Health Psychology

Health Psychology Psychology 46.339 (01) Summer 2007 Instructor: Dr. Fuschia Sirois Monday July 16: Lecture 4 Prep. Guide 3

Chapter 5: Health Compromising Behaviours

Characteristics of Health-Compromising Behavior Many of these behaviors share a window of vulnerability in adolescence • WHY? • What are some of these behaviours?

What IS Substance Dependence? Physical dependence: the body has adjusted to the substance and incorporates its use into the normal functioning of the body’s tissues Tolerance: • larger doses needed to produce the same effects Craving: • Conditioning process is involved so that the presence of environmental cues triggers intense desire

What IS Substance Dependence? Addiction • A person has become physically or psychologically dependent on a substance following use over a period of time. Withdrawal • Unpleasant symptoms, both physical and psychological, that people experience when they stop using a substance on which they have become dependent.

What ARE Alcoholism and Problem Drinking? • Alcoholic • Problem drinkers: • How are they the same? • How are they different? • Do problem drinkers necessarily go on to become alcoholics?

Alcoholism and Problem Drinking: Origins • Drinking occurs as an effort to buffer the impact of stress. • Drinking and emotions • Alcoholism is tied to the drinker’s social and cultural environment. • Window of vulnerability: ages 12 to 21 • Window of vulnerability: late middle age Alcohol Consumption:  with  income; M > F

Alcoholism and Problem Drinking: Can Recovered Alcoholics Drink again? • Alcoholics Anonymous Philosophy: An alcoholic is an alcoholic for life • Research suggests that this is true in most cases • Drinking in moderation seems possible • For young, employed problem drinkers • Who have not been drinking for long • Who live in supportive environments

Harvard Study Binge drinking by college/university students • 2 out of every 5 students binge drinks • frequent binge drinkers 22 times more likely to have problems Binge = Males: 5 or more drinks in a row in the past two wks. Females: 4 or more drinks in a row in the past two wks. • Frequent binge drinking = binge drinking three or more times in the last two weeks • Binge drinking not necessarily problem drinking

Canadian Campus Survey 2004 6,282 full-time students from 40 universities across Canada • 31.6% of undergraduates reported at least one indicator of dependent drinking • 18.5% and 6.6% of the undergraduates reported consuming 5 or more and 8 or more drinks on a single occasion, once every two weeks or more frequently. • Cannabis use - 32.1% during the past 12 months Factors influencing alcohol use • Gender (Males more likely) • Housing (Residence, off campus, family) • Alone vs. in large groups Consequences of alcohol use • unplanned sexual relations (14.1%) • driving after drinking too much (7.4%) • engaging in unsafe sex (6.0%) • driving while drinking (3.8%)

Smoking • The single greatest cause of preventable death • More than 45,000 people will die prematurely this year in Canada due to tobacco use -- at least 1,000 of them will be non-smokers. • Cigarette smokers appear to be generally less health-conscious than nonsmokers • Studies of secondhand smoke reveal that family members and coworkers are at risk for a variety of health disorders.

Smoking in Ontario

Smoking: Why Do People Smoke? • Smoking begins early (adolescence) • Initial experimentation • Experiences peer pressure to smoke • Develops attitudes about what a smoker is like • males > females, but # females smoking is  • Sociocultural factors influence smoking • What two factors will increase the likelihood that adolescents will start smoking?

Smoking: Synergistic Effects • Smoking enhances the impact of other risk factors in compromising health. • The blood of smokers coagulates more easily than that of nonsmokers • Nicotine increases reactivity to stress • Smokers engage in less physical activity as long as they continue smoking

Smoking: Interventions to reduce smoking • Media campaigns have helped instill antismoking attitudes among the general public • Stupid.ca • Changes in social norms have motivated many people to quit • Nicotine-Replacement Therapy • Nicotine gum vs. transdermal nicotine patches

Interventions to reduce smoking • Government policy changes at both national and provincial level • EX: workplace and public place smoking bans • Second hand smoke scares • Are they effective? • Who do they benefit?

Smoking: Interventions to reduce smoking Multimodal Interventions • Specific interventions are geared to the stage of readiness with respect to smoking

Health Psychology