Dean R. Gorman

Relationship between Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol Problems in Young Adults.

The relationships among alcohol problems and alcohol consumption variables including quantity-frequency (Q-F) classifications, frequency of alcohol use, quantity of alcohol use, and beverage types, were examined in a young adult population. Total alcohol-related problems, drinking and driving problems, and school problems increased significantly when young adults drank moderately. Certain types of problems, however, appear to be more or less associated with alcohol consumption. For example, physical illness problems increased during light drinking, while interpersonal and legal problems increased during moderate-heavy and heavy alcohol use, respectively. Virtually no differences were found on alcohol problems for drinking classifications between sexes. Both the frequency and quantity of beer and liquor use were found to be positively associated with alcohol problems. The relationship between the frequency and quantity of wine use and alcohol problems, however, was less strong and more dissonant. In general, alcohol problems were found to be related to relatively low levels of frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption. Specific suggestions regarding substance abuse prevention program content and models were also discussed.

FACTOR ANALYSIS OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SELF-CONTROL PRACTICES FOR ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

A factor analysis of specific alcohol-related self-control practices reported by 410 young adults who completed a Self-control Questionnaire, consisting of both internal and external self-control measures, is described. Seven factors were extracted from the external self-control items including Rate Control, Self-reinforcement and Punishment, Alternatives, Avoidance, Limiting Driving and Cash, Controlling Time and Food, and Awareness. Three factors emerged from the internal self-control items including Impairment, Relaxation, and Anxiousness. These specific groupings of external and internal self-control variables should be empirically tested for their utility as interventions aimed at moderating the alcohol consumption of young adults.

An Analysis of Firearms Training Performance among Active Law Enforcement Officers in the USA

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of differing stressors, associated with common exercises for handgun training of law enforcement officers, on performance and heart rate. Law enforcement officers were tested in groups for static shooting, shooting with running, and simulated combat; shoot-house exercises were performed individually. The firearms exercises performed on hit rate percentages yielded a significant effect on performance. Post hoc testing indicated that simulation and shoot-house exercises were significantly different from all other drills. Static shooting hit rate and run-shoot hit rate drills were significantly different from the simulation and shoot-house drills, but were not significantly different from each other. The firearms exercises also resulted in a significant effect on heart rates. Post hoc testing indicated significant differences in only two comparisons: static shooting and shoot-house exercises, and static shooting and simulation. Finally, a Pearsons r correlation performed on hit rate percentages and heart rate data resulted in a significant negative correlation r = .49. The differences between exercises in both performance and heart rate suggest that training that is more similar to actual force-on-force situations decrease performance and increase heart rate. Based on these findings, it would seem that training programmes should incorporate a greater proportion of training time devoted to combat situations involving high-stress exercises.

STRENGTH AND ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE UNIVERSITY-LEVEL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Prediction of football-playing ability from several tests of power and anthropometric measures and a prediction of body fat from several skinfold sites was determined among university-level football players. Success in football ability, determined from the coachs rating, correlated highly with skinfolds, % body fat, and a few power measures. Skinfold estimates of body fat can be accurately assessed (r = .92) from two sites, iliac crest and cheek. Football teams would benefit from periodic “in-season” and “offseason” checks on body fat to ensure compliance to a year-long training program.