Adriana Scatena

Background/Objectives: Alcohol consumption is a major public health concern among university students. However, less is known about how positive and negative alcohol-related perceptions are jointly associated with drinking contexts, motives, and risk behaviors in Brazilian college samples. This study examined positive and negative perceptions of alcohol use and their associations with high-risk drinking, drinking contexts, motivations, and risk behaviors among Brazilian college students. Methods: This cross-sectional online study included 367 Brazilian college students aged 18 to 30 years (M = 22.2; SD = 2.92). Alcohol use was assessed using the AUDIT-C, and perceptions were measured using the Scale of Perceptions about Alcohol Consumption in Higher Education Students. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U tests, chi-square tests, Spearman correlations, and age- and gender-adjusted logistic regression models. Results: High-risk alcohol use was identified in 55.6% of participants. Positive perceptions were associated with higher odds of high-risk alcohol use (aOR = 4.85), whereas negative perceptions were associated with lower odds (aOR = 0.50). Drinking in nightclubs/parties (aOR = 4.44) and bars (aOR = 3.91) was associated with higher odds of high-risk alcohol use. Driving after drinking showed the strongest association among risk behaviors (aOR = 5.25), and marijuana was the only other substance significantly associated with this outcome. Conclusions: High-risk drinking among Brazilian college students was associated with perceived alcohol benefits, social drinking contexts, drinking motives, and selected risk behaviors. Prevention strategies should address the perceived social and emotional rewards of drinking. Findings should be interpreted as associations within this cross-sectional convenience sample.

Although emotional vulnerability (EV) is an important construct linked to addictive behaviors, further studies are needed to evaluate EV within a transdiagnostic context that integrates affective parameters, emotion-regulation strategies, and aspects of impulsivity. In this study, we investigated the association between EV and indicators of substance-related and behavioral addiction using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA). A total of 1,696 university students from Brazil and Canada completed measures assessing affective symptoms, emotion regulation, impulsivity, problematic alcohol use, smartphone addiction, quality of life, and smoking and e-cigarette use. The LPA for EV was conducted using seven indicators (the total scores from the depression, anxiety, and stress subscales of the DASS-21; the overall DERS-18 score; scores for the Negative Urgency and Positive Urgency subdimensions of the UPPS-P; and the psychological subdimension of the WHOQOL-BREF). The best-fitting model identified three classes: High Emotional Vulnerability (HEV; 18.9%), Moderate Emotional Vulnerability (MEV; 42.2%), and Low Emotional Vulnerability (LEV; 38.9%). The HEV class exhibited significantly higher levels of emotional dysregulation, depression, anxiety, and stress, along with lower psychological quality of life, than the other classes. The results indicated that the HEV profile was more strongly associated with problematic alcohol use, smoking, and smartphone addiction. These findings indicate that students with higher EV showed higher levels of substance-related and behavioral addiction indicators, which may inform programs addressing transdiagnostic emotional factors in academic environments.

This study examined the psychosocial profiles of Brazilian and Canadian university students based on their smoking status (i.e., smoker vs. non-smoker). It also compared exclusive electronic cigarette (EC) users, exclusive traditional cigarette (TC) users, and dual users (those who use both EC and TC). Additionally, we investigated the relationships among psychosocial variables across these groups using network analysis (NA). A total of 1,480 university students (average age = 21.27; 79.5% female) participated, of whom 541 were classified as smokers. Participants completed various self-report questionnaires, including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, the 18-item Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, and the WHOQOL-BREF to assess quality of life. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Welch’s one-way ANOVAs, and Games-Howell post hoc tests. NA was performed using EBICglasso estimation to evaluate partial correlations and centrality measures (betweenness, closeness, strength, and expected influence). The main results indicated that smokers exhibited significantly higher levels of alcohol use, emotional symptoms, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation, along with lower quality of life compared to non-smokers. NA revealed that dual users had more complex and interconnected psychosocial networks, with stress, anxiety, and binge drinking being key variables. Smoking behavior, especially dual use, was linked to increased psychosocial vulnerability, and the NA approach identified important factors that may drive these relationships, suggesting potential targets for future interventions.

This theoretical essay explores the relationships between different aspects of emotional regulation and alcohol use disorder. Emotional regulation is discussed as a critical process influenced by cognitive and neurobiological responses to alcohol, in which dysregulation is a key factor in the persistence and severity of this disorder. The essay highlights the impact of emotional strategies on alcohol consumption behaviors, further linking alcohol use disorder to broader cognitive and social impairments. The main findings indicate that alcohol exerts significant neurobiological and behavioral influences on emotional regulation in various individual contexts. Literature also indicates that emotional dysregulation, potentiated by alcohol consumption, is associated with cognitive and behavioral impairments, while adaptive regulatory strategies are related to benefits in the prevention and recovery of dependence.

A large study involving 129,953 adolescents (aged 13–17) examined the connection between sexual violence, substance use, and mental health. Victims of sexual violence (VSV; n = 20,492; 14.8%) and rape (RV; n = 8133; 6.5%) reported higher rates of parental or caregiver alcohol and cigarette use. These adolescents were also more likely to engage in substance use themselves, especially alcohol and illicit drugs, often beginning before age 14. They also faced increased exposure to risky behaviours like drinking with classmates and using illegal drugs. Additionally, the VSV and RV groups reported significantly higher levels of sadness, anger, suicidal thoughts, and poorer overall health. This research, based on data from a large‐scale survey conducted in Brazil, underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and support systems to address the complex challenges faced by adolescents who have experienced sexual violence.

This study examines the interplay between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and substance use disorders (SUDs) among Brazilian college students, also addressing associated emotional distress (e.g., depression, anxiety, and stress). A total of 3130 students (M_age = 23.6; SD_age = 5.34) participated in an online survey featuring validated measures for assessing PSU, alcohol and drug consumption, and emotional distress. Participants were categorized into problematic smartphone use (PSU) and non-problematic use (nPSU) groups. The prevalence of PSU was 46.9%, notably higher among female students, those lacking a religious affiliation, individuals living alone, and the unemployed. PSU individuals showed significantly elevated rates of alcohol, cannabis, and other illicit substance use, along with greater emotional distress. Network analysis revealed that weekly alcohol consumption and stress symptoms exhibited the highest centrality indices (e.g., stress with high betweenness; alcohol with strong expected influence), underscoring their key roles in connecting PSU and SUDs. These findings suggest that PSU and SUDs may share underlying emotional vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for integrated intervention strategies targeting both conditions concurrently.

Parental mediation is essential for guiding the appropriate use of devices, aiming to minimize potential negative impacts such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. This systematic review investigated the influence of different parental mediation styles on the use of digital media by children and adolescents. A new method for searching and classifying articles was used, employing the ASReview software, which utilizes a machine learning model to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of article selection. The review followed all procedures required by PROSPERO. Initially, 28,964 articles were identified, and based on ASReview, 359 articles were read, of which 27 were included in the study. The quality of the manuscripts was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. The main findings indicated that parental mediation is a significant protective factor against excessive internet use, gaming dependence, and cyberbullying. Active and restrictive mediation strategies proved effective in moderating the relationship between digital media use and mental health outcomes, highlighting the critical role of parents in guiding their children's digital consumption.

Introdução: O tabaco é a segunda substância psicoativa lícita mais consumida no mundo, presente na vida de mais de 20% da população mundial. Seu consumo problemático está associado ao desenvolvimento de dependência de nicotina, problemas psiquiátricos e desregulação emocional. A dificuldade em regular as próprias emoções podem causar impactos psicológicos, sociais e físicos significativos para o indivíduo dependente de tabaco. Objetivo: Este estudo tem como objetivo revisar os principais resultados recentes sobre o papel da regulação emocional no uso problemático de tabaco e nas condições psiquiátricas associadas. Método: Foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura focada na regulação emocional no contexto do uso problemático de tabaco. Resultados: As pesquisas recentes indicam uma forte correlação entre a dependência de tabaco e a desregulação emocional, destacando também o papel das alterações psicobiológicas nos mecanismos funcionais de regulação emocional. Constatou-se a influência negativa da impulsividade, ansiedade, humor negativo e uso de cigarro eletrônico na regulação emocional de dependentes de nicotina. Por outro lado, a adoção de habilidades e estratégias de regulação emocional adaptativas mostrou-se um fator protetor contra a dependência de tabaco, facilitando a cessação do tabagismo por meio da abstinência. Conclusão: Com base nesta revisão, espera-se fornecer material científico que possa incentivar o desenvolvimento de tratamentos terapêuticos voltados para a recuperação de dependentes de tabaco, enfatizando o aprimoramento de habilidades e estratégias de regulação emocional, bem como a estimulação cognitiva em regiões cerebrais relacionadas à capacidade de regulação emocional.

Silva, L.S., Freires, E.M., Vitta, A.S.L., Scatena, A., de Oliveira, W.A., Semolini, F.F., & Andrade, A.L.M. (2024). Integrative Analysis of Binge-Watching Behaviour in the Streaming Era. International Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience, 10(1), 17-35. Doi: https://doi.org/10.56769/ijpn10102 . Abstract Background: Binge-watching (BW), defined as the continuous and prolonged viewing of multiple episodes of series, movies, and other…