Examined the relationships between psychosocial protective factors (such as religious beliefs or parental sanctions) and adolescents' problem behaviors. Found a significant inverse relation between protection and problem-behavior involvement. Found significant interaction between protection and risk in the prediction of problem behavior;…

Three types of methodological issues particularly salient in research involving the assessment of substance use or abuse are discussed with strategies for avoiding problems: (1) the reliability and validity of methods; (2) the variability and episodic course of substance use; and (3) the heterogeneity of individuals with substance use disorders.…

Examines the role of mood in precipitating relapses among alcohol-dependent participants from both a retrospective and predictive point of view. Support was found for a relationship between negative bias and the amount of negative mood assessed at the time the report was given. As previously found, the most frequent precipitant of relapses and…

Surveyed 620 nonpregnant, culturally diverse women at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection concerning alcohol, marijuana, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and intravenous drug use. Found consumption levels which exceeded expectations based on general estimates of female substance use. Substance use was associated with specific…

Illustrates associations between substance abuse and leisure experiences. Presents rationale for leisure interventions for adolescents designed to remediate this social and behavioral problem. Suggests leisure education and counseling for inclusion in prevention or intervention strategies for substance abuse. Provides recommendations for…

Explored gender differences in psychosocial correlates of suicidal ideation in 613 high school students. Males reported higher loneliness and substance abuse scores than females; females reported greater suicidal ideation, depression, and reasons for living. Females had greater fear of death/injury; males had greater fear of social disapproval…

A survey of 1,368 Pennsylvania college students found that a total of 23.9 percent used tobacco products (14 percent cigarettes and 10 percent smokeless tobacco). Data support the need for prevention and intervention programs beginning at the elementary level and continuing through college. (SM)

Interviews with 30 Indian homicide offenders revealed common life-history elements: poverty, early separation from family, environment of social disorganization, culture conflict, values derived from a subculture of violence, and alcohol and drug abuse. These are related to antecedents in internal colonialism suffered by American Indians. Contains…

Notes that substance abuse and sexual activity among adolescents place them at significant risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Discusses epidemiology of adolescents and HIV infection and examines health care reform aspects of linking and integrating substance abuse, mental health, primary care, and HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency…

Tested model relating work-family conflict to heavy alcohol use and cigarette use among employed mothers via domain-specific (job- and family-related) and general negative effect. Data from 366 employed mothers of adolescents revealed that work-family conflict was indirectly related to both heavy alcohol use and cigarette use via negative effect.…

Using cross-validation to test covariance structure models is illustrated through selecting models of early substance use onset in a sample of 3,643 adolescents. Results suggest that the use process is similar for males and females in seventh grade. They also suggest that double cross-validation is greatly preferable to single cross-validation.…

Surveys the many categories of people comprising the homeless population and describes the methods that have been used to estimate their numbers. Concludes that the vast effort required to enumerate homeless people would be better directed toward focused research on the needs of identifiable subgroups. (DM)

Depression is nearly twice as prevalent in women as men. Reviews research suggesting that child sexual abuse, also more common for women than for men, can account for a significant portion of the differences in depression rates for men and women and discusses how such abuse affects men and women differently. (CJS)

Adolescents (n=74) in schools, community, or hospital drug intervention programs received eight- to nine-week structured fitness activity class as part of programs. Subjects who improved in fitness tests also demonstrated significant increase in self-concept risk factor and significant decrease in anxiety and depression risk factors compared to…

Examined the well-being of adolescents before and after a parental divorce. Boys demonstrated ill effects after the divorce but not prior to the separation. Girls showed negative reactions before the separation, but these did not become worse after the divorce. (BC)