The many faces of affect: a multilevel model of drinking frequency/quantity and alcohol dependence symptoms among young adults.

This research tested a multilevel structural equation model of associations between 3 aspects of affective functioning (state affect, trait affect, and affective lability) and 3 alcohol outcomes (likelihood of drinking, quantity on drinking days, and dependence symptoms) in a sample of 263 college students. Participants provided 49 days of experience sampling data over 1.3 years in a longitudinal burst design.

Turning 21 and the associated changes in drinking and driving after drinking among college students.

Objective: The authors examined drinking and driving after drinking before and after turning 21.

Participants: Participants were drawn from first time college students who were taking part in a 4-year longitudinal study of alcohol use and behavioral risks.

Methods: Web-based longitudinal surveys collected data on drinking and driving after drinking from August 2004 through November 2007 (n = 1,817).

Parents, peers, and sexual values influence sexual behavior during the transition to college.

Several decades of research have identified the contributions of psychosocial influences on adolescent and young adult sexual behavior; however, few studies have examined parental and peer influence and sexual values during the transition from high school to college. The current study tested the influence of sexual values and perceived awareness and caring (PAC), or beliefs about how much parents and peers know and care about students' behavior, on sexual behavior during this transitional period. Using data from a longitudinal study, generalized estimating equations and the generalized linear model were used to examine the associations among sexual values, parental and peer PAC, and sexual behavior, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

Light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with S100beta and amyloid beta levels in healthy older adults.

Heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with several adverse neurocognitive outcomes in older adults, though little is known about lower consumption levels. No study has investigated the associations between S100beta and amyloid beta (Abeta) serum levels (biomarkers that provide evidence of neurological pathology) and light to moderate alcohol consumption in healthy older adults without neurological conditions. Thirty-five healthy older adults underwent neuropsychological testing and fasting blood draw with subsequent serum S100beta and Abeta 1-40 level quantification.

Inference in regression models of heavily skewed alcohol use data: a comparison of ordinary least squares, generalized linear models, and bootstrap resampling.

Analysis of alcohol use data and other low base rate risk behaviors using ordinary least squares regression models can be problematic. This article presents 2 alternative statistical approaches, generalized linear models and bootstrapping, that may be more appropriate for such data. First, the basic theory behind the approaches is presented.

Hook 'em horns and heavy drinking: alcohol use and collegiate sports.

Heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with collegiate sporting events, but little is known about specific levels of consumption over the course of an entire sports season. Ongoing web-based daily monitoring at the University of Texas at Austin allowed assessment of drinking levels of students (n=541) over two full football seasons. High-profile football game days were among the heaviest days for alcohol consumption, comparable to consumption on other well-known drinking days such as New Years Eve and Halloween weekend.

Association between alcohol intoxication and alcohol-related problems: an event-level analysis.

Heavy-drinking students experience a myriad of alcohol-related negative consequences. Use of event-level data permits predictions to be made regarding (a) the likelihood of alcohol-related consequences occurring after specific drinking events, and (b) moderators of the association between intoxication and consequences. College students (N = 183, 64% female) completed 4 consecutive 7-day drinking diaries and turned them in weekly.

Event-level covariation of alcohol intoxication and behavioral risks during the first year of college.

The authors examined the global- and event-level associations between alcohol intoxication and 10 behavioral risks during the 1st year of college. Participants (n = 1113; 62% female; 54% Caucasian) completed 30 days of Web-based self-monitoring that assessed alcohol consumption and involvement in 10 behavioral risks. Generalized estimating equations analyses were used to determine which behaviors covaried with event-level versus global indices of intoxication as well as the moderating effects of gender on the intoxication-behavior associations.

Measurement of alcohol-related consequences among high school and college students: application of item response models to the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index.

The Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI; H. R. White & E.

Prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B, syphilis, and chlamydia among adults seeking treatment for a mental disorder in southern India.

This study estimated the prevalence, and identified the correlates, of HIV, chlamydia, syphilis, and Hepatitis B among patients seeking treatment for a mental disorder in India. Patients (n = 948) submitted a blood sample for serologic testing and participated in a brief interview. Lifetime prevalence rates were nearly 2% for HIV, 10% for chlamydia, 3% for Hepatitis B, and 3% for syphilis; 15% of patients had evidence of at least one infection.

Risk for marijuana-related problems among college students: an application of zero-inflated negative binomial regression.

Method: This study examined the association between marijuana-related problems and social norms, impulsivity, and perceived use utility among 292 college students. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used to simultaneously predict expected nonusers as well as predict counts of reported marijuana-related problems among expected users. Gender, social norms, impulsivity, and perceived use utility were used to predict expected nonusers as well as number of marijuana-related problems among expected users.

Capturing the moment: innovative approaches to daily alcohol assessment.

This article is a summary of a symposium presented at the 2005 Research Society on Alcoholism annual conference organized by Dan J. Neal and chaired by William R. Corbin.

A follow-up psychometric analysis of the self-regulation questionnaire.

Self-regulation skills, which subsume goal-directed behavior and short-term delay of gratification for long-term gains, have been shown to be differentially related to alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. J. M.

Screening for sexually transmitted infections at a DeAddictions service in south India.

Objectives: To estimate the lifetime prevalence of four sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to identify correlates of these infections among patients seeking care for a substance use disorder at a specialized DeAddictions Unit in southern India.

Methods: Consecutive inpatients (n=361; 98% male; M age=36.7 years) admitted to DeAddictions Unit of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bangalore, India, participated in a structured interview to obtain demographic, psychiatric, sexual behavior, and substance use data; each patient also provided a blood sample for serologic testing for HIV, chlamydia, syphilis, and hepatitis B.

It's all fun and games...or is it? Collegiate sporting events and celebratory drinking.

Objective: Heavy drinking is prevalent on college campuses, and collegiate sporting events may precipitate heavy drinking. Despite this, relatively few studies have examined student drinking on the days of sporting events. In 2003, Syracuse University won the men's National College Athletic Association basketball championship; ongoing data collection allowed an investigation of alcohol consumption at Syracuse University during the two Final Four game days, when the semifinals and championship games are played.

Problems assessment for substance using psychiatric patients: development and initial psychometric evaluation.

Background: Persons with co-occurring Axis I mental disorders and substance use disorders often experience multiple negative consequences as a result of their substance use. Because no existing measure adequately assesses these population-specific problems, we developed the Problems Assessment for Substance Using Psychiatric Patients (PASUPP). This paper describes the scale development and factor structure, and provides initial reliability and validity evidence for the PASUPP.

Developing discrepancy within self-regulation theory: use of personalized normative feedback and personal strivings with heavy-drinking college students.

Efforts to reduce the frequency of high-risk drinking have included the use of motivational interventions. Both the technique used in motivational interventions and an underlying theory of behavior change (i.e.

A psychometric analysis of the self-regulation questionnaire.

The self-regulation questionnaire (SRQ) is a 63-item instrument designed to measure the generalized ability to regulate behavior so as to achieve desired future outcomes. This study extended previous psychometric evaluations of the SRQ by determining the factor structure and internal consistency of the SRQ and providing convergent and discriminant evidence for its validity. Participants were undergraduates (N=391; 55% women) from two consecutive semesters (n(1)=208; n(2)=183).

Predictors of HIV risk among men seeking treatment for substance abuse in India.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of HIV risk among men receiving treatment for substance abuse in India. Consecutive inpatients from the major substance abuse hospital in southern India were screened using a structured interview and standardized measures to obtain demographic, psychiatric, sexual behavior, and substance use data at the time of admission. Seventy-seven percent of the 352 men who were screened reported that they were sexually active during the past year, and 13% reported that they had engaged in sexual practices associated with greater risk.

Test-retest reliability of alcohol measures: is there a difference between internet-based assessment and traditional methods?

This study compared Web-based assessment techniques with traditional paper-based methods of commonly used measures of alcohol use. Test-retest reliabilities were obtained, and tests of validity were conducted. A total of 255 participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: paper-based (P&P), Web-based (Web), or Web-based with interruption (Web-I).