Communication of health risk in substance-dependent populations: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Causal effect of physical activity and sedentary behavior on the risk of alcohol dependence: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Alcohol dependence, influenced by physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior, lacks clear causal clarity. This study aims to clarify causal relationships by estimating these effects using bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).

METHODS

A bidirectional multivariable two-sample MR framework was employed to assess the causal effects of PA and sedentary behavior on alcohol dependence. Summarized genetic association data were analyzed for four PA-related activity patterns-moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA), accelerometer-based physical activity with average acceleration (AccAve), and accelerometer-based physical activity with accelerations greater than 425 milli-gravities (Acc425)-and three sedentary behavior patterns-sedentary, TV watching, and computer use. The study was expanded to include the examination of the relationship between sedentary behavior or PA and general drinking behavior, quantified as drinks per week (DPW). We obtained summarized data on genetic associations with four PA related activity patterns (MVPA, VPA, AccAve and Acc425) and three sedentary behavior related behavior patterns (sedentary, TV watching and computer use).

RESULTS

MR analysis found AccAve inversely associated with alcohol dependence risk (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.80-0.95; p < 0.001), MVPA positively associated (OR: 2.86; 95%CI: 1.45-5.66; p = 0.002). For sedentary behavior and alcohol dependence, only TV watching was positively associated with the risk of alcohol dependence (OR: 1.43; 95%CI: 1.09-1.88; p = 0.009). No causal links found for other physical or sedentary activities. Reverse analysis and sensitivity tests showed consistent findings without pleiotropy or heterogeneity. Multivariate MR analyses indicated that while MVPA, AccAve and TV watching are independently associated with alcohol dependence, DPW did not show a significant causal relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that AccAve is considered a protective factor against alcohol dependence, while MVPA and TV watching are considered risk factors for alcohol dependence. Conversely, alcohol dependence serves as a protective factor against TV watching. Only TV watching and alcohol dependence might mutually have a significant causal effect on each other.

Applying Communication Science to Substance Use Prevention Messaging

Despite a wealth of evidence-based messaging on youth alcohol and drug prevention, there remains a dearth of research on how to construct and deliver these messages effectively. Communication science is useful for increasing the efficacy of these messages in reducing substance use risk among youth. This study explores the perspectives of youth and youth-serving providers to identify theory-informed substance use prevention messages and strategies and how the content and delivery of prevention messages evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a secondary analysis of qualitative data derived from focus groups with 53 youth ages 13 to 18 years and 18 youth-serving providers conducted in the USA between 2021 and 2022. The results describe theory-informed strategies that are important to consider when constructing effective substance use prevention messaging for youth, including preferences around key communication framework constructs, including sources, content, channels, and context. An element that emerged across the communication constructs was the saliency of "connection" in youth substance use prevention messaging content. Findings point to the need to further explore connection related to having shared experiences and the extent to which these dimensions are critical ingredients to effective substance use prevention.

Prenatal alcohol exposure risk perception dimensions and influencing factors: A systematic review and conceptual model

OBJECTIVE

This paper aims to explore the available literature to understand how risks regarding prenatal alcohol exposure are perceived.

METHODS

A systematic review (PROSPERO; CRD 42020212887) was undertaken. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched for relevant quantitative and qualitative studies. A thematic analysis of the studies was performed.

RESULTS

Fifteen articles-nine quantitative and six qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Three dimensions of risk perceptions were identified-perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and affective risk perception. Three influencing factors of these dimensions were also identified: information (i.e., consistency, confirmation bias, strength of the evidence, and perceived relevance), sociocultural (i.e., social inclusivity, cultural context, and risk interpretation), and individual (i.e., risks versus benefits, controllability, and experience). These dimensions and influencing factors were brought together to create the proposed novel Pregnancy Alcohol Risk Perception (PARP) conceptual model.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel PARP conceptual model developed from the current literature provides a framework to guide understanding of risk perceptions, which includes a wide range of potential influencing factors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

The novel PARP conceptual model provides the groundwork for further refinement with stakeholders, which could in turn be used to inform the design of interventions and health promotional materials to support harm reduction approaches and prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure.

Decision Making in Addictive Behaviors Based on Prospect Theory: A Systematic Review

Traditionally, research on addictive behaviors has been based on the study of their risk factors, with impulsivity being the main risk factor. However, this study aims to approach this topic from the analysis of decision making. According to the prospect theory, low levels of loss and risk aversion will increase the probability of showing addictive behaviors. A systematic review of the possible relationships between these behaviors and prospect theory was carried out. To this end, the works that have studied loss and risk aversion in populations with addictive behaviors to date (N = 15) were compiled. Apart from other eligibility criteria, the selection process was only performed with studies that included the prospect theory or cumulative prospect theory, in English or Spanish, since 1979. WoS, Scopus, Dialnet and PsycInfo were the information sources selected. For this purpose, PRISMA guidelines have been followed. It was found that users of addictive substances show less loss aversion than nonusers. These results cannot be transferred to pathological gamblers. The significance of this work for future research and the implementation of prevention and intervention programs is highlighted. The results show an approach to addictions from a novel perspective.