Research

13 pages, 1774 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mobile App-Based Coaching for Alcohol Prevention among Adolescents: Pre–Post Study on the Acceptance and Effectiveness of the Program “MobileCoach Alcohol”

by Severin Haug, Nikolaos Boumparis, Andreas Wenger, Raquel Paz Castro and Michael Patrick Schaub

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3263; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043263 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1401

Abstract

Background: At-risk alcohol use, particularly binge drinking, is widespread among adolescents and young adults in most Western countries. MobileCoach Alcohol is a mobile app-based program for alcohol prevention that provides individualized coaching using a conversational agent. The current study tested the acceptance, use, [...] Read more.

Background: At-risk alcohol use, particularly binge drinking, is widespread among adolescents and young adults in most Western countries. MobileCoach Alcohol is a mobile app-based program for alcohol prevention that provides individualized coaching using a conversational agent. The current study tested the acceptance, use, and evaluation of this newly developed program and explored its potential effectiveness. Methods: Longitudinal pre–post study among upper secondary and vocational school students in Switzerland. Within the MobileCoach Alcohol prevention program, a virtual coach motivated participants to deal with alcohol sensitively, and provided feedback on alcohol use and strategies to resist alcohol for a period of 10 weeks. Information was provided in weekly dialogs, within contests with other participants, and interactive challenges. By means of a follow-up survey after the end of the 10-week program, indicators of the use, acceptance, and effectiveness of the program were examined. Results: Between October 2020 and July 2022, the program was advertised in upper secondary and vocational schools. Recruiting schools and school classes was difficult due to the COVID-19 containment measures in place during this period. Nevertheless, the program could be implemented in 61 upper secondary and vocational school classes with a total of 954 participating students. Three out of four students who were present in the school classes participated in the MobileCoach Alcohol program and the associated study. Online follow up assessment at week 10 was completed by 272 program participants (28.4%). Based on program use and evaluations by the participants, the overall acceptance of the intervention was good. The proportion of students who engaged in binge drinking was significantly reduced from 32.7% at baseline to 24.3% at follow up. Furthermore, the longitudinal analyses revealed decreases in the maximum number of alcoholic drinks consumed on an occasion and the mean number of standard drinks per month, whereas self-efficacy to resist alcohol increased between baseline and follow up. Conclusions: The mobile app-based MobileCoach Alcohol program proved to be an attractive intervention, in which the majority of students were interested when proactively recruited at school classes. It allows for individualized coaching in large groups of adolescents and young adults and is promising for reducing at-risk alcohol use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Early Interventions for Addictive Behavior across the Lifespan)

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14 pages, 988 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of an App-Based Intervention Program to Reduce Substance Use, Gambling, and Digital Media Use in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Multicenter, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Vocational Schools in Germany

by Benjamin Pietsch, Nicolas Arnaud, Kirsten Lochbühler, Monika Rossa, Ludwig Kraus, Elena Gomes de Matos, Kristin Grahlher, Rainer Thomasius, Reiner Hanewinkel and Matthis Morgenstern

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1970; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031970 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2433

Abstract

Vocational students are a risk group for problematic substance use and addictive behaviors. The study aim was to evaluate the effects of an app-based intervention on tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis use as well as gambling and digital media-related behaviors in the vocational [...] Read more.

Vocational students are a risk group for problematic substance use and addictive behaviors. The study aim was to evaluate the effects of an app-based intervention on tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis use as well as gambling and digital media-related behaviors in the vocational school setting. A total of 277 classes with 4591 students (mean age 19.2 years) were consecutively recruited and randomized into an intervention (IG) or waitlist control group (CG). Students from IG classes received access to an app, which encouraged a voluntary commitment to reduce or completely abstain from the use of a specific substance, gambling, or media-related habit for 2 weeks. Substance use, gambling, and digital media use were assessed before and after the intervention in both groups with a mean of 7.7 weeks between assessments. Multi-level logistic regression models were used to test group differences. Intention-to-treat-results indicated that students from IG classes had a significantly larger improvement on a general adverse health behavior measure compared to CG (OR = 1.24, p = 0.010). This difference was mainly due to a significantly higher reduction of students’ social media use in the IG (OR = 1.31, p < 0.001). Results indicate that the app “Meine Zeit ohne” is feasible for the target group and seems to have a small but measurable impact on students’ health behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Early Interventions for Addictive Behavior across the Lifespan)

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15 pages, 372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Randomized Controlled Evaluation of a Group-Based Training for Parents of Adolescents with Gaming Disorder or Social Network Use Disorder

by Isabel Brandhorst, Patrizia Lahres, Sara Hanke, Anil Batra, Tobias Renner, Gottfried Barth, Katajun Lindenberg, Eva Vonderlin and Kay Petersen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010272 - 24 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1971

Abstract

Background: Internet Use Disorder (IUD), Gaming Disorder (GD), and Social Network Use Disorder (SNUD) are common phenomena among adolescents and young adults. Negative consequences of such disorders can be observed in the individuals themselves and in the family system. Although parents can influence [...] Read more.

Background: Internet Use Disorder (IUD), Gaming Disorder (GD), and Social Network Use Disorder (SNUD) are common phenomena among adolescents and young adults. Negative consequences of such disorders can be observed in the individuals themselves and in the family system. Although parents can influence their children in many ways, they are rarely considered in interventions. The present study examines the effectiveness of a group-based training for parents of adolescents with IUD, GD, or SNUD. Methods: A total of 76 parents of adolescents (12 to 20 years) were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG) or the waiting list control group. Parents in the IG participated over eight weeks in six sessions of training (topics: psychoeducation, parenting behaviour, parent-child relationships, parent-child communication, and stress and relaxation). Questionnaires on adolescent symptomatology, parent-child relationships, and parental burden were collected before and after the intervention/waiting period. Results: The training reduced the IUD symptomatology of adolescents from the parents’ perspective. GD symptomatology improved for at-risk users, though not for pathological users. Some aspects of the parent-child relationships improved in the mothers’ judgment. Parental stress was already low before the training. Conclusions: The presented parent group training can be used to improve IUD symptomatology in adolescents and is effective in the context of early intervention for at-risk computer gamers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Early Interventions for Addictive Behavior across the Lifespan)

11 pages, 307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experiences of Parents with Opioid Use Disorder during Their Attempts to Seek Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis

by Christine Bakos-Block, Angela J. Nash, A. Sarah Cohen and Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16660; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416660 - 11 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1767

Abstract

In the U.S., 12.3% of children live with at least one parent who has a substance use disorder. Prior research has shown that men are more likely to seek treatment than women and that the barriers are different; however, there is limited research [...] Read more.

In the U.S., 12.3% of children live with at least one parent who has a substance use disorder. Prior research has shown that men are more likely to seek treatment than women and that the barriers are different; however, there is limited research focusing specifically on opioid use disorder (OUD). We sought to understand the barriers and motivators for parents with OUD. We conducted a qualitative study by interviewing parents with OUD who were part of an outpatient treatment program. Interviews followed a semi-structured format with questions on access to and motivation for treatment. The interviews were recorded and transcribed using OpenAI software. Transcripts were coded by two separate reviewers and then analyzed for themes using Atlas.ti. We interviewed 14 individuals; 3 were men, and 3 of the women identified as LGBTQ+. The participants ranged in age from 27 to 54 years old. All participants had a least one child. Gender differences existed. Mothers reported experiencing more barriers—notably, a lack of childcare, shame, and guilt—while fathers reported higher levels of support from family. Both mothers and fathers identified their children as a motivation for recovery, albeit in differing ways. Mothers and fathers with OUD experience different barriers to treatment and also rely on different resources. Prior efforts to increase access to treatment for parents have focused on physical barriers; however, our research supports the need for expanded treatment services for families and efforts to address the stigma of substance abuse disorder, but more efforts are also needed to address stigma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Early Interventions for Addictive Behavior across the Lifespan)

12 pages, 832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of a Mobile App-Based Coaching Program for Addiction Prevention among Apprentices: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

by Severin Haug, Nikolaos Boumparis, Andreas Wenger, Michael Patrick Schaub and Raquel Paz Castro

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15730; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315730 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1912

Abstract

Background: Addictive behaviors such as tobacco/e-cigarette smoking, at-risk alcohol consumption, cannabis use or compulsive internet use are common among apprentices. ready4life is a mobile app-based preventive intervention program for apprentices that promotes life skills and reduces risky behavior. The present study tested the [...] Read more.

Background: Addictive behaviors such as tobacco/e-cigarette smoking, at-risk alcohol consumption, cannabis use or compulsive internet use are common among apprentices. ready4life is a mobile app-based preventive intervention program for apprentices that promotes life skills and reduces risky behavior. The present study tested the efficacy of ready4life for addiction prevention among apprentices in Switzerland within a controlled trial. Methods: Two-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial including assessments at baseline and follow-up after 6 months. Participants of the intervention group received coaching by a conversational agent for 16 weeks. The main outcome measure was a composite score for addictive behaviors, which included (1) at-risk drinking, (2) tobacco/e-cigarette smoking, (3) cannabis use and (4) problematic internet use. Results: A total of 2275 students from 159 vocational school classes in Switzerland, were invited for study participation. Of these, 1351 (59.4%) students with a mean age of 17.3 years and a male proportion of 56.6% provided informed consent to participate. The follow up assessment at month 6 was completed by 962 (71.2%) study participants. The results concerning the primary outcome showed a stronger decrease of addictive behaviors between baseline and follow up in the intervention group compared to the control group. In particular, significant effects were observed for at-risk drinking and problematic Internet use, while no significant effects were observed for tobacco/e-cigarette smoking and cannabis use. Conclusions: The majority of apprentices invited for program participation within vocational schools participated in the ready4life program for addiction prevention. The mobile app-based coaching was effective in reducing risk behaviors such as at-risk drinking and problematic Internet use in a group of adolescents who have an especially high risk of engaging in addictive activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Early Interventions for Addictive Behavior across the Lifespan)

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11 pages, 362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Alcohol Consumption and Health-Related Quality of Life among Hospital and Ambulatory Care Patients with Past Year Depressive Symptoms

by Kristian Krause, Diana Guertler, Anne Moehring, Anil Batra, Sandra Eck, Hans-Jürgen Rumpf, Gallus Bischof, Maresa Buchholz, Ulrich John and Christian Meyer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14664; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214664 - 08 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1195

Abstract

Background: Little is known about how substance use affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in depressed individuals. Here, associations between alcohol consumption and HRQOL in hospital and ambulatory care patients with past-year depressive symptoms are analyzed. Method: The sample consisted of 590 participants [...] Read more.

Background: Little is known about how substance use affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in depressed individuals. Here, associations between alcohol consumption and HRQOL in hospital and ambulatory care patients with past-year depressive symptoms are analyzed. Method: The sample consisted of 590 participants (26.8% non-drinkers) recruited via consecutive screenings. Individuals with alcohol use disorders were excluded. HRQOL was assessed with the Veterans Rand 12-item health survey (VR-12). Multivariable fractional polynomials (MFP) regression analyses were conducted (1) to test for non-linear associations between average daily consumption and HRQOL and (2) to analyze associations between alcohol consumption and the physical and mental health component summaries of the VR-12 and their subdomains. Results: Alcohol consumption was positively associated with the physical health component summary of the VR-12 (p = 0.001) and its subdomains general health (p = 0.006), physical functioning (p < 0.001), and bodily pain (p = 0.017), but not with the mental health component summary (p = 0.941) or any of its subdomains. Average daily alcohol consumption was not associated with HRQOL. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption was associated with better physical HRQOL. Findings do not justify ascribing alcohol positive effects on HRQOL. Data indicate that non-drinkers may suffer from serious health disorders. The results of this study can inform the development of future alcohol- and depression-related interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Early Interventions for Addictive Behavior across the Lifespan)

12 pages, 1018 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Peer Victimization and Adolescent Mobile Social Addiction: Mediation of Social Anxiety and Gender Differences

by Wei Tu, Hui Jiang and Qingqi Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10978; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710978 - 02 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2175

Abstract

Social media addiction has become one of the typical problem behaviors during adolescence. The present study examined the mediation of social anxiety between peer victimization and adolescent mobile social addiction and tested whether gender could moderate the direct and indirect effects of peer [...] Read more.

Social media addiction has become one of the typical problem behaviors during adolescence. The present study examined the mediation of social anxiety between peer victimization and adolescent mobile social addiction and tested whether gender could moderate the direct and indirect effects of peer victimization. 649 adolescents between 12 and 19 years of age (M_age = 14.80, SD_age = 1.82) completed the anonymous survey. The results found that social anxiety was a mediator linking peer victimization to mobile social addiction. Gender could moderate the direct and indirect effects of peer victimization, and these two effects were stronger in girls than in boys. The results highlight the role of social anxiety in explaining how peer victimization was associated with adolescent mobile phone addiction and the role of gender in explaining when or for whom the direct and indirect associations between peer victimization and adolescent mobile social addiction were more potent. The findings would contribute to the intervention of mobile social addiction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Early Interventions for Addictive Behavior across the Lifespan)

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12 pages, 1211 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Tobacco Smoking in the Efficacy of Brief Alcohol Intervention: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

by Filipa Krolo, Sophie Baumann, Anika Tiede, Gallus Bischof, Kristian Krause, Christian Meyer, Ulrich John, Beate Gaertner and Jennis Freyer-Adam

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 5847; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19105847 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1409

Abstract

This study investigated whether tobacco smoking affected outcomes of brief alcohol interventions (BAIs) in at-risk alcohol-drinking general hospital patients. Between 2011 and 2012 among patients aged 18–64 years, 961 patients were allocated to in-person counseling (PE), computer-based BAI containing computer-generated individual feedback letters [...] Read more.

This study investigated whether tobacco smoking affected outcomes of brief alcohol interventions (BAIs) in at-risk alcohol-drinking general hospital patients. Between 2011 and 2012 among patients aged 18–64 years, 961 patients were allocated to in-person counseling (PE), computer-based BAI containing computer-generated individual feedback letters (CO), and assessment only. PE and CO included contacts at baseline, 1, and 3 months. After 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, self-reported reduction of alcohol use per day was assessed as an outcome. By using latent growth curve models, self-reported smoking status, and number of cigarettes per day were tested as moderators. In PE and CO, alcohol use was reduced independently of smoking status (IRRs ≤ 0.61, ps < 0.005). At month 24, neither smoking status nor number of cigarettes per day moderated the efficacy of PE (IRR = 0.69, ps > 0.05) and CO (IRR = 0.85, ps > 0.05). Up to month 12, among persons smoking ≤ 19 cigarettes per day, the efficacy of CO increased with an increasing number of cigarettes (ps < 0.05). After 24 months, the efficacy of PE and CO that have been shown to reduce drinking did not differ by smoking status or number of cigarettes per day. Findings indicate that efficacy may differ by the number of cigarettes in the short term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Early Interventions for Addictive Behavior across the Lifespan)

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