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The last few years have prompted empirical research about the COVID-19 pandemic. Undoubtedly, the pandemic has influenced a multitude of psychological constructs, including religiosity and substance use (Harper et al., 2020). Research about the effects of COVID-19 on religiosity and substance has been repeatedly demonstrated in the literature (Buchtova et al., 2022; Mosaval et al., 2022; Baillargeon et al., 2020). Although previous research has found relationships between these variables, no research exists about the potential connection between religiosity, substance use, and the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the purposes of this research study is to fill this existing gap in the literature. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly exacerbated substance use and its complex facets. Additionally, the pandemic has negatively impacted several dimensions of substance use worldwide, including recovery meetings and communities, treatment services, and the cognitive and emotional functions of those with SUD and those who provide services to people with SUD (Palacio-Gonzalez et al., 2022; Mellis et al., 2021; Radfar et al., 2021; DeJong et al., 2022). Mellis et al. (2021) found that after the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with a history of multiple SUDs reported more issues with telehealth and complications with accessing needed services. DeJong et al. (2021) highlighted the emotional aspects that people in recovery from SUD have faced since the COVID-19 pandemic. Substantial research regarding the negative relationship between religiosity and substance use exists. Religiosity is associated with a significant reduction in the rates of marijuana use, binge drinking, tobacco use, illicit drug use, and prescription drug use (Burdette et al., 2018; Edlund et al., 2010; Ford & Hill, 2012; Rivera et al., 2018). Johnson et al. (2008) found that negative beliefs about alcohol mediated the relationship between religious involvement and substance use. Additionally, the relationship between external religiosity and alcohol and tobacco use was moderated by internal religiosity, according to Marsiglia et al. (2011). These associations suggest that religiosity serves as a protective factor against substance use. Indeed, these findings are signified by Hai (2012) and Sartor et al. (2019), as they found that religiosity is a protective factor against marijuana and nicotine use. In the current study, we aim to investigate the moderating effects of COVID-19 on the relationship between intrinsic religious commitment and substance use using a simple moderation model conducted in PROCESS Macro by Hayes (2018). The model of religious commitment negatively predicting substance use, moderated by whether or not COVID-19 was occurring, was statistically significant, F(3, 436) = 9.71, p >.001, ∆R2 = .0625. This indicates that religiosity negatively predicts substance use, and COVID-19 significantly moderated the relationship. With these findings in mind, we propose that during COVID-19, when substance use increased, religious commitment served as a protective factor against increased use during COVID-19.

The present study examines how an accumulation of risk and protective factors impacts the development of juvenile delinquency and conduct problems in late adolescents. Risk factors may have a negative impact early on in a youth’s life, and protective factors such as positive parenting may alleviate or diminish the impact those risk factors may have. The sample consisted of 499 participants aged 18 to 36 years who attend a southeastern university. Participants completed surveys that measure friend’s delinquent behavior, parenting practices, neighborhood cohesion, exposure to community violence, delinquency, and conduct problems. Results of ANOVAs indicate that cumulative effects of several risk factors and the absence of protective factors are more strongly associated with conduct problems and juvenile delinquency than any single risk factor alone. Participants with five or more risk factors were at greater risk for developing delinquent behavior and conduct problems than participants with fewer risk factors.

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Although considerable literature can be found concerning the etiology of cigarette smoking, research suggests that a major gap exists pertaining to predictors of adolescent smoking for rural populations. The purpose of this study is to compare risk and protective factors for adolescents living in rural and urban environments. An ecological framework was used to examine variables from the individual, family, peer, school, and community contexts. The influence of these variables was assessed on a sample of (n=3,166) 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students from Virginia public schools. Linear regression analyses revealed that parental attitudes and best friends' smoking behavior was influential in the smoking behavior of both rural and urban adolescents. School and community level variables were only influential in smoking behavior among the urban adolescents. / Master of Science

Although subclinical eating disorders are more common than clinical eating disorders, they have received significantly less empirical attention. Subclinical symptoms of eating disorders often surface during adolescence and young adulthood and are far more common among females than males. Despite knowledge that the larger sociocultural context may contribute to the development of eating disorders, few studies have examined feminist-informed factors that may serve as protective mechanisms for young women who are influenced by Western capitalist culture and exhibit some symptomology, but do not develop clinically disordered eating. Using the feminist-relational model (feminist-relational Model (Jordan, 1997; Maine and Bunnell, 2008; Surrey, 1991) as a guide, this study sought to fill this gap. Informed by feminist grounded theory methodology, this study qualitatively examined socio-relational and socio-political contexts as potential protective factors for young women ages 18-25 whose subclinical eating disorder symptoms had not yet developed into a clinical eating disorder. Using constructivist grounded theory methodology, an emerging model was developed which demonstrates how participants spoke of their eating disorder symptoms in an externalized way. This was termed the "eating disorder voice." Findings highlight how feminist-informed protective factors helped participants resolve the tension between their genuine voice and eating disorder voice, and act in accordance with their preferred values. Participants were then more likely to be open about their symptoms and invest in their relationships. The main protective factors that emerged included, support people who provide emotional and tangible support, support people who challenge the eating disorder, a personal sense of agency, and community activism and involvement. The present study adds to the feminist theory and the feminist-relational model by providing a conceptualization of the symbiotic relationship between feminist-informed protective factors, suggesting through supportive relationships, individuals experience increased empowerment and agency. Clinical findings indicate that protecting symptoms, misperceptions regarding subclinical symptoms, and stigma served as barriers to seeking treatment. Implications for future research and practice are discussed. / Ph. D.

For generations, researchers have been examining attributes that make low socioeconomic status students resilient. Attributes that help one become resilient are known as protective factors. The purpose of this study was to describe the protective factor(s) that contributed to the first-generation, low socioeconomic status students’ enrollment at The University of Kentucky. The population for this study consists of the University of Kentucky First Scholars participants during the 2015 – 2016 academic year. The researcher examines the existing literature on low socioeconomic status effects on post-secondary education. Recommendations were made for the University of Kentucky’s First Scholars Program on how to further enhance their program and continue promoting low socioeconomic status students with opportunities in higher education.

Ungdomar lever inom en social kontext vilken direkt samt indirekt påverkar deras ställningstaganden gentemot cannabis. För att motverka att bruket ska öka i framtiden bör man se över vilka risk- samt skyddsfaktorer som påverkar deras attityder samt bruk av drogen. Idag råder en oro över att legaliseringsdebatten runt om i världen kan resultera i en negativ följd i form av allt mer liberala attityder bland den yngre generationen. Syftet med denna studie är därav att undersöka relationen mellan ungdomars attityder, eventuella bruk och de risk- samt skyddsfaktorer vilka finns i deras sociala omvärld. Resultatet från föreliggande studie visar att ungdomarna i den berörda kommunen har en restriktiv inställning gentemot cannabis dock visas en liberalare attityd bland de som testat substansen. Tillgången bör däremot ses som ett existerande problem då en stor del av respondenterna idag kan få tag på cannabis och problematiken kan ligga i den höga frekvensen av vänner som testat. Respondenternas alkohol- och tobaksbruk bör även ses som en betydande riskfaktor.

In this study, the researcher explored high school English language learners’ perceptions of risk factors and protective factors present in their academic and social lives. The researcher also explored how these students negotiated risk factors and used protective factors to be academically resilient. Therefore, the study was designed to examine academic resilience from the students’ perspectives, allowing them to share their story about their success in high school. The following research questions guided this study: (1) What risk factors are present in high school English language learners’ academic and social lives? and (2) Which protective factors do high school English language learners use to be academically resilient? The researcher collected and analyzed qualitative data using key characteristics of focus group analysis. Nine students voluntarily participated in three different semi-structured focus group meetings. The findings revealed that risk factors such as lack of English language ability, low expectations of teachers, inability to form new relationships, stress, and inattentiveness prevented students from being successful. In addition, the students discussed how several protective factors like learning English, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, establishing and implementing good study habits, and possessing certain inner qualities helped them be academically resilient. Two themes that emerged were students (1) choosing to be academically resilient and (2) actively seeking sources of help. Based on this study, suggestions for educators are as follows: (1) consider providing more language support for newcomers; (2) include and build upon parent-school and teacher-student relationships; (3) encourage and provide ways for students to form relationships with others through school-based programs; (4) foster and continue to support the growth of the students’ academic skills; (5) find ways for students to become more involved with community-based services and programs; and (6) stress the importance of holding all students to high standards, regardless of students’ English language proficiency levels.