The present study investigated whether participants with a high propensity for alcoholism demonstrate the same linguistic pattern previously established for depression in response to a personal essay. It was hypothesized that students with a higher propensity for alcoholism would display a similar linguistic style when compared to those with symptoms of depression; specifically students with a higher propensity for alcohol abuse or dependence would use more first person singular pronouns and less first person plural pronouns. They were also hypothesized to use more negative emotion words similar to those with symptoms of depression. Participants completed a writing exercise that was analyzed using the Linguistic Inquiry Word Count software (Pennebaker, Booth, & Francis, 2007). The data was analyzed using Pearson Bivariate Correlations. The participants completed a writing exercise, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Beck Depression Inventory, Marlowe-Crowne Short Form, and a short demographic survey, respectively. The correlation between s propensity for alcoholism and symptoms of depression was not significant and the linguistic patterns varied substantially from the hypotheses. Even though the hypotheses were not supported, there were significant correlations between propensity for alcoholism and linguistic choices. The potential for linguistic analysis to be developed into an indirect assessment of alcohol dependence is discussed as a way to minimize the difficulties surrounding self-report methods.

A number of theories have attempted to explicate mechanisms underpinning the transition from recreational drug use to substance dependence. A highly reliable correlate of dependence is the value ascribed to the drug. However, supernormal drug valuation may be insufficient to fully account for a subgroup of dependent individuals for whom the course of dependence is chronic and relapsing and who persist in drug use in the face of devastating costs. Three candidate secondary mechanisms for dependence are considered in this thesis: cue reactivity, cost discounting, and sensitivity to negative affect. Neither cue reactivity nor cost discounting were found to be significantly associated with severity of alcohol dependence in samples of young adult drinkers. By contrast, induced negative affect was found to be reliably associated with augmented alcohol motivation, and sensitivity to this effect was related to symptoms of depression and self-reported drinking to cope with negative affect: both risk factors for the development of dependence. These findings delineate a particular subset of dependent individuals for whom negative affect may represent a substantial trigger to continued drug use. There are a lack of brief interventions to abolish or limit negative affect driven drug motivation. This thesis trialled three potential interventions. A natural walk intervention in hazardous drinkers showed no evidence of limiting this effect in two experiments. Brief instruction in acceptance-based coping showed no evidence of limiting annoyance in response to an aversive noise induction procedure in an alcohol dependent population, and was therefore also eliminated as a potential intervention. However, engagement with pleasant environmental images, as a proxy for environmental enrichment, significantly reduced negative affect driven alcohol choice in student drinkers who reported a desire to visit the locations shown (high liking), compared to low-liking individuals and controls. This provides preliminary evidence for the efficacy of environmental enrichment type interventions, justifying further trials. In treatment of dependence more generally, interventions to increase access to healthy, non-drug sources of positive reinforcement may prove effective.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of metacognition as a mediator of the relationship between smoking dependence and depression/anxiety/ negative impact of life experiences. A sample of 202 adult smokers completed the following questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Life Experiences Survey (LES), Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), and Fagerstr&ouml / m Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND). The path analyses were used to test a mediation model in which depression, anxiety, or negative impact of life experiences was the predictor of metacognition, which in turn was a predictor of smoking dependence. Twelve mediation models were tested using total scores of metacognition, and its factors including positive beliefs about worry, negative beliefs about worry, lack of cognitive confidence, beliefs about need to control thoughts, and cognitive self-consciousness as mediator variables. The models included depression, anxiety, or negative impact of life experiences as independent variables / and smoking dependence as dependent variable. The results suggested that neither total metacognition score nor the individual metacognitive dimensions did mediate the relationship between smoking dependence and depression/anxiety/negative impact of life experiences. The results and limitations, as well as the implications of these findings, were discussed by referring to the relevant literature.

Submitted by Cristiane Chim (cristiane.chim@ucpel.edu.br) on 2018-07-20T12:30:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosangela de Mattos Muller.pdf: 962789 bytes, checksum: 383c73cf4eacc5fb95ef62f66d865c8f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-20T12:30:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosangela de Mattos Muller.pdf: 962789 bytes, checksum: 383c73cf4eacc5fb95ef62f66d865c8f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-27 / Introduction: The internet has many features and is fully integrated with modern society. Studies show that some individuals are losing control of time, neglecting their basic hygiene care, social interaction, causing significant losses in their relationships, academic and professional activities. Objectives: The objective of the study was to verify the prevalence of Internet addiction in undergraduate students from two public and private universities and a Federal Institute in the city of Pelotas and to investigate associated factors. Methods: A crosssectional and randomized study was performed using the following instruments: International Addiction Test, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Games Dependency Questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of internet addiction was 41.7%, being inversely proportional to age. There was a significant correlation with depression, those who presented changes in screening tests for depression had a prevalence of internet addiction 83% higher. Three out of ten university students presented daytime somnolence and 3% of the sample were classified as at risk for gambling dependence. There is a correlation between consumption of hypercaloric foods, alcohol use and sedentary lifestyle, and dependence on the internet. Conclusion: The dependence of internet on university students is a reality that needs to be approached in an interdisciplinary way, since it compromises the physical and mental health of these young people. / Introdução: A internet apresenta inúmeras funcionalidades e está totalmente integrada à sociedade moderna. Estudos evidenciam que alguns indivíduos estariam perdendo o controle do tempo, negligenciando seus cuidados básicos de higiene, convívio social, acarretando prejuízos significativos em seus relacionamentos, atividades acadêmicas e profissionais. Objetivos: O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a prevalência de dependência de internet em estudantes universitários dos cursos de graduação de duas universidades, pública e privada, e de um Instituto Federal na cidade de Pelotas e investigar fatores associados. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo transversal e randomizado, sendo utilizados os seguintes instrumentos: International Addiction Test, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, Epworth sleepness scale e Game Addiction Scale. Resultados: A prevalência de dependência de internet foi de 41,7%, sendo inversamente proporcional à idade. Verificou-se uma correlação significativa com depressão, aqueles que apresentaram alterações nos testes de triagem para depressão tiveram uma prevalência de dependência de internet 83% maior. Três em cada dez universitários apresentaram sonolência diurna e 3% da amostra foram classificados como em risco para dependência de jogos. Existe uma correlação entre o consumo de alimentos hipercalóricos, uso de álcool e sedentarismo e dependência de internet. Conclusão: A dependência de internet em universitários é uma realidade que precisa ser abordada de uma maneira interdisciplinar, visto que compromete a saúde física e mental desses jovens.