Examining the unique and additive effect of trauma and racial microaggressions on substance use risk among Black young adults.

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to traumatic events is linked to adverse health outcomes, including substance use. Contemporary models have conceptualized racism, including racial microaggressions, as a form of trauma. However, few studies have been conducted examining the unique and additive effect of racial microaggressions within models that include exposure to traditional forms of trauma on substance use outcomes, as well as whether effects vary by gender. METHOD: Three hundred and ninety-nine Black young adults between 18 and 29 (61% female, mean age 20.7) completed measures on problem alcohol and cannabis use, and experiences of trauma and racial microaggressions. RESULTS: Controlling for age, gender, income, race (i.e., monoracial vs. multiracial), and recruitment source, regression analyses showed that racial microaggressions predicted problem substance use above the effect of trauma exposure. Moreover, exoticization/assumptions of similarity and workplace/school microaggressions primarily accounted for the effect of racial microaggressions on substance use risk. One gender effect was found, with trauma exposure associated with lower cannabis use for Black males and a nonsignificant effect found for Black females. CONCLUSIONS: Racial microaggressions provide unique and additive understanding in risk for substance use outcomes among Black young adults above effects observed from exposure to traditional forms of trauma. This finding highlights the significance of racial microaggression on health outcomes for Black young adults and can inform future research in the area of trauma exposure and substance use risk among this population of young people. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring the promotive pathway between ethnic-racial identity, depression and anxiety symptoms, and substance use among African American emerging adults.

OBJECTIVE: Ethnic-racial identity (ERI) has been shown to have a promotive effect on substance use; however, the factors impacting this relationship have been explored less. The present study examined whether a promotive pathway exists between ERI, depression and anxiety symptoms, and problem substance use (i.e., alcohol and cannabis use) among a sample of African American emerging adults. METHOD: Participants were 388 African American or Black emerging adults aged 18-24 (M = 20.6), mostly female (62%) attending a Midwestern university or residing in the neighboring community. Data on demographics, ERI based on a total score and affirmation and exploration subscales, depression and anxiety symptoms, and problem alcohol and cannabis use were collected. The PROCESS macro for simple mediation was conducted to examine the role of depression and anxiety symptoms in the relationship between ERI and problem alcohol and cannabis use. RESULTS: A significant indirect effect was found for the pathway between ERI, depression and anxiety symptoms, and each substance use outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Among African American emerging adults, ERI may reduce the risk for problem alcohol and cannabis use through reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms. Therefore, implementation of substance use interventions that strengthen ERI may be particularly beneficial to reduce risk, as well as promote psychological well-being among African American emerging adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on fatigue in cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

This systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to determine the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in improving fatigue-related outcomes in adult cancer survivors. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases and reference lists of included studies. Separate random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for fatigue and vitality/vigor. Twenty-three studies reporting on 21 RCTs (N = 2239) met inclusion criteria. MBIs significantly reduced fatigue compared to controls at post-intervention (g = 0.60, 95 % CI [0.36, 0.83]) and first follow-up (g = 0.42, 95 % CI [0.20, 0.64]). Likewise, MBIs significantly improved vitality/vigor at post-intervention (g = 0.39, 95 % CI [0.25, 0.52]) and first follow-up (g = 0.35, 95 % CI [0.03, 0.67]). The evidence grade was low due to risk of bias, substantial heterogeneity, and publication bias among studies. MBIs show promise in improving fatigue and vitality/vigor in cancer survivors. More rigorous trials are needed to address current gaps in the evidence base.

Racial/ethnic differences in the time-varying association between alcohol expectancies and drinking during the transition from childhood to adolescence.

Alcohol expectancies are important determinants of adolescent drinking, but this relationship may differ based on race/ethnicity. This study used time-varying effect modeling to examine racial/ethnic differences in positive and negative alcohol expectancies and their relationship with drinking among White, African American, and Hispanic youth. Youth reported alcohol expectancies and drinking frequency from 5th grade to 10th grade. African Americans initially endorsed higher positive alcohol expectancies than Whites, but the relationship with drinking was stronger among Whites. Hispanic youth reported slightly higher negative alcohol expectancies in high school, but the relationship between negative expectancies and alcohol use was comparable across groups. The effect of expectancies on alcohol use outcomes may be more robust for Whites, which warrants investigation of risk factors for minority youth.

The Experience of Racism on Behavioral Health Outcomes: The Moderating Impact of Mindfulness.

Research shows that racial discrimination results in adverse behavioral health outcomes for African American young adults, including risk for depression, anxiety, and substance use. Although high levels of mindfulness have been shown to reduce risk for such health outcomes, it is unknown whether mindfulness can reduce risk as a consequence of racial discrimination, particularly among African Americans. Three-hundred and eighty-eight African American young adults between the ages of 18-24 (M=20.6, 62% female) completed measures assessing past year experiences of racial discrimination, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, alcohol use, and trait mindfulness. A positive correlation was found between racial discrimination and the behavioral health outcomes, as well as a negative correlation between mindfulness and the behavioral health outcomes. Moreover, mindfulness was found to significantly moderate the effect of racial discrimination on mood symptoms. Although mindfulness was found to lessen the effect of racial discrimination on alcohol use, this difference was not statistically significant. In line with previous literature, racial discrimination was shown to have a negative impact on behavioral health outcomes among African Americans. Moreover, our findings provide support for the buffering effect of mindfulness on mood symptoms as a consequence discrimination. This suggests that increasing mindfulness may be an effective strategy to include in interventions targeting improvement in mood symptoms for African American young adults. However, alternative strategies may be more appropriate to address outcomes, such as alcohol use, as a consequence of racial discrimination.

Perceived Discrimination and Substance Use among Adolescents: Examining the Moderating Effect of Distress Tolerance and Negative Urgency.

BACKGROUND: Perceived discrimination has been found to increase substance use vulnerability among adolescent populations. However, less is known about individual level factors which may moderate this risk. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study is to examine whether two emotion-based personality traits (i.e., distress tolerance and negative urgency) moderates the effect of perceived discrimination on substance use. We hypothesized that high distress tolerance would decrease risk, while high negative urgency would increase risk for substance use as a consequence of discrimination. METHODS: 108 youth ages 12-18 (68.6% male; 56.2% African-American) provided data on perceived discrimination, distress tolerance, negative urgency, and substance use (i.e., alcohol and marijuana use). RESULTS: Contrary to our hypothesis, no moderating effect was observed for negative urgency. Distress tolerance was found to moderate the relationship, but in the opposite direction than expected. CONCLUSIONS: It is speculated that this counterintuitive finding may be due to the racial/ethnic composition of the sample, suggesting that distress tolerance may operate differently among minority youth. Further research examining these relationships among minority youth is warranted.

Demonstration of Parent Training to Address Early Self-Injury in Young Children with Intellectual and Developmental Delays.

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at a high risk for engaging in self-injurious behavior (SIB). Prognosis is poor when SIB emerges early. Limited research exists on interventions teaching parents how to manage their young child's SIB. This investigation assessed the feasibility of adapting an applied behavior analytic parent training program with 11 parents of children 1-5 years of age with IDD and SIB. Quantitative and observational measures were used to assess outcomes; semi-structured interviews assessed caregiver satisfaction. Outcomes yielded preliminary data suggesting the adapted curriculum was feasible and acceptable to parents. Initial efficacy outcomes yielded decreases in SIB and observed negative parent-child interactions on pre- and post-measures. Qualitative data provided areas for further curriculum refinement.