Jeffrey S. Simons

Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunctions: Results from a Decade of Research

Ten years of research that has provided data regarding the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions is reviewed. A thorough review of the literature identified 52 studies published in the 10 years since an earlier review by Spector and Carey (Arch. Sex. Behav. 19(4): 389–408, 1990). Community samples indicate a current prevalence of 0%–3% for male orgasmic disorder, 0%–5% for erectile disorder, and 0%–3% for male hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Pooling current and 1-year figures provides community prevalence estimates of 7%–10% for female orgasmic disorder and 4%–5% for premature ejaculation. Stable community estimates of the current prevalence of other sexual dysfunctions remain unavailable. Prevalence estimates obtained from primary care and sexuality clinic samples are characteristically higher. Although a relatively large number of studies has been conducted since the earlier review, the lack of methodological rigor of many studies limits the confidence that can be placed in these findings.

An affective-motivational model of marijuana and alcohol problems among college students.

The study examined models of marijuana (n = 309) and alcohol (n = 731) problems. Impulsivity was directly associated with both marijuana- and alcohol-related problems. Negative mood regulation expectancies were indirectly associated with marijuana problems through coping motives. Sensation seeking was indirectly associated with alcohol problems through enhancement motives. Affect lability and negative affect were indirectly associated with alcohol problems though coping motives. In both models, coping motives were directly associated with use-related problems. A multigroup analysis indicated that the association between negative affect and coping motives as well as use and problems was stronger among participants using both alcohol and marijuana relative to alcohol only. Enhancement motives were a stronger predictor of alcohol use among participants using alcohol only.

A comparison of motives for marijuana and alcohol use among experienced users

Motivational models suggest that individuals use substances to achieve desired effects. Given different pharmacological effects across drug classes, and variations in social context, one would expect that the motives instigating use differ by drug class. However, commonalties in motives across drugs have also been observed. The purpose of this study was to examine similarities and differences across a common set of motives for alcohol and marijuana among experienced users of both drugs. Participants were 46 college students (21 women) who completed a motives assessment twice, once for marijuana and once for alcohol. All had used each drug 60 or more times in their lifetime. Social motives were more highly endorsed for alcohol than marijuana. Expansion motives were more highly endorsed for marijuana. Enhancement motives were more highly endorsed for marijuana than alcohol among women but not men. Endorsement of coping and conformity motives did not differ across drugs. Experienced users of marijuana and alcohol discriminate between their reasons for using the two drugs. These findings are discussed with regard to the differentiation between and commonalties among substances of abuse.

Inference in regression models of heavily skewed alcohol use data: a comparison of ordinary least squares, generalized linear models, and bootstrap resampling.

Analysis of alcohol use data and other low base rate risk behaviors using ordinary least squares regression models can be problematic. This article presents 2 alternative statistical approaches, generalized linear models and bootstrapping, that may be more appropriate for such data. First, the basic theory behind the approaches is presented. Then, using a data set of alcohol use behaviors and consequences, results based on these approaches are contrasted with the results from ordinary least squares regression. The less traditional approaches consistently demonstrated better fit with model assumptions, as demonstrated by graphical analysis of residuals, and identified more significant variables potentially resulting in theoretically different interpretations of the models of alcohol use. In conclusion, these models show significant promise for furthering the understanding of alcohol-related behaviors.

Moderation of Resource Depletion in the Self-Control Strength Model: Differing Effects of Two Modes of Self-Control

The current study examined the effects of good and poor control and changes in blood glucose following self-control depletion on task persistence. Good self-control attenuated the effect of depletion on task persistence. Poor control exerted a main effect; however, there were no significant interactions between poor control and self-control depletion. In addition, the association between depletion and task persistence was partially mediated by decreases in blood glucose. Task persistence in the experimental, but not control, condition was correlated with several risk behaviors. These correlations provide support for the external validity of the laboratory experiment. The differential effects of good and poor control support a two-mode model of self-control. The interaction between the depletion manipulation and good self-control suggests that associations between good self-control and behavior may be due, in part, to good self-control reducing the effects of self-control demands on behavior.

Lability and impulsivity synergistically increase risk for alcohol-related problems.

This study examined two aspects of affect dysregulation as risk factors for alcohol‐related problems. From a sample of 592 undergraduates, 442 alcohol users were examined on measures of impulsivity, lability, alcohol use, and alcohol‐related problems. As expected, affect lability and impulsivity significantly increased risk for alcohol problems even after controlling for gender and lifetime‐use frequency. Impulsivity was further examined as a vulnerability factor, potentially enhancing the relations between use frequency and problems and affect lability and problems. Impulsivity did not moderate the use frequency–problems relationship. However, the relationship between affect lability and problems was greatest among participants with higher degrees of impulsivity. The results demonstrate that individual differences in affect dysregulation are associated with alcohol‐related problems in young adults.

Correlates of substance use disorder among psychiatric outpatients: focus on cognition, social role functioning, and psychiatric status.

This study compared psychiatric outpatients who were never, former, and current substance abusers on psychiatric, social, and cognitive functioning. Fifty-six outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders volunteered to complete diagnostic and social role function interviews, self-report inventories, and neuropsychological tests. Multinomial logit regression analyses indicated that current and former abusers reported greater subjective feelings of distress than those who never abused. Contrary to expectations, however, both groups of substance abusers performed better on nonverbal cognitive tests compared with those who never abused. Differences in social functioning were also observed: former abusers demonstrated better instrumental role functioning than those who never abused. This pattern of findings challenges assumptions about additive effects of comorbid disorders on cognitive and social functioning.

Event-level associations between affect, alcohol intoxication, and acute dependence symptoms: Effects of urgency, self-control, and drinking experience

This study used experience sampling to examine within-person associations between positive affect, anxiety, sadness, and hostility and two outcomes: alcohol intoxication and acute dependence symptoms. We examined the role of urgency, premeditation, and perseverance in predicting the alcohol outcomes and tested whether the affective associations varied as a function of urgency. Participants completed baseline assessments and 21 days of experience sampling on PDAs. Hypotheses were partially confirmed. Positive affect was positively, and sadness inversely, associated with intoxication. Hostility was associated with intoxication for men but not women. Negative urgency moderated the association between anxiety and intoxication, making it stronger. However, positive urgency did not moderate the effect of positive affect. Heavier drinkers exhibited the greatest number of symptoms, yet the association between intoxication and acute signs of alcohol disorder was attenuated among these individuals. Results support the use of experience sampling to study acute signs and symptoms of high risk drinking and dependence.

Relationships between binge drinking and substance-free reinforcement in a sample of college students A preliminary investigation

Heavy episodic drinking is a relatively common phenomenon among college students, and students who engage in binge drinking are at increased risk for a variety of adverse consequences. This paper investigates relationships between substance use and reinforcement derived from specific categories of substance-free activities among a sample of 256 college undergraduates. Data from a standardized behavioral inventory were used to compare the frequency, pleasure, and reinforcement potential of substance-free events and activities experienced by binge drinkers and a comparison group. Binge drinkers reported significantly lower scores across a variety of substance-free activity categories and, in the majority of the cases, the relationship between binge drinking and decreased reinforcement density remained significant after accounting for the effects of the use of other drugs and demographic variables. These results are consistent with a growing body of evidence linking substance use to deprivation of substance-free reinforcement.

Differential Prediction of Alcohol Use and Problems: The Role of Biopsychological and Social‐Environmental Variables

This study examined the differential prediction of alcohol use and problems by biopsychological (i.e., affective and cognitive variables) and social‐environmental (i.e., social norms) variables. Undergraduate students (N = 231) were assessed twice separated by a 30–day interval. Time 1 impulsivity, affect lability, social norms, and perceived conflict between personal strivings and alcohol use were each significant predictors of alcohol use–related problems at Time 2 (T2). Structural equation models indicated that impulsivity and affect lability were related directly with use‐related problems, while social norms and use‐strivings conflict were related indirectly with use‐related problems (mediated by use frequency). Impulsivity moderated the T2 use to use‐related problems relationship. Use frequency was associated more strongly with use‐related problems among more impulsive participants.