Associations among impulsivity, adverse childhood experiences, and desirability of first sexual experience on substance use and sexual risk taking in justice-involved male adolescents

Adolescent substance use is a serious public health problem (Johnston et al., 2016). Notably in adolescents, adverse childhood experiences including unwanted sexual experiences (Wills et al., 2001; Negriff, Schneiderman, & Trickett, 2015) and impulsive sensation seeking (impulsivity) (Donohew et al., 2000; Fernández-Artamendi et al., 2016) are linked to adolescent substance use and high-risk sexual behaviors. Research also suggests delinquent youths are particularly vulnerable to substance use disorders and sexually risky behaviors (Pinto et al., 2015). Given the health consequences of both prolonged substance abuse and risky sexual behaviors, identifying additional risk factors is critical to help inform interventions for high-risk youth. Data from 314 males, recruited as part of a randomized clinical trial (N = 460) evaluating a theory-based intervention to reduce sexually risky behaviors among justice-involved adolescents, were used for this analysis. Participants completed assessments of adverse childhood experiences, impulsivity, sociosexuality, substance use histories, alcohol/marijuana problems and dependency, and sexual histories. Structural equational modeling (SEM) was used to examine the influence of impulsivity, adverse childhood experiences, sociosexuality, and desirability of first sexual encounter on sexual risk taking and substance use. The final structural equation model including desirability of first sexual encounter, adverse childhood experiences, and impulsivity as exogenous predictors revealed good model fit, χ2(28) = 37.758, p = 0.1031, RMSEA = .033 (90% CI [.000–.058]), CFI = 0.976, WRMR = 0.678. More adverse childhood experiences were associated with higher levels of substance use (β = 0.206, p = .002), greater desirability of first sexual encounter was associated with more sexual risk taking (β = 0.246, p = .007), and higher impulsivity was associated with higher levels of substance use (β = 0.464, p \u3c .001) and more sexual risk taking (β = 0.336, p = .001). Implications for future research and interventions for this vulnerable population are discussed

Effects of an Increase In Group Size On the Social Behavior of a Group of Rough-Toothed Dolphins (\u3ci\u3eSteno bredanensis\u3c/i\u3e)

Little is known about the social structure of rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), but general knowledge of dolphin social structure suggests that individual dolphins often engage in multiple social relationships. In the wild, rough-toothed dolphins often swim in tight subgroups, consistent with the notion that social bonds and proximity to others are important for this species. Such behavior may also facilitate physical contact, which has been demonstrated to play important roles in social interactions in other dolphin species. In this study, the social behavior of captive rough-toothed dolphins was examined before and after the unification of two separate animal groups (both subgroups, n = 3) to investigate the effects of an increase in group size and a change in social structure on social behavior. The strongest new social partnership was between two juvenile males. Prior to the merger of subgroups, one of the juvenile males spent more time with a juvenile female. This dyad maintained a high interaction rate; however, after the move, this male significantly increased interaction rates with another juvenile male. The results of this study demonstrate that the integration of two small social groups provided opportunities for new social relationships to form but did not affect stable social partnerships that already existed. The formation of new social partnerships appeared to be influenced by age and gender. Although these results are based on a captive population, they provide insight into social behaviors that may be relevant to understanding the dynamic social structure of dolphin societies in the wild as well as in captive settings

Do Some Students Need Special Protection From Research on Sex and Trauma? New Evidence for Young Adult Resilience in “Sensitive Topics” Research

Institutional review boards (IRBs) have expressed concerns that certain individuals or groups, such as participants who are younger, ethnic minorities, or who have certain psychological or personality traits, may be particularly distressed when participating in "sensitive topics" research. This study examined the effects of several demographic and individual difference factors (i.e., age, sex, ethnicity, religiosity, Big Five personality traits, and baseline psychological distress levels) on reactions to participation in sensitive topics research. Participants were 504 undergraduates who completed an extensive battery of either trauma/sex questionnaires or cognitive tests and rated their positive and negative emotional reactions and the perceived benefits and mental costs of participating. They also compared research participation to normal life stressors. Our findings indicated that individual difference and demographic risk factors do not increase participant distress after participating in sex/trauma research over and above that experienced after participating in traditionally minimal-risk cognitive tasks. Participants generally found research participation less distressing than normal life stressors and even enjoyable

Do Some Students Need Special Protection From Research on Sex and Trauma? New Evidence for Young Adult Resilience in “Sensitive Topics” Research

Institutional review boards (IRBs) have expressed concerns that certain individuals or groups, such as participants who are younger, ethnic minorities, or who have certain psychological or personality traits, may be particularly distressed when participating in "sensitive topics" research. This study examined the effects of several demographic and individual difference factors (i.e., age, sex, ethnicity, religiosity, Big Five personality traits, and baseline psychological distress levels) on reactions to participation in sensitive topics research. Participants were 504 undergraduates who completed an extensive battery of either trauma/sex questionnaires or cognitive tests and rated their positive and negative emotional reactions and the perceived benefits and mental costs of participating. They also compared research participation to normal life stressors. Our findings indicated that individual difference and demographic risk factors do not increase participant distress after participating in sex/trauma research over and above that experienced after participating in traditionally minimal-risk cognitive tasks. Participants generally found research participation less distressing than normal life stressors and even enjoyable

Risky Sex in High-Risk Adolescents: Associations with Alcohol Use, Marijuana Use, and Co-Occurring Use.

Risky sexual behavior and substance use appear to be interconnected behaviors among adolescents, but data are scarce regarding the extent to which sexual risk behavior is associated with high levels of marijuana and alcohol use, both separately and in combination. 301 adolescents were recruited from a short-term detention facility, and substance use and risky sexual behavior were assessed. We found that adolescents who frequently used marijuana, but not alcohol, reported significantly less risky sex as well as greater intentions to use condoms than either adolescents who frequently used alcohol, but not marijuana, or adolescents who frequently used both substances. Substance use status as a predictor of future risky sexual behavior followed a similar pattern. When designing interventions to reduce substance use in the context of risky sex, it might be especially effective to target efforts toward reducing harm associated with alcohol use, either alone or in combination with marijuana use

Effect of Including Alcohol and Cannabis Content in a Sexual Risk-Reduction Intervention on the Incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Adolescents: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Adolescents in the juvenile justice system are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Concurrent use of alcohol and cannabis increase this risk. Objective: To determine whether a theory-based sexual risk-reduction intervention that included alcohol- and cannabis-focused content resulted in greater reductions in STIs than an intervention that included alcohol-related content only and an intervention that did not include substance use content. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cluster randomized clinical trial with 3 conditions. Between July 1, 2010, and December 10, 2014, adolescents living at a juvenile detention facility in the southwestern United States were tested and treated for STI before randomization and again 12 months after the intervention. Data analyses were conducted in July and August 2017. Eligibility criteria included (1) being aged 14 to 18 years, (2) able to speak English, (3) having a remaining detention term of less than 1 month, and (4) signing a release granting access to STI results if tested at intake. Six hundred ninety-three adolescents were assessed for eligibility. Of these, 460 completed baseline assessments and were randomized to 1 of 3 intervention conditions. Data analysis was by intent-to-treat. Interventions: There were 3 intervention conditions: sexual risk reduction intervention (SRRI); SRRI plus alcohol content (SRRI + ETOH); and SRRI + ETOH plus cannabis content (SRRI + ETOH + THC). Interventions were conducted in same-sex groups by trained clinicians and included video presentations with discussion, group activities, and active feedback by participants, consistent with the principles of motivational enhancement therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Although not the outcome on which the study was originally powered, the main outcome variable presented herein is STI incidence (Chlamydia trachomatis and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae) 12 months after the intervention. Results: Of the 460 participants randomized, mean (SD) age was 15.8 (1.1) years, 347 participants (75.4%) were male, and 57.0% were of Hispanic ethnicity. Among the participants, 143 were randomized to SSRI, 155 to SRRI + ETOH, and 162 to SRRI + ETOH + THC. Attrition at 12-month follow-up was 99 (21.5%) for the STI outcome variable. Participants in the SRRI + ETOH + THC intervention had lower incidence of STI at follow-up (3.9%) than those in either the SRRI (12.4%; odds ratio, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10-0.84) or the SRRI + ETOH (10.2%; odds ratio, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.12-1.05) interventions. Conclusions and Relevance: An intervention delivered in a motivational enhancement therapy format that includes theory-based sexual risk reduction combined with alcohol- and cannabis-focused elements is effective at reducing STI incidence among justice-involved adolescents. This 1-session manualized intervention can be delivered in the context of short-term detention and is easily disseminated to juvenile justice agencies. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01170260