Paul D. Sarvela

An Evaluation of a Mixed-Gender Date Rape Prevention Workshop

A randomized, posttest-only experimental design was used to compare the date-rape attitudes of university students who were exposed to a mixed-gender date-rape workshop (n = 163) with those of students who were not exposed (n = 168). A previously validated instrument, the 25-item Date Rape Attitudes Survey (DRAS), was used as the criterion measure. Three hypotheses were tested, with the following results: (1) Men reported attitudes that were more tolerant of date rape than those reported by women (ie, the men were more likely to condone date rape); (2) students in the control group reported attitudes that were more tolerant of date rape than those reported by students in the treatment group; and (3) men exhibited a greater effect from the program than did women. Finally, the authors discuss implications of the study and offer recommendations for future research evaluating date-rape prevention programs.

Indicators of rural youth drug use.

The relationships between personal substance use, health beliefs, peer use, sex, and religion were examined using data collected from 265 middle school students in rural northern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin in January and February 1984. A positive correlation between peer and personal drug use was established. A relationship was also found between health beliefs and personal substance use. In addition, a regression model was able to account for a statistically significant amount of the variance of alcohol, marihuana, and cigarette use in the target population. Recommendations are made concerning future research, methods of improving health education program development, and possible target areas for psychotherapy.

Early Adolescent Alcohol Abuse in Rural Northern Michigan.

Data concerning several alcohol abuse behaviors were collected from 181 middle school students in Michigans Upper Peninsula during May, 1982. The findings suggest that alcohol misuse in this region increases significantly with age, and appears to be at rates well above national averages. Examination of gender differences also reveals results which differ from national trends. This paper examines the general alcohol-related abusive behaviors found in this rural youth population, and provides some recommendations for both mental health education program development and therapeutic services.

Correlates of Early Adolescent Peer and Personal Substance Use in Rural Northern Michigan.

Data were collected from 181 middle school students in rural northern Michigan during May 1982. Student responses concerning peer and personal use of alcohol and nicotine were analyzed. The results suggest that peer substance use is highly correlated with personal substance use, and increases significantly with age. Sexual differences were also noted. This article describes the powerful correlates between peer and personal alcohol and nicotine use (i.e., cigarette smoking), and suggests some hypotheses for this phenomenon.

Entrepreneurial propensity in health care: models and propositions for empirical research.

Abstract: We maintain that entrepreneurial propensity is a focal construct in entrepreneurial research. We synthesize the literature to develop models depicting the antecedents and consequents of entrepreneurial propensity in a network of other constructs and variables of interest in the health care industry. We advance propositions for empirical investigation and validation of competing research models associated with entrepreneurial propensity. We conclude with a discussion of directions of future research.

A Descriptive Study of Breastfeeding Practices and Policies in Missouri Hospitals

All Missouri hospitals that offer maternity services were assessed to measure their compliance with WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). Representatives from seventy six hospitals responded to a telephone survey relating to hospital breastfeeding practices and policies as defined by BFHIs Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. No hospital fully supported the Ten Steps. Compliance with the WHO/UNICEF criteria varied greatly. The least support was for Step 1, only 28% of hospitals had a written breastfeeding policy that was communicated to all staff. The greatest support was for Step 3, 93% of hospitals had staff who informed all pregnant women of breastfeeding benefits. In order to increase breastfeeding rates and duration, administrators of hospitals that offer maternity services must increase their efforts to consistently implement the Ten Steps, to become more baby friendly, and to more fully establish a breastfeeding culture within their institutions.

Does efficacy mediate stage of change and condom use in injected-drug users?

OBJECTIVE To examine condom efficacy and the stages of change in explaining condom usage among a sample of 278 injected-drug users (IDUs). METHODS Data were collected as part of a statewide behavioral surveillance study. RESULTS Participants reported multiple risk behaviors, including having unprotected sex with multiple partners and exchanging sex. Approximately half the sample was in the precontemplation or contemplation stage for condom use, whereas 21% were in maintenance. Mediational analyses indicated that condom efficacy partially mediated the association between stage of change and self-reported condom use. CONCLUSIONS The findings are discussed within the context of targeting HIV prevention interventions.

Sources of HIV-prevention information for individuals at high risk.

OBJECTIVES To identify the best methods of reaching individuals at high risk with HIV-prevention messages. METHODS Data were collected from 827 men who have sex with men, injection drug users, sex workers, HIV+ individuals, heterosexuals, migrant workers, and perinatal women. RESULTS Over 70% of participants were exposed to HIV-prevention messages, but sources of exposure varied by risk group. CONCLUSIONS Most methods examined were effective means of communicating prevention messages. As multifaceted approaches to intervention allow for more comprehensive dissemination, interventions can be tailored to the targeted risk group by using sources shown most effective for each group.

Examining Discrepancies Among Sexual Orientation Components in a Representative Sample of Men at Risk for HIV/AIDS

The study compares the effects associated with sexual orientation components (sexual identity, sexual attraction, and sexual behavior in the past three months) on rates of reported mental illness and risky sexual behavior in a representative sample of men at high risk for HIV/AIDS. Important differences between populations of individuals who responded consistently and inconsistently across sexual orientation components were observed, and effects in each of these populations were different that those in the combined sample. These findings suggest that the effects of one sexual orientation component may depend on associations among components, and thus researchers should be cautious when examining single components in isolation.

Designing a safety program for a college health service.

Although accidents are the leading cause of death among college students, literature about developing student health safety programs is limited. In this article, we present preliminary recommendations based on literature review, epidemiologic data, and Nominal Group Process (NGP) activities, for developing university student safety programs. Our recommendations include appointing a coordinator to oversee all on-campus safety activities, providing for university-wide education programs dealing with alcohol and drug use, promoting personal safety efforts in areas such as family violence and rape prevention, and encouraging students to use safe transportation alternatives.