scholarly journals A Longitudinal Examination of the Relationship Between Sexual Sensation Seeking and STI-Related Risk Factors Among African American Females

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dexter R. Voisin ◽  
Kevin Tan ◽  
Ralph J. DiClemente
Sexual Health ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiarney D. Ritchwood ◽  
Dolly C. Penn ◽  
Ralph J. DiClemente ◽  
Eve S. Rose ◽  
Jessica M. Sales

Background The identification of antecedents to sexual risk among youth is critical to the development and dissemination of multilevel interventions. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of sexual sensation-seeking on partner age, partner communication, and the sexual attitudes and behaviours of African-American female youth. Methods: This study examined survey data collected by audio computer-assisted self-interviews from 701 young African-American females between 14 and 20 years of age. The survey consisted of items designed to measure adolescents’ sexual risk and preventive behaviours. Results: The results of this study suggest that sexual sensation-seeking is associated with condom use among adolescent African-American females. For adolescents who reported greater sexual sensation-seeking, lower levels of sexual happiness were associated with a decreased likelihood of condom use at last intercourse (β = 1.01, P ≤ 0.05). For those reporting lower levels of sexual sensation-seeking, greater sexual enjoyment was associated with a greater likelihood of condom use at last intercourse (β = 0.93, P ≤ 0.01). Adolescents with younger sexual partners and lower levels of sexual sensation-seeking reported a higher proportion of condom use in the past 6 months (β = 0.70, P = 0.01). Higher partner communication self-efficacy and decreasing levels of sexual sensation-seeking were associated with fewer lifetime sexual partners (β = –0.54, P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Future research should address the impact of these variables on adolescent relationship dynamics and sexual decision-making.


2021 ◽  
pp. 039156032199438
Author(s):  
Riccardo Bientinesi ◽  
Carlo Gandi ◽  
Luigi Vaccarella ◽  
Emilio Sacco

Modifiable lifestyle-related risk factors are the object of increasing attention, with a view to primary and tertiary prevention, to limit the onset and development of diseases. Also in the urological field there is accumulating evidence of the relationship between urological diseases and lifestyle-related risk factors that can influence their incidence and prognosis. Risk factors such as nutrition, physical activity, sexual habits, tobacco smoking, or alcohol consumption can be modified to limit morbidity and reduce the social impact and the burdensome costs associated with diagnosis and treatment. This review synthesizes the current clinical evidence available on this topic, trying to satisfy the need for a summary on the relationships between the most important lifestyle factors and the main benign urological diseases, focusing on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), infections urinary tract (UTI), urinary incontinence (UI), stones, erectile dysfunction, and male infertility.


Author(s):  
Nicole Farmer ◽  
Cristhian A. Gutierrez-Huerta ◽  
Briana S. Turner ◽  
Valerie M. Mitchell ◽  
Billy S. Collins ◽  
...  

Background: Neighborhoods and the microbiome are linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet investigations to identify microbiome-related factors at neighborhood levels have not been widely investigated. We sought to explore relationships between neighborhood deprivation index (NDI) and the microbial metabolite, trimethylamine-N-oxide. We hypothesized that inflammatory markers and dietary intake would be mediators of the relationship. Methods: African-American adults at risk for CVD living in the Washington, DC area were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional community-based study. US census-based neighborhood deprivation index (NDI) measures (at the census-tract level) were determined. Serum samples were analyzed for CVD risk factors, cytokines, and the microbial metabolite, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). Self-reported dietary intake based on food groups was collected. Results: Study participants (n = 60) were predominantly female (93.3%), with a mean (SD) age of 60.83 (+/−10.52) years. Mean (SD) NDI was −1.54 (2.94), and mean (SD) TMAO level was 4.99 (9.65) µmol/L. Adjusting for CVD risk factors and BMI, NDI was positively associated with TMAO (β = 0.31, p = 0.02). Using mediation analysis, the relationship between NDI and TMAO was significantly mediated by TNF-α (60.15%) and interleukin)-1 β (IL; 49.96%). When controlling for clustering within neighborhoods, the NDI-TMAO association was no longer significant (β = 5.11, p = 0.11). However, the association between NDI and IL-1 β (β = 0.04, p = 0.004) and TNF-α (β = 0.17, p = 0.003) remained. Neither NDI nor TMAO was significantly associated with daily dietary intake. Conclusion and Relevance: Among a small sample of African-American adults at risk for CVD, there was a significant positive relationship with NDI and TMAO mediated by inflammation. These hypothesis-generating results are initial and need to be confirmed in larger studies.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali A. Weinstein ◽  
Preetha Abraham ◽  
Guoqing Diao ◽  
Stacey A. Zeno ◽  
Patricia A. Deuster

Objective. To examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a group of African American individuals.Design. A nonrandom sample of 253 (age 43.7 ± 11.6 years; 37% male) African American individuals was recruited by advertisements. Data were obtained by validated questionnaires, anthropometric, blood pressure, and blood sample measurements.Results. Regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between depressive symptoms and CVD risk factors controlling for socioeconomic status indicators. These analyses demonstrated that those with higher levels of depressive symptoms had larger waist-to-hip ratios, higher percent body fat, higher triglycerides, and were more likely to be smokers.Conclusions. It has been well documented that higher levels of depressive symptoms are associated with higher CVD risk. However, this evidence is derived primarily from samples of predominantly Caucasian individuals. The present investigation demonstrates that depressive symptoms are related to CVD risk factors in African American individuals.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly L Adams ◽  
Rebecca L Dekker ◽  
Terry A Lennie ◽  
Misook L Chung ◽  
Kathleen Dracup ◽  
...  

Introduction: Health outcomes such as event-free survival (cumulative end-point in time to first health event) in heart failure (HF) patients is worse in African American than Caucasians. While the direct impact of traditional risk factors on outcomes are recognized, it is unknown how sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, disease, and treatment factors may alter the relationship between race and event-free survival. Hypothesis: Sociodemographics (age, gender, economic status), psychosocial factors (anxiety, depression), disease factors (smoking, functional status, diabetes) and treatments (beta blockers, ACE inhibitors) moderate the relationship between race and shorter event-free survival among patients with HF. Methods: Data were analyzed from 993 outpatients in a multicenter HF registry who were followed for a median of 1.9 years (37% female, 11.3% African American, 64±13 years, 44% NYHA Class III/IV). Data were collected via chart review and interview. Potential proposed moderators were analyzed with race as the predictor and the outcome event-free survival. Regressions were conducted on event-free survival using race and each proposed moderator, and the product of race and each moderator. Results: A primary analysis showed that African American patients are 1.54 times more likely to experience a cardiac event within this data set (p=.003). Further regression analyses indicate event-free survival in African American patients with HF is not moderated by the proposed moderators (all p>.05). Although an incomplete moderation, interactions with medication and race demonstrated better outcomes in African Americans than Caucasians not on ACE inhibitors, but Caucasians on prescribed ACE inhibitors have better comparative outcomes. Conclusions: Although many modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors may be associated with event free survival in African American HF patients, sociodemographic, psychosocial, disease, and treatment factors do not moderate the relationship between race and event-free survival. Future research is needed to better understand what factors contribute to and moderate evident disparities in the event-free survival of African American patients with HF.


Author(s):  
Gercoline van Beek ◽  
Vivienne de Vogel ◽  
Dike van de Mheen

Although studies point to a relationship between debt and crime, there is a limited understanding of their reciprocal relationship and possible mediating risk factors. Moreover, knowledge about the prevalence and scope of debt among offenders is lacking. Therefore, the present study analyzed 250 client files including risk assessment data from the Dutch probation service on the prevalence of debt and possibly related risk factors. The results show that debt is highly prevalent and complex, which underlines the importance of acquiring more knowledge about debt as a potential risk factor for relapse during supervision. It was found that problems with regard to childhood and living situation, education and work/daytime activities, and mental and physical health may be possible underlying risk factors in the relationship between debt and crime. These insights can help professionals adequately support clients with regard to debt in order to prevent recidivism.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15018-e15018
Author(s):  
Wesley Thompson ◽  
Naeem Latif ◽  
Robert Rahberg

e15018 Background: There are known risk factors for pancreatic cancer like diabetes mellitus; cigarette smoking; poverty, and alcoholism; all of which are more common in African American patients than the general population. The purpose was to determine if these established risk factors were more associated within African American pancreatic cancer patients to explain their 50 – 90% increased incidence in the U.S. population. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 172 biopsy-proven pancreatic cancer patients diagnosed over ten years at University of Florida Jacksonville. We employed linear regression models to determine statistical significance of established risk factors with prevalence of pancreatic cancer among cohorts. Results: Our data showed no increased association of diabetes, tobacco use, alcohol use between African Americans and Caucasians. However, Africans Americans as a group were twice as likely to be found at stage III or IV upon diagnosis, conferring an increased mortality risk (OR = 2.2, (95% CI 1.1 – 4.39)). Among these African Americans at advanced stage of diagnosis, females were at triple risk by odds ratio to be underinsured compared to Caucasian males (OR = 3.1, (95% CI 1.29 – 7.49, p = 0.015)). African American females were almost twice as likely to be underinsured compared to Caucasian females (OR = 1.72, (95% CI 0.646, 4.558)). The lack of healthcare access maybe related to advanced stage at diagnosis and its increased mortality risk. Conclusions: Our data suggests that the risk factors of smoking, alcoholism, and diabetes mellitus alone do not explain African Americans’ propensity for pancreatic cancer. However, lack of health insurance does confer an advanced stage at diagnosis and increased mortality risk among African American females. Our data also suggests that other etiological factors such as genetics maybe be associated with the increased risk amongst African Americans. A further investigation is warranted into genetic etiologies since African American patients have higher incidence of K-ras mutations than Caucasians; and mutated K-ras has been associated with pancreatic cancer, which is a target for therapy.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document