Psychometric properties of coping and self-efficacy scales related to substance use in a sample of Iranian adolescents

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Persian version of self-efficacy and coping skill scales (CSE) which are relevant to substance use in Iranian adolescents. Method: The method included a forward–backward translation with face and content validity in the first step and the psychometric properties were evaluated in the second step. The study used reliability and construct validity in a cross-sectional survey, in three steps, including: item analysis, explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses in 720 adolescents, aged from 14 to 18 years old in Isfahan. Findings: In the first step, three items were excluded because of low CVI and one item was deleted due to low CITC. EFA in the cross-sectional study showed appropriate loading items and revealed an 18-item scale with four factors including: refusal self-efficacy, decision making, assertiveness and communication skills. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis represented an acceptable fitness (CMIN/DF?=?3.6, NFI?=?0.90, TLI?=?0.92, CFI?=?0.93, PNFI?=?0.76, RMSEA?=?0.06). Internal consistency was found from 0.68 to 0.89 for the four subscales. Conclusion: Overall, the results of these studies indicate that the Persian version of coping and self-efficacy appears to be a psychometrically robust instrument and could significantly predict substance use behaviour in Iranian adolescents.     

Attentional Difficulties and the Effectiveness of a Visual Representation Strategy for Counseling Drug-Addicted Clients

Three hundred thirty-one opioid-addicted clients in methadone treatment were randomly assigned to counselors who used either mappingenhanced or standard counseling. Those counseled with mapping had lower percentages of during-treatment urine specimens that were positive for either cocaine or opiates, and they were rated by their counselors as having higher rapport, motivation, and self-confidence. Clients were further classified into those exhibiting either good or poor attention during an intake interview. The results suggest that clients with poor attention are more likely to have positive urines, but that this tendency appears to be reduced under mapping-enhanced counseling.     

A Model of First‐responder Coping: An Approach/Avoidance Bifurcation

The work of first responders is fraught with numerous stressors, ranging from potentially traumatic critical incidents to institutional strains. The severity and pervasiveness of these difficulties prompt a necessary consideration of the coping methods employed by first responders. The present study developed an empirical model of first‐responder coping strategies, based upon a nationally representative survey sample of 6240 first responders. Participants were drawn from Swedish first responders in the following occupations: coast guard, customs control, military, emergency medical services, fire department and police services. In the final model, exposure to stress related to well‐being through several indirect paths that in sum accounted for the original direct relationship between these constructs. These several indirect paths were classified theoretically as either approach or avoidance coping behaviours or subsequent health outcomes. In general, approach coping behaviours were related to better well‐being; and avoidance was related to a decrease in the outcome. The size of the present sample, as well as the diverse nature of the included first responders, suggests that the resulting model may offer a unique insight into potentially adaptive pathways for first‐responder coping. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Older women’s experiences,identities and coping strategies for dealing with a problem-drinking male family member*

Aims: In this study, we highlight the identities and actions of women with a problem-drinking relative by analysing autobiographies of women born between the 1920s and the 1950s. We ask how women describe their relationship and the problems arising because of a significant other’s drinking and how they cope with these problems. Methods: In the analysis, we pay attention to the power dynamics between family members. We, first, trace what kind of positions or identities the protagonists take in relation to the drinker. Second, we examine what kinds of harms and emotional reactions significant other’s drinking causes. Third, we consider how writers identify or take distance from events described in the autobiographies. Findings: Our analysis reveals four main identities and coping strategies: the positions of victim, helper, boundary setter and fighter. The victim and helper positions often entail women’s weakness and oppressed role, while the positions of boundary setter and fighter express women’s own power and reflexivity in action. Conclusions: Knowledge of the identities and coping strategies is important for understanding the power aspects of a relationship and developing appropriate support for women suffering from family member’s drinking.     

Evidence of psychosomatic influences in compensated and decompensated tinnitus

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role and interaction of individual factors on decompensated tinnitus. Subjects consisted of 53 adult patients with chronic tinnitus. They were selected and assigned to two groups, compensated (n?=?28) and decompensated (n?=?25), according to the results of an established tinnitus questionnaire. Both groups were evaluated and compared. The patients with decompensated tinnitus suffered from more pronounced social disabilities, were more prone to depression, and used less effective techniques to cope with their illness. They showed a higher degree of somatic multimorbidity, with particularly strong correlations between tinnitus and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and hypoacusis. As a consequence, in the psychosomatic tinnitus therapy, greater attention should be given to the treatment of the somatic complaints in addition to psychological and psychosocial aspects.     

Strategies to Resist Drug Offers Among Urban American Indian Youth of the Southwest: An Enumeration,Classification, and Analysis by Substance and Offeror

This study explores the drug resistance strategies of urban American Indian adolescents when they encounter people offering them alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. Data were collected in 2005 from 11 female and 9 male adolescents who self-identified as American Indian and attended two urban middle schools in the southwestern United States. In two focus groups—one at each school site—the youth described their reactions to 25 hypothetical substance offer scenarios drawn from real-life narratives of similar youth. Qualitative analysis of their 552 responses to the scenarios generated 14 categories. Half of the responses were strategies reported most often by nonnative youth (refuse, explain, leave, and avoid). Using ecodevelopmental theory, the responses were analyzed for indications of culturally specific ways of resisting substance offers, such as variation by specific substance and relationship to the person offering. Study limitations are noted along with suggestive implications for future research on culturally appropriate prevention approaches for urban American Indian youth.     

儿童青少年1型糖尿病患儿的压力和应对方式对其疾病自我管理的影响

目的 探讨人口学、疾病相关特征、压力、应对方式对儿童青少年1型糖尿病患儿疾病自我管理水平的影响。方法 采用横断面调查研究设计，纳入149名儿童青少年1型糖尿病患儿（8~20岁）。采用一般资料收集表、儿童青少年1型糖尿病自我管理量表、压力知觉量表、青少年应对方式量表进行调查。结果 149例患儿中，37例（24.8%）患儿处于高压力水平。与学龄期患儿相比，青春期患儿压力水平更高，且更多地采用消极应对方式（P < 0.05）。多元线性回归分析结果显示，母亲教育水平为高中及以上患儿以及低压力水平、面对压力采取积极应对的患儿，其糖尿病自我管理水平较高（P < 0.05）。结论 近四分之一的儿童青少年1型糖尿病患儿处于高压力水平。医护人员在对儿童青少年患儿进行糖尿病自我管理教育时，重点人群应放在母亲教育水平为初中及以下水平的家庭；策略方面，应以减压为目标，引导患儿更多地采取积极应对方式缓解压力。     

Relationship between coping,rumination and posttraumatic growth in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders

This study examined the relationship between coping, rumination and posttraumatic growth in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). One hundred and two mothers of autistic children in China were surveyed using Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, and Event Related Rumination Inventory. Mothers reported mediate level of PTG, mostly on the growth of personal strength. Hierarchal regression analysis indicated that positive coping positively predicted PTG and growth on “relating to others”; deliberate rumination was positively correlated with growth on “appreciation of life”; and intrusive rumination negatively predicted growth on “personal strength”, “new possibilities” and “spiritual change”. No statistically significant relationship between negative coping and PTG was found. The results may be used to provide mothers with a better understanding of the underlying growth process and assist service providers in facilitating this progress.