Background Substance use disorders are understood as a chronically relapsing condition that is difficult to treat. However, in recent years there have been promising developments in the treatment of substance use disorders, specifically with interventions based on mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Little research has examined whether these types of interventions may positively impact residential substance use treatment outcomes. Objectives Thus, in the current study we developed and examined, in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), a 4-week, 8-session, adjunctive Mindfulness and Acceptance group therapy for patients in residential substance use treatment. Our primary outcomes were substance use cravings, psychological flexibility, and dispositional mindfulness at treatment discharge. Methods Patients (N = 117) from a private residential substance use facility were randomized to receive the adjunctive Mindfulness and Acceptance group or treatment-as-usual (TAU). Patients were assessed at treatment intake and at discharge from the 28-30 day residential program. Results Although treatment groups did not statistically differ at discharge on any primary outcome, small effect sizes favored the Mindfulness and Acceptance group on cravings and psychological flexibility. Conclusions/Importance Continued research is needed to determine whether the addition of mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions improve outcomes long-term following residential substance use treatment.

Objective: Despite heightened attention to intimate partner violence (IPV) toward undergraduate women, unwanted pursuit behaviors (UPBs) have received much less attention. The purpose of the present study was to refine and validate existing in-person and cyber UPB measures, examine their association with other forms of IPV, and assess the unique impact of UPBs on posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depressive symptoms. Method: Undergraduate women (N = 318) completed measures assessing the frequency and levels of fear and annoyance caused by cyber and in-person UPBs, and measures of IPV, PTSS, and depressive symptoms. Factor analyses and comparisons based on psychological outcomes were used to determine the suitability of the removal of items rated as low in fear and annoyance. Dominance analyses assessed incremental contributions of each type of UPBs and IPV to PTSS and depressive symptoms. Results: Five in-person UPB items were rated as low in annoyance, and fear and were removed; scale structure was unaffected by their removal. After their removal, fewer women were identified as UPB victims, and those who were no longer identified as victims did not differ from others who were not victimized with respect to psychological outcomes. Dominance analyses indicated that cyber contact UPBs (e.g., threatening calls or texts) contributed more incremental variance to PTSS and depressive symptoms than did any other form of UPB or IPV. Conclusions: Findings call attention to the particular need for practitioners and policymakers to better address cyber UPBs and their prevention, which are frequently overlooked in present IPV prevention efforts.

Preliminary research has demonstrated the utility of bystander interventions in reducing sexual assault (Coker et al., 2011; Moynihan & Banyard, 2008), and initial research has begun extending this type of intervention to dating violence broadly (i.e., physical and psychological aggression). However, there are many unexplored factors that may increase or decrease the likelihood that individuals will engage in bystander behavior. One such factor is previous experiences with dating violence and sexual assault. Thus, this study examined prior dating violence and sexual assault experiences and endorsement of bystander behaviors in a large sample of college students (N = 2,430). We hypothesized that individuals with a history of dating and sexual assault victimization would be more likely to report engaging in bystander behaviors relative to nonvictims. The relationship between prior dating violence perpetration on bystander behavior was also explored. Results demonstrated that individuals with physical and sexual, but not psychological, victimization histories reported more frequent bystander behavior. Furthermore, perpetrators of physical violence were more likely than nonperpetrators to report bystander behavior, particularly among females. Findings provide preliminary evidence that prior experiences with dating violence and sexual assault may impact bystander behavior. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Violence in college student dating relationships is a prevalent problem. However, little research has examined stalking, behaviors that have most commonly been examined after relationship termination, not within intact relationships. The purpose of the present study was to descriptively examine the prevalence and frequency of various stalking behaviors among male and female college students in a current dating relationship (N=650). Results demonstrated that the prevalence of some stalking behaviors were as high as 38 % in the previous 6 months. Additionally, out of 15 potential stalking behaviors, men and women only differed on the frequency of one stalking behavior (leaving unwanted items for a partner). Findings demonstrate that stalking behaviors are relatively common among college students in dating relationships.

This study examined mothers' responses to foster emotional competence from a cultural perspective. Fifty-one European American, 52 Turkish, and 40 Romanian mothers of 2-year-old children provided open-ended responses to vignettes of anger-, sadness-, fear-, and happiness-eliciting situations. Mothers' responses were compared between the family models of independence (United States) and psychological interdependence (Turkey, Romania) to understand cultural variations. To anger, all mothers endorsed problem-focused responses that emphasized teaching coping skills at similar rates, suggestive of an autonomy-orientation. European American mothers also endorsed behaviorally oriented discipline to cope with anger independently more than Turks and Romanians, who endorsed reasoning and comforting responses more, reflecting a relatedness emphasis. To sadness, problem-focused and comforting responses did not reveal cultural differences. Expected differences in reasoning and dismissive responses were partly supported. To fear, comforting was the dominant response, with the highest rate reported by European Americans. Turkish and Romanian mothers' relative emphasis on reasoning was characteristic of their family model. In happy situations, European American mothers validated toddlers' happiness most often, whereas Turkish mothers reported the escalation of happiness most often. Despite sharing the psychological interdependence model, differences in some responses to sadness, fear, and happiness were noted between Turkish and Romanian mothers. K E Y W O R D S anger, culture, emotional competence, emotion norms, family models, fear, happiness, sadness 262 |