Understanding Perceived Problematic Pornography Use with the Differential Susceptibility to Media Effects Model.

Problematic pornography use and its adverse consequences are prevalent, but little is known about its psychosocial contributors. Drawing on the Differential Susceptibility to Media Effects Model (DSMM), this study explores whether and how perceived problematic Internet pornography use is associated with psychological factors from three domains: social (i.e., family adaptability), dispositional (i.e., self-acceptance), and development factors (i.e., impulse control difficulties). Analysis of an anonymous survey of 1,483 Chinese emerging adults showed that family adaptability and self-acceptance were negatively correlated with perceived problematic pornography use, whereas impulse control difficulties were positively correlated with perceived problematic pornography use. Self-acceptance mediated the association between family adaptability and perceived problematic pornography use. Impulse control difficulties moderated such mediation effect, in which the protective effect of family adaptability on self-acceptance and that of self-acceptance on perceived problematic pornography use were attenuated by impulse control difficulties. These findings advance understanding of the complex underlying psychosocial mechanisms of perceived problematic pornography use by providing evidence to the applicability of DSMM on such problematic use and clarifying the direct, indirect, and/or moderating role(s) of family adaptability, self-acceptance, and impulse control difficulties in those mechanisms. They also provide insights for targeted approaches in future intervention programs among emerging adults.

The Longitudinal Relationships among Casual Sex and Psychological Well-Being in Chinese College Student.

This study integrates the important psychological well-being indicators (i.e., life satisfaction, psychological distress, and self-esteem) into a model framework. We used a cross-lagged panel design (CLPD) to examine the bidirectional relationship between casual sex and psychological well-being among Chinese college students. Chinese college students (N = 833) completed self-report measures (i.e., hookup behavior, life satisfaction, psychological distress, and self-esteem) at six-month intervals. The results show that the ratio of college students who reported engaging in at least one hookup experience in the past year or half a year was lower than that of Western college students. We find that college students with hookup behavior had poorer psychological well-being in later six months than those who did not engage in hookup behavior. However, previous psychological well-being did not predict subsequent hookup behavior. We discuss these findings in terms of China's unique sexual culture to provide useful information for preventing and interfering with risky sexual behaviors and their negative consequences among Chinese college students. Specifically, this study could provide students with a more in-depth understanding of associated risks, assisting those engaged in or intending to engage in hookups to evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of such behavior. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of implementing targeted educational programs in China that address the psychological consequences of casual sex.

Relationship between Depression and Cognitive Inhibition in Men with Heroin or Methamphetamine Use Disorder in First-Time Mandatory Detoxification.

Previous studies have shown that males with substance use disorder (SUD) in their first mandatory detoxification experience high rates of depression. It is unknown whether this high depression incidence contributes to impaired inhibition. In this work, two studies were undertaken to examine the role of depression in cognitive inhibition in heroin and methamphetamine withdrawal. We used the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the self-control scale (SCS) to explore the relationship between depression and impulse inhibition in patients participating in mandatory drug treatment for the first time (Study 1). The results showed that depression negatively predicted impulse inhibition. The Stroop color-word interference task was used to explore the role of patients' depression in their inhibitory abilities (Study 2). The results showed that the high-depression group had weaker inhibition performances in the Stroop color-word interference task compared to the low-depression group. This study shows that cognitive inhibition is weaker in people with high-depression addiction than in those with low depression. This result suggests that attention should be paid to the role of depressive comorbidity when conducting working memory training treatment for substance addiction.

Coronavirus Disease 2019-Related Stigma in China: A Descriptive Study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tremendously impacts the physical and mental health of humans worldwide. Consequently, studies on COVID-19 remain extensive. However, most of them were mainly focused on the pathological mechanisms and treatment methods from medical perspectives. Various reports have indicated that COVID-19 is closely related to stigma and discrimination, but little statistical information has been integrated quantitatively to describe the situation in China. Thus, this study investigated the COVID-19-related stigma of individuals. We collected the online survey data from 1,920 Chinese participants from October to December 2020. Findings showed that 306 (15.94%), 285 (14.84%), 265 (13.80%), and 100 (5.21%) participants endorsed stigma toward individuals in high-risk areas, recovered patients with COVID-19, families of recovered patients with COVID-19, and frontline healthcare providers, respectively. To understand the possible factors that could impact the COVID-19-related stigma, knowledge about COVID-19 was investigated. Generally, knowledge about COVID-19 was negatively associated with COVID-19-related stigma in general, while no significant relationship existed between the knowledge about COVID-19 and the COVID-19-related stigma in the groups who had held COVID-19-related stigma. Ultimately, individuals showed COVID-19-related stigma toward recovered patients and their families, individuals in high-risk areas, and frontline healthcare providers to some extent. The results of this study can provide reference to nations, governments, and organizations in addressing the stigma issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.