Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2019, Sociology

Adolescent alcohol use is a serious problem that has negative consequences for youths' well-being. To inform policy makers and practitioners, researchers have identified factors related to adolescent drinking. Although past research has found that maternal excessive alcohol use and parenting practices are strong predictors of adolescent alcohol use, most studies used cross sectional data and rarely examined the influence of maternal alcohol use and parenting practices during early childhood on adolescents' alcohol use. Using the Year 3 and Year 15 interviews from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), this project extends past research by longitudinally examining the association between excessive maternal alcohol use during early childhood and adolescents' alcohol use at age 15 with special attention to the role of two aspects of mothers' parenting practices—engagement and warmth. The findings suggest that maternal excessive alcohol use, but not moderate alcohol use, in early childhood is related to adolescents' alcohol use at age 15. Maternal warmth and engagement in early childhood were not significantly related to adolescents' alcohol use; and controlling for these types of parenting practices did not change the association between maternal excessive alcohol use in early childhood and adolescents' alcohol use. When controlling for race, education, number of children, employment status, and marital status, the association was reduced. Adolescents' current school problems and parents' current drinking were both associated with adolescents' alcohol use; and when parental current drinking was controlled for, the effects of maternal excessive drinking in early childhood on adolescent drinking were not significant. These findings suggest that the influence of maternal excessive alcohol use in early childhood on adolescent alcohol use seems to be indirect through increased the odds that adolescents have primary c (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kei Nomaguchi PhD (Advisor); Monica Longmore PhD (Committee Member); Wendy Manning PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Sociology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2016, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

Bowen (1966) created Family Systems Theory as a way to expand the comprehension of human behavior by using individual and familial factors. One concept nested within this theory is Differentiation of Self (DoS). DoS is a universal and multifaceted concept that pertains to one's ability to use thoughts as opposed to emotions (intrapersonal DoS), and the interplay between individuality and togetherness (interpersonal DoS; Kerr & Bowen, 1988). Current instruments that measure DoS, such as the Differentiation of Self Inventory (Skowron & Friedlander, 1998) place individuality and togetherness on the same continuum, which has limited the understanding of DoS. Bowen (1966) hypothesized that one's level of differentiation is directly correlated with one's anxiety (Skowron & Friedlander, 1988), and could contribute to the presentation of symptoms, such as an alcohol use disorder (Bowen, 1974). However, the current understanding of Bowen's (1966) concept of DoS is limited, in that individuality and togetherness are treated as if they are on the same continuum, where individuality is a more desirable than togetherness. The belief that DoS is on one continuum removed the ability to study the positive aspects of togetherness. To further the research of DoS, an instrument, called the Differentiation of Self Quadrant Inventory (DSQI) was created that separated healthy and unhealthy individuality and togetherness, creating four subscales. The DSQI was piloted and tested for reliability, convergent validity, predictive validity, and discriminant validity. From these analyses, an instrument was created that was significantly related with another measure of DoS, and successfully predicted alcohol use and consequences associated with alcohol use. These findings not only supported Bowen's (1974) theory that low DoS is significantly related to alcohol use, but expanded the understanding of DoS by including healthy togetherness.

Committee: Suzanne Bartle-Haring (Advisor); Keeley Pratt (Committee Member); Xin Feng (Committee Member) Subjects: Families and Family Life; Therapy

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2016, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Health Education

Study One Abstract Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the social determinants of recent alcohol use (past 30 days) and episodic heavy drinking among African American young adults aged 18 to 25 years.Methods: A secondary data analysis of the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) was performed in this study. African American young adults (n = 2,573) completed the survey. Approval to conduct this study was granted by the university'sinstitutional review board. Results: Results indicated that 51.9% of African American young adults reported recent alcohol use and 27.3 % reported episodic heavy drinking. Those at highest risk for recent alcohol use were male, had less than a high school diploma, had a family income of less than $20,000, had worked in the past 12 months, lived in a large metropolitan area, had good/fair/poor self-reported health status, and had used alcohol, tobacco and marijuana before age 21. Discussion: These results should be considered when developing public health efforts to prevent alcohol abuse among African American young adults. Study Two Abstract Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the social determinants of recent alcohol use (past 30 days) and episodic heavy drinking among Hispanic young adults aged 18 to 25 years.Methods: A secondary data analysis of the 2012 NSDUH was performed in this study. Hispanic young adults (n = 3,452) completed the survey. Approval to conduct this study was granted by the university'sinstitutional review board. Results: Results indicated that 51.8% Hispanic young adults reported recent alcohol use and 35.0 % reported episodic heavy drinking. Those at highest risk for recent alcohol use were male, had some college or more, had a family income of $20,000 or more, had worked in the past 12 months, lived in a large metropolitan area, had excellent/very good self-reported health status, and had used alcohol, tobacco and marijuana before age 21. Discussio (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Keith King Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Ashley Merianos Ph.D. (Committee Member); Rebecca Vidourek Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Health Education

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2014, Sociology

The transition into young adulthood is an important period of change for adolescents during which young individuals enter into adult roles that impact their future trajectories (Arnett 2000). It is also during this developmental period that involvement in alcohol use and crime/delinquency reach their peak (Casswell, Pledger & Pratap 2002; Gottfredson & Hirschi 1990; Hirschi & Gottfredson 1983; Johnston et al. 2013; Lauritsen 1998; SAMHSA 2012) and have been found to be associated with one another (Barnwell, Borders & Earlywine 2006; Bonomo et al. 2001; Felson et al. 2008; Ford 2005; Parker & McCaffree 2013; Schulenberg et al. 1996; Wechsler et al. 1994). Alcohol use and its covariates are often studied cross-sectionally and have yet to be studied over time with a focus on the emerging adulthood period. Thus, the patterning of heavy alcohol use in connection with its covariates is yet to be fully understood. Here, Sampson and Laub's Life Course Theory of Crime (Laub & Sampson 2003; Sampson & Laub 1993) and the life course perspective are used as a lens to examine the relationship between alcohol use and its covariates during emerging adulthood. This dissertation addresses major gaps in the literature by examining violence, non-violent crime and delinquency, sex and gender role orientation, social support, and life transitions in conjunction with heavy alcohol use during the transition from adolescence into young adulthood. Life course theoretical perspectives of alcohol use are expanded by incorporating sex and gender orientation parameters which have largely been absent from Sampson and Laub's theory. Alcohol use trajectories were estimated with group-based trajectory modeling in secondary analysis using four waves of the public-use National Longitudinal of Adolescent Health (Add Health) data. Four distinct alcohol use trajectory groups were identified: infrequent heavy drinkers, increasing seldom heavy drinkers, seldom heavy drinkers, and increasing occasional heav (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Robert Peralta Dr. (Advisor); Cheryl Elman Dr. (Committee Member); Adrianne Frech Dr. (Committee Member); Richard Adams Dr. (Committee Member); Dawn Johnson Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Sociology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2007, Psychology

Excessive and harmful alcohol consumption is especially common among college students in the United States and is associated with proximal and distal psychiatric and medical morbidity. Brief, individual interventions that provide either risk and normative feedback or normative feedback alone have been shown to particularly efficacious with high-risk college drinkers. The relative efficacy of the two types of feedback has not been determined, however. The current study compares the efficacy of these two interventions with a sample of high-risk college drinkers. It also provides preliminary data on purported mechanisms of change: risk- and norm-perception. College students (n = 1197) were screened for alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. The top quartile of this sample (n = 299), in terms of alcohol use severity, was randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: risk and normative feedback, normative feedback alone or assessment only. All treatment conditions included a baseline assessment session and the feedback conditions included an in-person feedback session. One hundred and fifteen participants successfully completed their assigned condition. Thirty-eight participants (33%) completed an assessment six months later. Overall, findings did not replicate the existing literature supporting the efficacy of these feedback interventions. Neither feedback group showed appreciable, unqualified reductions in alcohol consumption or alcohol-related problems at follow-up. Primary predictors of alcohol use and alcohol-related problems at follow-up were the baseline measures of these variables. Furthermore, the relationships between baseline and follow-up measures were often qualified by an interaction effect, with individuals who consumed more alcohol or experienced more alcohol-related problems, relative to other participants, being more likely to have a negative response to treatment. Finally, there were no group differences on purported mechanisms of (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Michael Vasey (Advisor) Subjects: Psychology, Clinical

Master of Arts in Psychology, Cleveland State University, 2023, College of Sciences and Health Professions

The COVID-19 pandemic is a collective trauma that caused profound disruptions in day-to-day life and negatively impacted the psychological well-being of many emerging adults. Existing research shows that experiencing quarantine due to disease exposure or illness exacerbates psychological distress, particularly among people with existing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (Solomon et al., 2021). Research points to problematic alcohol and other substance use as a mechanism in the development and maintenance of PTSD (Tripp et al., 2020). However, alcohol and other substance use has yet to be implicated in the exacerbation of PTSD symptoms among emerging adults in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study attempts to address these gaps in the scientific literature. It was hypothesized that A) pre-pandemic PTSD symptoms will positively associate with PTSD symptoms measured during the pandemic, B) problematic alcohol and other substance use will mediate the relationship between pre-pandemic PTSD symptoms and PTSD symptoms during the pandemic, and C) emerging adults who experience quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure or illness will report elevated symptoms of PTSD relative to those who did not. Participants (N=39) from the first wave of the study completed measures for the second wave of the study via an online survey between December 2021 and March 2022. Participants reported on their symptoms of psychological distress, use of alcohol and other substances, and quarantine experience. As expected, symptoms of PTSD at wave 1 predicted symptoms of PTSD at wave 2. However, no mediating effects of problematic alcohol or other substance use on the association between PTSD symptoms at waves 1 and 2 were detected. Similarly, quarantine experience was not found to moderate the relationship between PTSD symptoms at waves 1 and 2. These results suggest that symptoms of PTSD among young adults worsened under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there was n (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Elizabeth Goncy (Advisor); Kathleen Reardon (Committee Member); Ilya Yaroslavsky (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology; Public Health

MA, University of Cincinnati, 2023, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Counseling, Mental Health

The consumption of alcohol in social settings is common and research has linked drinking to unrestricted sociosexuality (i.e., more positive attitude toward, greater desire for, and higher frequency of casual sex). While alcohol consumption has been tied to unrestricted sociosexuality, the nature of the causal effects underlying this association in naturalistic settings is unclear. Thus, the goal of the current study is to use a repeated measures design that controls time-stable confounders to better determine the effects linking unrestricted sociosexuality to alcohol use. Using cross-cultural data (n=764) collected from two time points one year apart, I tested whether participants who displayed higher alcohol consumption at baseline displayed greater increases in unrestricted sociosexual attitude, desire, and behavior one year later. Further, I tested whether participants who scored higher on components of unrestricted sociosexuality at baseline displayed greater increases in alcohol consumption. Results indicated that baseline unrestricted sociosexuality did not forecast changes in alcohol use from time one to time two. Baseline alcohol use helped to explain increases in unrestricted sociosexual behavior but not unrestricted sociosexual desire or attitude over time. These findings suggest alcohol use prevention could have long-term effects on the incidence of unsafe sex; moreover, casual sex could receive attention as a potential component of drinking motives in substance use disorder counseling. Additional work could also be done to moderate the effects of alcohol use on risky sexual behavior, particularly in environments where alcohol is heavily used (bars, parties, etc.).

Committee: George Richardson Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Rachel Saunders Ph.D. (Committee Member); Carolyn Hodges-Simeon Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Mental Health

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2020, Counselor Education (Education)

The misuse of alcohol and other drugs has a significant negative impact worldwide, in the United States, and particularly among vulnerable young adults. Undergraduate college students face additional risks for alcohol or drug use due to the significant transitions occurring in their personal, social, and environmental lives. The consequences of alcohol or drug use to the college student population and relevant stakeholders are well documented. To prevent and mitigate the negative consequences of college students' alcohol or drug use, it is essential to understand factors that predict those behaviors. More specifically, it imperative to understand factors that predict alcohol or drug use that results in negative consequences, or problematic use. Psychological distress and impulsivity have been identified as predictors of other high-risk behaviors among college students, but their predictability of problematic alcohol or drug use among the undergraduate college student is not yet fully understood. Gaps in the literature regarding the psychological distress, impulsivity, and substance-using behaviors among this population include a lack of focus on drugs other than alcohol, a lack of differentiation between problematic and non-problematic use, and significant variability in the definitions and operationalization of alcohol and drug use related variables. The primary purpose of the present study with 481 participants was to investigate whether psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) and impulsivity among undergraduate college students between the ages of 18 and 25 could predict problematic alcohol or drug use. A secondary aim of this study was to determine whether there was a relationship between problematic alcohol use and problematic drug use. Findings indicated that impulsivity was predictive of problematic alcohol use, and depression and impulsivity were predictive of problematic drug use. Neither anxiety nor stress were predictive of problema (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Christine Bhat (Committee Chair); Gordon Brooks (Committee Member); Tamarine Foreman (Committee Member); Yegan Pillay (Committee Member) Subjects: Behaviorial Sciences; Counseling Education; Higher Education

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2019, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

While psychiatric medications have been categorized as the same as substances of abuse in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), medications for common medical disorders were not affected by this disapproval of medication. It may be time for a new dialogue (Woody, 2015). According to Gjersing and Bretteville (2018), there has been a concerning increase in overdose deaths in the last decade. This includes a threefold increase in overdose deaths from prescription narcotics and six-fold increase in overdose deaths from heroin in the United States. When prescription opioid users find difficulty in obtaining pills, they may move on to heroin, which is much more readily available on the streets, in an effort to avoid painful opioid withdrawal. For this study, individuals who had previously achieved long-term abstinence from alcohol or substance use but relapsed after a significant amount of time sober were interviewed in order to better understand their experience with relapse as well as their experience returning to at least partial remission. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview data. The results from this phenomenological analysis of interviews with eight participants identified several themes regarding the experience of being a long-timer, relapsing after a substantial amount of time abstinent, and challenges to as well as factors in returning to AA. These themes are organized as long-term recovery, relapse, and a new beginning. Long-term recovery is further explored as acute treatment only, treatment did not utilize evidence-based interventions, treatment did not address emotional issues, contact with mental health, long-timer, and complacency and drifting. Relapse is further explored as medical issues, new trauma, and justification of the use of medication or marijuana. A new beginning is further explored as recovery challenges such as feelings of ostracism, age-related issues, and shame as well as recovery factors such as finding acceptance and love within the fellowsh (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Brett Kia-Keating Ed.D (Committee Chair); Ron Pilato Psy.D (Committee Member); Janice Stimson Psy.D (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Health Care Management; Medical Ethics; Mental Health; Psychology; Psychotherapy

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2018, Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Background: Legalization of medical and recreational marijuana can lead to increases in marijuana use disorder (MUD). Many studies have found that substance use disorders and alcohol use disorders exacerbate negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) and bipolar disorder (BPD). Few studies have examined the relationship between hospital related outcomes and comorbid MUD separate from alcohol and other substances in patients with SSD or BPD. Aim: The goal of this research was to examine the association between MUD and hospital related outcomes for patients with SSD and BPD. We examined hospital readmissions, suicide attempts, costs and length of stays. Furthermore, we sought to examine interactions between substance use disorders and other mental health comorbidities in patients with BPD. Methods: We used data from the Healthcare Utilization Project from California to identify patients with a primary diagnosis of SSD or BPD. Substance use disorders were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes at the time of SSD or BPD visit or 90 days prior. Patients were censored at the end of 2011 if they did not have a readmission or suicide attempt. We used Cox Proportional Hazards models to estimate readmission and suicide attempt risk and general linear models to model cost and length of stay. Results: Comorbid alcohol and other drug use disorders apart from marijuana increased risk for readmission in both patients with SSD and BPD. Suicide attempt risks were also elevated in BPD patients with comorbid non-marijuana substance use disorders. Patients with SSD and comorbid MUD had a lower readmission risk, however sensitivity analyses did not sustain this effect. Patients with BPD and anxiety disorder had a lower risk of readmission if they had comorbid MUD. This effect was sustained in sensitivity analyses. Length of stay and costs were lower for patients with any comorbid substance use disorder. Conclusions: Patients with SSD and BPD who hav (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mendel Singer Ph.D. (Advisor); Siran Koroukian Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Mark Singer Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kathleen Smyth Ph.D. (Committee Member); Coreen Farris Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Epidemiology; Mental Health

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2017, Social Welfare

Although research has investigated both risks and protective factors associated with risky teen health behaviors, an examination of these factors simultaneously and with regard to gender differences has not been studied comprehensively or in teens known to be at elevated risk for early substance use and sexual risk taking. This study examined relationships between gender, risk and protective factors at age 12 and risky health behaviors (RHB) (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana use and sexual intercourse at age 15) in a sample of low socio-economic status, primarily African American, prenatally poly-substance exposed youth. This study utilized secondary longitudinal data from Project Newborn-Next Steps, a National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded longitudinal study of prenatally cocaine-exposed children and their mothers/caregivers, (NIDA RO1 07957), from 265 prenatally substance exposed adolescents. The Developmental Assets Profile, ALEXSA substance use risk scales (permissive attitude, perceived substance access) at age 12 and substance use and sexual risk behavior (YRBSS and biologic samples) at age 15 were used to assess the primary predictor variables and outcomes. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was used to determine if a permissive attitude to toward substance use, perceived access and number of developmental assets are associated with RHB, whether these risk and protective factors interact to affect RHB and how gender influences these associations while controlling for covariates. For males, more developmental assets were a predictor of marijuana use, tobacco use, and sexual intercourse; externalizing behavior was a predictor of tobacco use, and violence exposure was a predictor of sexual intercourse. For females, perceived access to substances was a predicator of marijuana use, and tobacco use; and externalizing behavior was a predictor of sexual intercourse. Developmental assets did not moderate the relationship between risk factors and RHB. Increa (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sonia Minnes Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Meeyoung Min Ph.D. (Committee Member); Elizabeth Tracy Ph.D. (Committee Member); Elizabeth Short Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Work

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2016, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Health Education

For this dissertation, two studies were conducted. The first part of the abstract addresses study one and the second part reviews study two. Study one examined nonmedical use of prescription drugs and potential risk factors associated with misuse among college students. Study two examined the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and other types of substance use among college students. Study One Abstract Over 1.5 million young adults aged 18 to 25 years have engaged in the nonmedical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) in the United States. This study examined self-reported NMUPD (i.e., depressants, opioids, and stimulants) and demographic factors potentially associated with misuse. Four hundred and seventeen undergraduate students from a large Midwestern university completed a survey on the NMUPD. Results indicated that since entering college, 2.8% of undergraduate students reported the nonmedical use of depressants, 9.6% reported opioid misuse, followed by 28.5% for the nonmedical use of stimulants. The majority of the students (77%) reported residing off-campus. Of the entire sample, approximately 15.2% engaged in collegiate sports and 10.1% were involved in a Greek organization. Logistic regression analyses revealed undergraduate students who resided off-campus were three times more likely to engage in the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants. Findings for the nonmedical use of prescription depressants and opioids among college students were not significant. These findings have important implications in the development of prevention programming on college campuses aimed at decreasing the NMUPD among students. Study Two Abstract The purpose of this study was to further investigate the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and other drugs among college students. A total of 417 undergraduate college students completed a survey in Fall 2015. Approximately 28.5% of students indicated they had engaged in the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Laura Nabors Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Ashley Merianos Ph.D. (Committee Member); Rebecca Vidourek Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Health Education

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2014, Sociology

This study examined how adolescent sexual experiences and relationship characteristics influence the likelihood of engaging in sexually non-exclusive relationships during emerging adulthood. Prior studies established that factors, such as sexual history, relationship status, quality of the relationship, and substance use influence sexual non-exclusivity independently. Few studies have examined all these predictors of sexual non-exclusivity. Moreover, few research studies examine the effects of adolescent experiences in conjunction with these known correlates. The current study will address these concerns. I used data from the first through fifth interviews of the Toledo Adolescent Relationship Study to examine the role of adolescent experiences on sexual non-exclusivity in young adulthood. Findings indicated that adolescent sexual partnerships, drug and alcohol use in young adulthood, and lower relationship satisfaction increased the likelihood of reporting sexual non-exclusivity during young adulthood.

Committee: Monica Longmore (Advisor); Wendy Manning (Committee Member); Peggy Giordano (Committee Member) Subjects: Sociology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2008, Hospitality Management

Previously, most substance use research on workplace alcohol and drug problems have focused on four aspects: social control, norm, availability and stress. Due to the prevalence of substance use problem in the food service industry, this study investigates food service employee involvement with alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drug using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 97 cohort. Self-selection is first examined using a multinomial logistic regression model. Then availability theory, norm theory, and stress theory are extended and tested by a number of job-related risk factors to predict employee substance use, using OLS models. Results show some evidence of self-selection: previous binge alcohol users and marijuana users had a greater likelihood to work in the food service industry. After controlling for previous substance use and individual backgrounds, bartending, tip earning, and holding multiple jobs were the major risk factors for employee alcohol or illicit drug use in the food service industry. Implications for practitioners are discussed and future research opportunities are then presented.

Committee: Michael Tews PhD (Committee Chair); Kathryn Stafford PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Thomas George PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Research

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2004, Physical Activity and Educational Services

The focus of this study was to report and analyze the responses of students, grades 6 - 12, who had Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) and attended schools in 17 public school districts and 12 parochial and private schools in and surrounding a major Midwestern city. The data were collected through the Primary Prevention, Attitude and Use Survey (PPAAUS, 2000) that was administered every 3 years to all students in Grades 6 - 12 in these schools. A random sample of 470 students with SLD, selected from a database of approximately 3,760 students, reported that they participate in classes for students with SLD. The independent variables established were Gender (Male and Female) and Grade Level (Middle School and High School), and the dependent variables were the responses to the items of Feelings; Perceptions of School Climate; Willingness to Use Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs; Frequency of Use; Age of First Use; and Location of Use. The results of the Feelings items indicated that Middle School students reported feeling more stressed and anxious about their school work than did High School students. Males reported being more sad and depressed, more angry, and more nervous and anxious than did females. Males also reported that they felt worse about their schoolwork. Middle School students with SLD had more positive perceptions of school climate than did High School students, and there was no difference between males and females and their reported perceptions of school climate. There was no difference between males and females and their reported use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. High School students reported more actively using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs than did Middle School students. No differences were found by Gender or Grade Level for locations of substance use. An examination of the age of first substance use indicated that students with SLD who used generally began using substances between the ages of 12 to 15 years. Recommendations for program (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Michael Klein (Advisor) Subjects:

PHD, Kent State University, 2011, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between skateboarding and substance use among a cohort of adolescent male skateboarders residing in two metropolitan regions in the Eastern United States. The tenets of the individual level routine activity theory (Osgood, Wilson, O'Malley, Bachman, & Johnston, 1996), provided the theoretical foundation for this study. The routine activity theory suggests activities that combine: (a) socializing with peers, (b) freedom from adult supervision, and (c) a lack of structure provide an environment uniquely conducive for problem behavior including substance use. Using a location-based intercept protocol, a purposive sample of 124 male skateboarders in grades 9–12 was recruited from 14 skate parks and street skating spots. Skateboarding involvement and substance use data were collected using a self-administered, 45-item instrument. Objective measures of skateboarding included time spent skating, primary skating location, and skating with peers. Subjective measures assessed leisure identity and enduring involvement with skateboarding. Current (within the previous 30 days) alcohol, tobacco (cigarette smoking), and marijuana use data were analyzed as dichotomous variables (has used/has not used) in chi square tests and Generalized Linear Modeling (SPSS). Findings revealed no statistically significant relationship between involvement in skateboarding and current alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among this sample of skateboarders. Spending more or less time skating was not found to significantly interact with the relationship between skateboarding involvement and substance use. These findings did not support the supposition that involvement in skateboarding was associated with substance use, as the theoretical and evidentiary literature suggests.

Committee: Cynthia W. Symons D.Ed. (Committee Co-Chair); Kele Ding Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair); Christine Balan Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Criminology; Health Education; Recreation

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2025, Psychology

There are many consequences associated with college alcohol use, including missing classes, assault, injury, and death. Thus, studying factors related to alcohol use in undergraduates is needed. One such factor is anxiety sensitivity, or fearing one's own anxiety-related sensations and their potential consequences. Anxiety sensitivity has three lower-order subcomponents: physical, cognitive, and social concerns, each with individual items corresponding to fears of specific anxiety-related sensations. Less is known about relations of anxiety sensitivity at the item-level and key alcohol use variables that confer risk for negative consequences. We investigated relations between anxiety sensitivity and drinking patterns in undergraduates using latent profile analysis (LPA), which organizes individuals from a larger population into subgroups. In Aim I, we investigated subgroups of undergraduates based upon anxiety sensitivity items. The six-class solution controlling for anxiety and depression was determined to be the optimal fit. The six-class solution consisted of classes with low (Class 1) and moderate-low (Class 2) levels across all ASI-3 items, moderate-high (Class 5) and high (Class 6) levels across all ASI-3 items, moderate-low physical concerns items with moderate-high social/cognitive items (Class 3), and moderate-high physical concerns with moderate-low cognitive/social concerns (Class 4). In Aim 2, we investigated differences in these six classes in alcohol use patterns (consumption, motives, and problems), and demographics using ANOVAs and chi-square analyses. Overall, Class 6 had the most clinically severe drinking patterns. Class 1 exhibited the lowest level of alcohol use motives and problems, and had a higher proportion of individuals identifying as men and as straight in comparison to the other classes. Notably, Class 3 (7% of the sample) emerged as an important focal point for future research, due to its relation to higher coping motives for drinking, (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Rose Marie Ward (Committee Chair); Veronica Barrios (Committee Member); Elizabeth Kiel (Committee Member); Aaron Luebbe (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Psychology

Shared reward pathways in the brain unveil the potential for the development of dependence on a variety of substances, including commonly recognized drugs of abuse and, more insidiously, sugar. Sugar overconsumption has been associated with compulsivity and impulsivity repetitive behaviors which are predictors of later substance abuse. Furthermore, previous research has shown that rats can develop symptoms mirroring addiction such as binging, craving, tolerance, and withdrawal in response to sugar alone. Motivation research has indicated that impaired reward relativity is a key component of vulnerability to addiction. The ability of an animal to discriminate between differing levels of rewards for the amount of work exerted to receive that reward may predict later addictive behavior to a variety of substances. This thesis examined the appetitive and consummatory behavior of non-food restricted female Wistar rats in self-administration tasks of sucrose and ethanol solutions. Relative reward effects were evaluated by using trials that differ in time of access to the reward (20s vs 10s vs 5s). The results suggest that non-food restricted Wistar rats show discrimination between substance and length of trial, as well as some sensitivity to intra-session alterations in ethanol reward. They exhibit diminished sensitivity to sucrose in consumption and lick rate. Behavioral measures like consumption and nosepoke latency had some predictive potential in regard to behavioral response to ethanol. The incentive contrast paradigm used in this project allows a closer examination of the motivational processes shared by alcohol and sugar that could result in addiction. Using natural reward sensitivity to predict future addiction could aid significantly in preventing and treating substance use disorders.

Committee: Howard Casey Cromwell Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Melissa Keith Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jari Willing Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Animals; Neurosciences; Psychology

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2024, Psychology

Social media use has risen dramatically in recent years, leading to increased opportunities to be exposed to racist content online. The purpose of this study was to determine whether social media use mediated the relation between experienced online racism and both problem use and posttraumatic stress symptoms in a sample of Black college students. A total of 108 participants who identified as Black were recruited through the online research platform Prolific. Mediation results demonstrated that experienced online racism was significantly and positively associated with both problem alcohol use (c path; B = .01, p = .004) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (c path; B = .31 .41, p = .001) However, social media use was not significantly associated with problem alcohol use (b path; B = .00, p = .07) and PTSD symptoms (b path; B = -.00, p = .90).Social media did not act as a mediator between experienced online racism and either alcohol-related problems (c' path; B = .01, p = .006) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (c' path; B = .31, p = .001). Results did not change when controlling for negative affect, alcohol consumption and natal sex. However, the direct effects of experienced online racism and both problem alcohol use and PTSD symptoms remained significant in all cases. Overall, these findings suggest that while greater social media can be deleterious in certain contexts, it does not always confer risk but exposure to online racism in any dose is pernicious.

Committee: Susan Kenford Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Kyle Stephenson Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kathleen Hart Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Health Education

This dissertation consists of two studies. Study one examined substance use factors among men experiencing suicidality. Study two examined mental healthcare utilization factors among men experiencing suicidality. P Study One Abstract Background: Suicide is a significant public health concern. In 2022, there were over 48,000 suicide deaths in the US. Substance use, including alcohol and cannabis use, are known risk factors for suicidal behavior, particularly among males who are disproportionately affected. Understanding the complex interplay between substance use and suicidal behavior among males is crucial for effective prevention effort Methods: This study utilized data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to explore the associations among substance use behaviors, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among male adults in the United States. The NSDUH provides comprehensive information on substance use, mental health. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the potential relationships among suicidal ideation (past 12 months), suicide attempts (past 12 months), recent binge alcohol use, recent cannabis use, and substance use treatment (past 12 months). Results: The study found that recent binge alcohol use, cannabis use, and treatment for alcohol or drug use were significantly associated with increased risk for past year involvement in suicidal ideation. Recent binge alcohol use and treatment for alcohol or drug use were similarly associated with increased risk for past year involvement in suicide attempts among male adults. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of addressing substance use behaviors in suicide prevention efforts targeting male adults. Comprehensive approaches that integrate mental health and substance use disorder treatment are essential for addressing the complex relationship between substance use and suicidal behavior. Study Two Abstract Background: Suicide is a signifi (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Keith King Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Ashley Merianos Ph.D. (Committee Member); Rebecca Vidourek Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Mental Health