Post-traumatic stress disorder and health risk behaviour among persons 15 years and older in South Africa

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and health risk behaviours among persons 15 years and older in South Africa. We analysed data from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1, 2012) (N = 15 201; mean age = 36.9 years, SD = 16.5; 2.1% with PSTD, 4.0% with partial PTSD). The survey included questions from validated measures of the following health risk behaviours: problem drinking, current tobacco use, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, vegetable consumption, and fast food and frequent soft drinks consumption. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, only self-reporting with PTSD was associated with problem drinking. The data did not yield significant association between PTSD status and any of the other health risk behaviours (tobacco use, low physical activity, and fast food consumption).     

Development of a career-enabler framework within a South African higher education institution

This study developed a preliminary career-enabler framework for use in a higher education setting. A quantitative survey was conducted with a sample of 1392 employees within a higher education institution in South Africa. Structural analysis was performed using exploratory factor analysis. The analysis yielded three enablers with acceptable psychometric properties, namely: self-transcendence, self-enhancement and self-conservation through work motives and needs. Interventions that focus on career-enablers within a higher education institution need to address these three factors.     

Mental health correlates of HIV risk behaviour and STIs/HIV infection among university students from 22 low,middle and high income countries

The aim of this study was to determine mental health correlates of HIV risk behaviour and self-reported STIs/HIV infection among university students in 22 low, middle and high income countries. Data on mental health and HIV risk were collected from 16 567 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.9, SD = 2.9) from 23 universities in 22 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Results indicate that overall 16.8% of the students had two or more sexual partners in the past 12 months, and among the sexually active, 73.7% had inconsistently used a condom in the past three months with their primary sexual partner, 3.2% had ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and 0.6% had been diagnosed with HIV. In multivariate logistic regression poorer mental health and child abuse (physical and sexual) were associated with HIV risk behaviour, and child abuse (physical and sexual) was associated with STI and HIV positive diagnoses.     

Alcohol Use,Problem Drinking and Health Risk Factors Among South African Youths

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of problem drinking among South African youth (18–24 years). A cross-sectional population-based household survey was conducted using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling approach. The total sample included 3123 participants (age range 18–24 years, 45.4% women) from four of nine provinces in South Africa. Results indicate that current alcohol was relatively more common among male (40.7%) than female youths (21.3%). Similarly, hazardous or harmful drinking was more prevalent among males (24.3%) than among women (12.9%). In multivariable analyses among men and women high on sexually permissiveness had hazardous or harmful alcohol use. Lifestyle including high peer pressure, and spending more nights away in a week were associated with hazardous or harmful alcohol use.     

Sedentary behaviour and sleep problems among young,middle-aged,and older persons in South Africa: A brief report

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between sedentary behaviour and sleep problems in a large national community sample in South Africa. We analysed an existing cross-sectional population data set, the “South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey”. The sample included 13 555 individuals (median age 34.0 years, interquartile range 25, range 15–98 years). Overall, the study population engaged < 4 hours (49.5%), 4 – < 8 hours (37.2%), 8 – < 11 hours (9.7%), and 11 or more hours (3.6%) in sedentary time a day. The prevalence of sleeping problems was 6.4% and 6.7% in the less than 4 and less than 8 hours sedentary time categories, respectively. The prevalence of sleeping problems was 9.8% and 9.4% in the less than 11 hours and 11 or more hours sedentary time categories, respectively. In the final adjusted logistic regression model, among 50 years and older, the highest sedentary time category was associated with sleep problems, while there was no association in the younger (15–49 years) age group and in the overall model. This could mean that persons at older age with sedentary behaviour are at an increased risk of sleep problems.     

Hazardous Alcohol Use among Persons Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in the Eastern Cape,South Africa

The study assessed the prevalence of hazardous alcohol use among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and its correlates with socio-economic characteristics, disease variables and ART adherence in South Africa. The sample included 607 PLHIV (males =475, females =132; age range =18–61), sampled by all districts in the Eastern Cape. Participants were recruited through a health facility in the community through key informants or a support group. Results indicate that male PLHIV were more often than female PLHIV “past month” (18.9% vs. 6.1%) and hazardous alcohol drinkers (6.1% vs. 2.7%); using a cut-off score of 8 and more on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Not having a disability grant for HIV/AIDS and the disability grant terminated were both related to past month alcohol use, while having the “disability grant stopped” was also related with hazardous or harmful drinking. Not having an AIDS diagnosis and not being on ART were both associated with past month alcohol use and hazardous or harmful drinking. CD4 counts and non-adherence to ART were both not significantly related with alcohol use status. Brief health provider initiated alcohol interventions for PLHIV should be promoted, with emphasis on targeting men.     

The speed and accuracy of material recognition in natural images

We studied the time course of material categorization in natural images relative to superordinate and basic-level object categorization, using a backward-masking paradigm. We manipulated several low-level features of the images—including luminance, contrast, and color—to assess their potential contributions. The results showed that the speed of material categorization was roughly comparable to the speed of basic-level object categorization, but slower than that of superordinate object categorization. The performance seemed to be crucially mediated by low-level factors, with color leading to a solid increase in performance for material categorization. At longer presentation durations, material categorization was less accurate than both types of object categorization. Taken together, our results show that material categorization can be as fast as basic-level object categorization, but is less accurate.     

A Statistical Correction to 20 years of Banding

Statistically based banding is often considered a viable method for minimizing adverse impact in test‐based employment decisions. By utilizing the standard error of the difference (SED), scores are equated based on the assumption that there is substantial unreliability in any single observed score. However, based on the derivations of Dudek, the formula commonly used to calculate the standard error of measurement (SEM) – a component that is typically used to calculate the SED – is incorrect. Specifically, utilizing the SEM when calculating the SED produces a band of observed scores around a true score, not a band of true scores around an observed score as would be appropriate for banding. This study compares the differences between banding‐based selection decisions when the appropriate SED formula – which utilizes the standard error of estimate – is and is not applied. Overall, results suggest that utilizing the appropriate formula for calculating the SED produces substantial variations in employment decisions. The potential legal and ethical implications of these discrepancies are discussed.     

Teacher-Coaches’ Perceptions of Life Skills Transfer from High School Sport to the Classroom

Positive youth development is one of the primary goals of high school sport participation, yet the process of how youth transfer life skills from sport to other life domains is in need of greater examination. To offer a unique perspective, the purpose of the study explored teacher-coaches’ perceptions of the process of life skills transfer for student-athletes from high school sport to the classroom. Using a constructivist approach, 12 teacher-coaches (9 male, 3 female) with an average of 13?years (SD?=?5.7) experience as a teacher-coach completed in-person, semistructured interviews. Using model for life skills transfer as a guiding framework, the theoretical thematic analysis revealed specific student-athlete characteristics (e.g., internal assets, external assets), high school sport factors (e.g., inherent demands, coaching characteristics), and high school classroom factors (e.g., classroom contextual factors, student-athlete psychological processes) that helped or hindered the process of life skills transfer. The critical influences of individual awareness and agency and of congruence between contexts highlighted the value of understanding life skills transfer through a developmental systems lens. Results are discussed with specific recommendations for researchers and practitioners related to understanding life skills transfer.

Lay Summary: Positive youth development is a primary goal of high school sport participation, yet researchers can do more to understand the developmental outcomes from high school sport. In this study, teacher-coaches identified specific factors that can help and hinder student-athletes’ ability and likelihood of transferring life skills from high school sport to the classroom.