Teaching to Impact Sexual Violence? The Evaluation of a Curricular Intervention for First-Year College Students

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether a semester-long course for first-year undergraduates influenced knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions about gender, sexuality, and sexual violence.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental survey design.

SETTING

A private university in the Southeastern US.

PARTICIPANTS

Undergraduates enrolled in an intervention (n = 49) or comparison (n = 60) course in Fall 2018.

MEASURES

Sociosexual Orientation Inventory, Sexual Conservatism, Heteronormative Attitudes and Beliefs, Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, Bystander Efficacy Scale, Consent Myths, Sexual Misconduct Apathy, Campus Resource Awareness Index.

ANALYSIS

A 2-way mixed-factorial ANOVA.

RESULTS

Relative to the comparison group, students in the intervention course had significantly greater rates of change in reducing heteronormative views, decreasing sexual misconduct apathy, and increasing awareness of campus resources for sexual violence.

CONCLUSION

A semester-long course targeting first-year undergraduates can potentially influence knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions regarding sexual violence and create a more positive campus climate.

Mental Health Risk Among Members of the Millennial Population Cohort: A Concern for Public Health

PURPOSE

Within the millennial population cohort, identify groups reporting increased risk of nonspecific psychological distress. As the largest living population cohort, taking stock of health and well-being early is necessary as substantial national resources may be needed as this cohort ages.

DESIGN

The 2017 National Health Interview Survey data, an annual multipurpose survey of the US population, was used.

SAMPLE

A sample of 7303 respondents were created by limiting data set to birth years 1980 to 1998.

MEASURES

Outcomes were feeling like everything is an effort, worthlessness, hopelessness, restlessness, nervousness, and sadness. Combined these statements of feeling make up a measure of nonspecific psychological distress, past 30 days.

ANALYSIS

A logistic regression was performed on each outcome. All models controlled for demographic variables known to be associated with psychological distress.

RESULTS

Females are 1.4 times more likely than males to report nonspecific psychological distress (P < .001), whereas Hispanics and Blacks are less likely to report nonspecific psychological distress (odds ratio [OR] = 0.49, OR = 0.57, P < .001). American Indians were less likely to report worthlessness (OR = 0.30, P < .05). However, multiple race individuals increasingly reported hopelessness (OR = 1.55, P < .05). Young adults are less likely than emerging adults to report sadness (OR = 0.85, P < .05).

CONCLUSION

In this sample, racial/ethnic groups fared better than referent groups. Health programs need to integrate intersectional identities into promotion of mental health.

The Relationship between Lifestyle Behaviors and Mental Illness in Women in College

Women, particularly those in college, have the highest prevalence of any mental illness (MI), which negatively impacts social connection, academic performance, and health. Research into alternative treatment methods suggests that lifestyle behaviors are safer and more effective than medication at reducing MI symptoms. This study explores the relationship between lifestyle behaviors and MI in college women through an online survey. The survey included a food frequency questionnaire (Diet History Questionnaire II) and questions about lifestyle behaviors, symptoms of MI, and sociodemographic information. Diet quality was calculated using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), and MI was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. Independent sample t-tests, ANOVA, and chi-square analyses were conducted. A total of 222 women completed the survey. Overall, diet quality was poor, with a mean HEI of 62.6 ± 10.4. No significant differences or associations were found between MI groups for total HEI score, sleep, or tobacco use. However, alcohol use was significantly associated with MI (p = 0.049). Individuals with fewer concurrent unhealthy lifestyle behaviors had less severe symptoms of depression (p = 0.009) and anxiety (p < 0.001) compared to those with more unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. In this study, alcohol use was the only independent lifestyle behavior associated with symptoms of MI. We also found an association between the number of concurrent unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and depression and anxiety symptoms. Future research should explore the benefits of a healthy lifestyle on MI in a more diverse sample of women.

Past 30-Day Cannabis Use by Perception of Risk and Age Group: Implications for Prevention

PURPOSE

The use of cannabis is an important public health concern in the United States. The connection between perceived risk and cannabis use has been documented in the substance use literature for youth and adults.

DESIGN

Examine how past 30-day cannabis use is influenced by the interaction between perceived risk and age.

SUBJECTS

Nationally representative sample of individuals ages 12 and older in the United States.

MEASURES

Secondary data analysis of the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 58, 034).

ANALYSIS

Binary logistic regression that included the complex sampling elements of the survey.

RESULTS

Support was found for an interaction between age and perceived risk. Most notably, the sharpest increase in the probability of cannabis use occurred between the 12-17 and 18-25 year-old age groups for no/low risk perception.

CONCLUSION

Addressing the perceived risk of cannabis use at younger ages - specifically adolescence - may be an important prevention strategy for later cannabis use. Results directly inform preventive interventions regarding by indicating the age groups that at are at a higher probability for using cannabis based on perceived risk levels. This study adds to the literature by directly testing an interaction between perceived risk and age on the probability of using cannabis in the past 30-days at the population level.

The Relation Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health Behaviors in Adult Women

PURPOSE

This study aims to identify whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) influence health lifestyles throughout adulthood and examine how ACEs influence dimensions of health lifestyles.

DESIGN

The data was collected cross-sectionally through an online questionnaire.

SETTING

Individuals were invited to participate in an online survey for a larger brain health study as a pre-screening measure.

SUBJECTS

Women in the Midwest between 18-25 and 65-85 who reported either no ACEs or 3 or more ACEs completed the survey, with 233 women answering all questionnaires.

MEASURES

Demographic indicators, the 10-item ACEs questionnaire, and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II).

ANALYSIS

Independent sample t-tests revealed significantly lower scores for ACEs group on the HPLP-II and the 6 subcategories (heath responsibility, interpersonal relationships, nutrition, physical activity, spiritual growth, and stress management). A structural equation model using the 3 ACE categories (abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction) and 6 health domains showed substantial differences in the variance captured for each health behavior.

RESULTS

Findings indicate that abuse predicts physical activity, stress management, and spiritual growth (β = -.21, -.23, -.20); neglect predicts interpersonal relationships and spiritual growth (β = -.17, -.18); and household dysfunction predicts health responsibility, nutrition, stress management, and interpersonal relations (β = -.20, -.22, -.10, -.17).

CONCLUSION

The present investigation extends research in displaying that ACEs play a significant role in future health behaviors, with household dysfunction being the greatest predictor.

Sexual Violence in Virtual Reality: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

One in four Americans report experiencing harassment online via social media and interactive gaming, which includes physical threats, stalking, sexual harassment, and sustained harassment.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to gain understanding of the state of the science surrounding young adults and sexual violence/harassment harms in virtual reality (VR) as well as possible uses of VR to heal and intervene.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted in early 2023 using the Ovid Synthesis Clinical Evidence Manager and the MEDLINE database. Forty-seven articles met inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Our review found a growing body of evidence exploring incidents, effects, possible predictors, and initial strategies to prevent sexual violence in VR and to use the modality to positively intervene. Limited research addresses the effects of harms incurred in VR on (re)traumatization of survivors as well as the development and testing of VR tools used to educate, deliver bystander interventions, transform biases and perceptions via embodiment, and promote healing among survivors.

CONCLUSION

Research addressing sexual violence in VR is needed and should build on the existing peripheral science on gaming and social media environments. Forensic nursing is well positioned to advance strategies of health and safety in VR, just as in the physical world. Incorporating forensic nursing avatars in VR and deploying diverse resources targeted for college-age young adults to prevent harms in VR should be explored safely and ethically. Forensic nurses are also positioned to assess for VR-related harms among patients and to work with private and government sectors to influence regulations and policies.