Mindfulness in learning safe sex via social media: Perspectives of personality and experiential value

Trait mindfulness weakens the relationship between Snapchat use and alcohol-related outcomes

Objective:Previous studies identified Snapchat as the most likely social media platform for depictions of excessive drinking and consequences. We sought to further examine this relationship and the possible protective impact of trait mindfulness.Method:A sample of 838 college students completed a survey assessing self-reported alcohol use, alcohol-related consequences, trait mindfulness, and individual and peer alcohol-related Snapchat posts.Results:Viewing more peer's Snapchats was associated with increased alcohol-related consequences, except at high levels of trait mindfulness. When controlling for the individual's Snapchat posts, the significant relationship between peer's Snapchats and consequences remained at low levels of trait mindfulness but not for moderate levels. The protective effect of high levels of trait mindfulness endured.Conclusion:Increasing trait mindfulness may help buffer the negative influence of viewing peer's alcohol-related Snapchats on alcohol-related consequences. Further examining how trait mindfulness interacts with peer norms offers important avenues for future research.

Formative Study of Mobile Phone Use for Family Planning Among Young People in Sierra Leone: Global Systematic Survey

BACKGROUND

Teenage pregnancy remains high with low contraceptive prevalence among adolescents (aged 15-19 years) in Sierra Leone. Stakeholders leverage multiple strategies to address the challenge. Mobile technology is pervasive and presents an opportunity to reach young people with critical sexual reproductive health and family planning messages.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this research study are to understand how mobile health (mHealth) is used for family planning, understand phone use habits among young people in Sierra Leone, and recommend strategies for mobile-enabled dissemination of family planning information at scale.

METHODS

This formative research study was conducted using a systematic literature review and focus group discussions (FGDs). The literature survey assessed similar but existing interventions through a systematic search of 6 scholarly databases. Cross-sections of young people of both sexes and their support groups were engaged in 9 FGDs in an urban and a rural district in Sierra Leone. The FGD data were qualitatively analyzed using MAXQDA software (VERBI Software GmbH) to determine appropriate technology channels, content, and format for different user segments.

RESULTS

Our systematic search results were categorized using Grading of Recommended Assessment and Evaluation (GRADE) into communication channels, audiovisual messaging format, purpose of the intervention, and message direction. The majority of reviewed articles report on SMS-based interventions. At the same time, most intervention purposes are for awareness and as helpful resources. Our survey did not find documented use of custom mHealth apps for family planning information dissemination. From the FGDs, more young people in Sierra Leone own basic mobile phones than those that have feature capablilities or are smartphone. Young people with smartphones use them mostly for WhatsApp and Facebook. Young people widely subscribe to the social media-only internet bundle, with the cost ranging from 1000 leones (US $0.11) to 1500 leones (US $0.16) daily. Pupils in both districts top-up their voice call and SMS credit every day between 1000 leones (US $0.11) and 5000 leones (US $0.52).

CONCLUSIONS

mHealth has facilitated family planning information dissemination for demand creation around the world. Despite the widespread use of social and new media, SMS is the scalable channel to reach literate and semiliterate young people. We have cataloged mHealth for contraceptive research to show SMS followed by call center as widely used channels. Jingles are popular for audiovisual message formats, mostly delivered as either push or pull only message directions (not both). Interactive voice response and automated calls are best suited to reach nonliterate young people at scale.