Examining the relationship between psychotropic medication use and testing positive for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea among detained adolescents

Objective

We examined whether psychotropic medication (PTM) use was related to testing positive for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea among detained adolescents.

Methods

A convenience sample of 550 detained adolescents ages 14-18 years were recruited from eight youth detention centers in Georgia. Using A-CASI technology, data was collected on demographic factors, use of PTM, and sexual risk behaviors. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea diagnoses were assessed by laboratory testing.

Results

Thirteen percent (13.1%) of adolescents not using PTMs tested positive for STIs compared to only 4.9% of those reporting PTM use. PTM users had a 62% smaller odds ratio for testing positive for Chlamydia or Gonorrhea.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that use of psychotropic medication, if deemed useful by detained youth, may be a protective factor against engaging in behaviors which may culminate in contracting some STDs. The practice implications are discussed within the context of these findings.     

Production technology and management in planned and market economies

This paper discusses how technological innovation takes place in manufacturing industry, and especially in the engineering sector, contrasting in particular the effects of the Western market economy, and the East European planned economy. The relative lack of cross-influence between formal scientific research and actual industrial innovation practice in this area is first discussed. Comparative studies of engineering practice in planned and market economies are described which point to the important influence of the economic environment on innovation practice in the factory's design office, and on the shop-floor. The East European Soviet Type Economy is seen to have features which in the light of recent Western empirical studies into industrial innovation, must hamper this process. In particular it is proposed that its relative economic and social rigidity has an important restricting influence on the actual process of innovation in the factory.     

Chivalry and solidarity in ultimatum games

We report the results of ultimatum game experiments designed to test for differences in the behavior of women and men. Women's proposals are on average more generous than men's, regardless of the sex of the partner, and women respondents are more likely to accept an offer of a given amount. A given offer is more likely to be accepted if it comes from a woman; we term this result chivalry . Women paired with women almost never fail to reach an agreement; we term this result solidarity . Age, earnings, and race also significantly affect proposals and the rates of rejection.     

优雅之椅

似乎当我们需要坐下来休息的时候就出现了椅子。刚开始时也许是鹅卵石,然后是树干,但在远古的某一天,人们把木头从未经加工的木板制作成了精致漂亮的形状。人们开始渴望更加漂亮华丽的家具。     

Examining Parental Monitoring as a Pathway From Community Violence Exposure to Drug Use,Risky Sex,and Recidivism Among Detained Youth

ABSTRACT

This study examined whether parental monitoring mediated the relationship between community violence exposure and a spectrum of behaviors such as recidivism, risky sex, and drug use among youth with a history of being detained. It also explored whether risk pathways differed by gender. Adolescents (n = 550) who were detained or previously detained were recruited from eight regional detention facilities in Georgia. Audio computer-assisted self-interviewing technology was used to assess demographic factors (i.e., age, race, and socioeconomic status), risky sex, drug use, and recidivism prior to being detained. Major findings indicated direct relationships between community violence exposures and risky sex and drug use in the 2 months prior to being detained. Findings also indicated that parental monitoring mediated these relationships for both adolescent males and females. These findings document that parental monitoring is an important element even for troubled youth across a broad spectrum of risk factors. Consequently, it is recommended that intervention programs examine the differential effects of monitoring behaviors by a variety of groups such as parental figures, teachers, and peer mentors.     

野性斯派塞

<正>苍绿的草原一望无际,起伏的山丘上搭着一道道浓绿的葡萄架,远处成群的牛羊悠闲地吃着草,星星点点的白色房屋,好似一幅静美的天然油画,而澳大利亚五星级牧场斯派塞就坐落于这绿色深处。     

Results of a Social Norm Intervention to Prevent Binge Drinking Among First-year Residential College Students

Abstract

The effects of a primary prevention social norm intervention on binge drinking among 1st-year residential college students were examined. Six hundred thirty-four students attending a medium-sized public university in the South were randomly assigned to receive a two-phase social norm intervention or the standard campus psychoeducational prevention program. At posttest, no differences were found between intervention and control group students on any of the alcohol use and alcohol-use risk factor measures. Significant subgroup differences were found by stage of initiating binge drinking behaviors, for frequency of alcohol use, F(3, 507) = 3.69, p = .01; quantity of alcohol use, F(3, 507) = 2.51, p = .05; and social norms, F(3, 505) = 2.53, p = .05. These findings suggest the need for tailoring social norm binge drinking interventions to students' stage of initiating heavy drinking and carefully monitoring for potential negative, as well as positive, effects of norm-based prevention messages.     

Styles of Physician Advice About Smoking Cessation in College Students

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether young adult cigarette smokers who were in the precontemplation and contemplation stages of change for smoking cessation would differ in their evaluations of vignettes depicting 2 types of physician advice. Participants: Fifty-seven young adult cigarette smokers who were undergraduate students (49.1% female, mean age = 20.4 years) attending an urban university. Methods: Participants evaluated 2 written vignettes. Both vignettes depicted physicians using patient-centered communication styles. One vignette depicted a physician giving a patient direct advice to quit smoking and the other a physician using a motivational style of advice. Data were collected from September 2004 through May 2005. Results: Participants rated the motivational advice vignette as significantly more favorable compared to the direct advice vignette on all assessed dimensions (global satisfaction, general satisfaction, physician affective style, physician technical style, and physician communication style). Conclusion: Smokers preferred the motivational advice style to simple patent-centered advice.     

The role of social support in the psychological well-being of African American girls who experience dating violence victimization

The goals of this study were to test the relationship between dating violence victimization (i.e., verbal, emotional, and physical abuse) and psychological well-being (i.e., depressive symptomatology, self-esteem, and body image) among 522 African American girls, and to determine whether social support acted as a buffer of negative effects (moderator) or as an intervening factor (mediator) in the relationship between dating violence victimization and psychological well-being. Results from structural equation modeling indicated that dating violence victimization was associated with negative psychological outcomes. Although social support did not moderate this relationship, it served as a mediator of the relationship between dating violence victimization and psychological well-being. Dating violence programs for African American girls should consider how to incorporate family, church, and other networks in the community to foster support, and allow adolescent girls to discuss their abusive experiences in a nonblaming environment. If programs are able to buoy girls who experience dating violence, then they may be able to ameliorate the associated negative psychological sequelae.