Academic literature on the topic 'Controlling Alcohol and Relationship Enhancement program'

AbstractWe assessed the effects of the Controlling Alcohol and Relationship Enhancement (CARE) program, an early intervention combining reduction of hazardous alcohol consumption and enhancement of couple relationships. Thirty-seven hazardous drinking couples were randomly allocated to either the CARE program or to a control condition. CARE couples improved their communication more than controls, but couples in both conditions reduced hazardous drinking to a similar extent. CARE is a potentially useful means of promoting positive relationship communication in hazardous drinking couples.

Abstract Introduction Emerging empirical evidence suggests green space exposure is protective against insufficient sleep. Limited studies exist, however, exploring the relationship between greenspace exposure and sleep among low income populations in the United States. Methods Using a sample of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants (n=104) recruited from Champaign County, Illinois, we examined the relationship between self-reported sleep duration and exposure to green space. Sleep duration was determined using the question, “On average, how many hours did you sleep each night during the past 4 weeks?” Green space exposure was determined using satellite imagery from the National Aeronautic Space Administration (NASA) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). An NDVI score was assigned to each participant based on residential geo-referenced data. Multiple linear regression was performed in SPSS to explore the relationship between self-reported sleep duration and green space. Results Higher number of hours of sleep within a 24-hour period was positively associated with higher scores for greenspace exposure (β=0.091, P=0.02), controlling for age, gender, smoking status, education, alcohol consumption, and sleep quality. Sleep duration was negatively associated with age (β=-0.03, P=0.007), but positively associated with sleep quality (β=0.856, P=0.008). Conclusion In a sample of SNAP participants, exposure to green space was associated with more hours of sleep per night. Additional studies with larger, and more geographically diverse samples of low income adults are needed to determine whether this relationship is robust. Support USDA UNC/DUKE BECR Center

Abstract Objectives To characterize the relationship between dietary fiber intake and the prevalence of allergic diseases, seasonal allergies and asthma, in a college student population. Methods Data were collected from 2012–2021 through the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey, an ongoing cross-sectional study at a midsized, public New England university. Students (18–24 years; n = 4135; 67% female) completed a comprehensive, online demographic and health information survey, a 3-day food record, and an analysis of their average nutrient intake via an online program (Diet and Wellness Plus). After stratifying by sex, students’ fiber intake (g/day) were grouped into quartiles; differences in allergy and asthma prevalence across quartiles were evaluated via chi-square tests. Logistic regression was used to examine differences in allergy and asthma prevalence between low fiber intake and those with higher intakes after controlling for covariates BMI, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. Results Of the final sample, 37.6% and 19.2% reported a seasonal allergy and asthma, respectively, after exclusion of participants with missing data (4135 of 5093). Food records indicate only 18.2% of females and 12.2% of males are meeting recommended intakes of dietary fiber. Quartile fiber consumption was associated with seasonal allergy prevalence in males (X2 = 10.657, df = 3, P = 0.014) and females (X2 = 15.526, df = 3, P = 0.001). Females consuming the lowest quartile of fiber intake (<13.62 g/day) experience 1.39 times the odds of seasonal allergies (P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.164–1.651) when controlling for the covariates of BMI, smoking status, and alcohol use. No significant differences in asthma prevalence were identified between fiber intake quartiles. Conclusions Consistent with previously identified associations, our findings suggest fiber intake is related to seasonal allergies but not asthma, with a stronger relationship among females. This study further emphasizes the need to investigate potential dietary risk factors for allergic diseases and to inform institutions on key dietary priorities for college student health. Funding Sources New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1,010,738.

The research was focused on the relationship of management functions of the administrators to the attainment of the school’s vision and mission because the researcher believed that it is possible for the College to accomplish and to attain the school’s vision and mission if only there will be direct participation, cooperation and coordination among administrators and staff. Specifically, it sought to find out the following: the effectiveness level of the said management functions of the school administrators and the different assessments on these matters by the two sets of respondents; the attainment level of the school’s vision and mission; the relationship, if there is any, between the two cited variables of the study; the frequency occurrence of the problems related to management functions; and the proposed framework for skills enhancement program. The respondents of the study were all 56 teaching staff and 17 non-teaching staff of the City College of Calamba. No sampling technique was used. Statistical treatments applied to the data of the study include the frequency and percent distributions in presenting the category of the respondents; the simple mean in determining the effectiveness level of the management practices, attainment level of the school’s vision and mission and the occurrence frequency of related problems; and the Goodman and Kruskal’s Gamma Correlation in establishing relationship between the two variables of the study. The research focused on three integrated elements comprised of the heart of every organization and its culture: its primary purpose; its desired future; and its core beliefs about itself and others. These serve as the “what to do and how to do” of every organization. Its achievement is the success and end-all, but this could only be attained if it is organized, operated and administered. According to the research result, the management functions of the CCC Administrators specifically, planning, organizing, leading and controlling were generally effective as assessed by the two sets of respondents. In the management functions of the School’s Administrators in relation to the attainment of CCC’s vision and mission the conducted correlation analysis generated a computed gamma coefficients of 0.577 and 0.729 which means that there are “high positive correlations” between the effectiveness of the management practices of the school administrators and the attainment both of the CCC’s vision and mission. Some related problems to the management functions of the school’s administrators were identified by both teaching and non-teaching staff such as: (1) poor learning environment – no air conditioning, insufficient space & lighting, and primitive toilet facilities (2) the work is not appropriately divided among faculty members and staff (3) they believe that the school administrators are the role policy maker in the school and (4) the teaching staff observe the existence of gap between the administrators and subordinates with a mean of 3.30 (sometimes), while the non-teaching staff was observed to withhold information (lie or tell half-truths) with a mean of 3.53 (sometimes). A proposed framework for skills enhancement program was formulated. It has the following: aspects of management for development, objective, activity, implementing strength, KRA indicator, performance indicator, budget and time. In the aspects of management for development, there are the four management practices – planning, organizing, leading and controlling. This was believed to be a great help for the administrators of City College of Calamba to improve the level of their effectiveness towards the attainment of the school’s vision and mission. Key words: public administration, management, effectiveness, efficiency, skills enhancement, development, descriptive method, city college

The co-morbidity of personality disorders (PDs) and other dysregulatory personality patterns with addiction have been well-established, although few studies have examined this interplay on long-term sobriety outcome. In addition, health care professionals suffering from addiction have both a significant public health impact and a unique set of treatment and recovery challenges. The aim of this study was to investigate if personality variables differentiated sobriety outcome in this population over a two year interval. A clinical sample of health care professionals participated in a substance abuse hospital treatment program individually tailored with respect to personality. Participants took the Temperament and Character Inventory and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory at intake, and were tracked two years post-discharge to determine sobriety status. Univariate analyses showed antisocial personality, female gender, and alcohol dependence were independent predictors of relapse, however a significant relationship between personality and substance use did not exist in multivariate analysis when controlling for demographic variables The lack of multivariate relationships demonstrates the heterogeneity in self-report measures of personality, which suggests the interplay of personality and addiction is complex and individualized.

Physical and sexual violence are commonly researched as risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, psychological violence and its relationship with HIV risk behaviors have received limited attention among African American/Black (Black) women. This study examined (a) the frequency of recent (past 3 months) psychological violence, physical violence, and sexual violence and (b) the association of HIV risk behaviors, including unprotected sex, sex under the influence of alcohol/drugs, and sex exchange for money/drugs/shelter, with psychological violence. Participants included 191 women (89.2% Black), who were recruited through information sessions held at community centers, Parent Teacher Association meetings, substance use and HIV counseling centers, radio public service announcements, and word of mouth. Interested women participated in a multisession HIV and substance use prevention program and completed a self-reported assessment at program baseline. The current study utilized baseline data collected for a longitudinal study. Results from descriptive analysis indicated that the rate of psychological violence was higher than physical violence or sexual violence, and it was strongly associated with physical and sexual violence. Furthermore, hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed that unprotected sex was significantly associated with recent psychological violence after controlling for covariates. Findings suggest that recent psychological violence is more common than physical or sexual violence and it relates to sexual risk behaviors among Black women. Recent psychological violence may indicate psychosocial and sexual vulnerability for HIV and warrants particular attention among Black women.

Introduction Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced HIV viral replication and transmission of disease. However, continuing incidence of new HIV infections has been attributed to undiagnosed HIV infections among injection drug users. This purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to determine whether depression moderates the relationship between injection drug use and HIV screening among people with substance use in the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment in Alabama (AL-SBIRT) program. Methods Electronic health record data were obtained from three consenting medical facilities (n = 103). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the moderating effect of depression on the relationship between injection drug use and HIV screening. Results Bivariate analyses revealed that HIV screening was more common among individuals not engaged in injection drug use, 75% and 57% respectively. Participants who had never been screened had worse depressive symptoms on the PHQ-2 (M = 3.00, SE = 0.42) than individuals who had been screened for HIV (M = 1.45, SE = 0.17). After controlling for demographic variables, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse, results indicated a moderating effect of depression on the relationship between injection drug use and receipt of HIV screening (aOR = 0.85 [95% CI = 0.84, 0.86). Discussion Findings suggest that high risk subgroups such as injection drug users with severe depression may not be using HIV prevention services, leading to possible delays in HIV diagnosis. Integration of behavioral interventions and HIV prevention services may reduce risk factors among depressed injection drug users. Such interventions may improve retention for injection drug users who experience worse depressive symptoms post HIV diagnosis.

AbstractThe aim of this study is to characterize the relationship between major depression and the metabolic syndrome in a large community based sample of Australian men and women aged 26–90 years. A lifetime history of major depression was assessed by telephone interview following the DSM–III-R. A current history of metabolic syndrome was assessed following the United States National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP AP-III) guidelines 1 to 3 years later. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between depression and the metabolic syndrome, and its component criteria, controlling for age, sex and alcohol dependence. There was no association between a lifetime history of major depression and the presence of the metabolic syndrome. There was a weak association between depression and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but not with other component criteria of the metabolic syndrome. Despite calls for interventions directed at depression to reduce the onset of the metabolic syndrome there are important failures to replicate in large samples such as this, no consensus regarding the threshold at which depression may pose a significant risk even allowing for heterogeneity across populations, and no consensus regarding confounders that may explain inter-study differences. The absence of any dosage effect of depression on the associated risk for the metabolic syndrome in other unselected samples does not support a direct causal relationship. The call for intervention studies on the basis of the currently published evidence base is unwarranted.

The association between descriptive norms regarding peer drinking and college students’ binge drinking has been established; however, the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relationship among first-and second-year college students remain minimally explored. Drawing on social norms theory, motivational model of alcohol use, and the theory of normative social behavior, the current study investigated whether enhancement drinking motives mediated the relationship between descriptive norms regarding peer drinking and college students’ binge drinking, and whether this relationship was moderated by alcohol resistance self-efficacy. Five hundred and nineteen first-and second-year college students (Mage = 19.19 years, SD = 0.98) who were from four universities and had at least one time of heavy episodic drinking during the last year completed self-report questionnaires. After controlling for sex, age, and university variable, stronger descriptive norms regarding peer drinking were positively associated with a greater frequency of binge drinking. Enhancement drinking motives partially mediated the effects of descriptive peer drinking norms on binge drinking. Furthermore, alcohol resistance self-efficacy moderated the direct effects of descriptive peer drinking norms on binge drinking. Compared with college students who reported high alcohol resistance self-efficacy, the direct effects of descriptive peer drinking norms on binge drinking were stronger among students with low alcohol resistance self-efficacy. These findings point to the potential value of alcohol intervention approaches including efforts to help first-and second-year college students change enhancement drinking motives and increase their ability of resisting drinks in the context of pervasive peer drinking.

Background and Aims: It is assumed that a relevant subgroup of individuals experiences an addiction-like eating behaviour (Food Addiction), characterized by an impaired control over eating behaviour, emotional eating and food craving. Individuals experiencing Food Addiction partially share common symptomatology with Binge-Eating-Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Food Addiction, general psychopathology, and associations with weight- and addiction-related constructs in individuals with overweight and obesity, who did not suffer from Binge-Eating-Disorder or Bulimia Nervosa.Methods:N=213 (67.1% female; MBMI=33.35kg/m2, SDBMI=3.79kg/m2) participants who were included in a weight loss program (I-GENDO project) reported BMI and completed questionnaires before the start of the treatment. Food Addiction severity, depressive symptoms, alcohol use disorder, internet use disorder, psychological distress, impulsivity personality trait, impulsive and emotional eating behaviour, food related inhibitory control, weight bias internalization, and self-efficacy were assessed.Results: The prevalence of Food Addiction was 15% with higher, although not statistically significant, prevalence in female (18.2%) compared to male (8.6%) participants. Food Addiction was associated with higher BMI at baseline assessment, low self-esteem, impulsive and emotional eating behaviour, weight bias internalization, and deficits in food-related inhibitory control. In addition, correlations were found between Food Addiction and severity of depressive symptoms, internet use disorder, and psychological distress.Conclusion: A relevant subgroup of participants experiences Food Addiction even when controlling for Binge-Eating-Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa. Future studies are warranted that investigate whether Food Addiction affects treatment success.

There is a strong association between alcohol and relationship problems, with each problem exacerbating the other. In this program of research two studies were conducted. The first study was to investigate the variables that put couples at risk for developing a combination of relationship and alcohol problems. The second study was an evaluation of the effects of an integrated education program that promoted safe drinking and positive relationship interaction. Previous research shows that deficits in negative affect regulation and poor communication predict the onset of both relationship and alcohol problems. Based on these findings, it was hypothesized that deficits in communication exist in couples in which one or both partners drink at hazardous levels. In Study 1 communication of 85 couples (53 couples with no high-risk drinker and 32 couples with at least one at-risk drinker) in early stage committed relationships was assessed by observation of their interaction. Couples in which the man was drinking at hazardous levels had significantly more negative communication than couples without an at-risk drinker. In Study 2, 37 couples with at least one at-risk drinker were randomly assigned to either Controlling Alcohol and Relationship Enhancement (CARE) or a control condition. Couple communication, alcohol consumption, relationship satisfaction and relationship stability were assessed at pre- and post-intervention. Alcohol consumption, relationship satisfaction and relationship stability were also assessed at 6-month follow-up. Couples receiving CARE improved their communication significantly relative to the control couples. Couples in both conditions showed significant reductions in hazardous drinking, but there was no significant difference in the effects of the interventions on alcohol consumption. The program of research demonstrates that deficits in couple communication are evident in couples with hazardous male drinking, even in the early stage of the relationship when the couples report high relationship satisfaction. The communication deficits are remedied with brief, skill-training relationship education. Furthermore, there was evidence for the effects of CARE on reduction of steps towards relationship dissolution at 6-month follow-up. The brief alcohol component of the intervention showed little benefit beyond the control condition in terms of impact upon the alcohol problems. This research is the first to demonstrate that a combined program of skill-based relationship education and strategies for alcohol reduction is effective in remediating communication skills deficits in the early stage relationships of couples with hazardous alcohol consumption. Future research can extend this work to enable the development of programs which match the content of relationship education to the specific needs of other high-risk couples
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Applied Psychology
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There is a strong association between alcohol and relationship problems, with each problem exacerbating the other. In this program of research two studies were conducted. The first study was to investigate the variables that put couples at risk for developing a combination of relationship and alcohol problems. The second study was an evaluation of the effects of an integrated education program that promoted safe drinking and positive relationship interaction. Previous research shows that deficits in negative affect regulation and poor communication predict the onset of both relationship and alcohol problems. Based on these findings, it was hypothesized that deficits in communication exist in couples in which one or both partners drink at hazardous levels. In Study 1 communication of 85 couples (53 couples with no high-risk drinker and 32 couples with at least one at-risk drinker) in early stage committed relationships was assessed by observation of their interaction. Couples in which the man was drinking at hazardous levels had significantly more negative communication than couples without an at-risk drinker. In Study 2, 37 couples with at least one at-risk drinker were randomly assigned to either Controlling Alcohol and Relationship Enhancement (CARE) or a control condition. Couple communication, alcohol consumption, relationship satisfaction and relationship stability were assessed at pre- and post-intervention. Alcohol consumption, relationship satisfaction and relationship stability were also assessed at 6-month follow-up. Couples receiving CARE improved their communication significantly relative to the control couples. Couples in both conditions showed significant reductions in hazardous drinking, but there was no significant difference in the effects of the interventions on alcohol consumption. The program of research demonstrates that deficits in couple communication are evident in couples with hazardous male drinking, even in the early stage of the relationship when the couples report high relationship satisfaction. The communication deficits are remedied with brief, skill-training relationship education. Furthermore, there was evidence for the effects of CARE on reduction of steps towards relationship dissolution at 6-month follow-up. The brief alcohol component of the intervention showed little benefit beyond the control condition in terms of impact upon the alcohol problems. This research is the first to demonstrate that a combined program of skill-based relationship education and strategies for alcohol reduction is effective in remediating communication skills deficits in the early stage relationships of couples with hazardous alcohol consumption. Future research can extend this work to enable the development of programs which match the content of relationship education to the specific needs of other high-risk couples.