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Drug use among young people has the highest prevalence globally. The prevalence of illicit drug use in Mexico's population more than doubled between 2011 and 2016, according to recent data. This increase ranged from 29% to 62%, with marijuana use experiencing the most pronounced surge, from 24% to 53%. In contrast, alcohol and tobacco use levels remained relatively consistent or fell slightly during this same period. Drug use among Mexican adolescents is alarmingly high due to their low perception of the risks and the abundant supply of drugs. check details Adolescents can benefit from evidence-based strategies to either decrease or avoid risky behaviors.
This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of the mobile intervention app 'What Happens if you Go Too Far? (Que pasa si te pasas?)' on risk perception of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use in a group of Mexican high school students.
A non-experimental pretest-posttest evaluation was carried out to determine the efficacy of the preventive intervention within the mobile app, “What Happens If You Go Too Far?” The analysis scrutinized the dimensions of understanding regarding drugs and their effects, life skills, self-perception, and the evaluation of risk. A high school campus, home to 356 first-year students, was the site for the intervention.
The study group consisted of 359 first-year high school students, averaging 15 years of age (standard deviation 0.588 years), with a breakdown of 224 females (62.4%) and 135 males (37.6%). The intervention significantly amplified the public's perception of tobacco's dangers.
Variable 1 (e.g., =216; P<.001) and alcohol use share a noteworthy statistical association.
An extremely strong correlation was found (p < .001), with a substantial effect size indicated by the F-statistic (F=153). Despite no substantial difference in the perception of danger from five cigarettes, a marginal difference was observed in the perception of extreme danger associated with smoking one cigarette, using alcohol, or using marijuana. Using a generalized estimating equation approach, we examined how the variables contributed to the perception of risk. Data indicated a strong correlation between smoking knowledge and a higher perception of risk associated with smoking just one cigarette (odds ratio [OR] 11065, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1013-1120, p = .01). Further, knowledge of marijuana use (OR 1109, 95% CI 1138-1185; p = .002) and self-esteem (OR 1102, 95% CI 1007-1206; p = .04) showed a substantial increase in the perceived risk of consuming five cigarettes. The perceived risk of tobacco and alcohol use increased alongside resistance to peer pressure and assertive behavior.
By equipping high school students with knowledge of drug use's effects and psychosocial risks, and by bolstering life skills linked to heightened risk awareness, the intervention holds the potential to elevate their perception of drug use risks. The employment of mobile technologies in intervention processes could yield an expanded purview of preventive work for adolescents.
Providing knowledge about the effects and psychosocial risks of drug use, coupled with the reinforcement of life skills that enhance risk perception, holds the potential for increasing students' awareness of the dangers inherent in drug use within high school environments. Intervention efforts for adolescents could benefit from the utilization of mobile technologies to broaden the range of preventive actions.
The present research explored the factorial dimensions of the Race-Based Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale (RBTSSS) within a sample of Asian American adults.
A study of the sample,
The RBTSSS was applied during a survey that included 403 participants, 78% of whom were women between 18 and 72 years of age. A confirmatory factor analysis, encompassing both first-order and second-order factors, was carried out.
Internal consistency of the RBTSSS was robust in the current investigation, Cronbach's alpha yielding a range from .78 to .94. check details The first-order CFA exhibited mixed model fit indices, indicated by (degrees of freedom = 1253) = 3431.52.
The result registers below 0.001. The root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) stood at .066. The comparative fit index (CFI) score came out to be .875. Model fit, as assessed by the Tucker-Lewis index (TLI), is .868. The second-order CFA showed similar, blended findings, as evidenced by (1267) = 3559.93.
The measured value is below 0.001. A root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) value of .067 was obtained. As a result of the CFI analysis, the value obtained is 0.869. The TLI calculation arrived at the figure .863.
The RBTSSS's factor structure displayed inconsistent patterns in a sample of Asian American adults, according to the findings. Testing the RBTSSS in Asian Americans warrants further research, alongside a more extensive investigation into the conceptualization of racial trauma in this population. All rights pertaining to this 2023 PsycINFO Database record are reserved exclusively for the American Psychological Association (APA).
A study of Asian American adults revealed mixed results regarding the RBTSSS's factor structure. Future research should include additional study of the RBTSSS instrument amongst Asian Americans and a continued in-depth analysis of racial trauma within that population. All rights to the PsycINFO Database record of 2023 are reserved by APA.
Psychological and social functioning, along with recovery, can suffer significantly from internalized stigma, notably for those experiencing serious mental illness. A substantial body of research has examined the effects of extreme self-stigma, encompassing moderate and pronounced instances, in comparison to minimal or absent levels of self-stigma. Thus, the degree of variation between these categories (such as minimal and mild self-stigma) and its effect on the recovery process is poorly documented. Differences in self-stigma severity are explored in relation to demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables in this article. Baseline data, originating from two parallel, randomized controlled trials (N=515), were used to assess the effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention designed to reduce internalized stigma in adults with serious mental illnesses. check details Participants demonstrating higher levels of psychological sense of belonging and perceived recovery exhibited a substantial decrease in the occurrence of mild or moderate/high internalized stigma, when contrasted with those experiencing minimal stigma. Despite some reporting minimal internalized stigma, those who experienced stigma more often were more likely to experience internalized stigma at a mild or moderate/high level, however. Our research further emphasizes the intricate dimensions and consequences of self-stigma, notably within interpersonal connections and exchanges, and highlights the critical need for addressing even minor expressions of self-stigmatizing beliefs. Copyright 2023, APA reserves all rights for the PsycInfo Database Record.
Gender identity and expression diversity among psychology trainees is increasing (Lund & Thomas, 2022), however, clinical supervision models often fail to adequately address the unique requirements, strengths, and life stories of transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive trainees and supervisors. Internship and postdoctoral training opportunities in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer health are advertised at many APA-accredited VA facilities, making the VA the largest training network for psychology trainees. Accordingly, VA psychology training programs are uniquely positioned to shape the professional development experiences of TNBGE psychology trainees and their supervisors. The authors, drawing on their firsthand experiences as both TNBGE supervisors and supervisees in VA health care settings, present a critical examination of the supervision issues encountered, categorized by recurring themes. Recommendations for training directors, supervisors, and supervisees are detailed within VA psychology training programs. In 2023, APA retains all rights for this PsycInfo Database Record.
Substantial drops in blood pressure (BP) can significantly affect the overall health and death rates within a population, particularly from cardiovascular diseases. Regarding the SaltSwitch smartphone app, two promising approaches stand out. The app allows users to scan a food's barcode and view an immediate, interpretive traffic light nutrition label. The screen will also display a list of healthier, lower-sodium options. Furthermore, reduced-sodium salts (RSSs) are an alternative to table salt, maintaining a similar mouthfeel, taste, and flavor while decreasing sodium and increasing potassium content.
Our objective was to evaluate the impact of a 12-week intervention, including a sodium-reduction package using the SaltSwitch smartphone application and an RSS, on urinary sodium excretion levels in adults with hypertension.
Utilizing a two-armed, parallel design, a randomized controlled trial was conducted in New Zealand, with a target sample size of 326. After a two-week baseline period, participants with smartphones and high blood pressure (140/85 mm Hg) were randomized, in a 11-to-1 ratio, into either the intervention group utilizing the SaltSwitch smartphone app and RSS, or the control group receiving general heart-healthy dietary information from The Heart Foundation of New Zealand. A spot urine sample was used to estimate the 24-hour urinary sodium excretion at 12 weeks, which was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes comprised urinary potassium excretion, blood pressure levels, the sodium content of food purchased, and the degree to which the intervention was implemented and found acceptable. With generalized linear regression, blinded assessments of intervention effects were conducted using intention-to-treat analyses, adjusting for baseline outcome measures, age, and ethnicity.