Negative mood as a mediator of the association between insomnia severity and marijuana problems in college students.

Insomnia symptoms have been linked to problematic marijuana use among young adults, but the mechanism underlying this association and whether sex differences exist, remains unclear. Using cross-sectional data, this study examined negative mood as a mediator of the association between insomnia and marijuana problems among male and female college students. Undergraduate students (n = 267; 61% female) reporting marijuana use in the past month completed an online survey assessing insomnia symptoms, negative mood and marijuana problems. Controlling for relevant covariates, negative mood was examined as a mediator of the association between insomnia and marijuana problems using bootstrapped significance tests for indirect effects (n-boot = 1,000). Results indicated that higher levels of insomnia were associated with greater levels of negative mood (regardless of sex), which in turn were associated with greater marijuana-related problems. In conclusion, insomnia symptoms are associated with more negative mood among college students who use marijuana, and this effect on negative mood accounts for a large part of the association of insomnia symptoms with marijuana-related problems. Research is needed to determine if these associations are maintained prospectively.

Initial development and validation of a brief assessment of marijuana demand among young adult college students.

Hypothetical purchase tasks assess substance demand, but the length of purchase tasks makes repeated assessment of state-dependent changes in demand difficult, often limiting clinical utility. Although brief assessments of alcohol and cigarette demand exist, brief measures of cannabis demand do not. College students (N = 209, Mage = 19.92, SD = 1.45; 63% female; 56.9% non-Hispanic Caucasian) who reported using cannabis at least 3 days in the past month, completed an online survey including the full-length marijuana purchase task (MPT), a three-item brief assessment of marijuana demand (BAMD) assessing intensity, Omax and breakpoint, and cannabis use outcomes. Convergent and divergent validity were examined. Independent samples t tests compared demand on the BAMD and MPT based on presence or absence of cannabis use disorder (CUD) symptoms, and one-way between-subject analyses of variance compared effects of CUD severity (mild/moderate/severe) on BAMD indices. All indices were significantly correlated across both assessment measures (ps < .01). Similarly, all indices on both demand measures were significantly correlated with craving, CUD severity, and cannabis-related consequences (ps < .01); whereas only intensity and Omax were significantly correlated with cannabis use frequency (ps < .01). Individuals with (vs. without) CUD symptoms reported significantly greater intensity and Omax (ps < .01) and significant differences in CUD severity on BAMD indices were found as well (ps < .05). The BAMD demonstrated convergent and divergent validity with the MPT. Findings suggest that brief cannabis demand can be easily assessed as an indicator for high-risk cannabis use. Thus, the BAMD may be a useful and clinically relevant tool to assess cannabis demand in real-world settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Behavior change techniques in digital physical activity interventions for breast cancer survivors: a systematic review.

Given the broad benefits of physical activity (PA) but low PA levels among breast cancer survivors (i.e., women who have received a breast cancer diagnosis), innovative and evidence-based techniques are needed to motivate and support exercise. This study systematically reviews the use of behavior change techniques (BCTs) in digital PA interventions for breast cancer survivors. Studies were retrieved from five electronic databases and were included if they (i) sampled exclusively female breast cancer survivors aged >18 years, (ii) involved a digital intervention with the primary purpose of increasing PA, (iii) included a BCT component, (iv) used a randomized or quasi-randomized design, and (v) were published from January 2000 to May 2022. Two coders independently extracted data. Twenty primary studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. All interventions used at least one BCT (mean 4 ± 1, range 2-13); self-monitoring (85%) and goal setting (79%) were the most common BCTs. Twelve of 20 (60%) studies reported improvements in PA behavior in the intervention vs. control group, and self-monitoring and goal setting were the most commonly used BCTs in these studies. Of the 93 total BCTs, 66 were not used in any interventions in the review, including critical constructs for PA behavior change (e.g., biofeedback). BCTs, important facilitators of PA behavior change, are being underutilized in digital PA interventions for breast cancer survivors. Future research should incorporate more diverse BCTs to explore if they can add to the effectiveness of digital interventions for this population.

Physical activity (PA) has many benefits, yet PA levels are low among breast cancer survivors (i.e., women who have received a breast cancer diagnosis). This study reviews the use of behavior change techniques (BCTs) in digital PA interventions for breast cancer survivors. BCTs are evidence-based and are important for encouraging changes in health behaviors, such as PA. Twenty studies were included in this review. All interventions used at least one BCT (mean 4 ± 1, range 2­13); self-monitoring (85%) and goal setting (79%) were the most common BCTs. Twelve of 20 (60%) studies reported improvements in PA, and self-monitoring and goal setting were the most commonly used BCTs in these studies. Of the 93 total BCTs, 66 were not used in any interventions in the review. This finding reveals that many BCTs, which are important influencers of behavior change, are often not being used in digital PA interventions for breast cancer survivors. BCTs such as biofeedback (e.g., providing information on heart rate during exercise) and practical social support (e.g., virtual exercise coaching), could be helpful. Future research should include more diverse BCTs to explore if they can add to the usefulness of digital interventions for this population.

Independent and concurrent cannabis use with alcohol, cigarettes, and other substances among college students: Rates and consequences.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of concurrent cannabis and other substance use and their differential associations with cannabis-related problems and academic outcomes in college students. Participants: Participants were undergraduate students (N = 263; M age = 19.1 years; 61.2% female) who were eligible if they used cannabis at least 3 days in the past month (M = 10.1 days). Method: Substance use, academic-related outcomes, and measures of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) severity and problems were obtained in an online survey. Results: The five groups evaluated were cannabis-only users (5.3%), cannabis and alcohol (47.1%), cannabis, alcohol and cigarettes (16.7%), cannabis, alcohol and other substances (14.8%), or all-substances (16%). Cannabis-only and all-substance users reported using cannabis most frequently (ps ≤ .034), but only the latter reported greater CUD severity, problems, and poorer academic outcomes. Discussion: College student polysubstance users may be at increased risk for poorer outcomes compared to cannabis-only users and other groups.

Are Drinking Cognitions Associated with Marijuana and Concurrent Alcohol and Marijuana Use among Adolescents and Young Adults?

Background: Concurrent use of alcohol and marijuana (i.e., CAM use) is the most common poly-drug use pattern among adolescents and young adults and is associated with negative outcomes. Research indicates that Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) drinking cognitions are associated with alcohol use. This secondary analysis was conducted to explore cross-sectional associations between PWM drinking cognitions, alcohol, marijuana, and CAM use. Methods: Adolescents and young adults between 15-25 years (N = 124, M age = 18.7) completed a baseline assessment as part of a larger study, including questions on alcohol and marijuana use, and PWM drinking cognitions. Results: In the social reaction pathway, descriptive norms, perceived vulnerability, and prototype favorability, but not willingness were associated with greater alcohol use, whereas in the reasoned pathway attitudes and intentions were associated with frequency of drinking whereas injunctive norms were not. Both willingness and intention to drink were related to marijuana and CAM use when controlling for alcohol use frequency. Greater willingness to drink was the only significant predictor of marijuana use, and only descriptive norms predicted CAM use. However, of the cognitions within the reasoned pathway, greater attitudes toward drinking and drinking intention were related to greater marijuana and CAM use. Results also indicated that CAM users displayed higher levels of certain risk cognitions than non-users or single substance users. Conclusions: Findings support and extend the utility of the PWM by indicating that specific alcohol cognitions are associated with alcohol, marijuana, and CAM use in adolescents and young adults.

An examination of the acquired preparedness model among college student marijuana users.

ObjectiveTo examine the Acquired Preparedness Model using a behavioral impulsivity facet and positive marijuana expectancies to examine direct and indirect effects on marijuana use and related problems. Participants: 250 college students (61.7% female, 54% white) recruited from a southeastern university. Methods: Participants completed an online survey of delay reward discounting, marijuana expectancies, consideration of future consequences, and marijuana-related outcomes. Results: Delay reward discounting and consideration of future consequences related to marijuana-related problems, but not marijuana use. However, positive marijuana expectancies did not mediate the relation between impulsivity and marijuana outcomes. Conclusions: These results emphasize delay reward discounting and consideration of future consequences as important factors associated with marijuana-related problems. Interventions aimed at decreasing delay reward discounting and augmenting future orientation may be effective in college students who report light to moderate marijuana use. Future studies would benefit from longitudinal study designs using multiple impulsivity measures among light and heavy users.

A review of cross-commodity delay discounting research with relevance to addiction.

Delay discounting (DD) refers to the decrease in the subjective value of a reward as the delay to its receipt increases. As high rates of DD are consistently associated with measures of substance misuse, DD is an important construct in current conceptualizations of addiction. High rates of DD appear to model preference for the immediate rewards provided by substance use, resulting in the interpretation that individuals with substance use disorder are generally unable or unwilling to delay gratification to obtain larger but delayed rewards. This interpretation is largely based on literature implementing binary choice tasks using differing amounts of the same commodity (i.e., single-commodity), in which high rates of DD can result from relative preference for the immediate outcome or relative dispreference for the delayed outcome. We propose that tasks using different commodities (i.e., cross-commodity) for the immediate and delayed outcomes offer potential in disentangling these dissociable and consequentially distinct interpretations. Our review suggests that cross-commodity DD tasks provide unique insights into understanding addiction not captured by single-commodity designs. We conclude that more research implementing cross-commodity DD tasks is needed to better understand the role of intertemporal choice in addiction and recovery.

Interest in and barriers to participation in a Facebook-delivered weight loss program among female cancer survivors with overweight or obesity.

BACKGROUND: Although excess body weight is linked to post-treatment complications for cancer survivors, obesity rates have increased rapidly among adult cancer survivors. Innovative approaches to weight loss programs, such as via social media, are needed to engage female cancer survivors. The purpose of this study is to explore important components of a Facebook-delivered weight loss program for female cancer survivors. METHODS: Female cancer survivors who are overweight or obese and finished active treatment completed a web-based, mixed-methods survey. RESULTS: Participants (N=96) were on average 54.3±9.6 years old, 89% white, 66% obese, and 87% tried to lose weight in the last year. Health concerns were the most important reason (88%) for wanting to lose weight. Barriers to weight loss included other health issues (52%) and perceived sacrifice/burden of weight loss process (35%). Qualitative themes for barriers included inability to make dietary changes (19%), lack of motivation (18%), and physical limitations (13%). Participants were most interested in a weight loss program delivered via Facebook (81%), led by a weight loss counselor (78%), provided healthy recipes (73%) and exercise videos (72%). Qualitative themes included information on cancer treatment effects (25%), calorie tracker (21%), and exercise modifications (17%). Qualitatively, concerns about weight loss included fear of cancer recurrence (20%) and lack of confidence in weight loss efforts (17%). CONCLUSIONS: While female cancer survivors are interested in a Facebook-delivered weight loss program, additional research needs to address customization and delivery to address specific barriers experienced by cancer survivors.

The neural signature of extracting emotional content from rapid visual streams at multiple presentation rates: A cross-laboratory study.

The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP), a neural signature of attentional resource allocation, is enhanced for affective compared to neutral visual scenes. Recently, it has been demonstrated that modulation of early visual cortex associated with viewing of unpleasant scenes presented in a rapid succession relies on emotional content extraction from each individual image shown in a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) at 6 Hz (~167 ms per image). Against expectations, the SSVEP was reduced when viewing visual streams of unpleasant compared to neutral scenes. Here, we investigated to what extent that finding was limited to the 6 Hz rate and whether it generalizes to pleasant pictures. We recorded SSVEPs elicited by RSVP of neutral and emotional scenes presented at 3, 4, 6.67, and 8.57 Hz rates. We demonstrated that SSVEP amplitudes were enhanced for unpleasant compared to neutral images with a presentation rate of 3, 4, and 8.57 Hz. By contrast, SSVEP decreased for both pleasant and unpleasant relative to neutral RSVP streams shown at 6.67 Hz. Our findings suggest that a linear superposition of ERPs evoked by each individual image in an RSVP may lead to SSVEP amplitude patterns that increase or decrease the power at the driving frequency, which in turn might produce the observed differential emotional amplitude modulations. The results provide new methodological considerations for investigating temporal dynamics of early visual cortex modulation during sustained perception of affective scenes with SSVEP using RSVP paradigms.