American Journal on Addictions最新文献

Background and objectives: College students are known to frequently engage in alcohol consumption, and are at risk for developing dangerous drinking patterns (e.g., binge drinking). Since imposter syndrome occurs at high rates among undergraduate students, it is reasonable to assume that college students may experience its negative effects, such as anxiety and depression. Given the relation of anxiety and depression to worse drinking outcomes, imposter syndrome may also be related to greater drinking and related problems. Yet, this is the first known study to test whether imposter syndrome is related to drinking behaviors.

Methods: 376 (87% female) undergraduates recruited through our psychology department research participant pool with current (past 3-month) alcohol use completed an online survey.

Results: Imposter syndrome was statistically significantly related to anxiety, depression, coping-motivated drinking, peak estimated blood alcohol content (eBAC), drinking frequency, and alcohol-related problems. Imposter syndrome, via the serial effects of depression and coping motives, was significantly indirectly related to eBAC, drinking frequency, and alcohol-related problems. Similarly, via the serial effects of anxiety and coping motives, imposter syndrome was significantly indirectly related to eBAC, drinking frequency, and alcohol-related problems.

Discussion and conclusions: The results of this study can inform treatment and prevention efforts by suggesting that imposter syndrome may be an important yet thus far neglected target for interventions.

Scientific significance: The present study provides novel insight by identifying that imposter syndrome is related to worse alcohol outcomes and that these relations occur via negative affect and coping-motivated drinking.

Background and objectives: Social media use may influence substance use and mental health symptoms differently for urban versus rural sexual minority young adults (SMYAs).

Methods: SMYAs aged 18-25 in Oklahoma and surrounding states were recruited via social media for a two-wave online survey study in 2023-2024. Among participants reporting any social media use, multivariable logistic regressions examined associations of social media use variables and rural-urban residence with health outcomes. Multiple group regressions examined whether associations varied for rural- versus urban-residing participants.

Results: The sample (N = 493; M_age = 21.68 [SD = 2.15]) was 35.7% rural-residing, 72.1% female sex, 47.1% gender-minoritized, and 41.6% racially and/or ethnically minoritized. Most participants (61.9%) had moderate-to-severe depressive and/or anxiety symptoms; 39.8% reported current tobacco use (49.7% cannabis, 74.6% alcohol). Rural-urban residence moderated associations between social media use and substance use. Among urban participants only, social media use frequency was associated with tobacco and alcohol use. Among rural participants, community connectedness was associated with lower odds of mental health symptoms, tobacco use, and cannabis use and social media-based social support was associated with lower odds of cannabis use.

Discussion and conclusions: Urban SMYAs may experience negative effects of social media use, including increased risk of substance use. Rural SMYAs may benefit from supportive connection from SMYA peers on social media, reducing their substance use risk.

Scientific significance: Prior research has identified benefits (e.g., social support) and harms (e.g., substance use) of social media use. This study found that associations of social media use with substance use among SMYAs differed by urbanicity.

Background and objectives: Adolescent substance use is a critical public health concern with significant long-term consequences, yet research on disparities by sexual orientation remains limited. Despite the unique stressors faced by sexual minority youth-particularly bisexual individuals-that increase their risk for substance use, most studies investigate disparities among older adolescents and adults. Using recent national data, this study aims to fill this gap and inform targeted prevention and intervention efforts for sexual minority youth.

Methods: We leveraged data from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health from youth aged 12-17 (N = 10,361). Using weighted logistic regression models, we examined the separate relationships between sexual orientation and past-year substance use (i.e., tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol) stratified by age and sex assigned at birth.

Results: Among adolescents, 4.73% reported tobacco use, 11.2% reported marijuana use, and 17.2% reported alcohol use. Logistic regression models indicated that, compared to heterosexual youth, bisexual youth had higher odds of using tobacco (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.37-2.90), marijuana (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.43-2.40), and alcohol (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.02-1.69), while gay/lesbian youth had lower odds of tobacco use (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.24-0.94), but higher odds of alcohol (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.06-2.44). Notable differences were observed across sex and age.

Conclusions and scientific significance: Findings from the current study highlight significant disparities in substance use among youth based on sexual orientation, particularly among bisexual adolescents. We recommend that prevention and intervention efforts incorporate age-specific and gender-sensitive approaches to address the unique stressors faced by sexual minority youth.

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