Psychoactive Substance Use and Problematic Internet Use as Predictors of Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimization

Research exploring the relationship between addictions and experiences of bullying suggests that problem behaviors may generally be associated with an increased risk of victimization. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of psychoactive substance use, excessive Internet use, and social support in both traditional offline bullying and online “cyberbullying” victimization in a nationally representative sample of adolescents (N = 6237; 51% male; M _age = 16.62 years, SD = 0.95). Results demonstrated that traditional bullying victimization was associated with cyberbullying victimization. Furthermore, psychoactive substance use and problematic Internet use predicted both traditional bullying and cyberbullying victimization. Finally, perceived social support was found to be an important protective factor against both traditional and cyberbullying victimization. However, psychoactive substance use and problematic Internet use accounted for only a small proportion of variance in victimization.     

The Psychometric Properties of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS)

The goal of the study was to validate the English version of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS; Csibi et al. 2016), which is a short and easy-to-use tool for screening the risk of smartphone application-based addiction. Another aim was to identify the most frequently used smartphone applications and their perceived importance by the participants. Data were collected online from 240 English-speaking volunteers, aged 18 to 69 years. The instruments used were the SABAS, the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS), the Deprivation Sensation Scale (DSS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Participants also ranked the importance of their most frequently used smartphone applications. The six items of the SABAS yielded one component, which accounted for 52.38% of the total variance. The internal reliability of the scale was good (Cronbach’s alpha 0.81). NMP-Q was a significant predictor of SABAS, explaining 17.6% of the total variance. The regression analysis, with SABAS score as the dependent variable and NMP-Q, DSS, PHQ-9, and BSSS scores as predictors, indicated that approximately 47% of the variance in SABAS was accounted for by the predictors (R ² = 0.47). The English version of the SABAS appears to be a valid and reliable ultra-brief tool for a quick and easy assessment of smartphone application-based addiction symptoms.     

Smoking outcome expectancies: A multiple indicator and multiple cause (MIMIC) model

The present study was carried out to assess the construct validity of the short form of the Smoking Consequences Questionnaire, a brief measure of smoking outcome expectancies on a large sample of adolescents (N = 953). The results of this study support a four-factor structure of smoking outcome expectancies, including expectancies of negative consequences, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and appetite–weight control, as well as the assertion that gender, smoking status and sensation-seeking have a distinct pattern of associations with the four outcome expectancy factors.     

A mixed-methods analysis of online NPS user discussion in Hungary

Abstract

Aim: Our study’s aim was to identify a method which can properly reveal the different layers of the novel psychoactive substances (NPS) phenomenon appearing in the online discussion fora. Besides (i) evaluating the extent of potential peer-help harm reduction within NPS fora discussants, we also aimed (ii) to understand the main purposes of NPS use among the discussion participants, (iii) to chart their knowledge of and attitude towards the legality of the substances traded and used and (iv) to explore the feelings and consumer decision making processes on the NPS market.

Methods: A mixed-methods analysis and a sequential explanatory strategy were applied on the dataset of Hungarian NPS discussion fora. The initial qualitative data collection, netnography and thematic analysis were carried out to reveal emerging topics.

Findings: The discussion’s main topic was vendor reliability and fraud, with more negative than positive phrases attached. Discussants showed low levels of literacy, weak knowledge of substance legality and inadequate resources to provide peer-help harm reduction. Drug use purpose was mainly to “escape from reality”, not positively toned recreation.

Conclusion: Efficient indicated prevention interventions and harm reduction measures are needed to target disadvantageous online NPS user groups having little or no resources for self-help.     

Alcohol outcome expectancies and drinking motives mediate the association between sensation seeking and alcohol use among adolescents

Sensation seeking is a strong correlate of alcohol consumption among young people, yet the research on mediators of this association is mainly limited to English-speaking adolescents. The proposed model of the present study includes antecedent variables (sensation seeking, age and gender), mediators (positive and negative expectancies and drinking motives), and one outcome variable (a composite score of alcohol use). Self-reported data obtained from Hungarian high school students (N=707, mean age 16.6, SD=1.5) were analyzed with structural equation modeling. The general model fit was excellent, and this study supported the proposed sensation seeking --> positive and negative expectancies --> drinking motives --> alcohol use indirect effects. The total indirect effect explains 38% of sensation seeking and alcohol use association. Results support the notion that positive expectancy mediates between sensation seeking and drinking motives, and finally, positive expectancy and drinking motives are mediators between sensation seeking and alcohol use.     

The Role of Passion in Exercise Addiction,Exercise Volume,and Exercise Intensity in Long-term Exercisers

Recent studies have shown a relationship between the risk for exercise addiction (REA) and passion. This research examined whether levels of REA, volume of exercise (in weekly hours), and self-reported exercise intensities yield differences in obsessive passion and harmonious passion among individuals with long history of exercise. Respondents (n = 360) completed the Exercise Addiction Inventory, Passion Scale, and Borg Scale (assessing their usual exercise intensity), and reported their volume of exercise (hours per week). Regression analysis demonstrated that exercise intensity, obsessive passion, and harmonious passion were significant predictors (r² = .381, p < .001) of the REA scores with obsessive passion being the strongest predictor (r² = .318). Exercisers classified as at REA reported higher obsessive passion, harmonious passion, and exercise intensity (p ≤ .001) than those classified as symptomatic, who in turn scored higher on these measures (p ≤ .006) than asymptomatic exercisers. Participants reporting greater volumes of exercise also scored higher on obsessive passion, harmonious passion (p < .001), exercise intensity (p = .032), and REA scores (p = .042) than individuals who exercised less. Finally, women exercising between low and high intensities exhibited greater obsessive passion, as well as harmonious passion (p ≤ .005) than men reporting similar exercise intensities. These findings support the recently reported relationship between passion and REA. They also expand the current knowledge by demonstrating that obsessive passion and harmonious passion are greater in the individuals who exercise at higher volumes and with higher intensities.

     

Computer-based programmes for the prevention and management of illicit recreational drug use: A systematic review

The last few decades have seen increasing use of computer-based programmes to address illicit recreational drug use but knowledge about their effectiveness is limited. We conducted a systematic review to examine evidence on these programmes. Eight electronic databases were searched to identify primary research studies evaluating computer-based programmes to prevent or reduce use of illicit recreational drugs. From an initial 3413 extracted studies, 10 were identified for inclusion, covering a range of intervention types, target groups and settings. Universal drug prevention programmes were effective in reducing the frequency of recreational drug use in the mid-term (< 12 months), but not immediately post intervention. Programmes targeting recreational drug users showed more inconsistent results but were generally effective in reducing use of drugs both immediately and in the mid-term. Computer-based programmes have the potential for use in addressing recreational drug use when targeted both universally and at illicit drug users, at least in the mid-term. However, longer term evaluations are needed to better understand the duration of effects. Given the benefits that computer-based programmes can have over traditional delivery methods, research is needed to better understand the value of human contact in health interventions and help inform whether, and how much, professional contact should be involved in computer-based programmes.     

Association between Novelty Seeking of opiate-dependent patients and the catechol-O-methyltransferase ValMet polymorphism

Background

Candidate genes of the dopaminergic system have been reported as key elements in shaping human temperament. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays a vital role in dopamine inactivation, and the Val¹⁵⁸Met single nucleotide polymorphism (rs4680) in its gene has been recently associated with the Novelty Seeking (NS) temperament scale of the Temperament and Character Inventory in studies of healthy adults, as well as methamphetamine abusers.

Method

Our goal was to examine the association between temperament dimensions of the Temperament and Character Inventory and the COMT Val¹⁵⁸Met variation in a Hungarian sample of 117 heroin-dependent patients and 124 nondependent controls.

Results

Case-control analysis did not show any significant difference in allele or genotype distributions. However, dimensional approach revealed an association between the COMT Val¹⁵⁸Met and NS (P = .01): both controls and opiate users with Met/Met genotypes showed higher NS scores compared to those with the Val allele. The NS scores are also significantly higher among opiate users; however, no interaction was found between group status and COMT genotype.

Conclusion

Association of the COMT polymorphism and NS temperament scale has been shown for heroin-dependent patients and controls regardless of group status.     

The information capacity of adolescent alcohol consumption indicators along a continuum of severity: A cross-national comparison of sixteen Central and Eastern European countries

Background

Because there is high variability among European countries in prevalence levels of various alcohol consumption measures, the informational value of adolescent's alcohol consumption indicators is uncertain. The present study aimed to examine information capacity and measurement invariance of different alcohol consumption indicators in adolescents from countries of the former Soviet (Eastern) Bloc in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Methods

Data were collected in 16 CEE countries, as part of the 2013/2014 wave of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study. Data from adolescents (age 15) who reported having consumed alcohol at least once in their lifetime were analyzed. Four binary items selected for analysis measured the presence or absence of alcohol consumption in the last 30 days, lifetime drunkenness, weekly drinking frequency, and binge drinking on a typical occasion. Multiple group confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory analysis were used to examine the data.

Results

In most of the included countries, alcohol consumption in the last 30 days and lifetime drunkenness were indicative at lower severity levels, while binge drinking and weekly drinking frequency were informative at higher levels of alcohol use severity. A low proportion of the estimated intercepts and factor loadings were noninvariant, which indicated approximate cross-national invariance of these indicators.

Conclusions

Adolescent alcohol consumption indicators are informative for different severity levels and enable cross-nationally invariant measurement. However, different indicators suggested the presence of diverging drinking cultures in the CEE regions, with the highest discrimination capacity at the lower and higher ends of the continuum of alcohol use severity.

     

Discriminative Characteristics of Marginalised Novel Psychoactive Users: a Transnational Study

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - New psychoactive substances (NPS) continue to be considered as a major public health concern in many European countries. The study was...