Frequency Of Alcohol Use Research Articles

Impulsivity traits associated with disordered eating and binge drinking among female college students

Objective: Disordered eating and problematic alcohol use may negatively impact women’s health, and the two issues frequently occur together. We assessed the interaction between negative urgency and disordered eating variables on binge drinking frequency. We also examined impulsivity facets in relation to binge eating, purging, and restrictive eating using multiple linear regression. Methods: Undergraduate women (M age 19.02; SD 1.51; n 262) from a mid-sized southeastern university, reported quantity and frequency of alcohol use over the past 90 days, disordered eating measured by the Multifactorial Assessment of Eating Disorder Symptoms (MAEDS), and impulsivity on the UPPS-P. Results: Negative urgency was the best impulsivity predictor of binge eating and restrictive eating. Negative urgency was a significant predictor of binge drinking frequency (negative binomial regression, p values < .01), but no interaction was found. Conclusions: To reduce these behaviors, college students may benefit from campus programs offering adaptive strategies to cope with negative affect.

Forecasting Frequent Alcohol Use among Adolescents in HBSC Countries: A Bayesian Framework for Making Predictions

(1) Aim: To summarize alcohol trends in the last 30 years (1985/6–2017/8) among 15-year-olds in Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) countries (overall sample size: 413,399 adolescents; 51.55% girls) and to forecast the potential evolution in the upcoming 2021/22 HBSC survey. (2) Methods: Using 1986–2018 prevalence data on weekly alcohol consumption among 15-year-olds related to 40 HBSC countries/regions, a Bayesian semi-parametric hierarchical model was adopted to estimate trends making a clusterization of the countries, and to give estimates for the 2022 HBSC survey. (3) Results: An overall declining trend in alcohol consumption was observed over time in almost all the countries. However, compared to 2014, some countries showed a new increase in 2018 and 2021/22 estimates forecast a slight increase in the majority of countries, pointing out a potential bounce after a decreasing period in frequent drinking habits. (4) Conclusions: The clusterization suggested a homogenization of consumption habits among HBSC countries. The comparison between 2022 observed and expected data could be helpful to investigate the effect of risk behaviour determinants, including the pandemic impact, occurring between the last two waves of the survey.

Resting state functional connectivity in alcohol users and co-users of other substances

Polysubstance use (PSU) is the use of more than one psychoactive substance simultaneously or independently, and occurs in roughly half of individuals who seek treatment for substance use. The current study sought to use resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) to examine functional connectivity in participants who report using multiple or single substances. Participants were drawn from a larger neuroimaging study. From there, participants were placed into one of three groups based on their frequency of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and illicit drug use. The final sample consisted of 82 participants. We observed three clusters that differed significantly between the three groups; one within the salience network and two within the temporal network. Tri+ users were found to have a lesser amount of rs-FC in these regions (compared to the other two groups) and dual users were found to have a greater amount of rs-FC within these regions. Findings indicate that use of three or more substances may significantly impact rs-FC within the salience and temporal networks, and that those who use alcohol+cannabis have significantly greater rs-FC than those who use alcohol+tobacco. Research is needed to examine larger samples of PSU for comparisons across specific substance combinations.

Transgender identity and experiences of sexual harassment in adolescence

AbstractGender‐diverse adolescents have reported excessive experiences of sexual harassment, but studies on this are few and suffer from methodological problems. Our aim was to compare experiences of sexual harassment between adolescents belonging to different gender‐identity groups. A nationally representative cross‐sectional survey of 127,210 adolescents aged 14–20 in Finland in 2017 was used. The respondents were pupils in the eighth and ninth grades of the compulsory nine‐year comprehensive school with mean (sd) age of 14.83 (0.82) years and students in upper secondary school (age: mean (sd) 16.84 (0.83) years) and vocational school (17.29 (2.43) years). Cisgender, opposite sex‐identifying and non‐binary adolescents were compared. Self‐reports of experiences of sexual harassment, emotional symptoms and externalising behaviours (bullying perpetration, frequent alcohol use, truancy, drug use) were elicited. The data were analysed using cross‐tabulations and logistic regression. When confounders were controlled for, odds ratios were increased for gender harassment (OR 2.0), unwelcome sexual attention (OR 1.7) and sexual coercion (OR 2.0) among adolescents with non‐binary gender identity, and for gender harassment (OR 2.1) among those identifying with the opposite sex. Subjection to sexual harassment is particularly associated with non‐binary gender identity. This may reflect that others use sexual harassment as a form of control of gender‐nonconforming self‐expression.

A Case Of Diphenhydramine With Alcohol Induced Rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis is muscle necrosis and the release of intracellular muscle components into circulation. Approximately 26,000 cases of rhabdomyolysis are reported annually in the United States. The severity varies greatly from asymptomatic individuals to individuals with life-threatening muscle enzyme elevations along with severe electrolyte abnormalities, acute other organ damage, and compartment syndrome. The mortality rates are as high as 59% in critically ill patients. There are multiple causes of rhabdomyolysis that can be classified as traumatic or non-traumatic. The traumatic cases are usually evident at presentation however, in a non-traumatic setting, the presentation may be misleading. In this specific case report, we discuss a case of rhabdomyolysis with shock liver and acute kidney injury in a 23-year-old male that presented with complaints of back pain and blood in his urine following the recreational use of alcohol and diphenhydramine. Given the frequent use and easy accessibility of both alcohol and diphenhydramine (DPH), it is crucial to be aware of the potential risk of rhabdomyolysis as early recognition and treatment can prevent life-threatening complications.

Substance use in childhood and adolescence and its associations with quality of life and behavioral strengths and difficulties

BackgroundSubstance use in childhood and adolescence continues to be a current health concern. The aims of the present study were to identify trends in the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis in children and adolescents in the last 10 years and to assess associations between substance use and quality of life and behavioral strengths and difficulties.MethodsSubstance use was examined in 1829 9- to 18-year-old German children and adolescents participating in the LIFE Child cohort study between 2011 and 2020. Quality of life was investigated using the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire. The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess behavioral strengths and difficulties. Associations were assessed using linear regression analyses. All effects were adjusted for age, gender, and family socio-economic status.Results38.44% of participants reported drinking alcohol at least sometimes. Smoking (6.23%) and the use of cannabis (3.94%) were less frequent. While we observed no significant changes in smoking between 2011 and 2021, the consumption of cannabis and the frequent consumption of alcohol has increased in this time period. Cigarette and cannabis use were associated with additional symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention and reduced prosocial behavior. For all three substances, usage was associated with more conduct problems. We also found significant associations between substance use and a lower quality of life in the areas of physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, parent relation and autonomy, and school environment. One noteworthy finding was that cigarette consumption and frequent alcohol use were associated with higher quality of life in terms of social support/peer group relations. Some significant interactions between substance use and child age indicated that associations between substance use and quality of life or behavioral difficulties were stronger in younger than in older children.ConclusionsThe results show that quality of life and behavioral difficulties are associated with substance use and should be considered when developing or implementing preventive measures to counter substance use. Furthermore, the findings indicate that substance use can be accompanied by improved peer relations. Therefore, the influence of peers, especially of peers who use these substances, should not be underestimated.

Alcohol use among adolescents during the first pandemic lockdown in Denmark, May 2020.

As alcohol is often consumed for social purposes, we aimed to explore how restrictions during the first Danish COVID-19 lockdown affected the alcohol use among adolescents aged 15-20. In May 2020, 11,596 15- to 20-year-olds from two subpopulations answered a survey regarding their alcohol use and social life, as well as changes to these, during the Danish lockdown. Using survey data from all participants, we performed a multinomial logistic regression to assess the association between determinants of alcohol use and perceived change in alcohol use during the Danish lockdown. We used longitudinal data from one subpopulation (n=1869) to perform negative binomial regressions exploring changes in frequency of alcohol use from 2019 to 2020. Of all participants, 59% drank less, 75% had fewer in-person social interactions and 56% met more frequently online during lockdown. Girls were more likely than boys to have a perceived decrease in alcohol use during lockdown (odds ratio (OR)=1.41; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-1.56). A perceived decrease in in-person social interaction during lockdown was associated with less drinking (OR=2.27; 95% CI 1.98-2.61), while a perceived increase in in-person social interaction during lockdown was associated with more drinking (OR=1.42; 95% CI 1.11-1.82) compared to unchanged drinking behaviour and social interaction. Adolescents in Denmark drank less during the Danish lockdown than before. Findings indicate that there is a close relationship between in-person social interactions and frequency of drinking. Drinking episodes when meeting online were rare and were not unambiguously associated with changes in drinking during lockdown.

The gendered relationship between illicit substance use and self-harm in university students.

To estimate associations between multiple forms of substance use with self-harming thoughts and behaviours, and to test whether gender is an effect modifier of these associations, both independently and along with perceived risk of cannabis use. Data were drawn from the 2018 Norwegian Students' Health and Wellbeing Study (SHoT 2018). A national sample of n = 50,054 full-time Norwegian students (18-35years) pursuing higher education completed a cross-sectional student health survey, including questions on past-year self-harm: non-suicidal thoughts of self-harm, non-suicidal self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempt. Students reported their frequency of past-year alcohol use (range: never to ≥ 4 times/ week), illicit substance consumption, and perceived risk of cannabis use. The AUDIT and CAST screening tools measured problematic alcohol and cannabis consumption, respectively. We used logistic regression modelling adjusted for age, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and financial hardship (analytic sample range: n = 48,263 to n = 48,866). The most frequent alcohol consumption category (≥ 4 times/ week) was nearly always associated with more than a two-fold increased likelihood of self-harm. Less frequent alcohol consumption was associated with reduced odds of suicidal thoughts [monthly or less: OR = 0.87 (95% CI: 0.75-1.00), 2-4 times/month: OR = 0.79 (95% CI: 0.69-0.91), and 2-3 times/ week: OR = 0.83 (95% CI: 0.71-0.98)]. Problematic alcohol consumption was associated with most outcomes: odds ranging from 1.09 (95% CI: 1.01-1.18) for suicidal thoughts to 1.33 (95% CI: 1.00-1.77) for suicide attempt. There was evidence of multiple illicit substance by gender interactions: consumption of all but one illicit substance category (other drug use) was associated with all four forms of self-harm for women, but findings among men were less clear. Among men, only one illicit substance category (stimulant) was associated with most forms of self-harm. Women, but not men, who perceived cannabis use as a health risk were more likely to experience non-suicidal thoughts as cannabis consumption increased, and with harmful consumption patterns. Frequent alcohol consumption is associated with increased risk of self-harm and suicidality for young women and men. Associations between illicit substance use and self-harm and suicidality appear stronger in women compared to men.

Socioeconomic and Environmental Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol Purchase and Consumption in 38 Countries During the Covid-19 Pandemic.

AimsTo explore changes in alcohol purchase and consumption during the first few months of the Covid-19 pandemic, and assess associations between increased alcohol purchase/use and socioeconomic and environmental factors.DesignSecondary data from a cross-sectional online survey conducted from 17 April to 25 June 2020.SettingThirty-eight countries from all continents of the world.ParticipantsA total of 37,206 adults (mean age:36.7, SD:14.8, 77% female) reporting alcohol purchasing and drinking habit before and during the pandemic.MeasurementsChanges in alcohol stock-up and frequency of alcohol use during the pandemic and increased alcohol stock-up and use were stratified by gender, age, education, household structure, working status, income loss, psychological distress, and country based on alcohol consumption per capita. The associations between increased alcohol stock-up/use and living with children, working from home, income loss and distress were examined using multivariate logistic regression, controlling for demographic factors.FindingsThe majority of respondents reported no change in their alcohol purchasing and drinking habits during the early pandemic period. Increased drinking was reported by 20.2% of respondents, while 17.6% reported decreased alcohol use. More than half (53.3%) of respondents experienced psychological distress, with one in five (20.7%) having severe distress. Female gender, being aged under 50, higher educational attainment, living with children, working from home, and psychological distress were all independently associated with increased alcohol drinking during lockdown. Limitations of the study were the non-representative sample, the data collection early in the pandemic, and the non-standard measurement of alcohol consumption.ConclusionIncreased psychological distress among people during the early pandemic period, resulted in increased alcohol consumption, especially among women with children working from home during lockdown.

Very High High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels and Cardiovascular Mortality

Previous studies have shown reduced cardiovascular risk with increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. However, recent data in the general population have shown increased risk of adverse outcomes at very high concentrations of HDL-C. Thus, we aimed to study the gender-specific relation between very high HDL-C levels (>80, >100mg/100ml) and adverse cardiovascular outcomes and the genetic basis in the general population enrolled in the United Kingdom Biobank. A total of 415,416 participants enrolled in the United Kingdom Biobank without coronary artery disease were included in this prospective cohort study, with a median follow-up of 9years. A high HDL-C level >80mg/100ml was associated with increased risk of all-cause death (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.11, confidence interval [CI] 1.03 to 1.20, p=0.005) and cardiovascular death (HR 1.24, CI 1.05 to 1.46, p=0.01) after adjustment for age, gender, race, body mass index, hypertension, smoking, triglycerides, LDL-C, stroke history, heart attack history, diabetes, eGFR, and frequent alcohol use (defined as ≥3 times/week) using Cox proportional hazard and Fine and Gray's subdistribution hazard models, respectively. In gender-stratified analyses, such associations were only observed in men (all-cause death HR 1.79, CI 1.59 to 2.02, p <0.0001; cardiovascular death HR 1.92, CI 1.52 to 2.42, p <0.0001), but not in women (all-cause death HR 0.97, CI 0.88 to 1.06, p=0.50; cardiovascular death HR 1.04, CI 0.83 to 1.31, p=0.70). The findings persisted after adjusting for the genetic risk score comprised of known HDL-C-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms. Very high HDL-C levels are associated with an increased risk of all-cause death and cardiovascular death among men but not in women in the general population free of coronary artery disease.

Cross-Lagged Associations of Insecure Attachment Style, Alcohol Use, and Sexual Behavior During Emerging Adulthood.

Insecure romantic attachment style has been associated with greater substance use and higher risk sexual behavior, but the temporal nature of these associations is not well-understood. This study examined whether having a more insecure attachment style was associated with greater engagement in higher-risk sexual behavior over time and, if so, whether this was mediated by more frequent alcohol use. We used three annual waves of survey data from a diverse California cohort (N = 2371) who were assessed from ages 19 to 21-22 years. Separate cross-lagged models examined temporal associations of insecure romantic attachment style (anxious and avoidant), past month alcohol use frequency, and sexual behavior (number of sex partners, condomless sex with casual and steady partners). Attachment anxiety was not directly associated with sexual behavior. Rather, a consistent pattern across waves showed that greater attachment anxiety was associated with more frequent alcohol use at the next wave, which, in turn, was associated with having more sex partners and condomless sex with casual and steady partners one year later. In contrast, greater attachment avoidance was directly associated with having fewer sex partners, and its associations with condomless sex differed across partner type and assessment waves. Attachment avoidance was unrelated to alcohol use frequency. Results indicated that both anxious and avoidant attachment styles were associated with higher-risk sexual behavior, but in different ways and through different mechanisms. Future research may want to examine whether the effectiveness of sexual risk reduction programs for young people is enhanced by discussing attachment style and tailoring the curriculum accordingly.

Differential Predictors of Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts: Internalizing Disorders and Substance Use in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents

Objective: Dually diagnosed adolescents are a high-risk population for experiencing suicidal thoughts and behavior. Given that research suggests risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts may be different, this study examined whether internalizing disorder severity, frequency of substance use, and the interaction between them differentiated adolescents who attempted suicide from those who ideated. Methods: Baseline data from 287 adolescents who received formal substance use disorder (SUD) treatment were used in this analysis. Major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) severity as well as past-3 month use of alcohol, cannabis, and other illicit drugs were considered. The outcome of interest was a three-category measure of suicide risk: no reported suicidal ideation or attempts, suicidal ideation only, and suicide attempts. Results: Over half of the sample disclosed prior suicidal ideation (30.0%) or attempts (27.9%). Multinomial logistic regression models indicated more severe MDD and GAD symptomology differentiated ideators from non-suicidal adolescents, but internalizing disorder severity did not differ between ideators and attempters. Substance use frequency did not differ between suicide risk groups. MDD severity and frequency of alcohol use interacted to increase the risk of attempts, yet the effects were minimal. Instead, prior weapon violence victimization and sexual abuse were the largest differentiators between attempters and ideators. Conclusions: Findings suggest that internalizing disorder severity and prior traumatic experiences put adolescents with SUD histories at higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Thus, integrating evidence-based suicide prevention and intervention efforts into SUD treatment is critical, particularly for dually diagnosed adolescents who meet these risk profiles. Psychotherapy and medication may help curtail the development of ideation by reducing symptoms of MDD and GAD, whereas adolescents with prior traumatic experiences may benefit from additional treatments shown to lower risk of suicide attempts.

Simultaneous Alcohol and Marijuana Use Among Young Adults: A Scoping Review of Prevalence, Patterns, Psychosocial Correlates, and Consequences.

BACKGROUNDAlcohol and marijuana are commonly used by young adults, and use of both substances, particularly at the same time, is prevalent among this population. Understanding the prevalence, patterns, correlates, and consequences of simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use is important to inform interventions. However, this literature is complicated by myriad terms used to describe SAM use, including use with overlapping effects and same-day co-use.OBJECTIVESThis scoping review identifies and describes the peer-reviewed literature focused on SAM use by young adults and distinguishes simultaneous use from same-day co-use of alcohol and marijuana. This review also provides a narrative summary of the prevalence of SAM use, patterns of SAM and other substance use, psychosocial correlates, and consequences of SAM use.ELIGIBILITY CRITERIAThis review is limited to papers written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals between January 2000 and August 2021. It includes papers assessing simultaneous use or same-day co-use of alcohol and marijuana among young adults ages 18 to 30. Review papers, qualitative interviews, experimental lab studies, policy work, toxicology or medical reports, and papers focused on neurological outcomes are excluded.SOURCES OF EVIDENCEPubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched. Databases were selected and the search strategy developed in consultation with an information specialist.CHARTING METHODSA data charting form was utilized to specify which information would be extracted from included papers. Eight categories of data were extracted: (1) research questions and hypotheses; (2) sample characteristics; (3) study procedures; (4) definition of SAM use; (5) prevalence of SAM use; (6) patterns of SAM and other substance use; (7) psychosocial correlates of SAM use; and (8) consequences of SAM use.RESULTSA total of 1,282 papers were identified through initial search terms. Through double-blind title/abstract screening and full-text review, the review was narrowed to 74 papers that met review inclusion criteria. Review of these papers demonstrated that SAM use was prevalent among young adults, particularly among those who reported heavier quantities and more frequent use of alcohol and marijuana. Enhancement-related motives for use were consistently positively associated with SAM use. SAM use was associated with greater perceived positive and negative consequences of alcohol and/or marijuana use. Inconsistencies in prevalence, patterns, correlates, and consequences were found between studies, which may be due to large variations in measurement of SAM use, populations studied, methodological design (e.g., cross-sectional vs. intensive longitudinal), and the covariates included in models.CONCLUSIONSThe literature on simultaneous use and same-day co-use of alcohol and marijuana has expanded rapidly. Of the 74 included papers (61 on SAM use; 13 on same-day co-use), 60 papers (47 on SAM use; 13 on same-day co-use) were published within the last 5 years. Future research focusing on the ways in which SAM use confers acute risk, above and beyond the risks associated with separate consumption of alcohol and marijuana, is needed for understanding potential targets for intervention.

Evaluation of alcohol use pattern among OST patients using alcohol biomarkers: Report from community clinics in India.

Background:Opioid-dependent patients undergoing opioid substitution therapy (OST) consume alcohol in a hazardous pattern which adversely affects their treatment outcome. This study aims to measure alcohol biomarkers to screen for secondary alcohol use in OST patients.Methods:A pilot study was planned to measure alcohol biomarkers (AST, ALT, GGT, and CDT) to assess alcohol use in OST patients from three community clinics. The biomarkers were categorized based on the reported frequency of alcohol use. The association of the biomarkers with the frequency of alcohol consumption was determined using the post hoc (Mann–Whitney) test.Results:Forty-five patients with a mean (SD) age of 37.04 (10.7) years were included in the study. Alcohol intake was reported in daily, weekly, and monthly patterns by 22, 63, and 16% of the patients, respectively. High levels of ALT, GGT, and CDT were measured in patients with daily use of alcohol. Serum CDT levels significantly differentiate daily and weekly use from monthly consumption of alcohol.Conclusions:Alcohol biomarkers significantly predict the pattern of alcohol use among OST patients. These results can be prudent in low-resource community clinics to improve the overall outcomes of OST in India.

Coping motives mediate the relationship between PTSD and MDMA use in adolescents with substance use disorders

BackgroundPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) often co-occur in adolescent patients. Previous research has shown that these patients differ from SUD patients without PTSD in terms of their substance use patterns. In this study, we aimed to test whether substance use in this population is related to an attempt to self-medicate PTSD-related symptoms.MethodsGerman adolescent patients (aged 13–18 years) at an outpatient clinic for SUD treatment, n = 111 (43% female), completed a self-designed questionnaire on use motives, a measure of PTSD-related experiences, and underwent a standardized psychiatric interview including structured substance use questions. Participants were subsequently classified as ‘no traumatic experiences (‘noTEs’ but SUD), ‘traumatic experiences but no current PTSD diagnosis’ (‘TEs’ with SUD), and ‘PTSD’ with SUD. After establishing a self-designed motive measurement through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, we calculated non-parametric group differences and a mediation analysis in a linear regression framework.ResultsThe past-year frequency of MDMA use was highest in the PTSD group and lowest in the noTE group (H (2) = 7.2, p = .027, η2 = .058), but no differences were found for frequencies of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, or stimulant use (all H ≤ 4.9, p ≥ .085, η2 ≤ .033). While controlling for sex, the three groups showed a similar pattern (highest in the PTSD group and lowest in the noTE group) for coping scores (F (103) = 5.77, p = .004, η2 = .101). Finally, mediation analyses revealed an indirect effect of coping score (b = 0.61, 95% CI [0.29, 1.58], p = .145) on the association between group membership and MDMA use frequency.ConclusionsIn adolescent SUD patients, we found an association of current PTSD and lifetime traumatic experiences with higher MDMA use that could be partially explained by substance use being motivated by an attempt to cope with mental health symptoms. This indicates a coping process involved specifically in MDMA use compared to the use of other psychoactive substances, possibly due to unique psychoactive effects of MDMA.

Development and Validation of the Teen Dating Aggression Measure Among Canadian Youth.

Teen dating violence (TDV) victimization is a traumatic experience that can have adverse consequences for adolescents. Current measures that assess TDV do not fully distinguish between psychological and relational forms of aggression, nor do they capture aggressive acts that are common within adolescent relationships. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Teen Dating Aggression Measure (TeDAM) using a sample of 730 Canadian adolescents (M = 15.88 years, SD = 1.23). The measure is an expansion of the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory and includes items that describe other forms of violence such as coercion and control, along with more traditional indicators of dating violence (e.g., sexual aggression). Factor analyses yielded three factors, namely psychological aggression, sexual and physical aggression, and relational aggression, which were correlated with more frequent cannabis and alcohol use as well as rape myth acceptance. These results provide initial support for the utility of the TeDAM for assessing TDV with adolescents.

Instagram Posts Related to Alcohol Use on College Football Game Days after Implementation of an Alcohol Sales Policy

ABSTRACT Background Alcohol-use frequency likely has a causal impact on chronic conditions. Many university/college athletic departments have implemented policies that allow alcohol sales at sporting events. Few studies have assessed the social context and impact of sales at college football games on fan behavior. One method for retrospectively assessing such behavior is to analyze event-specific social media posts to capture behavior displayed as photographs and text captions on event days. Purpose This study analyzed online data, specific to a Southeast university, posted on Instagram, after implementation of a policy to allow alcohol sales. Methods The posts were coded by alcohol presentation, alcohol/account type, account owner’s gender, caption, context, likes, and comments present. Results Key findings included: (i) an increase in alcohol images after policy implementation, although not statistically significant, (ii) alcohol posts portrayed alcohol in an overwhelmingly positive context, and (iii) alcohol content was posted more frequently by women and non-alcohol related businesses, and the primary alcohol present was beer in these posts. Discussion The use of Instagram for assessing the social context of alcohol use among Instagram users did allow for a better understanding of social characteristics in the context of a specific social activity (i.e., sporting event). Translation to Health Education Practice This research provides viable data collection methods for examining the social context of event-specific drinking (Area 1.2) and promotes discussions regarding how social media posts impact drinking behaviors among those who view the posts.

Impact of poverty and family adversity on adolescent health: a multi-trajectory analysis using the UK Millennium Cohort Study.

SummaryBackgroundChildren exposed to poverty and family adversities including domestic violence, parental mental ill health and parental alcohol misuse may experience poor outcomes across the life course. However, the complex interrelationships between these exposures in childhood are unclear. We therefore assessed the clustering of trajectories of household poverty and family adversities and their impacts on adolescent health outcomes.MethodsWe used longitudinal data from the UK Millennium Cohort study on 11564 children followed to age 14 years. Family adversities included parent reported domestic violence and abuse, poor mental health and frequent alcohol use. We used a group-based multi-trajectory cluster model to identify trajectories of poverty and family adversity for children. We assessed associations of these trajectories with child physical, mental and behavioural outcomes at age 14 years using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for confounders.FindingsSix trajectories were identified: low poverty and family adversity (43·2%), persistent parental alcohol use (7·7%), persistent domestic violence and abuse (3·4%), persistent poor parental mental health (11·9%), persistent poverty (22·6%) and persistent poverty and poor parental mental health (11·1%). Compared with children exposed to low poverty and adversity, children in the persistent adversity trajectory groups experienced worse outcomes; those exposed to persistent poor parental mental health and poverty were particularly at increased risk of socioemotional behavioural problems (adjusted odds ratio 6·4; 95% CI 5·0 – 8·3), cognitive disability (aOR 2·1; CI 1·5 – 2·8), drug experimentation (aOR 2·8; CI 1·8 – 4·2) and obesity (aOR 1·8; CI 1·3 – 2·5).InterpretationIn a contemporary UK cohort, persistent poverty and/or persistent poor parental mental health affects over four in ten children. The combination of both affects one in ten children and is strongly associated with adverse child outcomes, particularly poor child mental health.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South London (ARC South London) at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Emotional Violence is Associated with Increased HIV Risk Behavior Among South African Adolescent Girls and Young Women in the HPTN 068 Cohort

Limited research has explored how emotional intimate partner violence (IPV) shapes HIV risk behaviors. Using cross-sectional data from the HPTN 068 post-trial visit (N = 1942), we assessed the association between emotional IPV and its sub-domains (verbal abuse and threats) with condomless sex, transactional sex, and frequent alcohol use among young women in South Africa. In adjusted multivariable logistic regression models, any emotional IPV and verbal IPV were associated with increased odds of condomless sex (aOR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.87; and aOR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.89), transactional sex (aOR: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.74, 3.08; and aOR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.51, 2.71) and alcohol use (aOR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.39, 2.53; and aOR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.37, 2.55). Threats were associated with transactional sex (aOR: 3.67; 95% CI: 2.62, 5.14). Future research should examine this relationship over-time and HIV prevention programs should consider and address emotional IPV.

Adolescents' Frequency of Alcohol Use and Problems from Alcohol Abuse: Integrating Dating Partners with Parent and Peer Influences.

Despite the centrality of dating relationships for teens, it is unclear whether the influence of romantic partners' alcohol use on adolescents' under-age drinking is distinct from the influence of peers and parents. To address this gap, this study used longitudinal data from a population-based sample of 825 adolescents (49% male, 51% female), ages 12 to 19. Adolescents completed a survey using laptops for privacy, and a parent completed a survey separately. Ordinary least squares and logistic regression models assessed alcohol use frequency and alcohol problems and included dating partners' drinking, adolescents' prior drinking, peers' drinking, parents' substance use, parental monitoring, and sociodemographic background characteristics. Alcohol use frequency and alcohol problems were influenced by dating partners' alcohol use and dating partners' influence was stronger on older adolescents and male adolescents. The study results are useful for public health messaging and prevention efforts by demonstrating the influence of parents, peers, and dating partners on teens' alcohol use.