Adolescent suicide is a serious and growing problem among adolescents. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to try and identify predictors of suicidal ideation. The first objective was to examine whether the level of engagement in risky behavior predicts an increase in total suicidal ideation above and beyond other well-known risk factors (i.e., family functioning, gender, and problem-solving skills). The second objective was to investigate whether different types of risky behaviors (i.e., internalizing versus externalizing) predict different forms of suicidal ideation (i.e., passive versus active) above and beyond perceived family functioning, gender, and problem-solving skills. The pre-test archival data of 358 students who participated in a weekly problem-solving group were analyzed. Using four questionnaires, their perceived family functioning, knowledge of the problem-solving process, number of risk-taking behaviors, and level of suicidal ideation were assessed during the first and last sessions. Gender and perceived family functioning uniquely and consistently contributed to the variance in active, passive and total suicidal ideation scores. The active, passive and total suicidal ideation scores of adolescent males were consistently lower than adolescent females. When compared to adolescents who described having no relationship with their families, those adolescents who reported having a good or great relationship with their families consistently reported lower passive, active, and total suicidal ideation scores. Having an okay relationship produced mixed results. Total risky behavior scores significantly predicted adolescents’ total suicidal ideation scores above and beyond perceived family functioning and gender. In addition, internalizing behaviors, but not externalizing behaviors, predicted an increase in passive, active, and total suicidal ideation scores above and beyond perceived family functioning and gender. Based on these findings, current screening, prevention and treatment programs would benefit from adding questions designed to determine an adolescent’s engagement in internalizing behaviors and how they perceive their family relationships. This may help in identifying at-risk adolescents earlier so that they can receive the help and support they require.

In 2005, the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported 21.9% of males and 26.1% of females were bullied in schools. Little research has been conducted into showing an association between childhood bully victimization and risky behaviors. In addition, knowledge is limited about the connection between victimization and risky behaviors among different ethnic groups. We propose to assess the association between victimization and risky behaviors, using the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey among 3,116 students in grades 9 through 12 in 2007. Data was obtained by self-administered questionnaire, and victimization was considered as a single dichotomous variable. Victimization was assessed as a dichotomous variable. Risky behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, marijuana use, unprotected sex and weapon violence) were measured using several questions regarding frequency and initial age of use. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between bullying and risky behavior, and then the results were stratified with ethnic background (White, Hispanic and other) to assess possible effect modification. Results show that victims are more likely to have engaged in risky behaviors before the age of 13 and are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors while at school. Significant ethnic differences in the relation between bully victimization and risk behaviors were not generally observed; however, non-White bully victims were generally at greater risk for all risky behaviors than Whites. These findings will help provide information on factors that may be used to identify at-risk children, and to target adjust existing interventions with bullying and victims to improve efficacy.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Objetivo: A principal finalidade desse estudo foi verificar a diferença entre dois grupos de motoristas – aqueles que apresentaram alcoolemia positiva medida através de etilômetro e/ou uso prévio de outras SPAs, averiguado através de exame de saliva, e aqueles que não apresentaram – em relação a comportamentos de risco, transtorno depressivo maior, mania e hipomania, TEPT, e TPAS, assim como abuso ou dependência de SPAs. Método: Em um estudo transversal, 1.134 motoristas que dirigiam em rodovias federais brasileiras foram avaliados através de etilômetro para verificar alcoolemia e teste de saliva para verificar a presença de drogas. Posteriormente, por meio de entrevistas telefônicas, foram avaliados em relação a transtornos psiquiátricos e comportamentos de risco. Os participantes foram divididos em dois grupos (motoristas com resultados positivos para uso de substâncias (n=82) e motoristas com resultados negativos (n=1052)). Os resultados foram comparados com o teste qui-quadrado e com análise de regressão logística. Em relação aos comportamentos de risco, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos de motoristas. Resultados: Motoristas que apresentaram uso de SPAs apresentaram maior prevalência de diagnósticos psiquiátricos como depressão (21,8%), mania/hipomania (20,8%), TEPT (10,7%), TPAS (9,0%), abuso de substâncias (24,5%) quando comparados com outros motoristas (5,8%, 7,1%, 0,4%, 1,2% e 2,8%, respectivamente). Participantes com algum diagnóstico psiquiátrico tinham 4,47 mais chance de apresentar o desfecho. Aqueles com dependência/abuso de alguma SPA tinham 5,47 mais chance de dirigir sob influência de álcool ou drogas. Conclusões: Indivíduos que dirigem sob influência de álcool e/ou outras drogas podem precisar de avaliações e intervenções destinadas para transtornos psiquiátricos específicos. Esses resultados poderão servir como base ao desenvolvimento e implementação de políticas públicas no Brasil. Palavras-chave: Transtornos psiquiátricos, comportamentos de risco, álcool, substâncias psicoativas, dirigir sob influência de substâncias. / Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between two groups of drivers – drivers who, on recruitment of the sample, showed blood alcohol content recorded by breathalyzer and previous use of other psychoactive substances examined through saliva test and those who didn’t drive under the influence – regarding risky behaviors, major depression disorder, mania and hypomania, PTSD and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), as well as substances abuse or dependence. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 1,134 individuals driving on federal highways in Brazilian cities took alcohol breathalyzer tests and drug saliva tests and were evaluated, thru telephonic interview, regarding psychiatric disorders and risky behaviors. Participants were divided into two groups (drivers who tested positive for substances (n=82) and those who did not (n=1052)). Data were compared by the Chisquare test and with a logistic regression model. Results: Substance positive drivers reported a significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses like depression (21.8%), mania/hypomania (20.8%), post traumatic stress disorder (10.7%), antisocial personality (9.0%), substance use (24.5%) when compared to other drivers (5.8%, 7.1%, 0.4%, 1.2% and 2.8%, respectively). Participants with a psychiatric symptom were 4.47 times more likely to test positive for substance use. Similarly, participants with a substance use disorder were 5.47 times more likely to test positive for substance use. There were no significant differences between the groups of drivers, related to risky behaviors. Conclusion: Individuals who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol may need assessments and interventions targeted to specific psychiatric disorders. These results will inform the development of public policies in Brazil.

Poor sexual communication among Nigerian youth can create problems for health workers, medical practitioners, and the government in determining what is and is not working in their attempts to reduce sexually-related diseases. This quantitative study used self-administered questionnaires among 107 Nigerian university students, aged 18 to 35, to determine if a statistically significant predictive relationship existed between: (a) beliefs about alcohol, (b) HIV knowledge, (c) risk behaviors, (d) age, (e) religion, (f) gender, (g) sexual activity status, (h) dating status, (i) language, (j) sexual orientation, and (k) tribes of Nigerian university students and their sexual communication with partners. Previous studies did not use the AIDS risk reduction model (ARRM) as a theoretical framework to identify frequent risk factors in this population. This study was guided by the ARRM and used the Sexual Risk Survey (SRS), the HIV-KQ-18, the Revised Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ-3), and the Dyadic Sexual Communication Scale (DSC) to assess the participants. Independent-sample t tests were used to analyze the correlation of study variables and the results showed statistically significant differences only in tribal affiliation (p = .022), gender (p < .001; p =.016), dating status (p = .017), age (p = .006), and sexual activity status (p = .001). Linear regression analyses results showed no statistically significant predictive relationship, R = .322, R2 = .103, F (12, 94) = 0.904, p = .546, between HIV knowledge, beliefs about alcohol and risk behaviors of Nigerian students, and their ability to communicate sexually. These findings justify the need for more culturally sensitive studies and gender/age appropriate HIV intervention strategies in Nigeria.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between energy drink consumption (with and without alcohol) and other risky behaviors; students’ overall awareness level of the risks for consuming energy drinks; and overall behavioral intention to consume energy drinks among college students at the University of Kentucky. A total of 277 students enrolled during the Spring 2012 semester responded to the online survey, 46.5% (n=129) of which were considered energy drink users. Students classified as energy drink users participated in other risky behaviors more often than non-users (p=0.001). In addition, energy drink users exhibited a higher awareness level for the risks associated with energy drink consumption both with (p=0.000) and without (p=0.000) alcohol. Those who were more aware of the risks associated with energy drink consumption, both with (p=0.001) and without (p=0.001) alcohol, were found to have increased intention to consume energy drinks within the next month compared to those with lower awareness levels. There is a need for future research on this topic, as well as a need for expanded education and intervention programming for college students regarding the risks of energy drink consumption (with and without alcohol).

Objetivo: A principal finalidade desse estudo foi verificar a diferença entre dois grupos de motoristas – aqueles que apresentaram alcoolemia positiva medida através de etilômetro e/ou uso prévio de outras SPAs, averiguado através de exame de saliva, e aqueles que não apresentaram – em relação a comportamentos de risco, transtorno depressivo maior, mania e hipomania, TEPT, e TPAS, assim como abuso ou dependência de SPAs. Método: Em um estudo transversal, 1.134 motoristas que dirigiam em rodovias federais brasileiras foram avaliados através de etilômetro para verificar alcoolemia e teste de saliva para verificar a presença de drogas. Posteriormente, por meio de entrevistas telefônicas, foram avaliados em relação a transtornos psiquiátricos e comportamentos de risco. Os participantes foram divididos em dois grupos (motoristas com resultados positivos para uso de substâncias (n=82) e motoristas com resultados negativos (n=1052)). Os resultados foram comparados com o teste qui-quadrado e com análise de regressão logística. Em relação aos comportamentos de risco, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos de motoristas. Resultados: Motoristas que apresentaram uso de SPAs apresentaram maior prevalência de diagnósticos psiquiátricos como depressão (21,8%), mania/hipomania (20,8%), TEPT (10,7%), TPAS (9,0%), abuso de substâncias (24,5%) quando comparados com outros motoristas (5,8%, 7,1%, 0,4%, 1,2% e 2,8%, respectivamente). Participantes com algum diagnóstico psiquiátrico tinham 4,47 mais chance de apresentar o desfecho. Aqueles com dependência/abuso de alguma SPA tinham 5,47 mais chance de dirigir sob influência de álcool ou drogas. Conclusões: Indivíduos que dirigem sob influência de álcool e/ou outras drogas podem precisar de avaliações e intervenções destinadas para transtornos psiquiátricos específicos. Esses resultados poderão servir como base ao desenvolvimento e implementação de políticas públicas no Brasil. Palavras-chave: Transtornos psiquiátricos, comportamentos de risco, álcool, substâncias psicoativas, dirigir sob influência de substâncias. / Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between two groups of drivers – drivers who, on recruitment of the sample, showed blood alcohol content recorded by breathalyzer and previous use of other psychoactive substances examined through saliva test and those who didn’t drive under the influence – regarding risky behaviors, major depression disorder, mania and hypomania, PTSD and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), as well as substances abuse or dependence. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 1,134 individuals driving on federal highways in Brazilian cities took alcohol breathalyzer tests and drug saliva tests and were evaluated, thru telephonic interview, regarding psychiatric disorders and risky behaviors. Participants were divided into two groups (drivers who tested positive for substances (n=82) and those who did not (n=1052)). Data were compared by the Chisquare test and with a logistic regression model. Results: Substance positive drivers reported a significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses like depression (21.8%), mania/hypomania (20.8%), post traumatic stress disorder (10.7%), antisocial personality (9.0%), substance use (24.5%) when compared to other drivers (5.8%, 7.1%, 0.4%, 1.2% and 2.8%, respectively). Participants with a psychiatric symptom were 4.47 times more likely to test positive for substance use. Similarly, participants with a substance use disorder were 5.47 times more likely to test positive for substance use. There were no significant differences between the groups of drivers, related to risky behaviors. Conclusion: Individuals who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol may need assessments and interventions targeted to specific psychiatric disorders. These results will inform the development of public policies in Brazil.

Objetivo: A principal finalidade desse estudo foi verificar a diferença entre dois grupos de motoristas – aqueles que apresentaram alcoolemia positiva medida através de etilômetro e/ou uso prévio de outras SPAs, averiguado através de exame de saliva, e aqueles que não apresentaram – em relação a comportamentos de risco, transtorno depressivo maior, mania e hipomania, TEPT, e TPAS, assim como abuso ou dependência de SPAs. Método: Em um estudo transversal, 1.134 motoristas que dirigiam em rodovias federais brasileiras foram avaliados através de etilômetro para verificar alcoolemia e teste de saliva para verificar a presença de drogas. Posteriormente, por meio de entrevistas telefônicas, foram avaliados em relação a transtornos psiquiátricos e comportamentos de risco. Os participantes foram divididos em dois grupos (motoristas com resultados positivos para uso de substâncias (n=82) e motoristas com resultados negativos (n=1052)). Os resultados foram comparados com o teste qui-quadrado e com análise de regressão logística. Em relação aos comportamentos de risco, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos de motoristas. Resultados: Motoristas que apresentaram uso de SPAs apresentaram maior prevalência de diagnósticos psiquiátricos como depressão (21,8%), mania/hipomania (20,8%), TEPT (10,7%), TPAS (9,0%), abuso de substâncias (24,5%) quando comparados com outros motoristas (5,8%, 7,1%, 0,4%, 1,2% e 2,8%, respectivamente). Participantes com algum diagnóstico psiquiátrico tinham 4,47 mais chance de apresentar o desfecho. Aqueles com dependência/abuso de alguma SPA tinham 5,47 mais chance de dirigir sob influência de álcool ou drogas. Conclusões: Indivíduos que dirigem sob influência de álcool e/ou outras drogas podem precisar de avaliações e intervenções destinadas para transtornos psiquiátricos específicos. Esses resultados poderão servir como base ao desenvolvimento e implementação de políticas públicas no Brasil. Palavras-chave: Transtornos psiquiátricos, comportamentos de risco, álcool, substâncias psicoativas, dirigir sob influência de substâncias. / Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between two groups of drivers – drivers who, on recruitment of the sample, showed blood alcohol content recorded by breathalyzer and previous use of other psychoactive substances examined through saliva test and those who didn’t drive under the influence – regarding risky behaviors, major depression disorder, mania and hypomania, PTSD and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), as well as substances abuse or dependence. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 1,134 individuals driving on federal highways in Brazilian cities took alcohol breathalyzer tests and drug saliva tests and were evaluated, thru telephonic interview, regarding psychiatric disorders and risky behaviors. Participants were divided into two groups (drivers who tested positive for substances (n=82) and those who did not (n=1052)). Data were compared by the Chisquare test and with a logistic regression model. Results: Substance positive drivers reported a significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses like depression (21.8%), mania/hypomania (20.8%), post traumatic stress disorder (10.7%), antisocial personality (9.0%), substance use (24.5%) when compared to other drivers (5.8%, 7.1%, 0.4%, 1.2% and 2.8%, respectively). Participants with a psychiatric symptom were 4.47 times more likely to test positive for substance use. Similarly, participants with a substance use disorder were 5.47 times more likely to test positive for substance use. There were no significant differences between the groups of drivers, related to risky behaviors. Conclusion: Individuals who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol may need assessments and interventions targeted to specific psychiatric disorders. These results will inform the development of public policies in Brazil.