Paul F. Tremblay

Home Background Characteristics and Second Language Learning

Some researchers investigating second language acquisition argue that the sociocultural milieu of the learner influences individual difference variables involved in learning a second language. This study investigated this link by assessing the linguistic nature of the home community, respondents’ recollections of early experiences in second language learning, and their current attitudes and beliefs about language learning and bilingualism. The sample consisted of 109 1st-year university students enrolled in an introductory psychology course. Support was found for a causal model that indicated that early sociocultural experiences, as reflected in respondents’ recollections, influence their current cultural attitudes, motivation to learn a second language, and self-perceptions of second language proficiency.

When Do First-Year College Students Drink Most During the Academic Year? An Internet-Based Study of Daily and Weekly Drinking

Abstract Objective: The authors investigated the alcohol consumption trajectories among first-year university students. Participants: A sample of 415 students attending a large university in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, was recruited. Methods: Students completed a baseline questionnaire and 26 weekly brief Internet surveys assessing alcohol consumption from September 2006 to April 2007. Results: Findings indicated that alcohol consumption varies considerably as a function of time of the academic year. Overall trends indicate that students drink more heavily at the beginning of each semester and less during exam periods. Daily patterns indicate that most drinking occurs on weekends. The highest drinking days in the first academic year included Halloween, New Years Eve, and St. Patricks Day. Conclusions: The present study provides evidence that periods of high and low alcohol consumption are contingent upon specific events and the time of the year.

Harm, Intent, and the Nature of Aggressive Behavior Measuring Naturally Occurring Aggression in Barroom Settings

The research goals were to use the constructs of harm and intent to quantify the severity of aggression in the real-world setting of the bar/club, to describe the range of aggressive behaviors and their relationship to harm and intent, and to examine gender differences in the form and severity of aggression. Systematic observations were conducted by trained observers on 1,334 nights in 118 bars/clubs. Observers documented a range of aggressive acts by 1,754 patrons in 1,052 incidents, with many forms of aggression occurring at more than one harm and intent level. Women used different forms of aggression, inflicted less harm, and were more likely to have defensive intent compared with men. Implications of the findings for research and measurement of aggression and applications to preventing aggression and violence are discussed.

On the growth of structural equation modeling in psychological journals

This study investigates the distribution of technical and substantive structural equation modeling articles (SEM) that were published in psychological journals from 1987 to 1994. An inspection of more than 1050 abstracts on PsycLit 1987–1995 (PsycINFO, 1973–1995) revealed a number of clear trends: (a) an increase by year of articles concerned with SEM, (b) an increase in the number of journals that publish structural equation modeling articles, (c) a relatively stable output of technical articles across years, and (d) an increase of substantive articles across years. Furthermore, when the substantive articles are classified as either causal models or confirmatory factor analyses, a similar “growth” trend across years occurs for both categories. We further inspected the growth trend by considering the ratio of SEM articles to the total number of psychology articles and by comparing these results to distributions of analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of variance, regression, and factor analyses art...

Does the relationship between depression and intimate partner aggression vary by gender, victim-perpetrator role, and aggression severity?

Research has shown a consistent link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and depression, although this association may vary by gender, role in IPV (victim, perpetrator, or bidirectional), and aggression severity. We evaluated these factors in a telephone survey of 14,063 Canadians. All three factors were found to affect the association of depression with IPV. Specifically, depression was more strongly associated with IPV by a partner (i.e., victimization) for women but with aggression toward a partner (i.e., perpetration) for men. Severity of aggression was associated with increased risk of depression for both one-sided and bidirectional aggression by a partner but more strongly for one-sided aggression toward a partner. These findings suggest that research, prevention, and treatment should focus on all roles in IPV, not just male-to-female aggression.

Where, With Whom, and How Much Alcohol Is Consumed on Drinking Events Involving Aggression? Event-Level Associations in a Canadian National Survey of University Students

BACKGROUND Epidemiological research using event-level data can provide a better understanding of the association between alcohol consumption, characteristics of drinking contexts, and the likelihood of aggressive behavior. The present research assessed whether alcohol intake and characteristics of the drinking context were associated with the likelihood of aggression within individuals across 3 drinking events based on a national sample of university students, taking into account individual characteristics and university level variables. Additionally, we determined whether individual characteristics, particularly drinking pattern, were associated with alcohol-related aggression controlling for drinking event characteristics, and whether relations of aggression to alcohol and drinking contexts differed by gender. METHODS Secondary analyses of the 2004 Canadian Campus Survey (CCS), a national survey of 6,282 university students (41% response rate) at 40 Canadian universities, were conducted. Respondents were asked about their three most recent drinking events, including whether they were in an argument or fight with someone, number of drinks consumed, and characteristics of the drinking context as well as their usual drinking frequency and heavy episodic drinking. We used multi-level analyses to account for the nested structure of the data (i.e., drinking events nested within individuals who were nested within universities). RESULTS The number of drinks consumed was positively associated with aggression. Drinking contexts found to be positively associated with aggression included being at a party, at a fraternity/sorority and/or residence, at three or more drinking places (versus 1 or 2), and having a partner present whereas having a meal reduced the likelihood of aggression. A significant interaction was found between gender and being at a party, with a significant effect found for women but not for men. CONCLUSIONS These results support experimental evidence indicating a direct role of alcohol in aggression and point to characteristics of the drinking context that might be targeted in future prevention initiatives.

Associations of hair cortisol concentration with self-reported measures of stress and mental health-related factors in a pooled database of diverse community samples.

Abstract A pooled database from diverse community samples was used to examine the associations of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) with self-reported stress and stress-linked mental health measures, including depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug use, disability and experiences with aggression. As part of innovative research using a mobile laboratory to study community mental health, data were pooled from five sub-studies: a random sample of the general population (n = 70), people who had received treatment for a mental health and/or substance use problem (n = 78), family members of people treated for mental health and/or substance use problems (n = 49), community volunteers who sometimes felt sad or blue or thought they drank too much (n = 83) and young adults in intimate partner relationships (n = 44). All participants completed a computerized questionnaire including standard measures of perceived stress, chronic stress, depression, anxiety, hazardous drinking, tobacco use, prescription drug use, illicit drug use, disability and intimate partner aggression. HCC was significantly associated with use of antidepressants, hazardous drinking, smoking and disability after adjusting for sub-study and potential confounders (sex, body-mass index, use of glucocorticoids and hair dyed). In addition, preliminary analyses suggest a significant curvilinear relationship between HCC and perceived stress; specifically, HCC increased with higher perceived stress but decreased at the highest level of stress. Overall, HCC was associated with mental health-related variables mainly reflecting substance use or experiencing a disability. The relationship between HCC and self-reported stress is unclear and needs further research.

Every male in there is your competition: young men's perceptions regarding the role of the drinking setting in male-to-male barroom aggression.

The present paper explores young mens perceptions regarding the influence of the bar setting on male-to-male barroom aggression. Focus group interviews were conducted with 27 young men aged 18–25 in London, Ontario, Canada. Participants were given a description of a typical incident of aggression between men in bars and asked to discuss why the incident happened. The following themes pertaining to the role of the setting were identified: (1) sexual competition and male rivalry; (2) heightened concerns with image and social pressure to fight; (3) anonymity and taking on a different identity; (4) provocation and negative stimuli; (5) bar staff behavior; (6) acceptance and expectation of aggression; (7) high level of drunkenness; and (8) thrill, excitement, high energy level, and uncertainty of what might happen. These findings are discussed within a situational/crime prevention framework and prevention implications are highlighted.

Not Just the Booze Talking: Trait Aggression and Hypermasculinity Distinguish Perpetrators From Victims of Male Barroom Aggression

BACKGROUND To our knowledge, no research has assessed whether young male victims and perpetrators of barroom aggression differ in terms of their drinking patterns and predisposing characteristics. This study assessed the extent that frequent heavy episodic drinking (HED) and bar-going, trait aggression, and hypermasculinity were differentially associated with victimization versus perpetration for aggression occurring among young adult men in the setting of the public drinking establishment. METHODS A random sample of 2,500 male students attending a local university and a local community college was invited to participate in an online survey. Participants were asked the number of times in the past 12 months they had experienced an incident of aggression at a bar in which (a) someone was physically aggressive toward them and (b) they were physically aggressive toward another person. Responses were coded as (i) any perpetration of aggression, (ii) victim only, (iii) no aggression. A composite variable of HED (5 or more drinks per occasion) and bar-going frequency was computed: (i) both HED and bar ≥ twice a month, (ii) only HED ≥ twice a month, (iii) only bar ≥ twice a month, and (iv) both < twice a month. Standard measures of trait aggression and hypermasculinity were used. RESULTS Multivariate multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed that a combination of both frequent HED and frequent bar-going was associated with both perpetration and victimization at a bar (compared to no aggression). Trait aggression and hypermasculinity were associated with perpetration but not with victimization. Logistic regression analyses directly comparing perpetrators with victims indicated that perpetrators were more likely to both drink heavily and go to bars frequently and were more likely to have high levels of trait aggression and hypermasculinity. CONCLUSIONS While HED is an important target for prevention programming, additional efforts should be directed toward addressing the combination of frequent HED and frequent bar-going as well as underlying aggressive personalities and masculinity concerns among young men.

Coping styles and depression among psychiatric outpatients

Abstract The present investigation examined the relationships among coping styles and depressive symptomatology in a sample of adult psychiatric outpatients. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess depressive symptomatology. The Multidimensional Coping Inventory, a preliminary version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, was employed to assess coping styles. Twenty-six individuals completed the above inventories immediately prior to attending their first appointments at a community mental health clinic. Results revealed significant negative correlations between level of depressive symptomatology and both task and avoidance oriented coping styles, and a significant positive correlation between the former variable and emotion oriented coping style. These results were consistent with previous research findings with respect to task and emotion oriented coping styles.