Emma Wedell

Public Health Significance This study suggests that distraction appears to be equally effective at reducing stress-induced alcohol cravings as breath counting. Therefore, it may be that the effectiveness of breath counting at reducing alcohol cravings is a result of distraction, rather than increased mindfulness. Prior research suggests brief mindfulness (breath counting) interventions may be effective at attenuating stress-induced alcohol-related cravings. However, it remains unclear whether this reduction in craving is due to increased state mindfulness or mere distraction. To test this, the present study examined whether brief breath counting would attenuate a stress-induced increase in the relative value of alcohol in young adult alcohol users, and whether this therapeutic effect was superior to simple distraction (cross counting). University students from England and the United States (N = 278, M (age) = 20.2 years, 56.5% females) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: breath counting, distraction, stress-only, no-stress. Participants first listened to a 6-min audio file training the breath counting technique or control audio, before exposure to 2-min noise stress induction or no-stress during which participants engaged in breath counting, cross counting (distraction), or nothing. The relative value of alcohol was then assessed by preferential choice of alcohol versus food pictures. Results indicated that stress-only augmented alcohol picture choice compared to no-stress, and that this stress induction effect was attenuated to a comparable extent by breath counting and distraction. Group differences in alcohol picture choice washed out in the second half of the choice test. The results suggest that the therapeutic effect of breath counting (interoceptive attention) on stress-induced alcohol-seeking may stem from distraction (cognitive load) rather than a unique state of mindful acceptance. The implications of this lab study for mindfulness therapy are considered.

High levels of psychological distress present a major public health issue among LGBTQ+ youth and adults; however, research has repeatedly identified community connectedness as an important protective factor for mental health in LGBTQ+ populations. The aim of the present study was to examine whether age moderates the association of community connectedness on psychological distress in a community sample of LGBTQ+ people. In the present exploratory study, we analyzed secondary cross-sectional data from a sample of LGBTQ+ youth and adults (n = 292) in a semi-rural community in the Western United States. Participants completed a measure of community connectedness, the K6, and the PHQ-4. The results of two moderation models showed that the negative association of community connectedness on psychological distress was strongest among youth, weaker among young adults, and nonsignificant among older middle-aged adults and older adults. These results provide further evidence for the potential buffering role of community connectedness on psychological distress for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.

Background: In this study, we examined why non-Hispanic White cisgender men are more likely than other subgroups to misuse prescription stimulants in college. The objective of the current study was to use a strength-based framework to examine intersectional demographic predictors. Methods: We examined gender and race/ethnicity as predictors of nonmedical prescription stimulant use (NPS) among college students. We also investigated resilience as a moderator. This report uses data from an online multisite study conducted at seven universities with 4,764 undergraduate students (70.1% women and 52.0% People of Color). Results: We found that college students who were cisgender men and non-Hispanic White used NPS significantly more than students who identified as another gender and as People of Color. There was also a buffering effect of resilience between race/ethnicity and NPS, such that resilience predicted lower NPS for People of Color, but not non-Hispanic White people 28% of the time. Conclusions: It may be that Students of Color are more resilient than non-Hispanic White students, and this resilience is protective of NPS use in college. Importantly, a compounding-privilege and/or intersectional approach to identity is crucial to fully understanding behavior (in this case NPS) in a diversity of college students; future studies should continue to use and develop such approaches.

Confrontation is an important mechanism to reduce racial prejudice. Yet, little research has examined White adults’ intended confrontation within the context of discriminatory policies that pose barriers to Black Americans seeking employment. Moreover, less research has investigated reactions to zero‐sum and negative‐sum anti‐Black institutional discrimination. The present study investigated the effects of an antiracism educational exercise on White adults’ intended confrontation of zero‐sum and negative‐sum institutional discrimination. Participants aged 20–85 years (n = 195; M_age = 54.16) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) antiracism education with writing reflection, (2) antiracism education alone, or (3) a control condition. Participants then reported how they would respond in situations that described zero‐sum (i.e., new hire recruitment exclusively from predominantly White institutions) and negative‐sum anti‐Black institutional discrimination (i.e., hairstyle discrimination). Participants in the antiracism education alone condition intended to confront more assertively in both scenarios compared to participants in the control condition. Across conditions, participants were more likely to intend to confront, and intended to confront more assertively, in the zero‐sum discrimination scenario than the negative‐sum discrimination scenario. We conclude that a brief antiracism education exercise may hold promise for increasing White adults’ assertive confrontation of institutional discrimination, but the effects may be contingent on whether a reflective writing task is included and the characteristics of the discriminatory policy.

In a large, diverse sample of college students (N = 2,230), this online study investigated racial/ethnic differences on type of discriminatory event experienced and perceived stress, and whether di...

LGBTQ + people face barriers accessing affirming mental health care in semi-rural communities. Little research has addressed the unique barriers, needs, and experiences of LGBTQ + communities, including the intersection of factors including community connectedness that may buffer distress. This qualitative study comprised focus groups of LGBTQ + youth and adults living in a semi-rural county. Thematic analysis identified six themes and sixteen subthemes focused on experiences in the local community and with mental health providers. Living in a semi-rural community may impose additional barriers to receiving affirming care and building necessary supportive community networks for LGBTQ + people.

Prior research has individually linked rumination, anxiety, and emotion dysregulation to alcohol misuse, but limited research has examined a comprehensive model linking these variables together. Th...