Association between quality of life and risk behaviors in Brazilian adolescents: An exploratory study.

We evaluated the association between risk behaviors and quality of life in 1,081 adolescents classified into the risk behavior (RB) or the non-risk behavior (nRB) group. The data were analyzed with logistic regression models, analysis of variance, and network analysis. The nRB group had higher quality-of-life scores, and having a religion (OR = .42) and better quality of life (OR = .95) significantly reduced the odds of risk behaviors. The network analysis identified that religion, gender, and type of school showed the best centrality and connectivity indices. These data showed a negative association between risk behaviors and lower quality-of-life levels.

The cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Selfitis Behavior Scale: cross-sectional study in Brazilian adolescents: Brazilian version of the Selfitis Behavior Scale / A adaptación cultural y propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Comportamiento Selfitis: estudio transversal en adolescentes brasileños: Versión brasileña de la Escala de Comportamiento deSelfitis / A Adaptação cultural e propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Comportamento de Selfitis: estudo transversal em adolescentes brasileiros: Versão brasileira da Escala de comportamento de Selfitis

Objective: to translate, adapt, and identify the psychometric properties of the Selfitis Behavior Scale (SBS). Methods: online study conducted with 261 Brazilian adolescents. The translation and cross-cultural adaptation process followed international guidelines, resulting in an adequate scale with face, content and construct validity. Results: The five factors explained 78.2% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis (structural equation model for latent variables) showed an adequate fit of the five-factor model with χ2= 2.42 p=0.001, GFI=0.92, AGFI= 0.89, NNFI= 0.92, TLI= 0.96, CFI= 0.93, RMSEA= 0.041. All factor loadings were statistically different from zero (0; t >1.96, p<0.05). The total internal consistency value by Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega was above 0.80 and the internal consistencies of each factor were above 0.79. Conclusion: This is the first Brazilian study to evaluate the psychometric properties of a selfie scale. The SBS proved to be a reliable and valid instrument to assess selfie behavior.

Objetivo: traducir, adaptar e identificar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Comportamiento de Autolisis (SBS). Métodos: estudio online realizado con 261 adolescentes brasileños. El proceso de traducción y adaptación transcultural siguió las directrices internacionales, dando como resultado una escala adecuada con validez facial, de contenido y de constructo. Resultados: Los cinco factores explicaron el 78,2% de la varianza total. El análisis factorial confirmatorio (modelo de ecuaciones estructurales para las variables latentes) mostró un ajuste adecuado del modelo de cinco factores con χ2= 2,42 p=0,001, GFI=0,92, AGFI= 0,89, NNFI= 0,92, TLI= 0,96, CFI= 0,93, RMSEA= 0,041. Todas las cargas factoriales fueron estadísticamente diferentes de cero (0; t > 1,96, p<0,05). El valor total de la consistencia interna mediante el alfa de Cronbach y el omega de McDonald resultó ser superior a 0,80 y las consistencias internas de cada factor fueron superiores a 0,79. Conclusión: Este es el primer estudio brasileño que evalúa las propiedades psicométricas de una escala de selfie. El SBS demostró ser un instrumento fiable y válido para evaluar el comportamiento selfie.

Objetivo: traduzir, adaptar e identificar as propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Comportamento de Selfitis (SBS). Métodos: estudo on-line realizado com 261 adolescentes brasileiros. O processo de tradução e adaptação transcultural seguiu diretrizes internacionais, resultando em uma escala adequada com validade de face, conteúdo e validade construto. Resultados: Os cinco fatores explicaram 78,2% da variância total. A análise Fatorial confirmaria (modelo de equação estrutural para variáveis latentes) mostrou um ajuste adequado do modelo de cinco fatores com χ2= 2,42 p=0,001, GFI=0,92, AGFI= 0,89, NNFI= 0,92, TLI= 0,96, CFI= 0,93, RMSEA= 0,041. Todas as cargas de fatores foram estatisticamente diferentes de zero (0; t > 1,96, p<0,05). O valor total de consistência interna pelo alfa do Cronbach e ômega do McDonald's encontrou-se acima de 0,80 e as consistências internas de cada fator foram acima de 0,79. Conclusão: Este é o primeiro estudo brasileiro a avaliar as propriedades psicométricas de uma escala de selfie. O SBS provou ser um instrumento confiável e válido para avaliar o comportamento da selfie.  

The Effectiveness of a Web-Based Self-Help Program to Reduce Alcohol Use Among Adults With Drinking Patterns Considered Harmful, Hazardous, or Suggestive of Dependence in Four Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Given the scarcity of alcohol prevention and use disorder treatments in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the World Health Organization has launched an eHealth portal that includes the web-based self-help program "Alcohol e-Health." OBJECTIVE: We aimed to test the effectiveness of the Alcohol e-Health program in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: This was a two-arm, individually randomized, and controlled trial across four LMICs comparing the self-help program and a psychoeducation and internet access as usual waiting list. Participants were broadly recruited from community samples in Belarus, Brazil, India, and Mexico from January 2016 through January 2019. The primary outcome measure was change in the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score with a time frame of 6 months between baseline and follow-up. Secondary outcomes included self-reported numbers of standard drinks over the previous week and cessation of harmful or hazardous drinking (AUDIT score <8). RESULTS: For this study, we recruited 1400 predominantly male (n=982, 70.1%) at least harmful or hazardous alcohol drinkers. The mean age was 37.6 years (SD 10.5). The participants were recruited from Brazil (n=587), Mexico (n=509), India (n=212), and Belarus (n=92). Overall, complete case analysis identified higher AUDIT changes in the intervention group (B=-4.18, 95% CI -5.42 to -2.93, P<.001, d=0.56) that were mirrored by changes in weekly standard drinks (B=-9.34, 95% CI -15.90 to -2.77, P=.005, d=0.28) and cessation rates for harmful or hazardous drinking (χ21=14.56, N=561, P<.001). The supplementary intention-to-treat analyses largely confirmed these initial results. CONCLUSIONS: The expansion of the Alcohol e-Health program to other LMICs with underdeveloped alcohol prevention and treatment systems for alcohol use disorders should be considered after successful replication of the present results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN ISRCTN14037475; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN14037475. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.1111/add.14034.

Alcohol e-Help: study protocol for a web-based self-help program to reduce alcohol use in adults with drinking patterns considered harmful, hazardous or suggestive of dependence in middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Given the scarcity of alcohol prevention and alcohol use disorder treatments in many low and middle-income countries, the World Health Organization launched an e-health portal on alcohol and health that includes a Web-based self-help program. This paper presents the protocol for a multicentre randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the efficacy of the internet-based self-help intervention to reduce alcohol use. DESIGN: Two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) with follow-up 6 months after randomization. SETTING: Community samples in middle-income countries. PARTICIPANTS: People aged 18+, with Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores of 8+ indicating hazardous alcohol consumption. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: Offer of an internet-based self-help intervention, 'Alcohol e-Health', compared with a 'waiting list' control group. The intervention, adapted from a previous program with evidence of effectiveness in a high-income country, consists of modules to reduce or entirely stop drinking. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome measure is change in the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score assessed at 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include self-reported the numbers of standard drinks and alcohol-free days in a typical week during the past 6 months, and cessation of harmful or hazardous drinking (AUDIT < 8). ANALYSIS: Data analysis will be by intention-to-treat, using analysis of covariance to test if program participants will experience a greater reduction in their AUDIT score than controls at follow-up. Secondary outcomes will be analysed by (generalized) linear mixed models. Complier average causal effect and baseline observations carried forward will be used in sensitivity analyses. COMMENTS: If the Alcohol e-Health program is found to be effective, the potential public health impact of its expansion into countries with underdeveloped alcohol prevention and alcohol use disorder treatment systems world-wide is considerable.

Decrease in blood pressure and improved psychological aspects through meditation training in hypertensive older adults: A randomized control study.

AIM: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Zen meditation on blood pressure (BP) and quality of life in elderly subjects. METHODS: A total of 59 volunteers (21 men and 38 women), aged ≥60 years with systolic BP between 130 and 159 mmHg and diastolic BP between 85 and 99 mmHg, were randomly divided into a meditation group (MG), n = 28 and a control group (CG), n = 31. The MG meditated twice a day for 20 min for 3 months, and the CG remained on a waiting list. The BP levels were measured monthly in both groups. The volunteers' medication was kept stable. A quality of life assessment instrument was applied at the beginning and end of the study. RESULTS: For systolic BP, analysis of variance showed the influence of time (F(4,228) = 4.74, P < 0.01, ß = 0.98) and the interaction group × time (F(4,228) = 3.07, P < 0.01, ß = 0.89). The MG showed a significant decrease in systolic BP levels in the second measurement after 1 month of meditation practice when compared with the CG (Newman-Keuls test, P < 0.05). Starting at the second measurement, systolic BP levels in the MG were lower than the baseline and first measurement levels; however, the systolic BP levels were similar to those observed in the CG. In the quality of life assessment evaluation, a significant improvement in psychological aspects and overall quality of life in the MG compared with the CG was observed. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Zen meditation is an interesting tool as a complementary treatment for hypertension in elderly subjects.

Relationship between stress symptoms and drug use among secondary students.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between drug use and four kinds of stress symptoms in 954 Brazilian students from the 6th to the 11th grades, in 4 public and 5 private schools in the city of Sao Paulo. Based on their answers to the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI-R) and to the Stress Scale for Adolescents (SSA), we compared regular drug users with non/occasional drug users regarding the frequency of four kinds of stress symptoms (psychological, cognitive, physiological, interpersonal), and the period in which it happened. When compared to non/occasional drug users, regular drug users presented higher levels of psychological, cognitive and physiological symptoms of stress and these symptoms were in the most severe spectrum of severity (near to exhaustion and exhaustion). The association between drug use and stress was even stronger in the youngest age group (11 to 13 years old). Most of the regular drug users were 16 years old and over, from upper-middle class families, had poor family relationships and more academic problems. These results confirm the association between drug use and stress in adolescents and highlight the need for early screening and intervention in both drug use and stressful situations.