Effective behaviour change techniques for family and close friends: A systematic review and meta-analysis across the addictions.

This systematic review aimed to determine whether the use of specific behaviour change technique (BCT) groups are associated with greater effectiveness for psychosocial interventions delivered to family and close friends (FCFs) impacted by addiction. A systematic search of peer-reviewed and grey literature published until August 2021 identified 32 studies in 38 articles. An established BCT taxonomy (93 BCTs clustered into 16 groups) was adapted (inclusion of seven additional BCT groups) and applied to 57 interventions. The meta-analyses indicated that some, but not all, FCF outcomes were improved by the exclusion of BCTs within several groups (Reward and Threat, Scheduled Consequences, Confrontation of the Addicted Person to Engage in Treatment, and Goals and Planning) and inclusion of BCTs within the Restoring a Balanced Lifestyle group. Addicted person outcomes were improved by the inclusion of some BCTs within several groups (Repetition and Substitution, Reward and Threat, Scheduled Consequences, and Restoring a Balanced Lifestyle). Relationship functioning outcomes were improved by the inclusion of BCTs within the Confrontation of the Addicted Person to Engage in Treatment group. Future research involving the development and evaluation of numerous interventions or comprehensive multi-component interventions that can address the various needs of FCFs, without counteracting them, is required.

Risk, compensatory, and protective factors in problem gambling: The role of positive mental health characteristics.

There is a limited evidence base from which to draw conclusions about compensatory and protective factors for problem gambling. The aim of this study was to explore the potential for positive mental health characteristics (general coping, emotional support, spirituality, interpersonal skills, personal growth and autonomy, and global affect) to play a compensatory role and protective role in problem gambling in a convenience sample of 499 Australian university students. Hazardous alcohol use, past-year substance use, gambling-related cognitions (interpretive bias, illusion of control, predictive control, gambling-related expectancies, and perceived inability to stop gambling), gambling high-risk situations (negative and positive reinforcement situations), and gambling motives (money, positive feelings, regulate internal state, and challenge) positively predicted problem gambling severity. None of the positive mental health characteristics negatively predicted problem gambling severity, suggesting that these factors did not play a compensatory role. However, emotional support, personal growth and autonomy, and global affect buffered the influence of gambling motives and high-risk situations, suggesting that these factors played a protective role. In contrast, spirituality displayed a direct positive predictive relationship with problem gambling severity, suggesting that it served to act as a risk factor in this sample. The identification of these modifiable risk and protective factors has implications for the development of effective prevention and intervention initiatives. Further longitudinal research employing population-representative samples is required to replicate these results and investigate relationship-, community-, and societal-level risk, compensatory and protective factors associated with the development of problem gambling.