Associations of Perceived Stress and Social Support on Health Behavior Changes in Sexual Minoritized Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

How stress influences e-cigarette health message perceptions and intentions to abstain from vaping among young adults who vape

PURPOSE

While most U.S. young adults attribute e-cigarette use (vaping) to stress coping, it is relatively unknown how young adults' stress levels influence their e-cigarette health message responses and vaping abstinence intentions.

METHODS

In an online crowdsourcing study, young adults who currently vape (N = 346, Mage = 25.24) were assessed for their past-30-day stress levels. Then, they saw a message about the health effects of vaping and were asked questions about the messages and their vaping abstinence intentions. We performed multiple regressions to examine the main effects of stress levels on message evaluation (message perceptions, effects perceptions) and intentions to abstain from vaping. We then examined the indirect effects of stress levels on abstinence intentions mediated by each message outcome, respectively. Models controlled for sociodemographic characteristics, mental health status, and past-30-day e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking.

RESULTS

Participants with higher stress levels reported more negative message evaluation (ps < 0.05). Additionally, participants with higher stress levels reported lower abstinence intentions via more negative message perceptions (b = -0.02, SE = 0.01, 95 % CI = -0.041, -0.004). Likewise, participants with higher stress levels reported lower abstinence intentions via more negative effects perceptions (b = -0.03, SE = 0.01, 95 % CI = -0.046, -0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher stress levels were associated with negative message evaluation among young adults who vape. Additionally, the association of stress levels and abstinence intentions was mediated by negative message evaluation. Public health officials may need to account for stress levels in young adults to increase the effects of e-cigarette health messages on their intentions to abstain from vaping.

Exploring social connectedness, isolation, support, and recovery factors among women seeking substance use treatment

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between social variables, recovery orientation, and recovery capital among a sample of n = 30 women actively seeking substance use disorder treatment at a community-based facility in the Midwest United States. Results indicated a positive association between social connectedness, abstinence recovery orientation (p = .048) and social isolation (p = .010). Social isolation was positively associated with abstinence recovery orientation (p = .004) and negatively related to recovery capital (p = .003). Social support was positively correlated with positive expectancy (p = .030) and recovery capital (p = .033). Further, moderate/high alcohol use was related to lower normal living scores (t(28) = 3.10, p = .004), lower recovery capital scores (t(28) = 4.15, p < .000), and higher social isolation scores (t(28) = -2.53, p = .017). Screening at moderate/high risk for cannabis use was related to lower normal living scores (t(28) = 3.01, p = .005), and lower positive expectancy scores (t(28) = 3.03, p = .005). Finally, screening for moderate/high risk for polysubstance use was related to lower normal living orientation (t(28) = 2.52, p = .018) and recovery capital scores (t(28) = 2.79, p = .009). Current findings may inform strategies for examining social connectedness and social isolation variables in future clinical practice, policy, and scholarship.

COVID-19 Concerns, Coping and Perceived Peer Norms: Correlates of Increased Alcohol and Marijuana Use Among Sexual Minority Women

This study explored the impact of COVID-related concerns and other characteristics on alcohol and marijuana use among sexual minority women (SMW). Survey data from a racially/ethnically diverse sample of 338 SMW participants in the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) study were used to examine correlates of three substance use outcomes: frequent intoxication (once a month or more), perceived increase in alcohol use, and perceived increase in marijuana use. Coping motives for alcohol use was positively associated with each of the substance use outcomes. Belief that peers (in terms of age, sexual identity, and gender) used alcohol often to cope was associated with higher odds of frequent intoxication. COVID-19 related financial concerns were positively associated with both frequent intoxication and increased marijuana use. Health and mental health concerns were associated with lower odds of frequent intoxication. Findings underscore the importance of enhancing coping skills, addressing perceived peer coping norms, and providing both economic and social support in intervention efforts.