The impact of social media on self-evaluations of men striving for a muscular ideal.

This paper describes an innovative approach combining a content analysis of commentary and images on a Facebook page with a thematic analysis of the subjective experience expressed in interviews of those impacted by the text and images. Interview participants were asked about their perceptions of the representation of the muscularity-focused identity on social media, including the specific Facebook page. Content analysis of the Facebook page comments showed that very muscular male images attracted predominantly negative feedback from the public, a trend supported by the interview participants. Thematic analysis of the interviews indicated that a negative social media representation and commentary can affect young men's self-esteem and increase body concern. Some men represented on the Page found it humorous, which could serve as a form of bonding for the muscularity-focused online community. Other young men acknowledged how harmful such negative feedback can be on their self-evaluations and body image, consistent with the sociocultural framework whereby negative representations can lead to increased body dissatisfaction.

An Examination of Gender Differences in the Association of Adolescent Substance use with Eating and Weight Loss Attitudes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess gender differences in the relationship between eating and weight loss attitudes (EWAs), and 30-day tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents, while controlling for potential confounds (age, country of birth, psychological distress, pubertal development, peer alcohol and tobacco use, and sexual activity). METHODS: School students aged between 11 and 17 years (N = 10,273) from high schools in the State of Victoria (Australia) completed surveys in class under conditions of anonymity and confidentiality. RESULTS: The interaction between EWAs and gender was significant for tobacco use but not for alcohol use, indicating that the effect of EWAs on tobacco use, but not alcohol use, vary by gender. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco use was related to EWAs in adolescent females but not males, and this is consistent with the possibility that females use tobacco in an instrumental fashion to control weight. Implications and Contribution: Female adolescents high in eating and weight loss attitudes were more likely to engage in tobacco use. In contrast, eating and weight loss attitudes were not related to male tobacco use. These results point to the potential importance of developing gender-specific approaches towards addressing problematic behaviors in adolescent populations.

The relationship between personality disorders and mental health, substance use severity and quality of life among injecting drug users.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between personality disorders (PDs) and substance use severity, mental health symptoms and disorders and quality of life (QoL) among injecting drug users (IDUs). DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional study of 103 IDUs accessing a needle and syringe program and a primary health centre in Melbourne, Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of PDs was assessed using the International Personality Disorder Examination ICD-10 Screener. Axis I mental health disorders, psychological distress and QoL were also assessed. RESULTS: Ninety per cent of participants scored positive for one or more PD. Having a Cluster A or Cluster B PD was associated with greater severity of substance use. The presence of a current mental health disorder was associated with all types of PD except dissocial PD. Only Cluster C PDs were associated with self-reported levels of psychological distress. Cluster C PDs were more strongly associated with substance use, mental health and QoL variables than Cluster A or B, although the number of PDs present had the strongest associations with these variables. CONCLUSIONS: IDUs had high rates of PD symptoms, which were associated with the presence of concurrent mental health disorders, more severe levels of psychological distress and substance use and low perceived QoL. IDUs require comprehensive models of care, including access to mental health practitioners with expertise in co-occurring disorders.

Does the addition of integrated cognitive behaviour therapy and motivational interviewing improve the outcomes of standard care for young people with comorbid depression and substance misuse?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the addition of cognitive behaviour therapy and motivational interviewing (CBT/MI) to standard alcohol and other drug (AOD) care improves outcomes for young people with comorbid depression and substance misuse. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants were young people with comorbid depression (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale score ≥ 17) and substance misuse (mainly alcohol and/or cannabis) seeking treatment at two youth AOD services in Melbourne, Australia. The study was conducted between September 2006 and September 2008. Sixty young people received CBT/MI in addition to standard care (SC) (the SC+CBT/MI group) and 28 received SC only (the SC group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Depressive symptoms and AOD use in the previous 30 days, measured at baseline and at 3-month and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Compared with participants in the SC group, those in the SC+CBT/MI group showed significant reductions in depression and cannabis use and increased social contact and motivation to change substance use at 3-month follow-up. However, at 6-month follow-up, the SC group had achieved similar improvements to the CBT/MI group on these variables. All young people achieved significant improvements in functioning and quality of life variables over time, regardless of treatment group. No changes in AOD use were found in either group at 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: The delivery of CBT/MI in addition to SC may achieve accelerated treatment gains in the short term.

Young people's perceptions of substance use norms and attitudes in the LGBT community.

OBJECTIVES: Sexual minority young people (SMYP) show higher levels of substance use than their heterosexual counterparts. This study aims to test potential LGBT community-specific reasons assumed to affect substance use and their relationships to LGBT community participation/connectedness and substance use behaviour. METHODS: Eight LGBT community-specific reasons for substance use were tested in an online survey with 1,556 SMYP. RESULTS: Respondents agreed that the LGBT community had liberal attitudes towards substance use (80.5%, n=1,079) and that the media portrayed substance use as a part of the community culture (66.5%, n=904). Participants disagreed that excessive partying is a part of the community (34.7%, n=470). Significant but weak correlations between reasons and community participation/connectedness or personal substance use behaviour were found. Subgroup analyses indicated male and gay/lesbian participants showed differential agreement levels to some of the reasons. CONCLUSION: Young people's perceptions of substance use within the LGBT community are not associated with community participation/connectedness or personal substance use. Implications for public health: Further research is needed to better understand what factors lead to elevated levels of substance use in SMYP. This may assist in the development of adequate public health responses. Targeting problematic beliefs may have little impact on substance use in SMYP.