The role of anxiety sensitivity in the relation between anxious arousal and cannabis and alcohol use problems among low-income inner city racial/ethnic minorities

There is a well–established link between substance use and four personality traits of anxiety–sensitivity, hopelessness, impulsivity, and sensation–seeking. However, construct–level models of personality may conceal indicator–level personality–outcome associations. The current study aims to investigate evolution of the network constellation of personality and cannabis/alcohol use from early to late adolescence. Data comes from the longitudinal Co–Venture cohort (N = 3800). Personality indicators, measured by Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) items, and the frequency of cannabis/alcohol use were assessed at four consecutive years (13–17 years old). Network constellations of the SURPS items and cannabis/alcohol use were estimated using Bayesian Gaussian graphical models at four time points. Results highlighted the age–specific associations between personality indicators and substance use. The positive role of the sensation–seeking trait (e.g. attitude towards transgression) was constant, whereas the positive role of hopelessness indicators (e.g. not being enthusiastic about future) and the negative role of anxiety–sensitivity indicators (e.g. fear of having unusual body sensations) were more prominent at early adolescence. The current study provides a novel perspective on the network structure of personality and substance use in adolescence and suggests substance–specific and age–adjusted targets in intervention efforts. © 2020 European Association of Personality Psychology

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Neighborhood and Parental Influences on Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors in Young Low-Income Pediatric Patients

Clinical Pediatrics ◽

10.1177/0009922816684599 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (13) ◽

pp. 1235-1243 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Nakiya N. Showell ◽

Katie Washington Cole ◽

Katherine Johnson ◽

Lisa Ross DeCamp ◽

Megan Bair-Merritt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Young Children ◽

Low Income ◽

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Dynamic Relationship ◽

Diet And Physical Activity ◽

The Face ◽

The Relationship ◽

Racial Ethnic

This study explores the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and caregiver preferences for establishing diet and physical activity behaviors among low-income African American and Hispanic young children (2-5 years). Primary caregivers of young children were recruited from 2 urban pediatric clinics to participate in focus groups (n = 33). Thematic analysis of transcripts identified 3 themes: neighborhood constraints on desired behaviors, caregivers’ strategies in response to neighborhoods, and caregivers’ sense of agency in the face of neighborhood constraints. This study elucidates the dynamic relationship between neighborhoods and caregiver preferences, their interrelated impacts on establishment of diet and physical activity behaviors among young children, and the important role of caregiver agency in establishing behaviors among young children. To effectively address obesity disparities among young children, primary care behavioral interventions must leverage and support such resilient caregiver responses to neighborhood constraints in order to optimally address racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in obesity among young children.

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