Wine-Mom Culture, Alcohol Use, and Drinking Motives: A Descriptive Study and Cross-Cultural Exploration of American and British Mothers.

Objective: "Wine-mom" culture, which promotes the idea that women should use alcohol to cope with the stressors of parenting, is pervasive in modern society, yet remains an under-researched variable in the context of women's alcohol use. The present investigation was a descriptive study and cross-cultural exploration (United States vs. United Kingdom) of the association between wine-mom culture (perceptions of wine-mom culture and related behaviors) and various alcohol-related outcomes, parenting experiences, and drinking motives. Methods: This study included 233 American and 233 British mothers recruited through Prolific. Participants completed the study questions/questionnaires in Qualtrics; they completed nine items measuring their perceptions of and engagement with wine-mom culture, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Parental Stress Scale, and the Drinking Motives Questionnaire-Revised, along with questions about their alcohol use and parenting experiences. Results: Our results indicated that although American mothers were more familiar with wine-mom culture than British mothers, the correlations observed were similar for both groups. Some of the wine-mom culture variables were associated with problematic alcohol use and parenting stress. Additionally, wine-mom culture-related behaviors had moderate to strong positive correlations with drinking to cope motives. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that future research should examine the role of wine-mom culture in the perception that alcohol can-or should-be used as a form of self-medication. Other future directions and considerations for this area of study are discussed.

Development of an STR panel for a non-native population of an endangered species.

BACKGROUND: The establishment of non-native populations of threatened and legally protected species can have many implications for the areas where these species have been introduced. Non-native populations of threatened species have the potential to be exploited and therefore the subject of legal protection, while conversely, if they have become invasive in their introduced range, there is the likelihood that population control will be carried out to reduce abundance and negative impacts associated with introduced species. From both a legal and invasive species monitoring standpoint, it is important to know how many individuals are present. METHODS AND RESULTS: Short tandem repeats (STRs) were developed for the hog deer, an endangered species that was introduced following European settlement to Victoria, Australia using Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology. These markers were combined with previous STRs characterised for hog deer to create a 29-plex identification system. A total of 224 samples were genotyped across the population in Victoria, and further analyses of null allele frequencies, deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and the removal of monomorphic or low amplifying markers resulted in a final marker panel of 15 loci. Despite low values for number of alleles at each locus (2-4), probability of identity showed sufficient discrimination power, with an average probability of identity at 2.94 × 10-6, and a probability of sibling identity of 8.9 × 10-4 across all sites. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to create an informative DNA profiling system that can distinguish between individuals for applications in both wildlife forensic and population control research.

Loneliness and Psychological Distress in Women Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer: Examining the Role of Self-Perceived Burden, Social Support Seeking, and Social Network Diversity.

The aim of the present study was to examine the role of self-perceived burden, social support seeking, and social network diversity in loneliness and psychological distress among women with ovarian cancer. A cross-sectional design was employed whereby 130 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, recruited through various online sources (e.g., social media), completed the study via Qualtrics. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed self-perceived burden, social support seeking, social network diversity, loneliness, and psychological distress (anxiety, depressive symptoms). The models examined indicated that there were indirect effects of self-perceived burden and social network diversity on psychological distress via loneliness. Social support seeking was not significant in the models. Loneliness, self-perceived burden, and social network diversity should be of clinical concern among those working to support women with ovarian cancer. Future studies on longitudinal patterns or examining other factors associated with loneliness are needed to better understand the mental health of women with ovarian cancer.

Experiences of women with ovarian cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: Examining intolerance of uncertainty and fear of COVID-19 in relation to psychological distress.

PURPOSE: Our research aimed to examine the role of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) in psychological distress (PD) among women with ovarian cancer. Fear of COVID-19 (FCOV) was examined as a mediator, and participant health status and the reopening status of their geographic region were examined as moderators. DESIGN: A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n = 100) were recruited through various online sources and completed the study via Qualtrics. METHODS: Moderated mediation models and post-hoc linear regression analyses were used to determine the role of predictor variables in PD. RESULTS: No significant moderators or mediators were found. Despite a strong correlation between FCOV and IU, both variables explained unique variance in the anxiety and stress models, while FCOV was not significant in the depressive symptoms model. IMPLICATIONS FOR PROVIDERS: Both IU and FCOV should be considered in helping women with ovarian cancer manage their PD during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Examining the role of body esteem and sensation seeking in drunkorexia behaviors.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of body esteem (BE), sensation seeking (SS), and their interaction in drunkorexia, a behavior pattern marked by calorie restriction/compensation in the context of alcohol consumption. While previous research on drunkorexia has focused on a range of variables, the present study examined two novel variables and their potential interaction: body esteem (weight, appearance) and sensation seeking. METHODS: A sample of college students (n =488) completed the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale, and the Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale, which measures overall drunkorexia engagement as well as four dimensions: alcohol effects, bulimia, dietary restraint and exercise, and restriction. RESULTS: Moderated linear regression analyses indicated that SS and BE (weight, appearance) did not interact in predicting drunkorexia. Rather, only main effects were observed; SS, weight esteem (WE), and appearance esteem (AE) were significant in predicting overall drunkorexia engagement. In terms of the drunkorexia dimensions, AE was a significant predictor in the alcohol effects, dietary restraint and exercise, and restriction models. WE was significant in the dietary restraint and exercise model as well as the restriction model. SS was a significant predictor across all drunkorexia dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that both elevated SS and lowered BE are associated with drunkorexia engagement. Implications for practice are discussed. Drunkorexia is a complex and multifaceted behavior pattern; therefore, further research is needed in this area of study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V (descriptive study).

Intolerance of uncertainty, social support, and loneliness in relation to anxiety and depressive symptoms among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a trait variable that captures an individual's lack of tolerance for unknown outcomes and events. Positive correlations between IU and mental health symptoms have been observed in various populations, while social variables (social support and decreased loneliness) seem to serve as protective factors against psychological distress among individuals with cancer. The present study examined the moderation effect of social support and loneliness in the relationship between IU and mental health symptoms among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional design involving 131 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer recruited through social media and other online sources. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed their IU (prospective and inhibitory), anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, social support, and loneliness. Moderated regression analyses were applied to test the hypothesis that low social support and high loneliness would exacerbate the relationship between IU and symptoms of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: The hypothesized moderation effects (social support × IU, loneliness × IU) were not supported in the anxiety and depressive symptoms models. Post hoc linear regression analyses indicated that IU and loneliness were predictive of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Loneliness was the strongest predictor in both the anxiety and depressive symptoms models, followed by IU. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that loneliness and IU-particularly inhibitory IU-are important considerations in understanding mental health symptoms among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Addressing both loneliness and IU may be an important avenue in clinical settings.

In vitro exposure systems and dosimetry assessment tools for inhaled tobacco products: Workshop proceedings, conclusions and paths forward for in vitro model use.

In 2009, the passing of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act facilitated the establishment of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), and gave it regulatory authority over the marketing, manufacture and distribution of tobacco products, including those termed 'modified risk'. On 4-6 April 2016, the Institute for In Vitro Sciences, Inc. (IIVS) convened a workshop conference entitled, In Vitro Exposure Systems and Dosimetry Assessment Tools for Inhaled Tobacco Products, to bring together stakeholders representing regulatory agencies, academia and industry to address the research priorities articulated by the FDA CTP. Specific topics were covered to assess the status of current in vitro smoke and aerosol/vapour exposure systems, as well as the various approaches and challenges to quantifying the complex exposures in in vitro pulmonary models developed for evaluating adverse pulmonary events resulting from tobacco product exposures. The four core topics covered were: a) Tobacco Smoke and E-Cigarette Aerosols; b) Air-Liquid Interface-In Vitro Exposure Systems; c) Dosimetry Approaches for Particles and Vapours/In Vitro Dosimetry Determinations; and d) Exposure Microenvironment/Physiology of Cells. The 2.5-day workshop included presentations from 20 expert speakers, poster sessions, networking discussions, and breakout sessions which identified key findings and provided recommendations to advance these technologies. Here, we will report on the proceedings, recommendations, and outcome of the April 2016 technical workshop, including paths forward for developing and validating non-animal test methods for tobacco product smoke and next generation tobacco product aerosol/vapour exposures. With the recent FDA publication of the final deeming rule for the governance of tobacco products, there is an unprecedented necessity to evaluate a very large number of tobacco-based products and ingredients. The questionable relevance, high cost, and ethical considerations for the use of in vivo testing methods highlight the necessity of robust in vitro approaches to elucidate tobacco-based exposures and how they may lead to pulmonary diseases that contribute to lung exposure-induced mortality worldwide.

Women with Ovarian Cancer: Examining the Role of Social Support and Rumination in Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological Distress, and Psychological Well-being.

The present study examined the role of social support and rumination (deliberate vs. intrusive) in posttraumatic growth (PTG), psychological distress (PD), and psychological well-being (PWB) among women with ovarian cancer. Sixty-seven women who had experienced ovarian cancer were recruited through social media and cancer-related websites, and completed an online survey. Contrary to hypotheses, results indicated that social support was not predictive of PTG, and the mediation of rumination was not significant in the regression of social support on PTG. Social support was, however, positively correlated with the Relating to Others domain of PTG. Deliberate rumination was positively predictive of PTG, and intrusive rumination was positively predictive of PD and negatively predictive of PWB. Social support was negatively predictive of PD, and positively predictive of PWB. Results are discussed with reference to clinical implications and future research needed in understanding the ovarian cancer experience.

Extending the 'cross-disorder' relevance of executive functions to dimensional neuropsychiatric traits in youth.

BACKGROUND: Evidence that different neuropsychiatric conditions share genetic liability has increased interest in phenotypes with 'cross-disorder' relevance, as they may contribute to revised models of psychopathology. Cognition is a promising construct for study; yet, evidence that the same cognitive functions are impaired across different forms of psychopathology comes primarily from separate studies of individual categorical diagnoses versus controls. Given growing support for dimensional models that cut across traditional diagnostic boundaries, we aimed to determine, within a single cohort, whether performance on measures of executive functions (EFs) predicted dimensions of different psychopathological conditions known to share genetic liability. METHODS: Data are from 393 participants, ages 8-17, consecutively enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of Genetic Influences on Cognition (LOGIC). This project is conducting deep phenotyping and genomic analyses in youth referred for neuropsychiatric evaluation. Using structural equation modeling, we examined whether EFs predicted variation in core dimensions of the autism spectrum disorder, bipolar illness, and schizophrenia (including social responsiveness, mania/emotion regulation, and positive symptoms of psychosis, respectively). RESULTS: We modeled three cognitive factors (working memory, shifting, and executive processing speed) that loaded on a second-order EF factor. The EF factor predicted variation in our three target traits, but not in a negative control (somatization). Moreover, this EF factor was primarily associated with the overlapping (rather than unique) variance across the three outcome measures, suggesting that it related to a general increase in psychopathology symptoms across those dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings extend support for the relevance of cognition to neuropsychiatric conditions that share underlying genetic risk. They suggest that higher-order cognition, including EFs, relates to the dimensional spectrum of each of these disorders and not just the clinical diagnoses. Moreover, results have implications for bottom-up models linking genes, cognition, and a general psychopathology liability.

International Harmonization and Cooperation in the Validation of Alternative Methods.

The development and validation of scientific alternatives to animal testing is important not only from an ethical perspective (implementation of 3Rs), but also to improve safety assessment decision making with the use of mechanistic information of higher relevance to humans. To be effective in these efforts, it is however imperative that validation centres, industry, regulatory bodies, academia and other interested parties ensure a strong international cooperation, cross-sector collaboration and intense communication in the design, execution, and peer review of validation studies. Such an approach is critical to achieve harmonized and more transparent approaches to method validation, peer-review and recommendation, which will ultimately expedite the international acceptance of valid alternative methods or strategies by regulatory authorities and their implementation and use by stakeholders. It also allows achieving greater efficiency and effectiveness by avoiding duplication of effort and leveraging limited resources. In view of achieving these goals, the International Cooperation on Alternative Test Methods (ICATM) was established in 2009 by validation centres from Europe, USA, Canada and Japan. ICATM was later joined by Korea in 2011 and currently also counts with Brazil and China as observers. This chapter describes the existing differences across world regions and major efforts carried out for achieving consistent international cooperation and harmonization in the validation and adoption of alternative approaches to animal testing.

Benthic microalgae serve as the major food resource for porcelain crabs (Petrolisthes spp.) in oyster reefs: gut content and pigment evidence1.

Suspension-feeding porcelain crabs (Petrolisthes spp.) are often the most abundant decapod crustaceans in oyster reef habitat. Analysis of water column and subtidal algal biomass from three Texas estuaries suggests that planktonic food resources are insufficient for porcelain crab growth. Pigment composition of porcelain crab muscle and digestive track contents included the diatom pigment fucoxanthin and cyanobacterial pigment canthaxanthin with digestive track samples containing attached (adnate) benthic diatoms as well as benthic cyanobacteria not found in the water column. Feeding appendages on porcelain crabs include numerous cirri with serrated edges as well as fewer more brush-like longer units. Benthic food resources are in sufficient supply to support porcelain crab biomass.

Quality of life and mental health among women with ovarian cancer: examining the role of emotional and instrumental social support seeking.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of emotional and instrumental social support seeking in the quality of life (QOL) and mental health of women with ovarian cancer. Participants were recruited through the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry, and one hundred women took part in a mail questionnaire that collected information on their demographics, medical status, social support seeking, QOL and mental health including anxiety, depression and stress. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the influence of emotional and instrumental social support seeking on QOL and mental health. After controlling for remission status, greater emotional social support seeking was predictive of higher overall QOL, social/family QOL, functional QOL and lower depression scores. Instrumental social support seeking was not significant in the models. The results illustrate that social support seeking as a coping mechanism is an important consideration in the QOL and mental health of women with ovarian cancer. Future studies should examine the psychological and behavioral mediators of the relationship to further understand the QOL and mental health of women with ovarian cancer.

Local tolerance testing under REACH: Accepted non-animal methods are not on equal footing with animal tests.

In general, no single non-animal method can cover the complexity of any given animal test. Therefore, fixed sets of in vitro (and in chemico) methods have been combined into testing strategies for skin and eye irritation and skin sensitisation testing, with pre-defined prediction models for substance classification. Many of these methods have been adopted as OECD test guidelines. Various testing strategies have been successfully validated in extensive in-house and inter-laboratory studies, but they have not yet received formal acceptance for substance classification. Therefore, under the European REACH Regulation, data from testing strategies can, in general, only be used in so-called weight-of-evidence approaches. While animal testing data generated under the specific REACH information requirements are per se sufficient, the sufficiency of weight-of-evidence approaches can be questioned under the REACH system, and further animal testing can be required. This constitutes an imbalance between the regulatory acceptance of data from approved non-animal methods and animal tests that is not justified on scientific grounds. To ensure that testing strategies for local tolerance testing truly serve to replace animal testing for the REACH registration 2018 deadline (when the majority of existing chemicals have to be registered), clarity on their regulatory acceptance as complete replacements is urgently required.

Assessment of in vitro COPD models for tobacco regulatory science: Workshop proceedings, conclusions and paths forward for in vitro model use.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 established the Food and Drug Administration Center for Tobacco Products (FDA-CTP), and gave it regulatory authority over the marketing, manufacture and distribution of tobacco products, including those termed 'modified risk'. On 8-10 December 2014, IIVS organised a workshop conference, entitled Assessment of In Vitro COPD Models for Tobacco Regulatory Science, to bring together stakeholders representing regulatory agencies, academia, industry and animal protection, to address the research priorities articulated by the FDA-CTP. Specific topics were covered to assess the status of current in vitro technologies as they are applied to understanding the adverse pulmonary events resulting from tobacco product exposure, and in particular, the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The four topics covered were: a) Inflammation and Oxidative Stress; b) Ciliary Dysfunction and Ion Transport; c) Goblet Cell Hyperplasia and Mucus Production; and d) Parenchymal/Bronchial Tissue Destruction and Remodelling. The 2.5 day workshop included 18 expert speakers, plus poster sessions, networking and breakout sessions, which identified key findings and provided recommendations to advance the in vitro technologies and assays used to evaluate tobacco-induced disease etiologies. The workshop summary was reported at the 2015 Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, and the recommendations led to an IIVS-organised technical workshop in June 2015, entitled Goblet Cell Hyperplasia, Mucus Production, and Ciliary Beating Assays, to assess these assays and to conduct a proof-of-principle multi-laboratory exercise to determine their suitability for standardisation. Here, we report on the proceedings, recommendations and outcomes of the December 2014 workshop, including paths forward to continue the development of non-animal methods to evaluate tissue responses that model the disease processes that may lead to COPD, a major cause of mortality worldwide.

Perceptions of friendship among youth with distressed friends.

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between a friend's level of internalizing distress and the focal child's perceptions of friendship amongst 5th, 8th, and 11th grade youth. Participants completed the Youth Self-Report to assess internalizing distress and measures assessing perceptions of friendship quality, social support, and self-disclosure within reciprocal, same-sex friendship dyads. Results indicated that youth with friends experiencing low levels of internalizing distress reported poorer friendship quality and decreased levels of social support and self-disclosure within the friendship compared to youth with friends experiencing average or high internalizing distress. In a second set of analyses controlling for the focal child's own internalizing symptoms, gender, and age, friend's level of internalizing distress remained a significant, unique predictor of target participants' self-disclosure about their own problems within the friendship. The findings suggest that a mild degree of internalizing distress may enhance, rather than harm, friendships amongst youth.

Noise sensitivity and diminished health: testing moderators and mediators of the relationship.

The concept of noise sensitivity emerged in public health and psychoacoustic research to help explain individual differences in reactions to noise. Noise sensitivity has been associated with health problems, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship have yet to be fully examined. Participants (n = 1102) were residents of Auckland, New Zealand, who completed questionnaires and returned them through the post. Models of noise sensitivity and health were tested in the analyses using bootstrapping methods to examine indirect effects. Results indicated that gender and noise exposure were not significant moderators in the model. Perceived stress and sleep problems were significant mediators of the relationship between noise sensitivity and subjective health complaints, even after controlling for the influence of neuroticism. However, the relationship between noise sensitivity and mental health complaints (anxiety and depression) was accounted for by the variance explained by neuroticism. Overall, this study provides considerable understanding of the relationship between noise sensitivity and health problems and identifies areas for further research in the field.

A tripartite model of the psychotherapy relationship: Interrelations among its components and their unfolding across sessions.

The tripartite model of the therapy relationship, which includes the working alliance, real relationship, and transference-countertransference configuration, has been a useful way to conceptualize the complexity of the connection between a therapist and a client. However, little research has focused on the interrelationships between these three components over time. This study sought to replicate the findings of Bhatia and Gelso (2018) by examining the between-person relationships among each of the three elements averaged across all sessions. Additionally, we extended earlier work by examining the within-person relationship between the working alliance, the real relationship, and transference-countertransference with themselves as well as with each of the other elements across sessions. Using 5,931 sessions across 142 clients and 36 therapists, we examined time-ordered associations among the cocreated working alliance, cocreated real relationship, and the therapist-rated transference-countertransference configuration using latent variable dynamic structural equation modeling. Results replicated the findings of Bhatia and Gelso (2018), demonstrating that in one session, the working alliance and the real relationship were positively related, and both the working alliance and the real relationship were negatively related to the transference-countertransference configuration. Regarding the interrelations over time, the findings revealed that the working alliance in the previous session had a significant and positive relationship with real relationship in the current session, and the real relationship in the previous session was related to reduced transference-countertransference in the current session. These findings provide support for complex interrelations among the components over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Partial hospitalization for youth with psychiatric disorders: treatment outcomes and 3-month follow-up.

A partial hospitalization program was developed for youth with moderate to severe psychiatric disorders. The objectives of this study were to prospectively assess changes from admission to discharge in the participants' clinical symptoms and psychosocial functioning, as well as the maintenance of any treatment gains at 3-month follow-up. In this naturalistic treatment study, 55 youth completed both the youth partial hospitalization program and the study. Diagnosis at admission was established by a psychiatrist based on a clinical assessment and a structured diagnostic interview. Clinician-rated and self-report measures of symptoms and psychosocial functioning were administered at admission, discharge, and follow-up to track changes over time. Clinically and statistically significant improvements were found in both symptoms and psychosocial functioning from admission to discharge on all study measures. Furthermore, these gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up. The results suggest that partial hospitalization programs can be an effective modality in treating youth with moderate to severe psychiatric disorders.

An examination of health locus of control in relation to antibiotic resistance perceptions and antibiotic use behaviors among college students.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the role of health locus of control (HLOC; internal, chance, powerful others) in antibiotic resistance perceptions and antibiotic use behaviors among college students. Participants: Participants were 366 students recruited from the introductory psychology pool at a university in the northeastern United States. Methods: Participants completed the study via Qualtrics in 2015 (October-December). They completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (measuring internal, chance, powerful others HLOC) and questions about their antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance perceptions. Results: Linear regression analyses were employed to examine the role of the HLOC in antibiotic use behaviors and antibiotic resistance perceptions. With the exception of the regression with antibiotic resistance concern as an outcome, powerful others HLOC was the strongest predictor across all models. Conclusions: Antibiotic misuse was prevalent in our sample and powerful others HLOC was associated with problematic antibiotic use.

Problematic alcohol use and food and alcohol disturbance in mothers: Examining the role of stress, body dissatisfaction, and wine-mom-consistent drinking.

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, women have significantly closed the alcohol use gender gap-and they are drinking more heavily now than in previous decades (Keyes et al., 2019). Furthermore, "wine-mom" culture (which promotes the use of alcohol to cope with the stressors of parenthood) has become increasingly prevalent in society and may be a factor in mothers' alcohol use. In the present study, we examined wine-mom-consistent drinking (whether one's alcohol use corresponds to that promoted by wine-mom culture) as a moderator in the relationship between psychosocial predictors (stress, body dissatisfaction) and alcohol-related outcomes (problematic alcohol use, food and alcohol disturbance-FAD). METHODS: Participants were mothers (Mage = 40.18, SD = 8.28) recruited through Prolific from both the United States and the United Kingdom (n = 466; 50 % from the US and UK each); they completed the study via a Qualtrics survey. RESULTS: In the models tested, stress interacted with wine-mom-consistent drinking in predicting FAD (alcohol effects and restriction dimensions), and body dissatisfaction interacted with wine-mom-consistent drinking in predicting the FAD restriction dimension. Compared to those who did not endorse wine-mom-consistent drinking, the relationship between the predictors and the FAD dimensions was stronger among participants who endorsed wine-mom-consistent drinking. Body dissatisfaction and wine-mom-consistent drinking also emerged as significant independent predictors in some of the models. CONCLUSION: Wine-mom-consistent drinking is associated with problematic alcohol use and FAD among mothers. Further research is needed to better understand wine-mom culture and related psychosocial factors in mothers' drinking motives and behaviors.