Ego atrophy in substance abuse: addiction from a socio-cultural perspective

The use of intoxicants is indexed in American history adopting a social perspective of the role of alcoholism in traditional American society. Appealing to societal patterns, the elaboration of substance abuse as a disease is explored with a diagnostic focus on intervention as it relates to pathogenesis. Using clinical vignettes, the ego is proposed as the focus of pathology in the addiction process, featuring a regression to the defenses of projection and denial. Following the model proposed in Zinberg's seminal paper on addiction and ego function, various deficits are annotated that typify such regression. The ultimate clinical picture is one of ego atrophy, where basic interests and object relations are usurped by the all-consuming preoccupation with the substance of abuse.     

Buddhist shrines: bringing sacred context and shared memory into the home

Previous research has recognized shrines in homes as sites of shared cultural memory with the function of contextualising religious narratives and bringing the sacred into the home. For Buddhists, shrines occupy a grey area between the cultural and the religious and have not been widely considered as indicators of religiosity. A quantitative study of 417 British teenagers self-identifying as Buddhists found that the 70% who had a home shrine were less likely to visit a Buddhist temple, but more likely to exhibit daily personal religious practice and to bow to parents. The attitude profile of those with shrines showed that these teenagers were generally happier at school, more collectivist, polarised regarding their identities, and strict about intoxicants. Heightened affective religiosity was linked with having a home shrine, particularly for female, late-teen, and heritage Buddhists. The article argues that, for these groups of Buddhists, a shrine represents a locus for shared memory, especially accessible to those of Sensing Psychological Types, but, for males, early teens, and converts, there is more a sense of shrines giving context to their Buddhist narratives.     

The Messiah and Rabbi Jesus: Policing the Jewish–Christian border in Christian Zionism

For all their ostensible difference and separateness, Judaism and Christianity have a long history of mutual engagement and profound entanglement. I take Daniel Boyarin's assertion that ‘…the borders between Christianity and Judaism are as constructed and imposed, as artificial and political as any of the borders of the earth’ (2004, 1) as my starting point. But what Boyarin sees as an ongoing process of differentiation between Judaism and Christianity and distinct identity-building in late antiquity, I look for still today in Christian Zionism. The busy border crossing continues to separate people and ideas at the same time as it serves as the meeting place between them, the uncomfortable place where Judaism and Christianity rub up against each other. This paper examines some constructions of the Jewish–Christian border by way of two case studies of prominent religious leaders, each firmly at home in their respective communities, Jewish and Christian, who ventured out to the borderland of Christian Zionism. This is the story of what happened when they returned home to find themselves examined by those who monitor the Jewish–Christian border, and deemed to be over the limit with intoxicants brought over from the ‘other side’.     

Pro-drug-use myths and competing constructs in the prediction of substance use among youth at continuation high schools: a one-year prospective study

Experimentation with drugs among adolescents often is preceded by faulty beliefs (myths) regarding drug effects. The present study provides empirical demonstration of the utility of a drug use myths index in the prediction of subsequent drug use in a prospective study of substance use among high-risk adolescents. Drug use was measured as an index of recent cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use. A belief-type drug use myths index was compared as a predictor of drug use with four other frequently researched correlates of drug use. The other measures were of social influence, outcome expectancies, attitudes toward wrongness of drug use and sensation seeking. The belief-type drug use myths, attitudes toward wrongness and sensation seeking indices were found to be significant predictors of drug use among our sample of 1074 youth when controlling for gender, ethnicity and prior drug use. These findings have implications for understanding factors contributing to individual differences in drug use behaviors and could benefit the development of drug education programs for high-risk individuals.     

Use of diet pills and amphetamines to lose weight among smoking and nonsmoking high school seniors

Used data on 3,305 high school seniors collected as part of the 1984 Monitoring the Future project to examine the relationships among cigarette use, diet pill use, and use of amphetamines for weight loss. Results indicate that females were more likely than males to report use of all three substances. In addition, Whites were more likely than Blacks to use all three substances. Both female and male smokers were more likely than nonsmokers to use diet pills. Amphetamine use for weight loss was positively related to smoking among females, but not among males. The relationships between smoking and diet pill use, and smoking and amphetamine use to lose weight, were maintained when race, sex, and other drug use were controlled simultaneously. Two explanations for these relationships are considered. The first is that smoking is related to the use of most other licit and illicit drugs. The second explanation is that there is a greater preoccupation with weight among smokers, with weight concerns potentially motivating the initiation of smoking.     

Barriers and facilitators of bicycle helmet use among children and their parents

Despite the fact that bicycle helmet use protects against head injuries, helmet use rate is still low even in countries with high concern for traffic safety. Earlier research shows that helmet use declines with age and that helmet use is low especially among teenagers. The aim of the present study was to investigate barriers and facilitators of helmet use among primary and secondary school pupils and their parents. Identical surveys were conducted among school children (n = 235) and their parents (n = 106). Children’s and adults’ responses concerning cycling, helmet use, helmet ownership, risk assessment and barriers and facilitators were compared and separate regression analyses conducted. Helmet use rate was lower among pupils than adults and they scored higher in most of the barrier items. The results of regression analyses showed that among children, age, gender, barriers and facilitators predicted helmet use while among adults only frequency of cycling and barriers were related to helmet use. Among children, the strongest correlates of not using a helmet were the belief of not needing a helmet and wish to use a cap or a hat instead. Having a helmet wearing as a habit and feeling safer were the strongest correlates of using helmet. Among adults, the strongest correlates of not using a helmet were “helmet looks ridiculous”, “just going to short trip” and riding close to home while the strongest correlate of using a helmet was the habit of helmet use. It was concluded that targeting the barriers in helmet wearing campaigns might work better both among children and adults than emphasising the benefits at least among Norwegian child and adult cyclists.     

A comparison of drug use among Houston and lower Rio Grande valley secondary students.

The authors conducted a study of drug use among students of a predominantly Mexican-American population and compared their findings with a similar study that was done in a large urban setting. They suggest that drug use among Mexican-American secondary students is less than among Anglo secondary students, which is opposite to popular lay notions.     

Linking Childhood Maltreatment to Substance Use in College Students: The Mediating Role of Self-Worth Contingencies

This study investigated the link between childhood maltreatment and substance use, focusing on examining contingencies of self-worth (CSWs) as mediators among college students (N?=?513). Structural equation modeling indicated that childhood sexual abuse among females was related to lower God's love CSW, which in turn was related to higher levels of cigarette, marijuana, and other illicit drug use, supporting the mediational role of God's love CSW. Correlational analyses demonstrated that, for both male and female students, external contingency of appearance was related to higher substance use, whereas internal contingencies of God's love and virtue were related to lower substance use. The findings highlight the protective role of internal CSWs in substance use among females with childhood sexual abuse.     

Psychiatric and substance use disorders as risk factors for attempted suicide among adolescents: a case control study

The objective of this research was to test substance-related and non-substance-related psychiatric disorders as predictors of attempted suicide among adolescents. Ninety-six psychiatrically disordered suicide attempters were matched one-to-one to 96 psychiatrically disordered non-attempters on age, race, gender, and the presence/absence of major depression. Conditional logistic regression was used to test psychiatric risk factors for their power to predict attempted suicide among adolescents. Bipolar disorder, cocaine use disorders, and conduct disorder were found to be predictive of attempted suicide in univariate testing. Bipolar disorder, inhalant use disorders, cocaine use disorders, and hallucinogen use disorders were found to be predictive of attempted suicide, after adjusting for all other covariates. Loglinear analyses revealed high odds ratios associated with the comorbidities of alcohol use disorder with conduct disorder and drug use disorders with conduct disorder in both groups. Higher rates of cocaine use disorder/conduct disorder, hallucinogen use disorder/conduct disorder, and alcohol use disorder/ conduct disorder were found among suicide attempters. Evaluation of these particular comorbid conditions should be part of the adolescent suicide risk assessment.     

Determinants of standard motorcycle safety helmet usage among child pillion riders

The World Health Organization stressed that compliance with the use of safety helmet could significantly reduce the risk of injury by 72% and the probability of death by 39%. In Malaysia, the enforcement of the safety helmet legislation significantly reduced 30% of motorcycle crash fatalities in Malaysia. The aim of this study is to explore the use of motorcycle helmets and the determinants of standard helmet usage among child pillion riders. A cross-sectional survey of 200 adult riders accompanied by the child pillion riders aged 6–12 years old from Klang, Selangor, was conducted. The proper use of the helmet among the respondents and the child pillion riders was observed and recorded. A questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic background and awareness of the use of child safety helmets. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Only 3% of child pillion riders use standard child safety helmets, while 37% wear standard adult motorcycle helmets. Adult riders who were married, female, always wear helmets, have a higher household income and travel a long distance, are more likely to use a standard motorcycle helmet for their child pillion riders. Knowledge on Standard Certification (SIRIM) label and its importance, awareness of the campaign on child safety helmets, police enforcement, understanding the safety of toy/game helmet use have been identified as additional determinants of standard helmet use among child pillion riders. This study recommends prospective studies with continuous road safety educations programs that integrate behavioural change approaches to enhance the use of standard motorcycle helmets among the child pillion riders in Malaysia.     

Condom use in steady and casual sexual relationships: Planning, preparation and willingness to take risks among adolescents

Condom use within steady and casual sexual relationships was examined among 14-16 year old Dutch adolescents from secondary school (N?=?140). It was hypothesised that among adolescents sex and subsequently condom use with casual sex partners is less likely to be considered in advance, more context-dependent and less habitual; whereas the opposite is true for steady relationships. Therefore, preparatory behaviours (buying and carrying condoms and communicating about condom use) were expected to mediate the intention-behaviour relation in the context of steady relationships, but not in the context of casual sex. Results confirmed that condom use with steady sex partners was explained by preparatory behaviours, habits, and to some extent, behavioural willingness, and that preparatory behaviours mediated the intention-behaviour relationship. Condom use with casual sex partners was predicted by risk willingness and intentions, without any mediation by preparatory behaviours. The results indicate that it is essential to increase awareness among adolescents that unexpected sexual situations may occur and to train them to take preparatory actions.     

Association between tobacco use,depression, and anxiety: A cross-national study among university students from 30 low- and middle-income countries

This study aimed to investigate the association between tobacco use and depression and anxiety in a cross-national study among university students from 30 predominantly low- and middle-income countries. Self-report survey data were collected from 23 073 university students (58.0% female), with a mean age of 20.8 years (SD = 2.5). Following logistic regression analyses, tobacco using university students were more likely to have depressive symptoms and anxiety (posttraumatic stress symptoms = PTSS) than non-tobacco using students. Gender stratified analysis found associations between tobacco use and depressive symptoms were stronger among women than men. The associations between tobacco use and anxiety (PTSD) symptoms were stronger among men than women. In this large cross-national study, current tobacco use was significantly associated with depression and anxiety (PTSD) symptoms. Tobacco use prevention efforts can help alleviating mental health problems among university students.     

The relationship between barriers to birth control use and actual birth control use among Mexican-American adolescents

This study examined the relationship between barriers to using birth control and actual use of birth control among a national sample of Mexican-American adolescents. Participants were either over age 15 or sexually active (regardless of age). They responded to survey items on birth control use. Chi-square analysis and t tests were used to investigate whether barriers to using birth control were related to actual use during first intercourse and most recent sexual intercourse. It was found that nonusers had significantly higher barrier scores compared with users of birth control. The results indicate that attitudes toward birth control are associated with actual birth control use among Mexican-American adolescents. Additionally, males and females may have distinct barriers to using birth control. It was concluded that a better understanding of the sexual attitudes and beliefs associated with birth control is needed in order to improve programs seeking to increase the use of birth control among this rapidly expanding, high-risk population.     

Health-related Internet use, coping, social support, and health indicators in people living with HIV/AIDS: preliminary results from a community survey.

Widespread Internet use has revolutionized health information and patient education for persons with chronic illnesses. The authors surveyed 147 HIV-positive persons to examine factors associated with Internet use and associations between Internet use and health. Information, motivation, and behavioral skills associated with using the Internet were related to Internet use. The authors found that health-related Internet use was associated with HIV disease knowledge, active coping, information seeking coping, and social support among persons who were using the Internet. These preliminary findings suggest an association between using the Internet for health-related information and health benefits among people living with HIV/AIDS, supporting the development of interventions to close the digital divide in HIV/AIDS care.     

Stress and Alcohol,Cigarette, and Marijuana Use Among Latino Adolescents in Families with Undocumented Immigrants

Families in which one or more members are undocumented immigrants experience unique hardships. Yet, little is known about stress and substance use among adolescents growing up in these families. The present study examined associations between two sources of adolescent stress (i.e., low parental involvement due to contextual constraints and family economic insecurity) and lifetime alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use among adolescents in families with undocumented members. The sample was comprised of 102 adolescents (10–18 years old) and one of his or her parents. Participants responded a survey in English or Spanish. Adolescent lifetime use of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana was 51, 32.4, and 37.3 %, respectively. Chi-square analyses found no significant gender differences in lifetime substance use. Logistic regression models showed that adolescent stress due to hindered parental involvement increased the odds of both lifetime cigarette and marijuana use after controlling for gender, age, linguistic acculturation, familism, parental control, and negative peer affiliation. Being a girl increased the odds of lifetime alcohol use. Family economic stress was not associated with lifetime substance use. Results suggest that hindered parental involvement might be a stressor and a risk factor for cigarette and marijuana use among adolescents growing up in families with undocumented members. Because parents in these families are likely to be undocumented, policies that allow immigrants to apply for legal status could improve parents’ working conditions and facilitate parental involvement; in turn, such policies could decrease the risk for adolescent substance use among children of Latino immigrants.     

Oral contraceptive use and hemodynamic, lipid, and fibrinogen responses to smoking and stress in women.

The effects of acute smoking and oral contraceptive (OC) use on cardiovascular, lipid, and fibrinogen stress responses were examined in 52 female smokers and nonsmokers, half of whom were using OCs. Women smoked or sham-smoked a cigarette and then performed 2 stressful tasks. Stress elicited increases in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and in triglycerides among women who smoked, and in fibrinogen among all women. Smokers who used OCs had greater blood pressure increases to smoking and to stress than did smokers who did not use OCs. OC use was also associated with enhanced total peripheral resistance stress responses among women who smoked and cardiac output stress responses among women who sham-smoked. Results suggest that OC use moderates cardiovascular reactivity in smokers but not nonsmokers, enhancing vascular responsivity to smoking combined with stress and myocardial responsivity to stress alone.     

大学生神经质人格、手机网络服务偏好与手机网络过度使用的关系*

采用问卷法,以1488名大学生为被试,探讨了大学生神经质人格、手机网络服务使用偏好与手机网络过度使用行为的关系。结果表明：（1）大学生对手机网络服务的偏好依次是：信息服务、娱乐服务、社交服务和交易服务;（2）大学生神经质人格与手机网络服务偏好和手机网络过度使用有显著正相关,信息服务和娱乐服务与手机网络过度使用有显著正相关;（3）大学生神经质人格、信息服务和娱乐服务对手机网络过度使用具有直接正向预测作用;（4）神经质人格通过信息服务和娱乐服务间接影响大学生的手机网络过度使用,信息服务和娱乐服务在二者间起到部分中介作用。可以通过塑造大学生的积极人格,培养积极大学生的新媒体素养,有效抑制大学生对手机网络的过度使用行为。     

工读学校学生的物质滥用行为及其关键影响因素分析

选取西南某省工读学校的193名工读学生参加问卷调查,拟考察工读生的物质滥用行为特点,并初步探索影响工读生物质滥用行为的关键因素以及各关键因素的相对影响力。结果发现:(1)工读生中存在较严重的每日吸烟(49%)、大量饮酒(41%)和毒品使用行为(41%),女生的毒品使用行为约是男生的两倍(74%vs.35%);(2)父母物质滥用行为与态度、同伴物质滥用行为与态度、同伴压力、抵制效能感是影响工读生出现物质滥用行为的关键影响因素;(3)在工读生物质滥用行为影响因素的关系模型中,父母诸因素可以显著地预测同伴诸因素,同时,父母和同伴特点又通过影响工读生的抵制效能感,间接地预测工读生的三种物质滥用行为。其中,父母诸因素对工读生的物质滥用行为和抵制效能感的预测力大于同伴的作用。     

A Study of Some Factors Involved in Place Learning

Through the technique of Goodman's log linear method, longitudinal data are analyzed to clarify the relationship between depressive mood and illicit drug use among youths. A representative sample of adolescents (N = 8206) from New York State secondary schools was followed over one academic year. At one point in time, users of illicit drugs other than marihuana (multiple drug users) were significantly more depressed than either nonusers or users of marihuana only. Differing interactive relationships were found over time depending upon the drugs involved. Depressive mood was related to the onset of marihuana use among nonusers and to the termination of marihuana use among users. Depressive mood also predicted the use of other illicit drugs by marihuana users. While the beginning use of illicit drugs other than marihuana was positively associated with increased depressive mood, continued multiple drug use was related to reduced depressive mood.     

The relationship between attitude,assertiveness and condom use

The Australian study investigated condom-specific assertiveness and condom use as a means of prevention infection from sexually transmitted diseases. 211 men participated including 83 homosexual men (aged 19-62 years) and 128 heterosexual men (aged 17-49) who completed a questionnaire that comprised demographic details such as age, monogamy, and sexual activity as well as attitudinal and assertiveness measures. General assertiveness was measured by the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS) which had been widely used across a wide range of social situations. Assertiveness relating specifically to situations involving condoms was measured by the Condom Assertiveness Scale (CAS). Intention to use condoms was positively related to favorable attitudes, which were related to condom-specific assertiveness for both groups. For the heterosexual men only, general social assertiveness was negatively related to attitudes toward condoms. For both groups, the condom-specific measure of assertiveness was positively correlated with attitudes toward condoms. Condom-specific assertiveness was positively related to general social assertiveness as measured by the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule for the homosexual, but not for the heterosexual men. The negative relationship between general assertiveness and attitude to condoms among the heterosexual men implies that the risk reducing behavior of condom use did not seem to accord with the perceptions of masculinity and social assertiveness among heterosexual men. Thus, female partners of such heterosexual men exhibiting negative attitudes toward condom use combined with assertiveness would have to overcome resistance to insist on the use of condoms. Recently some advertising campaigns have been directed at women. The promotion of condom use among heterosexual men has to deal with the perceptions of condom use as unmasculine behavior.