Psychosocial and personality trait associates of phubbing and being phubbed in hispanic emerging adult college students.

Phubbing is when one uses their smartphone in a social interaction instead of interacting with the other individual(s) in their presence. Phubbing and being phubbed are growing concerns as the number of smartphones and frequency of smartphone use increases. This study assessed the relationships between phubbing, being phubbed, psychosocial constructs, and socially adverse personality traits among Hispanic emerging adult college students. Hispanic college students (n = 452) completed a survey assessing: sociodemographics, phubbing, being phubbed, depression, anxiety, stress, Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and need for drama (interpersonal manipulation, impulsive outspokenness, persistent perceived victimhood). Hispanic emerging adult college students reported low-to-moderate levels of phubbing and being phubbed. Regarding phubbing findings, nomophobia (fear of separation from one's phone), interpersonal conflict, and problem acknowledgement were positively associated with negative affect. Moreover, interpersonal conflict, self-isolation, and problem acknowledgement were positively associated with interpersonal manipulation. Regarding being phubbed findings, perceived norms, feeling ignored, and interpersonal conflict were positively associated with persistent perceived victimhood. Findings indicate that Hispanic college students may use their smartphones in social settings to alleviate negative affect. Moreover, a virtual environment on a smartphone may be easier to manipulate and can be used to continue garnering attention and portraying oneself as the victim, fulfilling one's need for drama. Regarding exploratory mediations, phubbing and being phubbed mediated the relationships between multiple socially adverse personality traits and negative affect. The clinical implications of these results are discussed. Prospective studies are warranted to determine temporality. Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04767-y.

Protective and risk factors for increased alcohol use in Latinx college students on the U.S./Mexico border.

Alcohol use is prevalent among undergraduates, however, limited research on drinking among Latinx college students exists. This study examined potential risk and protective factors of alcohol use and consequences. Participants (n = 382) completed multiple measures including alcohol use frequency and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI). Linear regression models identified predictors of monthly and yearly drinking days and RAPI. Findings indicated that alcohol use frequency was associated with increasing age, parental alcohol use disorder, greater anger, and lower self-efficacy. Alcohol-related consequences were positively associated with anxiety and adverse childhood experiences. Early alcohol prevention and intervention efforts appear warranted.

Influence of suicidality on adult perceptions of COVID-19 risk and guideline adherence.

BACKGROUND: Suicide rates have been increasing for decades, and the challenges of a global pandemic seem to have worsened suicide risk factors. The relationship between suicidality, COVID-19 risk perceptions, and guideline adherence was examined to inform potential barriers to the implementation of behavioral interventions aimed at preventing future pandemics. METHODS: A national sample of 159 MTurk participants (Mage = 37.64 years, SD = 11.92; 48.4% female) completed an online survey containing the following: demographics, Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale, Broadly Applicable Measure of Risk Perception of COVID-19, and Adherence to COVID-19 Guidelines and Perceived Risk Scale. RESULTS: Multiple linear regressions assessed how suicidality related to perceived risk subscales and each adherence indicator while controlling for biological sex, age, and essential worker status. Over 25% of participants reported suicidality over the past month, and 19% were at high risk of suicidal behavior. Greater suicidality was associated with lower general COVID-19 risk perceptions (ß = -0.326, p < .001), decreased handwashing (ß = -0.423, p < .001), lower likelihood of planning to self-quarantine if infected with COVID-19 (ß = -0.400, p < .001), less social distancing (ß = -0.457, p < .001), and increased attendance of large gatherings (ß = 0.405, p < .001). LIMITATIONS: Temporal relationships were unable to be assessed due to the cross-sectional nature of the data used. The low internal reliability of the risk probability subscale precluded its inclusion in analyses. CONCLUSION: Given suicidality's associations with decreased risk perceptions and low adherence, it may present as a barrier to the sustained behavior change that will be necessary in preventing the occurrence of future pandemics.

The emergence of insulin resistance following a chronic high-fat diet regimen coincides with an increase in the reinforcing effects of nicotine in a sex-dependent manner.

The present study assessed the sex-dependent effects of insulin resistance on the reinforcing effects of nicotine. Female and male rats received a chronic high-fat diet (HFD) or regular diet (RD) for 8 weeks. A subset of rats then received vehicle or a dose of streptozotocin (STZ; 25 mg/kg) that induces insulin resistance. To assess insulin resistance, glucose levels were measured 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min after an insulin injection (0.75 U/kg). Nine days later, the rats were given extended access to intravenous self-administration (IVSA) of nicotine (0.015, 0.03, 0.06 mg/kg) in an operant box where they consumed their respective diet ad libitum and performed responses for water deliveries. Each nicotine dose was delivered for 4 days with 3 intermittent days of abstinence in their home cage. The day after the last IVSA session, physical signs were compared following administration of mecamylamine (3.0 mg/kg) to precipitate nicotine withdrawal. The results revealed that there were no changes in insulin resistance or nicotine intake in HFD alone rats regardless of sex. Insulin resistance was observed in HFD-fed rats that received STZ, and the magnitude of this effect was greater in males versus females. Our major finding was that nicotine intake was greater among HFD + STZ female rats as compared to males. Lastly, the physical signs of withdrawal were similar across all groups. Our results suggest that females diagnosed with disorders that disrupt insulin signaling, such as diabetes may be at risk of greater vulnerability to nicotine use due to enhanced reinforcing effects of this drug.