Self-esteem and self-efficacy: Associations with alcohol consumption in a sample of adolescents in Northern Ireland

Coping and ART adherence self-efficacy among people living with HIV in South Carolina

In the US, more than 50% of new HIV infections are reported in southern states. Besides, the incidence rate of HIV in South Carolina is 17 per 100,000 population. Regardless of improved quality of life with the advent of ART, coping with stressors may influence ART adherence self-efficacy. This study assessed the association between coping strategies and ART adherence self-efficacy among people living with HIV (PLWH) in South Carolina. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 402 PLWH attending a large immunology center in South Carolina in 2018. Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models were used to determine the association between coping strategies and ART adherence self-efficacy. Alcohol or drug use was negatively associated with ART adherence self-efficacy (b = -0.170, 95% CI [-0.255, -0.085], p = 0.0001). Religiosity was positively associated with ART adherence self-efficacy (b =  0.101, 95% CI [0.017, 0.185], p =  0.019). Overall coping and self-motivation were not significantly associated with ART adherence self-efficacy. Accentuating religiosity and attenuating alcohol or drug use as a means of coping may improve ART adherence self-efficacy among PLWH.

Women in Christian Substance Abuse Treatment; Forgiveness, Attachment Styles, and Improvements in Co-occurring Mental Health Symptoms

The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of The Recovery Center at Shalom House Ministries and examine the relationship(s) between forgiveness, attachment styles, drug and alcohol abuse, self-reported mental health symptoms, and cognitive functioning. Participants (N = 118 women) attended Shalom Recovery (2016-2018). Statistically significant improvement was found between entrance and the 3-month mark on all measures, with 67.9% completing the program. Findings indicated that the revenge motivations correlated with depression, self-esteem, anxiety, and avoidance of intimacy with God, but only this latter scale contributed to a multiple regression model on revenge motivations at program entry.

The relation between subjective well-being and career aspirations amongst a sample of adolescents in low socioeconomic status communities in Cape Town

The study aimed to determine the relation between adolescents' subjective well-being and career aspirations. The study further aimed to determine the extent to which social support mediates this relation. The sample comprised 1082 adolescents in Grades 8-11, selected from schools located in low socioeconomic status communities in Cape Town, South Africa. The overall model demonstrated a nonsignificant relation between adolescents' subjective well-being and career aspirations. Across gender, the results indicated a significant relation between subjective well-being and career aspirations for the male group, but not for females. The results further indicate that social support did not mediate the relation between adolescents' subjective well-being and career aspirations for the pooled sample. However, for females, the study found a significant negative relation between social support and aspirations. We recommend targeting interventions at an institutional level, inclusive of challenging gender roles and providing information about educational and career opportunities for young people.

Self-efficacy in non-concussed youth: a normative study

OBJECTIVE

In pediatric concussion, there has been a shift to consider how pre-injury profiles, such as self-efficacy, affect the recovery trajectory. The aim of this study was to investigate normal ranges of self-efficacy (overall, academic, social, emotional) in youth and to explore its relationship with the effects of daily stressors, operationalized as concussion-like symptoms, demographic factors, pre-injury/learning related factors, and concussion history.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 1300 uninjured youth 13-18 years old (1111 males, 189 females) was conducted by secondary analysis of clinical pre-injury/baseline concussion data. Demographic information, concussion-like symptoms (Post-concussion Symptom Inventory), and self-efficacy (Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children) were self-reported.

RESULTS

The most reported concussion-like symptoms were common stress symptoms and there was a strong negative relationship with self-efficacy. Males reported higher self-efficacy than females, but no age effects were observed. Pre-injury factors including learning disability, ADHD, special education, IEP, mental health challenges, history of headaches/migraines, and concussion history were associated with significantly lower overall self-efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

These normative ranges and predictive model can be used to provide a benchmark of self-efficacy to indicate how youth may respond to a concussion, and to inform clinical care during recovery.

School Well-Being and Drug Use in Adolescence

This research is part of the last study Drugs and School IX developed in the Basque Country (Spain) by the Instituto Deusto de Drogodependencias (Deusto Institute of Drug Addiction) of the University of Deusto (The study had the support of the Public Health and Addictions Directorate of the Deputy Health Ministry from the Health Department of the Basque Country.) and the data gathered by means of cluster sampling in two stages. The sample is made up of N = 6,007 girls and boys ranging from 12 to 22 years of age in secondary education, and the aims, on the basis of those parameters, are as follows: (1) describe the reality of drug consumption and some psychosocial variables in this sample, as well as analyze several relations between variables; (2) analyze the role of school well-being (SWB), self-esteem, and self-concept regarding consumption; (3) take a close look at the moderating role of age and gender on the relationship of school well-being, self-concept, and self-esteem with consumption; and (4) understand the existing interaction between all these variables, by studying the moderating role of self-esteem and self-concept in the influence of school well-being on consumption. With the use of a correlation, hierarchical regression, and mediation analysis with SPSS (v. 26) and Amos (v. 26) applications, three main conclusions were reached. Firstly, educational and academic well-being, academic self-concept, and self-esteem seem to play the role of protecting factors in adolescence, whereas assertiveness is linked to a higher consumption level. Secondly, academic self-concept has a mediating effect between well-being and consumption. Some of these relations are moderated by the variables of gender and age. Thirdly, age and gender are very relevant sociodemographic variables that must be taken into account in order to understand this phenomenon. Age has shown its covariant effect, which is especially relevant in the influence of academic well-being measured as being held back years. It has also proved to be important in order to understand its experiential or experimental and transitory character. Moreover, significant differences in consumptions have been found based on gender.

Chubby, Hairy and Fearless. Subcultural Identities and Predictors of Self-Esteem in a Sample of Polish Members of Bear Community

Bear subculture exists within a larger gay community, which has been recognized by public health experts as disproportionately burdened with stigma and related health adversities. Bears are distinguished by a particular body look—body hirsuteness and heavy-set physique. Previous research documented the various health risks, and the exposure to both sexual minority and weight stigma, of this population. In this study we focused on the determinants of self-esteem in Bears. We explored the significance of such predictors as: perceived sexual minority and weight stigma, age, resilience, and physique as reflected by the BMI. Our sample consisted of 60 men from the Polish Bear community (i.e., Bears, Cubs, Otters, Wolves). Linear regression models were performed for the entire sample (N = 60) and for Bear-identified men (N = 31). Perceived sexual minority stigma negatively, and resilience positively, predicted self-esteem. In the case of Bear-identified men, age, perceived exposure to weight discrimination, and BMI were also significant predictors of self-esteem. Higher BMI in the case of Bear-identified men predicted higher self-esteem. Our results suggest that although Bear-identified men are characterized by their similarities to other gay men, subcultural identities create unique social contexts that are important for health and health interventions in this population.

Why are Spanish Adolescents Binge Drinkers? Focus Group with Adolescents and Parents

Binge drinking in adolescents is a worldwide public healthcare problem. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions about determinants of binge drinking in Spanish adolescents from the perspective of adolescents and parents. A qualitative study using fourteen semi-structured focus groups of adolescents was conducted during the 2014/2015 school year (n = 94), and four with parents (n = 19), based on the I-Change Model for health behaviour acquisition. Students had a low level of knowledge and risk perception and limited self-efficacy. Girls reported more parental control, and when they get drunk, society perceives them worse. Adolescents suggested focus preventive actions to improve self-efficacy and self-esteem. Parents were permissive about alcohol drinking but rejected binge drinking. They offered alcohol to their children, mainly during celebrations. A permissive family environment, lack of control by parents, adolescents’ low-risk perception, low self-esteem and self-efficacy, as well as the increase of binge drinking in girls as part of the reduction of the gender gap, emerge as risk factors for binge drinking. Future health programmes aimed at reducing binge drinking should focus on enhancing motivational factors, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in adolescents; supervision and parental control; as well as pre-motivational factors by increasing knowledge and risk awareness, considering gender differences.

Longitudinal Trajectory of the Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Substance Use From Adolescence to Young Adulthood

BACKGROUND

We examined the longitudinal trajectory of substance use (binge drinking, marijuana use, and cocaine use) in relation to self-esteem from adolescence to young adulthood.

METHODS

Generalized estimating equation models were fit using SAS to investigate changes in the relation between self-esteem and each substance use (binge drinking, marijuana use, and cocaine use) from adolescence to young adulthood. Data were drawn from the 3 waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative sample of middle and high school students in the United States (N = 6504).

RESULTS

Self-esteem was a significant predictor for the use of all 3 substances at 15 years of age (ps < .001). However, at age 21, self-esteem no longer predicted binge drinking and marijuana use in the controlled model.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears that self-esteem loses its protective role against substance use except cocaine use as adolescents transition to young adulthood.

An ecological analysis of secondary school students' drug use in Hong Kong: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Youth drug use is a significant at-risk youth behaviour and remains as one of the top priorities for mental health services, researchers and policy planners. The ecological characteristics of secondary school students' behaviour in Hong Kong are understudied.

AIM

To examine individual, familial, social and environmental correlates of drug use among secondary students in Hong Kong.

METHOD

Data were extracted from a school survey with 3078 students. Among the 3078 students, 86 students reported to have used drugs in the past 6 months. A total of 86 age- and gender-matched controls with no drug-use behaviour in the past 6 months were randomly selected from the remaining students. Multiple logistic analysis was used to examine differential correlates between those who used and did not use substance in the past 6 months.

RESULT

Positive school experience and perspective to school and parental support are protective factors of drug use. Lower self-esteem, lower self-efficacy against using drugs and higher level of permissive attitude towards drugs were associated with drug use. Students who were low in self-esteem and rather impulsive tend to use drugs.

CONCLUSION

To prevent students from drug use, efforts in individual, family, school and community-levels should be addressed.