The United States is in the midst of an opioid crisis, with more than 130 people dying each day from an opioid overdose (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018a). Given the recent spike in overdose deaths associated with highly potent synthetic opioids (i.e., fentanyl), there are few signs of the crisis abating (CDC, 2018a). Compared to other age groups, the prevalence of both heroin and prescription opioid use is particularly elevated among young adults (Sharma, Bruner, Barnett, & Fishman, 2016). While there is a large body of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of substance use treatment in general, only 40-60% of individuals remain abstinent in the year following treatment (McLellan, Lewis, O’Brien, & Klebler, 2000). Less attention has been given to the process of treatment, making it challenging to determine what works and what needs improvement. This information is necessary in developing a comprehensive understanding of the treatment process, which in turn, will inform treatment decisions and improve client outcomes. The current study adds to existing literature by assessing during-treatment change on four proximal outcomes measuring substance-related cognitions (i.e., abstinence self-efficacy and commitment to sobriety) and self-concept (i.e., internalized shame and self-compassion). It was hypothesized that participants would demonstrate significant changes in the favorable direction on all four proximal outcomes. A sample comprised of primarily young adults with opioid use disorders attending short-term residential substance use treatment were enrolled in a naturalistic longitudinal study and assessed at intake, mid-treatment, and discharge. Individual growth curve models were used to examine change over time at both the aggregate and individual levels on the four proximal outcomes. Several potential moderating influences (e.g., demographic information, substance use history, mental health symptoms) were explored to better understand initial status and responses to treatment. Results revealed significant changes in the expected direction on all four proximal outcomes. In addition, several variables emerged as significant predictors of initial status and rates of change. These results provide further evidence that residential substance use treatment is not only a viable option in reducing substance use, but also impacts other important outcomes relevant to clients’ functioning and overall well-being.

The Republic of Sierra Leone is situated on the Northwest African coast and occupies an area of 28,000 square miles. It is bounded on t he north and the east by the Republic of Guinea, on the south by Liberia, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of 2.5 million people, comprised of thirteen tribes. The main tribal grouping are the Limbas, Mendes, Temnes, and Creoles. With the exception of the descendants of former slaves residing in t he Colony area, most of t he occupants of the interior are believed to have emigrated into Sierra Leone from neighboring West African territories at an earlier period. Largely illiterate and primitive in some aspects, these interior tribes rely mainly on subsistence farming. They contrast sharply with the settlers or Creoles who reside in the colony area. The Creoles are highly literate, "civilized" and practice western culture and traditions more than any other group in Sierra Leone. Due to British policy and the obvious dislike of European influence by the inhabitants of the hinterland, it took a long time before development programs could be instituted in that part of the country. In fact, the northern tribes, the subject of my paper, because of their stranger traditional opposition to western culture lagged behind in improvement and social reforms. For instance, while schools were opened in the colony area in 1787, and in the southern and eastern provinces in 1906, the north did not get its first high school until 1950. In the first part of this work I intend to examine t he social institutions of the Northerners with particular emphasis on their family system. I shall devote the second part to analyzing the changing attitudes of literate and illiterate Sierra Leoneans from the North towards family relationships. I shall also explain how far the assimilation of European culture by these people has affected the traditional African Society. In my conclusion, I shall make recommendations and suggestions on how the two cultures, Western and African, can be used to benefit the inhabitants of the north.

The current study aimed to investigate if there was a difference in self esteem of Swedish young adults when they were playing MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online Games) compared to when they were not playing. Moreover, the purpose was to explore whether any discrepancy in self esteem was associated with well-being and/or the amount of time spent gaming. The sample (N=75) was 19-30 year olds who regularly played MMO. The study consisted of an online survey including the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, two versions of the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (one directed towards when playing and one towards when not playing) as well as questions concerning gaming habits. The results showed a significant difference in self esteem with a generally lower self esteem when playing compared to when not playing. The results indicated that MMO-playing functions as a separate context, where self esteem manifests differently from otherwise. The group reporting the lowest well-being showed a significant correlation between well-being and the discrepancy. This indicated that people with low well-being may have an increased sensitivity towards a discrepancy in self esteem where it tends to affect well-being negatively. The group that played the most showed a generally larger discrepancy compared to those who played the least. The patterns observed in the study motivate further research regarding why self esteem manifests differently in the MMO-playing context. / Studien ämnade att undersöka om det fanns en skillnad i självkänsla hos svenska unga vuxna då de spelande MMO(Massively Multiplayer Online Games) i relation till när de inte spelade. Vidare var syftet med studien att undersöka om någon diskrepans i självkänsla var associerat med välmående och/eller antal timmar de spelade. Urvalet (N=75) bestod av 19-30 åringar som regelbundet spelade MMO. Studien bestod av en online enkät med en Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale och två versioner av Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (en riktad mot då de spelande och en riktad mot då de inte spelade). Vidare bestod enkäten av frågor gällande spelvanor. Resultatet visade på en signifikant skillnad i självkänsla med en lägre självkänsla då de spelade än då de inte spelade. Resultatet tyder på att MMO-spelande fungerar som ett kontext där självkänsla manifesteras annorlunda. Gruppen som rapporterade lägst välmående visade på en signifikant korrelation mellan välmående och diskrepans. Detta indikerar att människor med lågt välmående kan ha en ökad känslighet för diskrepans i självkänsla, där diskrepansen verkar påverka välmående negativt. Gruppen som spelade mest tenderade vidare att  generellt ha en större diskrepans i jämförelse med dom som spelade minst. De mönster som observerats i den aktuella studien motiverar framtida forskning gällande varför självkänsla manifesteras annorlunda i MMO-spelande kontext.

No description available.

Pornography is today easy to find on the internet and is used by a majority of young women and men. This study aims to investigate how pornography use affects young women and men. Our study intends to answer if the are differences between young women and mens pornographic consumption and attitudes towards the material. The study also aims to investigaste if there are connections between young women and mens attitudes towards pornographic consumtion and views on gender. It will also investigate if there are connections between young women and men regarding perceptions and expectations about sex. Our study is based on a quantitative approach in the form of a survey study with 211 respondents (132 women and 79 men). The theoretical framework is based on Hirdmans gender theory and Gagnon and Simons theory about sexual scripts. Our main results shows that there are big differences in pornography use and attitudes towards the material. On one hand, men are more likely to use pornography and have a neutral attitude. On the other hand, women are more likely to have a negative attitude against pornography. The motives for consumption are the same for both sexes. Our study can show that there is a connection between women, the attitude against pornography and the view on gender. Women who have a negative attitude against pornography are more likely to think that it is important to question gender roles. Men don’t link pornography with gender equality, for them pornography is only sex. The respondents agrees that other peoples perceptions and expectations can be influenced by pornography, but not their own. Although our study shows interesting findings they may not be a consequence of pornography. Our respondents can be influenced by other factors than pornography use.

Bakgrund: Det sker en ständig ökning av depression, framförallt hos barn och unga vuxna. Tidigare forskning visar att regelbunden fysisk aktivitet har samma behandlande effekt som antidepressiva läkemedel. Depression innebär ett ökat lidande och kan leda till ett försämrat välbefinnande för den drabbade. Fysisk aktivitet kan förebygga, behandla och undvika fall av depression. Syfte: Unga och unga vuxnas upplevelser och attityder av fysisk aktivitet vid depression och depressionssymtom Metod: Studien är skriven som en allmän litteraturöversikt som har inkluderat både kvalitativa och kvantitativa artiklar mellan åren 2006–2021. Tio artiklar som studerat ungas (13–28 år) attityder och upplevelser av fysisk aktivitet vid depression har granskats. Resultat: Resultatet visade flertalet positiva upplevelser vid fysisk aktivitet, däribland en minskning av depressionssymtom, ökad motivation, förbättrad självkänsla samt självförmåga. Det framkom även upplevda hinder som skapade svårigheter till fysisk aktivitet. För att implementera fysisk aktivitet som en del i behandlingen är stöd från närstående och sjukvården avgörande. Ungas attityder påverkar acceptansen till fysisk aktivitet som en del i behandlingen. Konklusion: Att implementera fysisk aktivitet som en del i behandlingen upplevdes mestadels som positivt. / Background: There is a constant increase in depression cases, especially in children and young adults. Previous research shows that regular physical activity has the sametherapeutic effect as antidepressant drugs. Depression means increased suffering and can lead to a deterioration in the well-being of the sufferer. Research shows that physical activity can prevent, treat and avoid cases of depression Aim: Young and young adults' experiences and attitudes of physical activity in depression and depressive symptoms. Method: The study is written as a general literature review that contains both qualitative and quantitative articles between the years 2006-2021. The authors have reviewed ten articles that study young adults (13–28 years) attitudes and experiences of physical activity in depression. Findings: The results showed several positive experiences during physical activity, including a reduction in depressive symptoms, increased motivation, improved self-esteem and self-efficacy. There were also perceived obstacles that created difficulties in being physically active. In order to implement physical activity as part of the treatment, support from relatives and healthcare is crucial. Adolescents' attitudes affect the acceptance of physical activity as part of treatment. Conclusion: Implementing physical activity as part of the treatment was mostly perceived as positive.

No description available.

No description available.

Author: Hanna-Stina Ivarsson Title: When life gives you loneliness – A netnographic study of loneliness amongst young adults Supervisor: Peter Hultgren Assessor: Torbjörn Forkby  Summary Loneliness is a threat to our health and researchers believe that the loneliness epidemic is the new public disease of our time. In the meantime, single households and individualization in Sweden is increasing, this is happening at the same time as natural meeting places are increasingly disappearing. This is precisely why it is important to learn to manage and break the involuntary loneliness that so many people experience. Loneliness has become an important topic for professionals in social work, but there is a lack of knowledge and strategies to meet and manage involuntary loneliness. There is a perception in society today that it is the elderly who are the loneliest, but new research shows that a change has taken place, and it is young adults who experience loneliness to the greatest extent.  In this study I was interested in investigating how young adults (16-29) themselves depicts the loneliness they live in and what they do to manage and break this loneliness. In order to obtain the results of the study, I have used a qualitative netnographic method. The empirical material has been collected in three popular Swedish discussion forums. I found that the majority of young adults who suffer from loneliness also suffer from some form of mental illness. Furthermore, many feel ashamed about their situation and feel that their life is at a standstill. The strategies used to manage and break loneliness seem to be a complex combination of emotional and problem-focused coping

No description available.