Browsing by Author "Prestigiacomo, Christiana"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    A systematic review of the reasons for quitting and/or reducing alcohol among those who have received alcohol use disorder treatment
    (Elsevier, 2024-11-19) Prestigiacomo, Christiana; Fisher-Fox, Lindsey; Cyders, Melissa A.; Psychology, School of Science
    Research has primarily studied reasons for quitting and/or reducing alcohol use in non-treatment samples. This systematic review aimed to characterize the reasons for quitting and/or reducing alcohol use among those who have received treatment for AUD and examine how reasons endorsed differ across measurement methods used. Articles were identified through PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, and CINAHL. Twenty-one articles met inclusion criteria. Thematic coding revealed 21 unique themes in reasons for quitting and/or reducing. Common reasons included physical health issues, misalignment with personal goals, family influence, and social factors-also noted in non-treatment populations. Unique themes like hitting rock bottom and avoiding disapproval were identified, potentially linked to treatment initiation or development. The measurement approach influenced the reasons reported, highlighting the need for standardized methods. Common reasons are fundamental and are not a result of treatment, while others are unique to individuals who have received AUD treatment, which may suggest that they are critical in leading one to seek treatment or may be developed during treatment. Assessing and tailoring treatment based on these reasons may enhance outcomes. Standardizing how we measure reasons for quitting or reducing alcohol is crucial for comparing studies and improving treatment. Future research should evaluate reasons over time, assess their importance at different treatment stages, and use varied assessment strategies for comprehensive insights.
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    Here’s how Americans coped during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic
    (The Conversation US, Inc., 2020-04-09) Cyders, Melissa; Prestigiacomo, Christiana; Plawecki, Martin H.; Liu, Melissa; Psychology, School of Science
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    Mixed methods prospective findings of the initial effects of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic on individuals in recovery from substance use disorder
    (Public Library of Science, 2022-07-01) Shircliff, Katherine; Liu, Melissa; Prestigiacomo, Christiana; Fry, Melissa; Ladd, Kevin; Kannapel Gilbert, Misty; Rattermann, Mary Jo; Cyders, Melissa A.; Psychology, School of Science
    The beginning of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic interrupted integral services and supports for those in recovery from substance use disorders. The current study used qualitative and quantitative data to identify 1) pandemic-related barriers/stressors, 2) coping strategies employed, and 3) how the stressors and strategies predicted subsequent substance use frequency. Participants were 48 adults (40.5% female; 90.2% White) between 26 and 60 years old (M = 42.66, SD = 8.44) who were part of a larger, multi-year longitudinal study of individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. Individuals completed two interviews, one during the six weeks of initial stay-at-home orders in the state in which data were collected and the second within six to twelve months of their initial interview. Common barriers to recovery included cancelled support meetings, changes in job format (i.e., being fired or furloughed), and lack of social support. Common coping strategies included self-care, leisure activities/hobbies, taking caution against exposure, and strengthening personal relationships. The relationship between cravings at baseline and substance use at follow up was stronger for those who experienced worsening of their mental health (B = 21.80, p < .01) than for those who did not (B = 5.45, p = 0.09), and for those who were taking caution against exposure (B = 24.57, p < .01) than for those who were not (B = 1.87, p = 0.53). Those who engaged in self-care (B = 0.00, p>.99) had lower rates of substance use at follow-up than those who did not employ self-care as a coping mechanism (B = 16.10, p < .01). These findings inform research priorities regarding prospective effects of the pandemic on treatment endeavors, particularly emphasizing treating mental health and encouraging self-care strategies.
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    A Prospective Examination of How Alcohol Consumption Might Drive Changes in Urgency and Drinking Motives Over the First Year of College
    (2021-12) Prestigiacomo, Christiana; Cyders, Melissa A.; Rand, Kevin; Zapolski, Tamika
    Two impulsivity-related traits, negative and positive urgency (i.e., the tendency to act rashly in the face of extreme negative and positive emotions, respectively) are important risk factors for alcohol use escalation during college and for problematic and disordered level alcohol use, in part through increasing motives for alcohol use. The majority of research to date has focused on the causal direction from trait to motives to alcohol consumption. The goal of the current study was to conduct an initial test of how continued and escalating alcohol use may drive increases and shifts in positive and negative urgency, and how such changes drive subsequent increased drinking motives over the first year of college. Data were analyzed using an archival dataset of 418 first-year college students (age 18-21) enrolled in an introduction to psychology course at a large Midwestern university. Participants were sampled at three timepoints: at the beginning of the fall semester, the end of the fall semester, and the end of the spring semester. A series of hierarchical multiple regression and mediation analyses were used to test study hypotheses. Changes in alcohol use did not predict later changes in positive and negative urgency. Results did replicate previous research showing that changes in positive and negative urgency predicted later changes in drinking motives. Finally, there was some evidence that alcohol use at baseline predicted changes in enhancement drinking motives through changes in positive urgency; but this pattern was not seen with negative urgency. This work extends existing work with urgency theory, which has primarily focused on the effects of urgency on subsequent alcohol consumption and not the inverse. The fact that alcohol use drives subsequent changes in positive urgency and drinking motives can help to better identify mechanisms contributing increased risk for transition to problematic levels of alcohol consumption, can lead to better identification of those at risk for problematic alcohol use and can set the stage to better integrate urgency theory with other well-established alcohol risk models.