R. Lorraine Collins

Women's descriptions of drinking in bars : Reasons and risks

Fifty-two women bar drinkers participated infocus group discussions about womens reasons fordrinking, victimization experiences, and behaviors thatinfluence risk for victimization, in bars. The majority of the participants were White (67.3%),one-third were Black (30.8%), and one was NativeAmerican. Qualitative data analytic techniques were usedto assess the content of these discussions. Womendescribed distinct reasons for going to bars and providednumerous accounts of aggression they had witnessed orexperienced associated with this setting. Depictions ofphysical violence ranged from having an object thrown at them or being pushed, to accounts ofrape and attempted murder. These women also describedobservable changes in other womens behavior followingalcohol consumption, and how these behaviors increase risk for victimization in bars. The qualitativefindings are discussed in terms of what they tell usabout women bar drinkers and the insight theyprovide fordesigning future studies and interventions that focus on education and prevention.

Relapse prevention versus broad spectrum treatment for smoking cessation: A comparison of efficacy

The efficacy of a smoking cessation relapse prevention (RP) program, emphasizing cognitive-behavioral coping skills, was compared to that of a broad spectrum (BS) program, which emphasized behavioral skills. It was hypothesized that the RP program would be more effective in producing long-term abstinence, compared to the BS package. Abstinence rates validated by saliva thiocyanate and carbon monoxide, as well as self-report of smoking reduction, were measured at posttreatment, 3 and 6 months. No differences in posttreatment quit rates were found between the two groups, although both programs produced significantly higher quit rates than the wait-list control group. Contrary to prediction, the BS group produced marginally significantly greater abstinence at 3 months. No differences in abstinence were found at 6 months. Reduction in cigarette consumption was marginally significantly greater for the BS group at 3 and 6 months. Various mediators of treatment outcome were not found to influence success in quitting. There was a significant weight gain in those who quit.

Psychological Correlates and Explanations of Alcohol Use and Abuse

There are a number of psychological correlates and explanations for the excessive consumption of alcohol. The selection of topics covered in this chapter represents the major psychological approaches used to explain excessive alcohol use, namely, the psychodynamic, disease, and behavioral/social learning models. Research on the psychological aspects of alcohol consumption is relatively new. An attempt has been made to present the basic ideas of each of the models along with research evidence and methodological issues pertaining to their evaluation. Each of the models presented has contributed to our continuing attempts to understand the complex mechanisms and issues involved in excessive alcohol use. As our theoretical and methodological sophistication increases, further refinement of each of these approaches seems likely. For the present, they represent laudable initial efforts to develop psychological frameworks within which one can study and treat problem drinking.

Methodological note: Corroboration of self-reported smoking status using significant other reports

Significant other reports (SORs) are commonly used in smoking cessation studies to verify self-reports of smoking status. This report focuses on factors related to the smoker and significant other, which can affect self-reported classification of smoking status when using SORs. Data used in this analysis were collected from a cohort of 107 smokers who participated in a smoking cessation program. Participants were contacted at 1, 3, and 6 months after quitting to obtain self-reports of smoking status. SORs also were obtained at each assessment period. The highest discrepancy rate between self-report and SOR was observed among slippers, followed by relapsers, and abstainers, respectively. In addition, corroboration of smoking status was influenced by the social context in which the significant other was likely to see the smoker.

Context‐related drinking assessment in a community sample

Aims: The objective of this report was to determine if a context‐related drinking assessment would aid in the prediction of alcohol problems and alcohol dependence beyond the information provided by more general quantity/frequency measures. Methods: Individuals were recruited from a study on bar violence (n = 637). In addition to a general quantity/frequency assessment of alcohol consumption, participants were asked to report their usual quantity and frequency of consumption in the past year at eight different situations. The context‐related measure was compared to the more general quantity/frequency assessment in terms of similarities between the assessments and their relation to measures of alcohol problems and dependence. Findings: Both assessment techniques were highly correlated to each other and to all measures of alcohol problems and dependence. Among men, the context‐related assessment was significantly associated with alcohol problems and dependence, and it provided unique information beyond the general quantity/frequency measure. Among women, the context‐related measures provided no additional information. Conclusions: For men, the addition of a context‐related drinking assessment to a more general quantity/frequency measure of consumption provides additional information about the relation between alcohol consumption and certain alcohol‐related problems.