Self-administered mindfulness interventions reduce stress in a large, randomized controlled multi-site study.

Mindfulness witnessed a substantial popularity surge in the past decade, especially as digitally self-administered interventions became available at relatively low costs. Yet, it is uncertain whether they effectively help reduce stress. In a preregistered (OSF https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/UF4JZ ; retrospective registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06308744 ) multi-site study (nsites = 37, nparticipants = 2,239, 70.4% women, Mage = 22.4, s.d.age = 10.1, all fluent English speakers), we experimentally tested whether four single, standalone mindfulness exercises effectively reduced stress, using Bayesian mixed-effects models. All exercises proved to be more efficacious than the active control. We observed a mean difference of 0.27 (d = -0.56; 95% confidence interval, -0.43 to -0.69) between the control condition (M = 1.95, s.d. = 0.50) and the condition with the largest stress reduction (body scan: M = 1.68, s.d. = 0.46). Our findings suggest that mindfulness may be beneficial for reducing self-reported short-term stress for English speakers from higher-income countries.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Predictive Utility of Psychosocial Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions.

PURPOSE: To test whether the impact of subjective norms, race/ethnicity-specific descriptive norms, vaccine conspiracy beliefs, and prosocial concern on COVID-19 vaccination intentions differs by race/ethnicity for young adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: May-August 2021 in Texas. SUBJECTS: Racially/ethnically diverse unvaccinated college students (N = 314). MEASURES: COVID-19 vaccination intentions, theory-driven constructs (eg, perceived susceptibility), vaccine conspiracy beliefs, prosocial concern, and social norms. ANALYSIS: Block-sequential multiple Tobit regression. RESULTS: Results revealed three significant two-way interactions between race/ethnicity and (1) subjective norms, F (5, 251) = 2.28, P < .05; (2) COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy beliefs, F (5, 251) = 2.88, P < .05; and (3) prosocial concern, F (5, 251) = 2.61, P < .05. There was a positive association between subjective norms and intentions for European and African Americans, a positive association between prosocial concerns and intentions for European and multiracial/multiethnic Americans, and a negative association between conspiracy beliefs and intention for Hispanics. The interaction between race/ethnicity and race/ethnicity-specific descriptive norms was not significant, F (5, 251) = 1.09, P = .37. CONCLUSION: Although based on a relatively small sample, our findings suggest the importance of culturally tailoring COVID-19 vaccination messages to correct conspiracy beliefs, signaling a positive subjective norm, and enhancing prosocial concerns for specific racial-ethnic groups.

Committed relationships and substance use: recent findings and future directions.

Recent research on substance use in committed relationships covers three general areas. First, partners tend to be concordant for substance use, and concordance is at least partially the result of partner influence (or convergence). Second, substance use (particularly discrepant use) predicts relationship outcomes such as lower relationship quality and greater conflict, intimate partner aggression, and risky sex. Concordant use, however, can be protective. Finally, relationship variables, such as conflict, intimate partner aggression, and support for cessation, predict substance use. Recent advances in methodological innovation, such as the use of longitudinal designs and dyadic data, are noted. Although the field has moved in some new directions conceptually, the research in this area is still relatively atheoretical. Suggestions for future research directions are discussed.

Sex Education and HIV Testing Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Findings From the 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 National Survey of Family Growth.

BACKGROUND: Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are disproportionally affected by HIV and exhibit low levels of HIV testing. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sex education and subsequent HIV testing among YMSM. METHODS: Data from sexually active men aged 15-24 years at interview in the 2006-2010 or 2011-2015 National Survey of Family Growth. Sex education included 3 contexts [formal institutions (eg, schools), parents, and health care providers] and specific topics. Outcome variables were ever- and recent-HIV testing. Multivariate models were adjusted for sociodemographics, and data were weighted to account for the complex survey sampling design. RESULTS: A total of 323 sexually active YMSM met inclusion criteria. Overall, 42.4% had ever-tested for HIV and 16.9% tested in the previous 12 months. YMSM were more likely to have ever-tested for HIV if they talked with a parent/guardian about how to prevent HIV/AIDS [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07 to 2.06], talked with a health care provider about how HIV/AIDs is transmitted (aPR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.38), sexually transmitted diseases (aPR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.19), condom use (aPR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.30), and the importance of HIV testing (aPR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.73). CONCLUSIONS: Tailored sex education by parent(s) and health care providers related to HIV/AIDS seems to significantly increase the likelihood of HIV testing among YMSM.