Diabetes Basic Training Program: Empowering Veterans for Wellness.

Background: Diabetes impacts 1 in 4 patients in the Veterans Health Administration and is associated with serious negative health consequences in addition to high health care system utilization and cost. The Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center developed Diabetes Basic Training, a 9-week intervention that blends medical consultation with group support and training in self-management strategies for enhancing patient motivation and empowerment. Observations: Diabetes Basic Training combined 3 monthly shared medical appointments and 6 Diabetes Self-Management Program sessions led in part by trained peers with diabetes. Diabetes Self-Management Program sessions focus on educating patients on diabetes and self-management tools and encourage active practice in building self-management skills and confidence. During shared medical appointments, a clinical psychologist or psychology postdoctoral fellow skilled in motivational interviewing facilitated the group to enhance patient motivation and empowerment for improved diabetes self-management. Conclusions: This novel program combined 2 types of group appointments to provide veterans with access to health care professionals and education on diabetes self-management. Preliminary results suggest the need for larger studies and that these programs may be beneficial in a veteran population.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom levels and romantic relationship quality in college students.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom levels in college undergraduates are associated with poorer romantic relationship quality, and to test whether emotion regulation difficulties, perceived stress, and hostile relationship conflict mediate this association. PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 189 undergraduate students aged 18 to 25. METHODS: Self-report measures of ADHD symptoms, relationship quality, and the proposed mediators were collected via online survey from May through August 2011. RESULTS: Participants who reported clinically significant levels of both hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattentiveness (consistent with ADHD-C) had lower relationship quality than those whose self-reported symptoms indicated no ADHD diagnosis. Further, for women only, both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive symptom levels were negatively associated with relationship quality. Emotion regulation problems and hostile relationship conflict mediated this association. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that ADHD impairs relationship quality among young adults and suggest mechanisms through which this impairment might occur.

Committed dating relationships and mental health among college students.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether involvement in committed dating relationships is associated with university students' mental health (depressive symptoms and problem alcohol use, including binge drinking), and whether these associations differ by gender. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 889 undergraduate students aged 18 to 25. METHODS: Self-report measures of dating relationship status, depression, and problematic alcohol use were collected via an online survey from August to December 2010. RESULTS: Involvement in a committed relationship, compared with being single, was associated with fewer depressive symptoms for college women but not for men. Committed relationship involvement was also associated with less problematic alcohol use for both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that involvement in committed relationships may be protective to college student mental health, and highlight the potential of healthy relationship programming to benefit student well-being.