A latent profile analysis of psychological sense of community and ethnic identity among racial-ethnic minority young adults from the southwestern United States.

Among young adults fof color, both sense of community and ethnic identity, as developmental processes, have been associated with wellness, empowerment, and civic action. Additional research is needed that provides empirical support for the connection between psychological sense of community and ethnic identity on outcomes that relate to human development such as intrapersonal psychological empowerment, civic engagement, and depression symptoms. The current study of young adults of color (N = 243; 70% Hispanic/Chicano(a)/Spanish and 10% American Indian/Native American; 70% female) investigates heterogeneity according to dimensions of psychological sense of community and the ethnic identity construct. Latent profile analyses (LPA) were conducted. Using LPA, five profile groups emerged. Profile group differences were present on reported levels of intrapersonal psychological empowerment, civic engagement, and depression symptoms. Majority of sample participants were classified with moderate to high psychological sense of community and ethnic identity. Findings provide insights for efforts on developing community belongingness based on ethnic group identity and engaging young adults in civic life.

A Spatial Analysis of Alcohol Outlet Density Type, Abandoned Properties, and Police Calls on Aggravated Assault Rates in a Northeastern U.S. City.

Background: Community-based research and prevention scholarship has shown a growing interest in examining the impact of the ecological structure of neighborhoods on community violence. Ecological structures such as higher numbers of alcohol outlets and abandoned/vacant properties in geographically dense, poor, and socially isolated communities are critically important to consider. Further, disadvantaged urban communities are burdened by greater police presence with limited or no abatement in crime or violence. Purpose: Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, spatial analysis techniques, and a negative binomial regression analyses, this study investigated the relationships between alcohol outlet density consisting of license C (i.e., combined on and off premises establishments) and license D (i.e., off premises establishments such as liquor stores), abandoned properties, and police calls to service on aggravated assault rates in a Northeastern United States urban city. Results: Negative binomial regression analysis results showed that license C alcohol outlet density count (IRR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.08, 2.11), license D alcohol outlet density count (IRR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.30), abandoned property count (IRR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.01, 2.01), and police call to service counts (IRR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.50) were positively associated with aggravated assault rates. Analyses controlled for census data characteristics. Conclusions: The link between alcohol outlet density and violent crime has been established in public health research. However, this study represents an important contribution in recognizing the unique relationships between license C and license D alcohol outlet density, abandoned properties, and police calls to service with aggravated assaults in an urban neighborhood. Conclusions are drawn for policy and practice.

Sex and rat strain determine sensitivity to kappa opioid-induced antinociception.

RATIONALE: Recent studies indicate that sex and rodent strain are determinants of sensitivity to opioid-induced antinociception. OBJECTIVES: The present study examined the influence of sex and rat strain on kappa opioid-induced antinociception using a series of kappa opioids that vary in their relative effectiveness. METHODS: In a warm-water (50, 52 and 55C) tail-withdrawal procedure, the antinociceptive effects of kappa opioids were determined in male and female rats of the F344, Lewis and Sprague-Dawley (SD) strains. RESULTS: In both males and females of each strain, spiradoline produced high levels of antinociception across all nociceptive stimulus intensities, whereas U50,488 produced high levels only at the low and moderate nociceptive stimulus intensities. Sex differences in the potency and effectiveness of these kappa opioids were relatively small and not consistently obtained. Enadoline, bremazocine and nalorphine were less effective than spiradoline in producing antinociception, and at low and moderate nociceptive stimulus intensities these opioids were both more potent and effective in F344 and SD males than their female counterparts. In contrast, in Lewis rats, only bremazocine was more potent and effective in males. In combination tests, bremazocine shifted the spiradoline dose-effect curve leftward and/or upward in males and rightward in females (i.e., antagonized spiradoline). In contrast, in both males and females enadoline shifted the spiradoline dose-effect curve leftward and/or upward. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that kappa opioids were generally more potent and effective as antinociceptive agents in males than females. Similar to data obtained with micro opioids, the magnitude of these sex differences was generally larger with the less effective kappa opioids and determined, in part, by rat strain and nociceptive stimulus intensity.

Does caffeine counteract alcohol-induced impairment? The ironic effects of expectancy.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that expectations of alcohol-induced impairment can produce adaptive responses to alcohol that reduce the degree of behavioral impairment displayed. The present study tested psychomotor performance following combined caffeine and alcohol administration in 42 social drinkers (23 men). Subjects were led to expect either that caffeine would antagonize alcohol-induced impairment or that it would have no effect. The study tested the hypothesis that drinkers who expected an antagonist effect of caffeine would display greater alcohol impairment than those who expected no antagonist effect. METHOD: Groups practiced a pursuit rotor task and received a moderate dose of alcohol (0.65 g/kg) combined with either 4.0 mg/kg caffeine or placebo caffeine. Some groups were led to expect that caffeine would counteract the impairing effect of alcohol and others were led to expect no counteracting effect. Psychomotor performance was then tested over a 3-hour period. RESULTS: In accord with the hypothesis, groups led to expect counteracting effects of caffeine displayed greater impairment than those led to expect no counteraction. Caffeine had no significant antagonist effect on alcohol impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that compensation for alcohol impairment occurs when drinkers hold clear expectations that the drug will disrupt performance. When no such clear expectation exists, no compensatory response occurs and the impairing effects of alcohol are observed.