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Alcohol misuse is often a chronic problem such that relapses following treatment are common. One potential protective factor for alcohol misuse is self-compassion, which includes self-kindness, feelings of common humanity, and mindfulness when faced with personal suffering and hardships. This study tested the hypothesis that self-compassion, and specifically self-compassion promoting facets including self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness, were longitudinally associated with reduced alcohol use among a sample of men and women in substance use disorder treatment (N = 62). Results partially supported the hypothesis, in that only the mindfulness facet of self-compassion was associated with decreased alcohol use over time. Sex and age differences as they related to the positive facets of self-compassion and alcohol use emerged. These findings suggest that positive facets of self-compassion may be beneficial factors to cultivate in alcohol treatment programs.

Background: Advances in technology provide opportunities for communication using electronic mediums. Sexting is one form of electronic communication and includes the sending of explicit sexual content (e.g., photos, text) through electronic mediums. Previous research demonstrated a positive association between sexting and behaviors such as substance use. Moreover, substance use increases the risk for intimate partner violence and is also associated with risky behaviors. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of sexting in a sample of 84 women mandated to attend batterer intervention programs following arrest for domestic violence. The associations between sexting, substance use, and intimate partner violence were also examined. Method: Participants completed self-report questionnaires that assessed sexting, intimate partner violence, and alcohol and drug use symptoms. Results: Fifty-four percent of participants reported being asked to send a sext, 35.1% reported sending a sext, and 32.0% reported requesting a sext. Drug use symptoms were positively associated with some forms of sexting and intimate partner violence. There was a significant difference in drug use symptoms, such that women who received a request to send a sext had significantly more symptoms relative to women who had not received a request to send a sext. Conclusion: This is the first examination of sexting in a sample of women arrested for domestic violence. Findings indicate an association between drug use symptoms, sexting, and intimate partner violence, warranting continued research in this domain.

Sexual violence remains a prevalent issue on college campuses. Sexual coercion, a form of sexual violence, is frequently employed within casual sexual encounters (i.e., hookups). The present study investigated hypersexuality and sexual narcissism as unique predictors of sexual coercion and examined whether there were gender differences in these associations. Participants ( N  = 793, ages 18–25) were undergraduate students at a large southeastern university who have: (1) engaged in sexual activity within the past six months and (2) had at least one prior hookup experience. Respondents completed surveys online assessing levels of sexual narcissism, hypersexuality, and sexual coercion perpetration in hookups. Participants primarily identified as female (71.7%), White (84.2%), and heterosexual (86.6%), with an average of 9.77 sexual engagements per month. Bivariate correlations and independent samples t -tests were conducted to examine associations between and gender differences across study variables, respectively. We assessed the factor structure of study variables using confirmatory factor analysis and tested hypotheses using structural equation modeling. Compared to women, men scored higher on sexual exploitation and all hypersexuality subscales. After establishing good-fitting measurement models, we found that both sexual narcissism and hypersexuality predicted increased sexual coercion perpetration and that gender did not moderate these associations. Study findings demonstrated that sexual narcissism and hypersexuality are risk factors for sexual coercion perpetration in hookups across gender. Although associations were consistent across gender, men may report higher levels of sexual coercion perpetration risk factors. Future researchers could focus on gender differences in the etiology of sexual coercion risk factors.

PurposeDespite family of origin violence (FOV) exposure being consistently related to traditional forms of dating abuse (DA) perpetration and victimization, few studies have extended this association to cyber DA. As attachment insecurity is commonly linked to FOV exposure and DA, we examined whether attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance mediated the relation between FOV (i.e., experiencing parent-to-child aggression, witnessing interparental aggression) and cyber DA perpetration and victimization forms (i.e., direct cyber aggression, cyber monitoring/controlling, cyber sexual DA).MethodsWe tested these associations using a crosssectional design with 584 college students.ResultsParent-to-child aggression was indirectly related to all forms of cyber DA perpetration and victimization through attachment anxiety. Attachment avoidance was unrelated to both forms of FOV; however, it was directly related to increased direct cyber aggression victimization, increased cyber sexual DA victimization, and decreased cyber monitoring/controlling perpetration. Findings suggested that those with a history of experiencing parent-to-child aggression may develop an anxious attachment style and perpetrate cyber DA to relieve distress associated with physical distance from their romantic partners. Additionally, people with avoidant attachment styles may be less apt to perpetrate cyber DA due to comfort with physical distance from romantic partners.ConclusionThese findings extended the intergenerational transmission of violence theory of DA etiology from in-person DA to cyber DA perpetration and victimization using an attachment theory framework. Cyber DA prevention research should explore interventions that reduce attachment insecurity, particularly among individuals with histories of parent-to-child aggression.

Objectives Aggressive behaviors are consistently linked to alcohol use and are over-represented among individuals in substance misuse treatment compared to the general population. Trait mindfulness (i.e., a multifaceted construct including attending to and accepting experiences) had an inverse relationship with aggression such that greater trait mindfulness may attenuate the risk alcohol use poses for aggression. Methods We examined the moderating effect of the five facets of trait mindfulness on the relationship between alcohol use/problems and aggressive attitudes, physical aggression, and verbal aggression among 516 men in residential treatment for substance use disorders. Results Explication of the significant interactions utilizing the Johnson-Neyman technique revealed alcohol use/problems positively related to aggressive attitudes for men with below average and average Nonreactivity and Acting mindfulness facets. The positive relationship between alcohol use/problems and verbal aggression was present among men below average in Nonreactivity and Acting. Alcohol use/problems positively related to physical aggression among men below average and average in the mindfulness facets of Describe and Acting. Furthermore, alcohol use/problems positively related to aggressive attitudes and physical aggression among men average or above average in the mindfulness facet of Observe. Conclusions Findings suggest that among men who misuse substances, the relation between alcohol use and aggression may be conditional and influenced by deficits in trait mindfulness.

Objective: Adults receiving residential treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) who have comorbid psychopathology face unique challenges, including an increased risk of substance use craving and treatment dropout against medical advice (AMA). Prior studies have investigated associations between specific forms of psychopathology and these outcomes. However, psychological disorders often co-occur and may cluster together to amplify risk for craving and treatment dropout AMA. Methods: This study used latent class analysis to identify patterns of psychopathology in 1046 adult patients receiving residential treatment for SUDs (73.7% men; Mage = 42.31, SD = 12.13). We tested whether psychopathology classes differed in alcohol and drug cravings and treatment dropout AMA. We identified 4 latent classes: (1) high psychopathology, (2) moderate anxiety/depression, (3) illness anxiety/somatic problems, (4) low psychopathology. Results: The high psychopathology class reported significantly more alcohol and drug cravings than all other classes. The moderate anxiety/depression class also reported more alcohol cravings than the low psychopathology class. Additionally, the high psychopathology, illness anxiety/somatic problems, and moderate anxiety/depression classes had higher proportions of patients who dropped out of treatment AMA compared to the low psychopathology class. Conclusion: These findings suggest that comorbid psychopathology significantly impacts treatment outcomes in residential SUD treatment programs. Targeted interventions that address comorbid psychopathology may help reduce craving and improve treatment retention.

Residential treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) is effective at reducing substance use, dependence, and other related problems. However, dropout from treatment against medical advice (AMA) is common in residential treatment settings. Studies have shown that impulsivity is associated with substance misuse and treatment dropout in predominately male samples, but less is known regarding whether impulsivity dimensions predict treatment dropout among women. This study examined impulsivity dimensions (ie, negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, and sensation seeking) as predictors of dropout AMA among women in a residential substance use treatment facility (N = 229). Logistic regression results demonstrated that elevations in lack of perseverance and sensation seeking were associated with an increased odds of treatment dropout AMA and that lack of premeditation was associated with a decreased odds of treatment dropout AMA. Study findings suggest that early evidence-based interventions for sensation seeking and lack of perseverance may improve retention of women in residential treatment.