Prevention Science[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Brief Drug Interventions Delivered in General Medical Settings: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Cannabis Use Outcomes.
Berny LM, Nichols LM, Schweer-Collins ML … +1 more , Tanner-Smith EE
Prev Sci · 2025 Aug · PMID 40627282 · Full text
There is consistent evidence that brief interventions can be effective in preventing and reducing alcohol use, but support for their effects on illicit drug use is more limited. This meta-analysis expands prior research...
There is consistent evidence that brief interventions can be effective in preventing and reducing alcohol use, but support for their effects on illicit drug use is more limited. This meta-analysis expands prior research by testing whether brief drug interventions (BDIs) delivered in general medical settings reduce cannabis consumption and severity across post-intervention follow-up periods and explores potential heterogeneity in these effects. Findings from 17 randomized controlled trials were synthesized to compare short- and long-term cannabis use outcomes between intervention and control groups. Mixed effects meta-regression models were estimated to examine variability in effects across four intervention characteristics: booster session delivery, delivery setting, intervention target, and target population. Sensitivity tests were also conducted for both main effects and moderation analyses. There was no evidence that BDIs yielded significant short-term reductions in cannabis use (OR = 1.20, 95% CI [0.90, 1.62]), consumption level (g = 0.01, 95% CI [- 0.07, 0.09]), or severity (g = 0.13, 95% CI [- 0.07, 0.33]). Similarly, there was no evidence of effects on long-term cannabis use (OR = 1.19, 95% CI [0.73, 1.86]) or consumption level (g = 0.04, 95% CI [- 0.05, 0.12]). Although the primary analyses did not provide evidence of effect moderation, sensitivity tests revealed BDIs delivered in emergency departments evidenced small but significant reductions in long-term cannabis consumption levels. While these findings do not provide support for the overall effectiveness of BDIs on cannabis consumption or severity in general medical settings, they offer suggestive evidence that BDIs may perform more favorably when delivered in emergency departments. Thus, high-quality trials evaluating the effects of BDIs in emergency departments are needed. Given the importance of preventing adverse health outcomes and consequences of cannabis use, more research is needed to improve and evaluate BDI outcomes. Further, developing and testing alternative prevention and intervention approaches are essential to comprehensively address cannabis use.
The Role of Policy in Preventing Discrimination-Based Suicide and Substance Use Coping Outcomes Within the Transgender Community.
O'Neill P, Becker W, Cunningham CA … +2 more , Jones DE, Linden-Carmichael AN
Prev Sci · 2025 Aug · PMID 40624283 · Full text
Individuals who identify as transgender/gender diverse face an increased risk of discrimination, particularly in health care settings. This discrimination has been associated with higher odds of substance use coping and...
Individuals who identify as transgender/gender diverse face an increased risk of discrimination, particularly in health care settings. This discrimination has been associated with higher odds of substance use coping and attempting suicide. However, risk and protective factors that can moderate this relationship remain under-evaluated. The present study examines the role of LGBTQ-friendly state policy climates in preventing discrimination-based outcomes of substance use coping and attempting suicide in the transgender/gender diverse community. Data from the 2008-2009 National Transgender Discrimination Survey were merged with state policy climate scores. Policy climate scores were derived from the tracking of legislation through the Movement Advancement Project. Participants were asked about using substances to cope, prior suicide attempts, and three types of discrimination at mental health clinics (denied equal treatment, verbal harassment/disrespect, physical assault). Being denied equal treatment or service and being verbally harassed or disrespected were both associated with increased odds of using substances to cope and attempting suicide. Residing in a more LGBTQ-friendly policy climate moderated the relationship between being denied equal treatment and a prior suicide attempt as well as the relationship between verbal harassment and both suicide attempt and use of substances to cope. Findings underscore the potential of LGBTQ-friendly policy climates to serve as a protective factor against discrimination faced by the transgender/gender diverse community. A greater understanding of the role of policies in the relationship between discrimination and adverse outcomes can help form policy-based prevention in an effort to improve the lives of individuals in the transgender/gender diverse community.
Early Effects of Communities That Care on the Adoption and Implementation Fidelity of Evidence-Based Prevention Programs in Communities: Results from a Quasi-experimental Study.
Decker L, von Holt I, Ünlü S … +2 more , Walter U, Röding D
Prev Sci · 2025 Aug · PMID 40591223 · Full text
To date, few evidence-based prevention programs (EBP) have been implemented in Germany, despite their growing availability. Some prevention researchers have stated that prevention support systems such as Communities That...
To date, few evidence-based prevention programs (EBP) have been implemented in Germany, despite their growing availability. Some prevention researchers have stated that prevention support systems such as Communities That Care (CTC) could contribute to the wider spread of EBP in Germany and improve the fidelity of EBP implementation. Our study aims to investigate whether CTC leads to greater adoption of EBP in German communities. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 22 intervention communities (IC) and 22 comparison communities (CC). Data collection occurred at two time points (T0: 2021/2022 and T1: 2023/2024), capturing information on which EBP were implemented in these communities during the prior school year, the number of people reached, and the quality of EBP implementation. Data from 17 IC and 12 CC were included in the final analyses. At T0, there were no significant differences between IC and CC in the number of EBP implemented or the number of people reached. In the IC, the average number of EBP implemented was 3.57 per 10,000 residents at T0, which increased significantly to 8.57 at T1 (p = .004). In the CC, the average number rose from 1.88 at T0 to 3.41 at T1, though this change was not statistically significant (p = .089). Regarding reach, an average of 140 people per 10,000 residents were reached with EBP at T0 in IC, increasing to 407 by T1, while in CC, the average increased from 77 at T0 to 300 at T1. Neither group showed a statistically significant increase in reach. Implementation fidelity remained consistently high in both groups at both time points. The results suggest that CTC may encourage communities to implement more EBP. However, the findings may be influenced by confounding factors and the relatively short observation period. Further research with an extended follow-up is therefore recommended.
Unpacking the Black Box: Exploring Differences in Practices, Skills, and Knowledge Taught in School-Based Mindfulness Programs.
Doyle Fosco SL, Schussler DL
Prev Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40560447 · Full text
School-based mindfulness programs (SBMPs) have shown a range of academic, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. However, heterogeneity in curricular content obscures accurate interpretation of results. To unpack the "black...
School-based mindfulness programs (SBMPs) have shown a range of academic, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. However, heterogeneity in curricular content obscures accurate interpretation of results. To unpack the "black box" of SBMPs and better contextualize intervention outcomes, this investigation examined the practices, skills, and knowledge conveyed in twelve curricula. Required curricular elements (CEs) from the written curricula were coded for mindfulness practices and skills, and lessons were coded for mindfulness knowledge conveyed. Curricula had a different composition of components depending on theoretical foundation and program length. All curricula included intrapersonal (i.e., individual) practices, most often engaging somatic awareness. Interpersonal (i.e., relational) practices were identified in eight curricula and were infrequent, except in two programs that focused on kindness/compassion. All curricula cultivated intrapersonal skills of focused attention, emotion awareness, and emotion regulation at varying levels. Programs derived from MBSR cultivated the highest proportion of skills focused on awareness of mental states. Longer programs had a significantly higher proportion of CEs focused on interpersonal skills compared to shorter programs. Longer programs also had a higher proportion of lessons concentrated on focused attention and on empathy/perspective taking. Knowledge conveyed in lessons did not always correspond to the practices and skills coded, indicating students may be learning about topics even if they are not actively practicing or engaged in skill cultivation. This study offers clarity regarding the curricular content of SBMPs, making it possible to investigate links between active ingredients and program outcomes, refine theories of change, and better prepare teachers facilitating SBMPs.
Reflections on a Career in Prevention Science Focused on the Development, Prevention, and Treatment of Youth Conduct Problems.
McMahon RJ
Prev Sci · 2025 May · PMID 40542199 · Publisher ↗
In this article, I begin with a discussion about how the treatment of child conduct problems plays a role in their prevention. I then summarize three broad foci of my research career. Next, I describe those research acti...
In this article, I begin with a discussion about how the treatment of child conduct problems plays a role in their prevention. I then summarize three broad foci of my research career. Next, I describe those research activities in the broader context of my own life-course development. I first present an autobiographical account of how I became interested in prevention research on children's conduct problems and how these research interests developed at different stages of my career. I then describe several recurring themes that have characterized my career broadly. My hope in adopting this approach is that mid-career and senior researchers will identify with some of the events that facilitated my own development as a prevention scientist. I especially hope that early-career researchers (as well as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) will see that developing a career path as a prevention scientist is often a nonlinear series of events, some of which are serendipitous, and many of which represent significant "turning points" (Rutter, 1996) in one's career and life. I reflect on the bidirectional and iterative nature of much of my research. I also stress the importance of mentorship (both as a mentee and as a mentor) and collaboration in the development and direction of my own research career.
Supporting the Needs of Urban, Head Start Parents to Engage in Group Preventative Parent Training Programs (PPTPs).
Doctoroff GL, Wymbs F, Chacko A … +1 more , Rabinovitz E
Prev Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40518503 · Publisher ↗
Group preventative parent training programs (PPTPs) have been used successfully to improve outcomes for families living in poverty in settings such as Head Start. Nevertheless, such programs face significant enrollment a...
Group preventative parent training programs (PPTPs) have been used successfully to improve outcomes for families living in poverty in settings such as Head Start. Nevertheless, such programs face significant enrollment and engagement challenges. Given that research on factors related to parent preferences for group PPTP participation is limited, the purpose of the current study is to examine what types of programs are most preferred by a combined sample of English and Spanish speaking Head Start parents, and to translate program modeling of parent preferences into feasible programming options. The current study relies on conjoint analysis, a technique derived from market research, to learn more about how Head Start parents leverage attributes of a parenting program when making hypothetical participation decisions. Based on a discrete choice experiment with 234 urban, Early Head Start and Head Start parents, findings indicate that parents prioritize program attributes that target strong improvements for their children on desired outcomes, such as academics and friendship skills, while also offering incentives for participation. Simulations indicated that 77.6% of parents preferred an Optimizing Outcomes Program, while 22.4% preferred a Foundational Needs Program. Finally, results indicate that child prosocial or difficult behavior and parent depression risk are associated with specific program preferences. Parents with fewer resources prefer programs that are more foundational and realistic to target more modest gains. Implications are discussed in terms of program modeling and offering programs tailored to preferences.
The Effect of Depression on the Pathways Between an Economic Strengthening Intervention and ART Adherence in Youths with HIV: Findings from a Moderated Mediation Model of the Suubi + Adherence Cluster-Randomized Study.
Kizito S, Ssewamala FM, Nabayinda J … +4 more , Nabunya P, Bahar OS, Neilands TB, McKay MM
Prev Sci · 2025 Aug · PMID 40500555 · Full text
Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) have low adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Poverty and mental health challenges remain major drivers of this poor ART adherence. We explored the mediators of the impact of an...
Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) have low adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Poverty and mental health challenges remain major drivers of this poor ART adherence. We explored the mediators of the impact of an economic empowerment intervention on ART adherence among ALHIV and assessed the moderating effects of depression. We randomized 39 clinics (702 participants) into the control or intervention groups. Participants were aged 10-16, living with HIV and taking ART. The intervention comprising matched savings account, financial literacy training, and microenterprise workshops. We fitted a sequential structural equation model to examine how the three mediators-HIV stigma, barriers to medical care, and healthcare transition readiness-influenced ART adherence at year seven. Depression was included as a moderator. At baseline, the mean age was 12 years, and only 73.0% achieved good adherence (≥ 90%). The intervention directly improved ART adherence, β = 0.060 (95% CI: 0.038, 0.081), p < 0.001. Also, there was a significant indirect effect of the intervention on ART adherence, mediated through barriers to medical care, β = - 0.036 (95% CI: - 0.041, - 0.032), p < 0.001, and HIV stigma, β = - 0.011 (- 0.016, - 0.007), p < 0.001. Depression reduced the effect of the intervention on ART adherence β = - 0.114 (- 0.123, - 0.104), p < 0.001. Our results showed that providing ALHIV with financial resources improved their ART adherence; however, this was affected by depression. Therefore, programs aimed at improving outcomes in ALHIV should consider incorporating interventions that address mental health challenges in addition to poverty.
Pediatric Suicide Attempt Non-Disclosure: an Analysis of Discrepant Screening Results.
Ros AM, Ballard R, Burnside A … +2 more , Harries M, Janssen A
Prev Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40490595 · Full text
The Ask-Suicide Screening Questions (ASQ) is a validated tool developed to assess suicidal risk in pediatric medical settings with one item assessing historical attempts. While the psychometric properties of the ASQ are...
The Ask-Suicide Screening Questions (ASQ) is a validated tool developed to assess suicidal risk in pediatric medical settings with one item assessing historical attempts. While the psychometric properties of the ASQ are well-established, little is known about how youth respond to this question upon repeated administrations. We conducted a retrospective analysis of electronic medical record data by youth who received the ASQ from December 2019 to November 2023 at an urban academic children's hospital. Youth who disclosed a suicide attempt but denied an attempt history at a subsequent visit were identified. Multivariate regression and manual chart review were utilized to identify demographic and clinical variables related to non-disclosure of a previously disclosed attempt. Of 1861 encounters (1460 unique patients) with a disclosed historic suicide attempt, re-screening occurred in 503 future encounters. One hundred forty instances of nondisclosure occurred (127 unique patients). Encounters were classified into false positives (N = 26), encounters where nondisclosure by patients did not impact clinical response (N = 40), and encounters where nondisclosure resulted in no further suicide risk assessment (N = 74). Of this last group, 47.3% received no risk assessment at the initial visit. Compared to the initial visit, the nondisclosure visit was more likely to have a medical presenting complaint and to have negative responses on ASQ questions related to recent suicidal ideation. Denial of a historic attempt upon repeat administration of the ASQ is not uncommon among pediatric patients, and this is more likely to occur at an encounter for a medical presenting complaint.
Gender-Affirming Care as a Predictor of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Use and Adherence Among Young Trans Feminine Adults: A Coincidence Analysis.
Zamantakis A, Do R, Huang R … +2 more , Queiroz AAFLN, Mustanski B
Prev Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40478466 · Full text
We used coincidence analysis to explore whether various forms of gender-affirming care (GAC) in the presence or absence of medical mistrust facilitate HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use and adherence. Using secondar...
We used coincidence analysis to explore whether various forms of gender-affirming care (GAC) in the presence or absence of medical mistrust facilitate HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use and adherence. Using secondary data collected between 2014 and 2024 from the RADAR Cohort Study, we performed two crisp-set coincidence analyses with 86 trans feminine young adults for PrEP use and 24 trans feminine young adults for PrEP adherence. Our final model for PrEP use explained over 90% of participants who had used PrEP in the past 6 months with 60% consistency. This model identified receipt of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) OR being on parental insurance as predictors of PrEP use. We identified two final models for PrEP adherence, which explained 50% of participants with 83% consistency: (1) past receipt of puberty blockers OR high suspicion of medical providers in the absence of parental insurance; (2) current or past receipt of HRT in the absence of barriers to GAC and the absence of parental insurance. Our study highlights the significant role of GAC in facilitating PrEP use and adherence among trans feminine individuals. Specifically, HRT and the absence of parental insurance emerged as key predictors, underscoring the need for integrated and accessible GAC to enhance PrEP uptake and adherence in this population.
Community-Based Participatory Research: Involving Young People with Lived Experiences of Problematic Sexual Behaviors.
Bődi CB, Amendola A, Bright MA
Prev Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40461877 · Publisher ↗
Community advisory boards bridge the gap between researchers and community members to yield the most informed and successful implementation of prevention services. Youth community advisory boards demonstrate the same res...
Community advisory boards bridge the gap between researchers and community members to yield the most informed and successful implementation of prevention services. Youth community advisory boards demonstrate the same research-community member benefit but forming them presents unique challenges that often limit their use. In this article, we present lessons learned from a participatory research study in which we engage young people with problematic sexual behaviors (PSB) in an anonymous community advisory board and interviews. After completing a survey, 16 interview participants and five advisory board members aged 14-21 with PSB were interviewed about the research process, providing insights into survey clarity and participant experiences. Data were analyzed using content analysis to identify key themes. Seven themes emerged from qualitative data analyses. Young people with PSB strongly support research on PSB and they are willing to discuss about sensitive and stigmatized topics. They are not harmed by engaging in these discussions and are capable of providing consent for their participation. Ensuring confidentiality is vital to creating a safe and ethical research environment. Creative communication methods are valuable for building trust and facilitating engagement, while establishing clear boundaries between researchers and participants is essential to maintaining professionalism and respect throughout. Limitations include small sample size, lack of early advisory board involvement, and constraints about participant verification and demographic data. This study highlights not only how to involve a vulnerable, at-risk community of young people in community-based participatory research on a highly stigmatized topic, but also the many benefits of this approach.
Health Access for Independent Living (HAIL): a Pilot Study Examining a Health Management Program for Adults with Physical Disabilities.
Zhang E, Punt S, Nary D … +1 more , Summers JA
Prev Sci · 2025 Aug · PMID 40461876 · Publisher ↗
People with physical disabilities experience higher rates of secondary health conditions and often have difficulty accessing healthcare and other resources to manage these conditions compared to the general population. C...
People with physical disabilities experience higher rates of secondary health conditions and often have difficulty accessing healthcare and other resources to manage these conditions compared to the general population. Centers for Independent Living (CIL), community-based, non-profit, non-residential centers, are uniquely poised to facilitate the health promotion of individuals with disabilities. This project aimed to develop and provide an 8-week structured and individualized program for CIL staff to facilitate the management of secondary health conditions through setting and pursuing SMART goals with adult consumers with physical disabilities. Researchers developed and pilot-tested the Health Access for Independent Living (HAIL) program in consultation with CILs and designed it to fit within the existing CIL service delivery system. The HAIL program was developed and piloted sequentially with two cohorts of 12 CIL staff members and 23 consumers with physical disabilities in Kansas and Pennsylvania communities. The HAIL program helped 82.3% of participants achieve their health goals at their expected level and led to fewer perceived barriers to managing their health. The HAIL program provided a structured program for CIL staff to assist adult consumers with physical disabilities in managing their health and fit well into the CIL service delivery system.
Community-Engaged Research in Early Home Visiting: A Scoping Review of Peer-Reviewed Literature.
West A, Chute DE, Daniels J … +1 more , Bower KM
Prev Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40439985 · Full text
Community-engaged research (CEnR) has potential to advance early home visiting and improve health outcomes for all families by ensuring that research aligns with the needs of the community, methods and procedures are acc...
Community-engaged research (CEnR) has potential to advance early home visiting and improve health outcomes for all families by ensuring that research aligns with the needs of the community, methods and procedures are acceptable and accessible, and findings are interpreted accurately and disseminated effectively. We conducted a scoping review to characterize the extent and nature of CEnR in peer-reviewed literature relevant to early home visiting. We searched five scholarly databases for literature published since 2010 describing engagement of community members in research involving evidence-based early home visiting programs. We extracted data on each study's characteristics, community collaborators, and factors, outcomes, and measures of community engagement. We then coded each study for 16 community engagement components and characterized each study along an established continuum of CEnR. Fourteen articles met all eligibility criteria and were characterized as involving community consultation, community participation, or community-based participatory research. No articles were characterized as community initiated or driven. No studies assessed the impact of community engagement, and only two described barriers or facilitators to engagement. CEnR may be underutilized and underreported in peer-reviewed home visiting research. Findings highlight opportunities to build motivation and capacity for CEnR, transparency in CEnR reporting, and evaluation of CEnR process and impacts.
Changing Developmental Patterns of Cannabis and Alcohol Use in Washington State: an Analysis of Young Adult Birth Cohorts Born in 1990-2004.
Acolin J, Calhoun B, Rhew IC … +6 more , Fleming CB, Hultgren B, Martinez G, Kilmer JR, Larimer M, Guttmannova K
Prev Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40425897 · Full text
Alcohol and cannabis are the two most commonly used substances in young adulthood. Prior evidence shows that while risky alcohol use peaks in the mid-20 s and decreases by the end of young adulthood (i.e., "maturing out"...
Alcohol and cannabis are the two most commonly used substances in young adulthood. Prior evidence shows that while risky alcohol use peaks in the mid-20 s and decreases by the end of young adulthood (i.e., "maturing out"), cannabis use prevalence decreases gradually across young adulthood. As the landscape of cannabis legalization in the USA evolves, it is critical to assess changes in young adult patterns of use. This study examined developmental patterns of young adult cannabis and alcohol use in Washington State (WA). Annual repeated cross-sectional survey data from 2015 to 2022 were collected from 15,371 young adults 18-25 living in WA. Logistic regression models examined changes in alcohol (any past month use, frequent use, heavy episodic drinking [HED]) and cannabis (any past month use, frequent use) by developmental age and birth cohort. Cannabis use prevalence was higher at age 21-22 compared to age 18-20, a departure from prior studies. In more recent birth cohorts, prevalence among 23-25-year-olds was lower than among 21-22-year-olds, suggesting an emerging pattern of maturing out. Additionally, there was a significant moderation of developmental patterns of risky (HED and frequent) alcohol use by birth cohort. As cannabis legalization continues to evolve, it is critical for programs to prioritize early prevention prior to and at age 21 to mitigate and prevent associated adverse health outcomes of cannabis use. Continued surveillance including older age groups is needed to characterize changing developmental patterns of young adult cannabis use.
Psychosocial Correlates of Adherence to Mind-Body Interventions.
Duraney EJ, Phansikar M, Prakash RS
Prev Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40325320 · Full text
Mind-body interventions involve practices that intentionally combine mental and physical fitness, showing promise for improving psychological and cognitive health in older adults. Limited research exists on adherence to...
Mind-body interventions involve practices that intentionally combine mental and physical fitness, showing promise for improving psychological and cognitive health in older adults. Limited research exists on adherence to these interventions and the demographic and psychosocial factors that may predict variability in compliance. In the current study, we identified key correlates-demographic, psychosocial, and cognitive-of adherence to two mind-body interventions. Baseline and intervention data were analyzed together from a randomized controlled trial of older adults who participated in two four-week mind-body interventions and completed practice logs (n = 60). Adherence was defined as the average weekly self-reported minutes of homework practice during the intervention. Baseline correlates included education, sex assigned at birth, working memory score, emotion dysregulation, positive and negative affect, trait mindfulness, and depression. Partial least squares regression was used to identify latent components. A significant one-component solution from the final model explained 23.08% of the variance in practice minutes. Greater adherence was associated with mild depressive symptoms, difficulties with emotion regulation, and lower working memory scores. These findings suggest that participants with mild emotional and cognitive difficulties may be more likely to adhere to mind-body interventions. These results emphasize the target population likely to engage in mind-body interventions and may be valuable for designing tailored interventions and developing strategies to maximize adherence. This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (#NCT03432754) on February 14, 2018.
Longitudinal Associations of Impulsivity, Sensation-Seeking, and Peer E-Cigarette Use on the Frequency of E-Cigarette Use Across Young Adulthood.
North C, Pasch KE, Pinedo M … +2 more , Wilkinson AV, Loukas A
Prev Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40310498 · Full text
We examined the associations of impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and peer electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use on longitudinal changes in ENDS use frequency across ages 19-29 years old. Data were drawn from a l...
We examined the associations of impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and peer electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use on longitudinal changes in ENDS use frequency across ages 19-29 years old. Data were drawn from a larger multi-wave study of college students in Texas. Participants were 1227 initially 19-25-year-old young adults who currently used ENDS at least once across six waves (baseline: fall 2015, final wave: spring 2019). At baseline, participants were 21.3 years old on average, 43.6% male, 35.5% non-Hispanic White, 32.5% Hispanic/Latino, 16.2% Asian, 6.7% Black, and 9.1% another racial/ethnic identity. Growth curve modeling with an accelerated longitudinal design was used to test direct and interactive associations of age, impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and peer ENDS use on ENDS use frequency across young adulthood, 19-29 years old. Findings indicated that the trajectory of ENDS use frequency increased with increasing age. Impulsivity, but not sensation-seeking, was associated with an increase in ENDS use frequency across increasing age. Impulsivity and sensation-seeking significantly interacted with peer ENDS use: those high in impulsivity or sensation-seeking used ENDS less frequently as they aged when they had fewer peers who use ENDS, and those high in sensation-seeking used ENDS more frequently when they had more peers who use ENDS. Peers play an important role for young adults with impulsivity and/or sensation-seeking-having few peers who use ENDS was protective of escalations in ENDS use, and having more peers who use ENDS increases the risk for escalations in ENDS use for those high in sensation-seeking only.
Healing of the Canoe: Preliminary Suicide Prevention Outcomes Among Participating and Non-Participating Youth.
Perkins T, Lee B, Mackin J … +5 more , Donovan D, Rushing SC, Caughlan C, Kakuska AG, Walker L
Prev Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40289054 · Full text
Healing of the Canoe (HOC) is a community-derived, culturally grounded, and flexible curriculum for Native youth that builds a connection to culture and community and teaches skills that increase participants' feelings o...
Healing of the Canoe (HOC) is a community-derived, culturally grounded, and flexible curriculum for Native youth that builds a connection to culture and community and teaches skills that increase participants' feelings of hope, optimism, and self-efficacy. This exploratory study is the first to examine self-reported survey outcomes after the addition of suicide prevention and intervention modules into the curriculum and includes a comparison group of similar youth. Repeated measures analysis of variance (rANOVA) models examined changes in scores from the Pre-Survey to the Post-Survey for an intervention group and a comparison group of youth in 2018-2019. Survey responses were combined into composite scores for the following categories of interest: hope, mental health, help-seeking and helping, suicide attempts, culture, and resilience. There were 74 youth in the intervention group (IG) and 59 in the non-intervention group (NIG) who completed both Pre- and Post-Surveys. The IG experienced significant positive effects on the hope and resilience scales from Pre- to Post-Survey, while the youth in the NIG saw a decrease in these same scales from Pre- to Post-Survey. The NIG experienced worse outcomes for mental health, while the IG saw a slight improvement. Despite a small number of youth participants and the naturalistic setting, which limited the ability to control for potential confounding variables, the results from this preliminary study are promising. Future studies with larger numbers of youth and more ability to account for additional factors may potentially show even more benefits of the HOC curriculum.
An Integrated Review of Findings from the Early Head Start University Partnerships Buffering Toxic Stress Consortium.
Senehi N, Meyer A, Webb MB … +2 more , Parikshak S, Blandon A
Prev Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40285965 · Full text
This paper introduces the special issue of Prevention Science titled Applied Prevention Science to Inform Parenting Enhancements to Early Head Start that Promote Supportive Parent-Child Interactions and Buffer the Detrim...
This paper introduces the special issue of Prevention Science titled Applied Prevention Science to Inform Parenting Enhancements to Early Head Start that Promote Supportive Parent-Child Interactions and Buffer the Detrimental Effects of Early Adversity. We provide an integrative overview of the Early Head Start-University Partnerships Buffering Toxic Stress (BTS) consortium, funded by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), summarizing key findings from six studies and reflecting on their implications in light of recent ACF and Office of Head Start (OHS) policies and regulations. Programs such as Early Head Start (EHS), which integrate parenting support and skill-building, have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing parental competencies, reducing stress, and improving child outcomes. However, intervention effects remain modest and vary significantly by factors such as race and ethnicity, demographic risk, and family characteristics. This variability underscores the need for tailored, culturally responsive approaches that validate and refine frameworks for understanding parental and social buffering of children's toxic stress response. Findings from the BTS studies highlight promising program impacts, especially for families facing heightened risk, such as those with maternal histories of adverse childhood experiences or ongoing mental health challenges. This synthesis reinforces the importance of precision-based, contextually responsive interventions and aligns with recent ACF and OHS regulations aimed at developing scalable, cost-effective models that meet the unique needs of families experiencing adversity. Beyond EHS, we hope this special issue advances the field of applied prevention science by informing the development of tailored, effective, and sustainable programming for children and families navigating early adversity.
Using a Predictive Risk Model to Prioritize Families for Prevention Services: The Hello Baby Program in Allegheny County, PA.
Vaithianathan R, Benavides-Prado D, Rebbe R … +1 more , Putnam-Hornstein E
Prev Sci · 2025 Apr · PMID 40259178 · Full text
Population-based efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect are challenging because annual incidence rates are relatively low. Even among families that meet eligibility and risk criteria for intensive home-visiting progr...
Population-based efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect are challenging because annual incidence rates are relatively low. Even among families that meet eligibility and risk criteria for intensive home-visiting programs, the baseline rate of maltreatment tends to be low because we use simple criteria. This creates both service (i.e., cost) and evaluation (i.e., power) challenges because a large number of families need to receive the preventive intervention to produce detectable changes in subsequent maltreatment. The increase in the availability of administrative data has made it possible to use predictive risk models (PRMs) to risk-stratify whole birth cohorts and identify children at the highest risk of maltreatment and other early childhood adversities. The current paper describes the development and validation of a PRM implemented in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to stratify families and newborn infants into three levels of prioritized services based on the predicted risk of child removal due to maltreatment by age 3. Using a research dataset of anonymized records for children born in Allegheny County between 2012 and 2015, predictive features were coded using data available in the county's administrative data systems. This spine was linked to child removal outcomes between 2012 and 2018, so we had a 3-year follow-up for each child. A PRM was trained to predict removals in the first 3 years of life using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. Predictive accuracy was measured for the highest 5% of risk scores in a holdout dataset. The model was validated using nontraining outcomes such as maternal mortality, infant mortality, and maltreatment-related fatalities and near-fatalities. The model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of .93 (95% CI [0.92, 0.95]), recall of 19.93%, and precision of 54.10%. Children identified for the top tier of services had a relative risk ratio of maltreatment-related fatality or near-fatality of 5.54 (95% CI [3.41, 9.00]). Using alternative eligibility approaches (e.g., poverty, teen maternal age) proved far inferior to using PRM in targeting services for children at high baseline risk of maltreatment.
The Multiple Avenues of Contribution of Robert McMahon to Prevention Science.
Tolan PH
Prev Sci · 2025 May · PMID 40259177 · Full text
This issue of Prevention Science, focused on studies influenced by and reflective of the contributions of Robert McMahon, contains a diverse set of studies focused across multiple important areas of our field. This comme...
This issue of Prevention Science, focused on studies influenced by and reflective of the contributions of Robert McMahon, contains a diverse set of studies focused across multiple important areas of our field. This commentary focuses on that breadth and diversity of contributions as the core of McMahon's role in prevention science. Several specific examples of such impact integrating knowledge across clinical child psychology, developmental psychopathology, and prevention studies are described, and the linkages to articles in this volume noted. Also, noteworthy is the extension of McMahon's influence through collegial and collaborative efforts by convening and facilitating scientific exchange. He has provided a connective enhancement to our field that has benefitted many and continues to influence towards excellence.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Prevention Science and Youth Conduct Problems: Development, Prevention, and Treatment.
Racz SJ, Goulter N, Zheng Y
Prev Sci · 2025 May · PMID 40259176 · Full text
This introductory article describes this Special Issue entitled Prevention Science and Youth Conduct Problems: Development, Prevention, and Treatment that is being offered in recognition of the research and scientific co...
This introductory article describes this Special Issue entitled Prevention Science and Youth Conduct Problems: Development, Prevention, and Treatment that is being offered in recognition of the research and scientific contributions of Dr. Robert J. McMahon. This Special Issue includes a collection of 15 original empirical research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and theoretical pieces spanning three themes consistent with Dr. McMahon's program of research: (1) risk and protective factors in the development and maintenance of youth conduct problems; (2) family based preventive and treatment interventions for youth conduct problems; and (3) multicomponent preventive and treatment interventions for youth conduct problems. Following these articles, this Special Issue contains two commentaries from experts in the fields of youth conduct problems and prevention science, as well as a reflection from Dr. McMahon. Our introduction provides a brief synopsis of each article contained in the Special Issue, identifying how these works reflect upon and were inspired by Dr. McMahon's research legacy and how they advance understanding of conduct problems. We close this introduction with thoughts regarding future research directions that will extend Dr. McMahon's impressive impact on the field of youth conduct problems.
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