises secondary data spanning 29 years from 1991 to 2019 obtained from the Our World in Data database. It investigates the causal link between the prevalence of anxiety and alcohol consumption in the selected countries using the Granger causality test.

RESULTS

Anxiety was found to have a unidirectional effect on wine and beer consumption in Chile, Suriname, Uruguay, and Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, drinking alcohol consumption appears to impact anxiety levels in Brazil. Argentina demonstrates a bidirectional relationship between anxiety and all three types of alcohol consumption, with similar patterns observed in Brazil (wine and beer), Chile (spirits), and Paraguay (spirits).

CONCLUSION

No significant causal relationships for alcohol consumption patterns were found in other nations. The identified Granger causal links follow four distinct directions in this study. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, governments, and international investors for informed decision-making regarding regulation and policy tools.

Scoping review of assessment tools for, magnitudes of and factors associated with problem drinking in population-based studies

BACKGROUND

The term "problem drinking" includes a spectrum of alcohol problems ranging from excessive or heavy drinking to alcohol use disorder. Problem drinking is a leading risk factor for death and disability globally. It has been measured and conceptualised in different ways, which has made it difficult to identify common risk factors for problem alcohol use. This scoping review aims to synthesise what is known about the assessment of problem drinking, its magnitude and associated factors.

METHODS

Four databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Global Index Medicus) and Google Scholar were searched from inception to 25 November 2023. Studies were eligible if they focused on people aged 15 and above, were population-based studies reporting problem alcohol use and published in the English language. This review was reported based on guidelines from the 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist'. Critical appraisal was done using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

From the 14 296 records identified, 10 749 underwent title/abstract screening, of which 352 full-text articles were assessed, and 81 articles were included for data extraction. Included studies assessed alcohol use with self-report quantity/frequency questionnaires, criteria to determine risky single occasion drinking, validated screening tools, or structured clinical and diagnostic interviews. The most widely used screening tool was the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Studies defined problem drinking in various ways, including excessive/heavy drinking, binge drinking, alcohol use disorder, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Across studies, the prevalence of heavy drinking ranged from <1.0% to 53.0%, binge drinking from 2.7% to 48.2%, alcohol abuse from 4.0% to 19.0%, alcohol dependence from 0.1% to 39.0% and alcohol use disorder from 2.0% to 66.6%. Factors associated with problem drinking varied across studies. These included sociodemographic and economic factors (age, sex, relationship status, education, employment, income level, religion, race, location and alcohol outlet density) and clinical factors (like medical problems, mental disorders, other substance use and quality of life).

CONCLUSIONS

Due to differences in measurement, study designs and assessed risk factors, the prevalence of and factors associated with problem drinking varied widely across studies and settings. The alcohol field would benefit from harmonised measurements of alcohol use and problem drinking as this would allow for comparisons to be made across countries and for meta-analyses to be conducted.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Open Science Framework ID: https://osf.io/2anj3.

Personality traits and the degree of work addiction among Polish women: the mediating role of depressiveness

Objectives

Workaholism is an addiction, however the obsessive-compulsive components alone may prove insufficient in determining its nature. The aim of the following study was to determine the mediating role of depressiveness in the relationships between workaholism and personality traits according to the five-factor model among Polish women.

Methods

The research study was carried out among 556 women residing in the West Pomerania Voivodeship in Poland. The research was based on a survey performed using a questionnaire technique. The following research instruments adapted to Polish conditions were employed to assess the incidence of work addiction among female adults: The NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), The Work Addiction Risk Test (WART) Questionnaire, and The Beck Depression Inventory-BDI I-II.

Results

A positive correlation between the intensity of neuroticism and the work addiction risk was revealed (β = 0.204, p < 0.001). A partial mediation (35%) with the severity of depression symptoms as a mediating factor was observed (β = 0.110, p < 0.001). Respondents characterized by high neuroticism showed a greater severity of the symptoms of depression (β = 0.482, p < 0.001), which is a factor increasing the work addiction risk (β = 0.228, p < 0.001). No effect of extraversion intensity on the work addiction risk was found (β = 0.068, p = 0.081). Respondents characterized by a high level of extraversion displayed lower severity of the symptoms of depression (β = -0.274, p < 0.001). A negative correlation between the intensity of agreeableness and the work addiction risk was revealed (β = -0.147, p < 0.001). A partial mediation (27.8%) was observed. A positive correlation between the intensity of conscientiousness and the work addiction risk was revealed (β = 0.082, p = 0.047). Respondents characterized by a high level of conscientiousness showed a lower severity of depression symptoms (β = -0.211, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Depressiveness plays the role of a mediator between neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness as well as conscientiousness, and work addiction. Depressiveness is a factor which increases the risk of work addiction.

[Effects of Television Screen Exposure on the Mental Health of Middle-aged and Older Adults]

Objective

To explore the relationship between the duration of TV screen exposure and mental illnesses in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods

The study was based on a cohort of 500 000 participants from UK Biobank. A prospective cohort of participants with TV screen exposure was established based on the exposure factor of the participants' daily TV watching time. The outcome was defined as psychological problem-related outcomes. The follow-up period extended from the time of baseline assessment of the participants to December 31, 2019. Cox proportional hazard model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) of suicide attempts and mental illnesses in the population covered by the study.

Results

A total of 410 946 participants were followed up for an average of 10.8 years and 33 071 of them experienced an outcome events. Compared with the group of participants who had 0-1 h of daily TV time, the group of participants who watched TV for more than 5 h per day had an HR of 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-1.44). In stratified analysis, we found that, compared with individuals aged 45 years and over, individuals who were 38-44 years old were at a higher risk of developing mental illness when they watched TV for long periods of time (>5 h HR 1.83, 95% CI: 1.55-2.15). Long periods of outdoor activities reduced the risk of mental illness for individuals who watched TV for long periods of time (>5 h HR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.16-1.37). Having less than 5 hours of sleep increased the mental health risks of individuals who watched TV for long periods of time (>5 h HR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.34-1.81) and when sleep duration increased, TV watching showed decreased impact on mental health risks (>5 h HR dropped from 1.56 to 1.19).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that TV viewing for long periods of time increases the risk of mental illness. Increaseing outdoor activity time and sleep time reduces the negative impact of watching TV on mental health.

Loneliness and the Degree of Addiction to Shopping and Work among Polish Women: The Mediating Role of Depression

(1) The aim of the research was to try to define the mediating role of depression in the relationship between addiction to shopping and work and loneliness, understood in terms of general loneliness among Polish women. (2) The study was conducted among 556 women. The research was carried out with the use of the diagnostic survey method, using the questionnaire technique: the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, the Purchasing Behavior Scale, the Work Addiction Risk Test, Beck Depression Inventory, and our own questionnaire. (3) Depression is a mediator in the relationship between the feeling of loneliness and the degree of addiction to shopping (β = −0.0246, z = −2.03, p = 0.043) and in the relationship between the feeling of loneliness and the degree of addiction to work (β = −0.0722, z = −4.002, p < 0.001). The direct impact of the feeling of loneliness on the degree of addiction to shopping (p = 0.237) and work (p = 0.576) is statistically insignificant. (4) Depression plays the role of a mediator between the feeling of loneliness and the degree of addiction to shopping and work. An increase in the level of depression increases the degree of addiction to shopping and work. The mediator’s participation lowers the loneliness feeling level.

Patterns of six behaviors and psychosomatic symptoms in adolescents: A six-province study in China

BACKGROUND

Psychosomatic symptoms are often related with behaviors. However, the association between different behaviors and their latent patterns and psychosomatic health status is unclear. Current study aimed to identify the patterns of six behaviors and explore the association between different patterns and psychosomatic symptoms in a school-based sample of Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

From November 2015 to January 2016, the study enrolled 22,628 students from six cities in China (15.36 ± 1.79 years). Six behaviors [unintentional injury (UI), non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal behaviors (SB), drinking, smoking, screen time (ST)] and psychosomatic symptoms (psychological and physical symptoms) were measured by self-report validated questionnaires.

RESULTS

Six behaviors were all related to psychosomatic symptoms, among which SB was the strongest. Four patterns of behaviors were be identified as follows: low-risk pattern (64.0%), substance use pattern (4.5%), injury pattern (28.8%) and high-risk pattern (2.7%). Logistic regression analysis of psychological symptoms indicated that compared with low-risk pattern, high-risk pattern had the highest risk, followed by injury pattern, substance use pattern showed the lowest risk. Compared with low-risk pattern, the results of physical symptoms suggested the degree of risk was high-risk pattern, injury pattern and substance use pattern, respectively.

LIMITATIONS

Cross-sectional data were used in the study that could not evaluate causal relationships between six behaviors and psychosomatic symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Six behaviors and their latent patterns are related to psychosomatic symptoms among Chinese adolescents differently, so different intervention and prevention protocol need to be taken for different patterns of adolescents.

The Moderating Role of Social Support in the Relationship between Poor Mental Health and Excessive Alcohol Consumption: A Gender-Specific Analysis

Background: Social support can potentially attenuate the positive relationship between poor mental health and excessive drinking. The present study tried to understand: (1) whether there is a gender-specific relationship between poor mental health and excessive drinking; and (2) if and how social support moderates the relationship between poor mental health and excessive drinking. Methods: We analyzed the data from 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS; N = 33,705). Weighted data were stratified by gender and controlled for demographic variables. We assessed poor mental health and social support as correlates of heavy and binge drinking, followed by analyzing the moderation effect of social support X poor mental health interaction terms. Results: Poor mental health is linked with excessive drinking across genders. The interaction analysis shows that social support moderates the effect of ever having a poor mental health day in men's heavy drinking, but the interaction term is not significant in all other excessive drinking models, suggesting that social support may not buffer the negative impact of poor mental health on problem drinking, particularly among women. Conclusion: Individuals with greater mental health challenges are more likely to drink hazardously, regardless of gender. Those who have low level of social support and poor mental health, particularly men, are at risk for heavy drinking. Given the majority of the interaction results is not significant, the study provides limited support for the buffering role of social support between poor mental health and problem drinking.

Alcohol induced impairment/abnormalities in brain: Role of MicroRNAs

Alcohol is a highly toxic substance and has teratogenic properties that can lead to a wide range of developmental disorders. Excessive use of alcohol can change the structural and functional aspects of developed brain and other organs. Which can further lead to significant health, social and economic implications in many countries of the world. Convincing evidence support the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) as important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in neurodevelopment and maintenance. They also show differential expression following an injury. MiRNAs are the special class of small non coding RNAs that can modify the gene by targeting the mRNA and fine tune the development of cells to organs. Numerous pieces of evidences have shown the relationship between miRNA, alcohol and brain damage. These studies also show how miRNA controls different cellular mechanisms involved in the development of alcohol use disorder. With the increasing number of research studies, the roles of miRNAs following alcohol-induced injury could help researchers to recognize alternative therapeutic methods to treat/cure alcohol-induced brain damage. The present review summarizes the available data and brings together the important miRNAs, that play a crucial role in alcohol-induced brain damage, which will help in better understanding complex mechanisms. Identifying these miRNAs will not only expand the current knowledge but can lead to the identification of better targets for the development of novel therapeutic interventions.

Gender differences in self-harm and drinking behaviors among high school students in Beijing, China

BACKGROUND

Self-harm and drinking are both serious problems in adolescents and many studies presented evidence of their association. However, gender differences in this association are seldom deeply discussed. Our study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of self-harm and explore its association with drinking behaviors by gender and investigate the extent to which the gender differences exist in the association between self-harm and drinking.

METHODS

A total of 32,362 students in grades 7 to 12 in Beijing, China were anonymously surveyed and included in our study using two-stage, stratified probability proportion sampling. Self-harm, drinking behaviors and other basic information were obtained from an anonymous questionnaire. Demographic variables, self-harm and drinking behaviors were analyzed using the Chi-square test and the Gamma test between genders and the gender differences in this association were analyzed by Log-binomial regression.

RESULTS

The total prevalence of self-harm was 13.7% with no significant gender difference (χ² =0.352, P = 0.553). The prevalence of self-harm in girls decreased with age (G = -0.163, P < 0.001). Self-harm was associated with drinking behaviors in both boys and girls. The Log-binomial regression demonstrated that girls in the 16-19 years old group were at lower risk of self-harm than girls in the 12-15 years old group while this association was weaker in boys (1.493 vs 1.128). The higher OR for self-harm was found among girls with early drinking experiences compared with boys (2.565 vs 1.863). Girls who had previously drunk (i.e. drunk at least once) (2.211 vs 1.636), were currently drinking (3.400 vs 2.122) and performed binge drinking (6.357 vs 3.924) were at greater risk of self-harm than boys.

CONCLUSION

Among high school students, self-harm has a significant positive association with drinking and girls with drinking behaviors are at higher risk of suffering self-harm. Identifying adolescents' drinking behaviors is of vital importance to self-harm prevention and special attention should be focused on younger girls.

Psychometric Properties of the "Alcohol Consumption Consequences Evaluation" (ACCE) Scale for Young Spanish University Students

Instruments that evaluate alcohol use consequences among young people do not consider the intensive alcohol consumption pattern that is so characteristic during these ages. Some of these instruments are even ineffective in the Spanish population. Hence the interest in developing an instrument more adapted to the reality of our young people. A total of 601 university students (35.9% male and 64.1% female) from 18 to 20 years old were recruited. All of them answered a total of 77 items obtained from the review of both the scientific literature and the different scales used to measure consequences derived from alcohol consumption. In addition, they completed the AUDIT and the Timeline Followback for self-reported consumption. The data were analyzed using factor analysis and a two-parameter logistic model. ROC curve analysis was used to establish cut-off points for different risk levels of alcohol consumption distinguishing between genders. The final 43-item scale Alcohol Consumption Consequences Evaluation (ACCE) (Evaluación de Consecuencias derivadas del Consumo de Alcohol [ECCA]) shows adequate psychometric properties: α = 0.94; unidimensionality through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (26.25% of explained variance) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (RMSEA = 0.39; TLI and CFI > 0.90). In addition, ROC analyses, both at a global scale and distinguishing between genders, were able to characterize consumers with different levels of risk, obtaining areas under the curve between 0.82 and 0.88. A scale has been obtained that enables the establishment of cut-off points to distinguish between the consequences of low, moderate and high risk alcohol consumption. The clinical utility of the ACCE is highlighted by using one single instrument to perform the screening of a possible alcohol risk consumption as well as identifying the consequences that need to be worked on in the evaluated person’s or group’s intervention.

Colorectal cancer risk factors in asymptomatic Chilean population: a survey of international collaboration between Japan and Chile

In Chile, the mortality from colorectal cancer has been on the rise. A national screening program based on a fecal immunochemical test was started in 2012 as an international collaboration with Japan. This case-control study was designed to identify the risk factors for colorectal cancer, with a goal of increasing the participation rate for colorectal cancer screening. In accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines, we conducted a case-control study from 2012 to 2017; 23 845 asymptomatic participants were enrolled in the study. Participants who were fecal immunochemical test-positive or had a family history of colorectal cancer underwent a colonoscopy. We analyzed the odds ratio of the risk factors for colorectal cancer, including sex, age, family history, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, and daily intake of certain food items. For the screening program, 202 cases of colorectal cancer were detected, and 195 of them were evaluated pathologically after resection. Of these, 173 cases (88.7%) had colorectal cancer stage 0/1, 151 (77.4%) of which were treated with endoscopic resection. In the multivariate analysis, male sex, family history of colorectal cancer, and low intake of cereals or fibers were closely related to a high colorectal cancer incidence. Moreover, participants in their 60s and 70s had a higher incidence of colorectal cancer than those in their 50s. These results suggest that intensive screening of the high-risk population can help in improving the detection of colorectal cancer, whereas higher consumption of cereals or fibers can be effective in preventing its onset.

Gender variations in the relationship between social capital and mental health outcomes among the Indigenous populations of Canada

Background

In this paper we examine the relationship between social capital and two mental health outcomes—self-rated mental health (SRMH) and heavy episodic drinking (HED)—among the Indigenous populations of Canada. We operationalize a unique definition of social capital from Indigenous specific sources that allows for an analysis of the importance of access to Indigenous networks and communities. We also examine gender variations in the relationship between social capital and the two outcomes, as there is a noticeable lack of research examining the influence of gender in the recent literature on the mental health of Indigenous populations in Canada.

Methods

Using data from the 2012 cycle of the Aboriginal Peoples Survey, logistic regression models were estimated to assess if gender was a significant predictor of either SRMH or HED among the entire Indigenous sample. The sample was then stratified by gender and the relationship between two social capital variables—one general and one indigenous-specific—and each mental health outcome was assessed separately among male and female respondents. All analyses were also further stratified into specific Indigenous groups—First Nations, Métis, or Inuit—to account for the unique cultures, histories, and socioeconomic positions of the three populations.

Results

Female respondents were more likely to report fair or poor SRMH in the total sample as well as the First Nations and Métis subsamples (OR = 1.48, CI = 1.14–1.91; OR = 1.63, CI = 1.12–2.36; OR = 1.44, CI = 1.01–2.05 respectively). However, female respondents were less likely than males to engage in weekly HED in all three of the same populations (OR = 0.43, CI = 0.35–0.54, all respondents; OR = 0.42, CI = 0.31–0.58, First nations; OR = 0.39, CI = 0.27–0.56, Métis). Social capital from sources specific to Indigenous communities was associated with lower odds of weekly HED, but only among Indigenous men. Meanwhile the strength of family ties was associated with lower odds of reporting fair/poor SRMH among both Indigenous men and women. However, these results vary in strength and significance among the different Indigenous populations of Canada.

Conclusions

The results of this paper address a critical gap in the literature on gender differences in SRMH and HED among the Indigenous populations of Canada, and reveal gendered variations in the relationship between social capital and SRMH and HED. These findings support further investigation into the role that social capital and particularly Indigenous-specific forms of social capital may play as a determinant of health. This research could contribute to future mental health initiatives aimed at strengthening the social capital of Indigenous populations and promoting resilient Indigenous communities with strong social connections.

Prevalence of Sexual Aggression Victimization and Perpetration in Chile: A Systematic Review

Sexual aggression is a major public health issue worldwide, but most knowledge is derived from studies conducted in North America and Western Europe. Little research has been conducted on the prevalence of sexual aggression in developing countries, including Chile. This article presents the first systematic review of the evidence on the prevalence of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration among women and men in Chile. Furthermore, it reports differences in prevalence rates in relation to victim and perpetrator characteristics and victim-perpetrator relationships. A total of N = 28 studies were identified by a three-stage literature search, including the screening of academic databases, publications of Chilean institutions, and reference lists. A great heterogeneity was found for prevalence rates of sexual victimization, ranging between 1.0% and 51.9% for women and 0.4% and 48.0% for men. Only four studies provided perpetration rates, which varied between 0.8% and 26.8% for men and 0.0% and 16.5% for women. No consistent evidence emerged for differences in victimization rates in relation to victims' gender, age, and education. Perpetrators were more likely to be persons known to the victim. Conceptual and methodological differences between the studies are discussed as reasons for the great variability in prevalence rates, and recommendations are provided for a more harmonized and gender-inclusive approach for future research on sexual aggression in Chile.

A single alcohol binge impacts on neutrophil function without changes in gut barrier function and gut microbiome composition in healthy volunteers

Alcohol binge drinking is a dangerous drinking habit, associated with neurological problems and inflammation. The impact of a single alcohol binge on innate immunity, gut barrier and gut microbiome was studied. In this cohort study 15 healthy volunteers received 2 ml vodka 40% v/v ethanol/kg body weight. Neutrophil function was studied by flow cytometry; markers of gut permeability and inflammation (lactulose/mannitol/sucrose test, zonulin, calprotectin, diamino-oxidase) were studied with NMR spectroscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in urine, stool and serum respectively. Bacterial products in serum were quantified using different reporter cell lines. Gut microbiome composition was studied by 16S rDNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. After a single alcohol binge, neutrophils were transiently primed and the response to E.coli stimulation with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was transiently increased, on the other hand the percentage of neutrophils that did not perform phagocytosis increased. No changes in gut permeability, inflammatory biomarker, bacterial translocation and microbiome composition could be detected up to 4 hours after a single alcohol binge or on the next day. A single alcohol binge in young, healthy volunteers transiently impacts on neutrophil function. Although the exact biological consequence of this finding is not clear yet, we believe that this strengthens the importance to avoid any alcohol binge drinking, even in young, otherwise healthy persons.

Cross-cultural examination of negative alcohol-related consequences: Measurement invariance of the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire in Spain, Argentina, and USA

The present study examined measurement invariance of the 48-item, 8-factor, Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (YAACQ) across nationality in college students from the United States, Spain, and Argentina. We also compared latent mean differences and criterion-related validity (i.e., correlation with other alcohol-related outcomes) across countries. Last month drinkers (1,511) from the United States (n = 774, 70.5% female), Argentina (n = 439, 50.6% female), and Spain (n = 298, 72.1% female) completed an online survey measuring alcohol use, drinking motives, college alcohol beliefs, and negative alcohol-related consequences. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses supported configural and scalar invariance of a 47-item, 8-factor YAACQ across countries. Overall, the correlation analysis supported criterion-related validity (i.e., strong bivariate correlations between the 8 subscales and alcohol consumption, drinking motives and college alcohol beliefs) across countries. Some nonsignificant bivariate correlations and differences in the magnitude of the correlations across countries are discussed. Our findings expand previous work, mostly focused on U.S. samples, by supporting the YAACQ as an adequate measure to assess alcohol-related consequences in youths across countries marked by unique cultural traditions, attitudes, and policies pertaining to alcohol. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Development and psychometric evaluation of a new measure to assess pregaming motives in Spanish-speaking young adults

AIMS

The present study was divided into two different stages that sought to develop (Stage 1) and validate (Stage 2) the Argentinean-version of the Pregaming Motives Questionnaire (PMQ-Arg), a new, ecologically valid measure to assess pregaming (i.e., the consumption of alcohol prior to attending a social/sporting event where alcohol may or may not be available) motives among Spanish-speaking youth.

METHOD

Two separate samples of Argentinian young adults (all last-year pregamers) were recruited by disseminating an invitation through online social networks and e-mail listings.

RESULTS

In Stage 1, a total of 635 participants answered an open-ended question about their reasons for pregaming. In Stage 2 (n=361), exploratory factor analysis was conducted with the preliminary set of high-quality, high-frequency pregaming motives that were obtained in Stage 1, yielding a final 23-item measure that was grouped in four factors: (i) Intoxication and Fun, (ii) Gathering and Social Enhancement, (iii) Going with the Flow, and (iv) Beverage Preference. Despite some broad similarities with measures that were developed with U.S. young adults, the present results indicated that the narrow content of some items of the PMQ-Arg were somewhat unique, possibly reflecting cultural differences between the United States and Argentina. The findings supported the adequate reliability, discriminant validity, convergent validity, and criterion-related validity of PMQ-Arg scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the PMQ-Arg meets the psychometric requirements of validity and reliability for its use to assess reasons for pregaming among Spanish-speaking youth.

A developmental-based motivational intervention to reduce alcohol and marijuana use among non-treatment-seeking young adults: a randomized controlled trial

AIMS

To test the hypothesis that among non-treatment-seeking emerging adults (EA) who both use marijuana and have alcohol binges, a brief, longitudinally delivered, developmentally based motivational intervention would show greater reductions in the use of these two substances compared with a health education control condition.

DESIGN

Parallel, two-group, randomized controlled trial with follow-up interventions conducted at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months and final assessments at 12 and 15 months.

SETTING

Hospital-based research unit in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-based 18-25-year-olds who reported at least monthly binge drinking and at least weekly marijuana use.

INTERVENTION

Motivational intervention (EA-MI) focused primarily on themes of emerging adulthood (identity exploration, instability, self-focus, feeling in-between, a sense of possibilities) and the subjects' relationship to substance use (n = 110) compared with an attention-matched health education control condition (n = 116).

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcomes were days of binge alcohol, marijuana and dual use day as measured using the timeline follow-back method analysing the treatment by time interaction to determine relative differences in the rate of change between intervention arms.

FINDINGS

At baseline, the mean rate (days/30) of binge drinking was 5.23 (± 4.31) of marijuana use was 19.4 (± 10.0) and of dual (same day) use was 4.11 (± 4.13). Relative to baseline, there were reductions in the rate of binge alcohol use, marijuana use and days of combined binge alcohol and marijuana use (P < 0.001) at all follow-up assessments. However, the treatment × time interaction was not statistically significant for alcohol (P = 0.37), for marijuana (P = 0.07) or for dual use (P = 0.55). Averaged over all follow-ups, mean reductions in binge, marijuana and dual use days were 1.16, 1.45 and 1.08, respectively, in the health education arm, and 1.06, 1.69 and 0.96 in EA-MI. Bayes factors were < 0.01 for frequency of binge alcohol use and frequency of dual binge alcohol and marijuana and 0.016 for marijuana use.

CONCLUSIONS

A brief, longitudinally delivered, developmentally based motivational intervention for young adults did not produce reductions in binge alcohol, marijuana use or dual use days relative to a control condition.

Vulnerability to alcohol consumption, spiritual transcendence and psychosocial well-being: test of a theory

OBJECTIVE

to demonstrate the relations among vulnerability, self-transcendence and well-being in the young adult population and the effect of each of these variables on the adoption of low-risk consumption conducts.

METHOD

quantitative and cross-sectional correlation study using structural equations analysis to test the relation among the variables.

RESULTS

an inverse relation was evidenced between vulnerability to alcohol consumption and spiritual transcendence (β-0.123, p 0.025) and a direct positive relation between spiritual transcendence and psychosocial well-being (β 0.482, p 0.000).

CONCLUSIONS

the relations among the variables spiritual transcendence, vulnerability to alcohol consumption and psychosocial well-being, based on Reed's Theory, are confirmed in the population group of young college students, concluding that psychosocial well-being can be achieved when spiritual transcendence is enhanced, as the vulnerability to alcohol consumption drops.

OBJETIVO

demonstrar as relações entre vulnerabilidade, autotranscendência e bem-estar na população adulta jovem e o efeito de cada uma destas variáveis na adoção de condutas de baixo risco de consumo.

MÉTODO

estudo quantitativo, transversal do tipo correlacional que utilizou a análise estatística de Equações Estruturais para comprovar a relação entre as variáveis.

RESULTADOS

evidenciou-se uma relação inversa entre a vulnerabilidade ao consumo do álcool e a transcendência espiritual (β-0.123, p 0.025) e uma relação direta positiva entre a transcendência espiritual e o bem-estar psicossocial (β 0.482, p 0.000). Conclusões: as relações das variáveis transcendência espiritual, vulnerabilidade ao consumo do álcool e bem-estar psicossocial, fundamentadas na Teoria de Reed, são confirmadas no grupo populacional de jovens adultos universitários, concluindo que é possível alcançar o bem-estar psicossocial quando se incrementa a transcendência espiritual, enquanto a vulnerabilidade ao consumo do álcool se reduz.

OBJETIVO

demostrar las relaciones entre vulnerabilidad, autotrascendencia y bienestar en la población adulta joven y el efecto de cada una de estas variables en la adopción de conductas de bajo riesgo de consumo.

MÉTODO

estudio de abordaje cuantitativo, trasversal de tipo correlacional que utilizó el análisis estadístico de Ecuaciones Estructurales para la comprobación de la relación entre las variables.

RESULTADOS

se evidenció relación inversa entre la vulnerabilidad al consumo de alcohol y la trascendencia espiritual (β-0.123, p 0.025) y una relación directa positiva entre la trascendencia espiritual y el bienestar psicosocial (β 0.482, p 0.000).

CONCLUSIONES

las relaciones de las variables trascendencia espiritual, vulnerabilidad al consumo de alcohol y bienestar psicosocial, fundamentadas en la Teoría de Reed, son confirmadas en el grupo poblacional de adultos jóvenes universitarios, concluyendo que es posible alcanzar el bienestar psicosocial cuando se incrementa la trascendencia espiritual, en tanto que la vulnerabilidad al consumo de alcohol se reduce.

Sexual Aggression Victimization and Perpetration among Male and Female College Students in Chile

Evidence on the prevalence of sexual aggression among college students is primarily based on studies from Western countries. In Chile, a South American country strongly influenced by the Catholic Church, little research on sexual aggression among college students is available. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration since the age of 14 (the legal age of consent) in a sample of male and female students aged between 18 and 29 years from five Chilean universities (N = 1135), to consider possible gender differences, and to study the extent to which alcohol was involved in the reported incidents of perpetration and victimization. Sexual aggression victimization and perpetration was measured with a Chilean Spanish version of the Sexual Aggression and Victimization Scale (SAV-S), which includes three coercive strategies (use or threat of physical force, exploitation of an incapacitated state, and verbal pressure), three victim-perpetrator constellations (current or former partners, friends/acquaintances, and strangers), and four sexual acts (sexual touch, attempted sexual intercourse, completed sexual intercourse, and other sexual acts, such as oral sex). Overall, 51.9% of women and 48.0% of men reported at least one incident of sexual victimization, and 26.8% of men and 16.5% of women reported at least one incident of sexual aggression perpetration since the age of 14. For victimization, only few gender differences were found, but significantly more men than women reported sexual aggression perpetration. A large proportion of perpetrators also reported victimization experiences. Regarding victim-perpetrator relationship, sexual aggression victimization and perpetration were more common between persons who knew each other than between strangers. Alcohol use by the perpetrator, victim, or both was involved in many incidents of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration, particularly among strangers. The present data are the first to provide a systematic and detailed picture of sexual aggression among college students in Chile, including victimization and perpetration reports by both men and women and confirming the critical role of alcohol established in past research from Western countries.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Substance Use and Misuse among Kosovar Adolescents; Cross Sectional Study of Scholastic, Familial-, and Sports-Related Factors of Influence

Adolescence is considered to be the most important period for the prevention of substance use and misuse (SUM). The aim of this study was to investigate the problem of SUM and to establish potentially important factors associated with SUM in Kosovar adolescents. Multi-stage simple random sampling was used to select participants. At the end of their high school education, 980 adolescents (623 females) ages 17 to 19 years old were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption (measured by Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test–AUDIT), and illegal drug use (dependent variables), as well as socio-demographic, scholastic, familial, and sports-related factors (independent variables), were assessed. Boys smoke cigarettes more often than girls with daily-smoking prevalence of 16% among boys and 9% among girls (OR = 1.85, 95% = CI 1.25–2.75). The prevalence of harmful drinking (i.e., AUDIT scores of >10) is found to be alarming (41% and 37% for boys and girls, respectively; OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.87–1.48), while 17% of boys and 9% of girls used illegal drugs (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.35–2.95). The behavioral grade (observed as: excellent–average-poor) is the factor that was most significantly correlated with SUM both in boys and girls, with lower behavioral grades among those adolescents who consume substances. In girls, lower maternal education levels were associated with a decreased likelihood of SUM, whereas sports achievement was negatively associated with risky drinking. In boys, sports achievement decreased the likelihood of daily smoking. Information on the factors associated with SUM should be disseminated among sports and school authorities.