Social Influence and Selection Processes as Predictors of Normative Perceptions and Alcohol Use Across the Transition to College

Research indicates that social influences impact college alcohol consumption. However, little work has addressed how selection processes may serve as an influential factor predicting alcohol use in this population. A model of influence and selection processes contributing to alcohol use across the transition to college was examined using structural equation modeling among a sample of late adolescents (N=193). Results indicate selection processes occur as students transition into college and have the opportunity to seek out and join new friend circles, while peer influence occurs once students have settled within a circle of friends at college. Implications for prevention are discussed.     

The Relationship Between Treatment Acceptability and Youth Outcome in Group CBT for Youth with ASD and Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common co-occurring diagnoses in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment that has been tailored for youth with ASD and anxiety and has shown good efficacy in reducing youth anxiety immediately after treatment. One area that has not been widely studied is acceptability of CBT for anxiety in this population. Acceptability includes beliefs about the potential helpfulness and satisfaction with a given treatment and may be important in understanding treatment outcomes. This study focuses on parent, youth, and clinician acceptability of a well-researched CBT program, Facing Your Fears, for youth with ASD and anxiety. Data was collected as part of a larger multi-site study that compared three different instructional conditions for clinicians learning the intervention. Results indicated that parents rated acceptability as higher for the overall treatment compared to youth. Further, youth and parents rated exposure related sessions as more acceptable than psychoeducation, and higher exposure acceptability ratings were predictive of lower youth anxiety levels post-treatment. Clinicians who received ongoing consultation rated treatment acceptability lower than clinicians in the other training conditions. While some clinicians may be hesitant to implement exposure techniques with this population, findings suggest that it is the technique that parents and youth rated as the most acceptable. Results are discussed in terms of treatment and research implications for youth with ASD and their families.     

Vérification de la structure factorielle et de la fiabilité des preqis en France et test d’un modèle de prédiction de l’attachement au quartier : une étude sur un échantillon parisien

This paper has two aims: testing the Perceived Residential Environment Quality Indicators (PREQIs’, Bonaiuto et al., 2003) factorial structure and reliability in the French context and testing a three-level model where more specific PREQIs cover the first level, more molar PREQIs about pace of life (i.e., the attribution of qualities such as stimulating vs. boring and relaxing vs. distressing) cover the second level, and neighbourhood attachment represents the final outcome variable. Participants (n = 383) were residents of Paris who filled in a questionnaire including the French version of the extended PREQIs and Neighbourhood Attachment (NA) scales (Bonaiuto et al., 2006). PREQIs are validated in France with 139 items and 19 indicators (plus one indicator composed of 8 items for place attachment). The path analysis model presents an indirect connection between some PREQIs and NA via pace of life indicators, which are influenced by PREQIs and are directly associated to NA. More specifically, different PREQIs affect different pace of life dimensions: the perception of a more relaxed neighbourhood is associated to a high quality of design features, environmental health, and safety, whereas the perception of a more stimulating neighbourhood is connected to the presence of human activities and services.