Gender-Specific Correlates of Alcohol Use Among College Students in Kerala, India

Background: Studies of alcohol use among college students in India have reported a male preponderance, but a recent large study suggested that alcohol use is increasing in young females. This increase in use among the young females is of concern as they experience poorer outcomes and a higher risk for addiction. Hence, we aimed to examine the gender-specific correlates of alcohol use among college students in the district of Ernakulum, Kerala. Methods: From 58 colleges, 5,784 students completed a self-administered questionnaire that assessed use of alcohol, use of tobacco and illicit drugs, psychological distress, suicidality, symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and history of sexual abuse. Results: Of the questionnaires, 342 had incomplete responses and had to be discarded, and the rest (n = 5,442, 94.1%) were analyzed. lifetime alcohol use was reported by 39% males and 12.6% females. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis using a full model, male students using alcohol compared to male non-users were older, non-Muslim, had poor academic performance, and used other substances. Female users, compared to female non-users, were non-Muslim, had urban residence, used tobacco, and had higher psychological distress, higher suicidal thoughts, and higher lifetime exposure to sexual abuse. Conclusion: Gender-specific differences extend across sociodemographic and psychological domains. Incorporation of these may improve the effectiveness of public health strategies addressing alcohol use.

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772 Examining sleep difficulties and suicide ideation among those reporting abuse and dependence on illicit drugs and alcohol

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.769 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A300-A301

Author(s):

Rebecca Robbins ◽

Ralph J DiClimente ◽

Matthew Weaver ◽

Catherine Di Gangi ◽

Isabel Chalem ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Drug Abuse ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Drugs And Alcohol ◽

Illicit Drug Abuse ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Introduction Sleep disturbance is associated with poor mental health and may contribute to initiating or continuing use/abuse of alcohol and drugs. Using data from a nationwide survey, we examined the relationship between sleep disturbance and suicide behaviors among youth and adults, including those who report drug/alcohol use and abuse. Methods We analyzed data from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual survey collecting information about the use of illicit drugs and alcohol among non-institutionalized U.S. youth (age 12–17) and adults (age>17). The 2018 survey included 9,398 youth and 43,026 adult respondents. Depression was assessed in adults with the Kessler-6 and in youth with several questions assessing psychological distress. Those who scored at risk for psychological distress were also asked about sleep disturbance and suicidal behaviors (i.e., ideation, planning, attempt). All were asked to report their drug/alcohol use and/or abuse. Our study population included those who reported psychological distress. We conducted binary logistic regression to examine the relationship between suicidal behavior and sleep disturbance in this population. We also conducted sub-analyses to explore the relationship between suicidal behavior and sleep disturbance among those reporting drug/alcohol use and abuse. Results Youth were 29% male and 71% female, adults were 36% male and 64% female. Adult participants, 39% were 18 to 25, 22% were 26 to 34, and 39% were age 35 and older. Among those with psychological distress, suicidal behavior was more likely among those who reported sleep disturbance (youth: OR=2.7, 95%CI:1.8–4.0; adults: OR=1.3, 95%CI:1.2–1.5). Also, among those with psychological distress, suicidal behavior was more likely among those who reported concomitant sleep disturbance and either alcohol abuse/alcoholism (youth: OR:3.3, 95%CI:1.6–7.0; adults: OR=1.4, 95%CI:1.1–1.7); illicit drug abuse (youth: OR=3.5, 95%CI:1.6–7.4; adults: OR=1.3, 95%CI:1.0–1.6); or alcohol and illicit drug abuse (youth: OR=3.2, 95%CI:1.5–6.9; adults: OR=1.4, 95%CI:1.1–1.7). Conclusion Youth and adults with psychological distress and sleep disturbance are more likely to also report suicidal behaviors. Alcohol and drug use or abuse increase their risk for suicidal behavior compared to those who do not report sleep disturbance. Future work should include examination of causality and of interventions. Support (if any) NIH K24-HL105664, P01-AG009975, T32-HL007901, K01HL150339, 1R56HL151637

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Psychological Distress among College Students: Role of Food Insecurity and Other Social Determinants of Mental Health

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17114118 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (11) ◽

pp. 4118 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Monideepa B. Becerra ◽

Benjamin J. Becerra

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

College Students ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Health Status ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Physical Health ◽

Social Determinant ◽

Physical Health Status ◽

Gender Specific

Food insecurity is a major social determinant of health and an assessment of how it may impact college students’ mental health is imperative, as well as differential associations by self-identified gender. A cross-sectional survey was used among college students of a mid-size minority-serving institution with a final sample size of 302 participants aged 18 years or above. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable regressions were conducted, by gender, to assess the role of food insecurity (United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) six-item questionnaire), on mental health outcomes (Kessler-6 scale and self-perception). All the statistical analyses were conducted in SPSS version 24 (IBM, Corp.; Armonk, NY, USA) with an alpha less than 0.05 used to denote significance. Among those with food insecurity, the odds of reporting psychological distress (odds ratio (OR) = 3.645, p < 0.05) and an average to very poor self-perceived mental health status (OR = 2.687, p <0.05) were higher compared to their food-secure counterparts, with the results consistent in a gender-specific analysis as well. Compared to men, however, women had higher odds of psychological distress (OR = 2.280, p < 0.05), as well as reporting average to very poor self-perceived mental health statuses (OR = 2.700, p < 0.05). Among women, any alcohol use in the past 12 months (OR = 2.505, p < 0.05) and a low self-perceived physical health status (OR = 3.601, p < 0.05) were associated with an average to very poor self-perceived mental health status. Among men, a low perceived physical health status was associated with higher odds of psychological distress (OR = 3.477, p < 0.05). The results of our study highlight that food insecurity should be considered a social determinant of mental health wellbeing. In addition, gender-specific trends in mental health highlight the need for targeted interventions for prevention and treatment.

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Racial Microaggression, Overt Discrimination, and Distress: (In)Direct Associations with Psychological Adjustment

10.31234/osf.io/827pg ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

P. Priscilla Lui

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Psychological Adjustment ◽

Hispanic American ◽

Drinking Problems ◽

Racial Microaggression ◽

Adjustment Outcomes

Separate literatures have examined the associations between psychological adjustment and microaggression, and overt discrimination; whether microaggression is related to adjustment outcomes above and beyond overt discrimination and neuroticism remains unclear. I examined the extent to which racial microaggression explained unique variances of negative affect, alcohol consumption, and drinking problems while controlling for overt discrimination and neuroticism among Asian, Black, and Hispanic American college students (N = 713, 50.9% women, Mage = 22.72 years). Intervening roles of psychological distress linking microaggression and overt discrimination to adjustment outcomes were also tested. Among Blacks, microaggression and overt discrimination did not consistently predict psychological adjustment. Among Asians and Hispanics, microaggression and overt discrimination predicted negative affect via psychological distress. Microaggression also explained the variances of alcohol use outcomes among Asians. Findings are discussed in the context of an acute racism reactions model and underscore the importance of considering overt discrimination and microaggression simultaneously as determinants of psychological adjustment.

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Victimization and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence among Female and Male Youth and Adults in South Africa

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v9n10p1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Karl Peltzer ◽

Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya ◽

Supa Pengpid

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

The Past ◽

Harmful Alcohol ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression ◽

Younger Age ◽

Ipv Perpetration

OBJECTIVE: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a huge public health problem. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and influence of sociodemographic and health characteristics on IPV victimization and perpetration among women and men 15 years and older in South Africa.MATERIALS & METHODS: Data based on the South African national population-based survey in 2012 for 15916 (8532 women and 7384 men) aged 15 years and older who were in an intimate partner relationship were analysed. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to assess the association between sociodemographic factors, health variables and IPV victimization and perpetration.RESULTS: Among women, 8.5% had experienced any form of IPV in the past 12 months, and 3.5% of the women had engaged in IPV perpetration in the past 12 months. Among men, 5.0% had experienced any form of IPV in past 12 months, and 4.4% of the men had engaged in IPV perpetration in the past 12 months. In multivariable logistic regression analysis among women, younger age, being African Black, having psychological distress, having been a victim of violent crime and having had multiple sexual partners were associated with IPV victimization in the past 12 months, while younger age, psychological distress, hazardous or harmful alcohol use, and having had multiple sexual partners was associated with IPV perpetration in the past 12 months. In multivariable logistic regression analysis among men, younger age, psychological distress, hazardous or harmful alcohol use, and having been a victim of violence crime was associated with IPV victimization in the past 12 months, while younger age, poor health status, psychological distress, hazardous or harmful alcohol use, and illicit drug use was associated with IPV perpetration in the past 12 months.CONCLUSION: Past 12-month prevalence of IPV victimization and perpetration among women and men was significant. IPV gender commonalities and differences in risk factors, such as psychological distress, substance use, crime victimization and sexual risk behaviour, may inform strategies of violence prevention programmes.

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Trends in Use of Alcohol and other Substances on Television

Journal of Drug Education ◽

10.2190/tmek-6vh6-8qmx-habu ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 243-253 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Bradley S. Greenberg ◽

Carlos Fernandez-Collado ◽

David Graef ◽

Felipe Korzenny ◽

Charles K. Atkin

Keyword(s):

Content Analysis ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Middle Class ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Prime Time ◽

Saturday Morning ◽

Commercial Networks ◽

Other Substances ◽

Males And Females ◽

Television Characters

The present study reports on a content analysis of the usage of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs during two recent television seasons. In each season a composite week of the three commercial networks' programming was videotaped, including one episode of each prime time and Saturday morning fictional series. Analyses showed that alcohol predominated in both seasons, accounting for more than two thirds of all the coded substance acts. More than two acts of alcohol use were found per hour in each season. From 9–11 p.m. it exceeded three instances per hour in the first season analyzed, and bordered on five instances per hour in the second season. Males and females participated in alcohol acts in proportion to and in quantities similar to their representation in the population of television characters, and those characters between 20–34 years old were more likely to be heavier drinkers. The middle class did heavier drinking as did comic characters.

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Multimorbidity, psychoactive substance use and psychological distress among acute medically ill patients: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052428 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. e052428

Author(s):

Saranda Kabashi ◽

Danil Gamboa ◽

Vigdis Vindenes ◽

Thomas Berg ◽

Thor Arthur Hilberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medically Ill ◽

Risky Alcohol ◽

Medicinal Drugs ◽

Medically Ill Patients

BackgroundIn order to target the complex health needs of patients with multimorbidity using psychoactive substances, knowledge regarding the association between substance use and multimorbidity in an acute setting is needed.AimsExamine psychoactive substance use patterns among acute medically ill patients, and determine the association between multimorbidity and substance use, and psychological distress.DesignCross-sectional study.Setting and participants2874 acute medically ill patients admitted to a medical emergency department in Oslo, Norway.MeasurementsPrimary outcome: multimorbidity recorded by the presence of ≥2 International Classification of Diseases 10th revision—physical and/or mental health conditions per patient, extracted from medical records. Predictor variables: self-reported data on age, sex, occupational status, psychological distress (Hopkins Symptom Check List-5), alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-4) and results from blood samples on psychoactive medicinal and illicit drugs.FindingsOf all patients, 57.2% had multimorbidity. Of these, 62.6% reported psychological distress, 85.5% consumed either alcohol, medicinal and/or illicit drugs and 64.4% combined alcohol with psychoactive medicinal drugs. Patients with risky alcohol use were more likely to have multimorbidity compared with patients with low-risk alcohol use (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.05 to 2.24). Patients using psychoactive medicinal drugs were more likely to have multimorbidity compared with non-users (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.67).ConclusionMultimorbidity was associated with psychoactive medicinal drug and risky alcohol use, and psychological distress. Substance use was widespread, with alcohol and psychoactive medicinal drugs most frequently combined. Monitoring substance use among multimorbid patients is necessary to develop tailored treatments, and reduce burden on the healthcare system.

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