Research Analysis

Reading and Summarizing

Tamera Young

Department of psychology, Southern New Hampshire University

SCS-502-Q2378: Foundations of Research Methods

Professor Susan Depue

December 13, 2020

In the article Influences of motivational contexts on prescription drug misuse and related drug problems the researchers are looking to determine if young adults abuse prescription drugs because of motivational contexts. They are looking to find if things like relaxing, staying alert while socializing or negative effects create a need/want to abuse prescription drugs. (Martins et al., 2014)

In this study the hypothesis is if young adults score high scores on the motivational context they will be influenced to utilize prescription drugs as well as endure drug related problems and symptoms of dependency. Having greater scores can also have an indirect influence on prescription drug use and drug related problems and symptoms of dependency.

The independent variables are motivational context and the dependent variables are the frequency of prescription drug misuse an prescription drug related problems and symptoms of dependency.

Hypothesis 1: IV= motivational context DV= Frequency of prescription drug misuse

Hypothesis 2: IV=motivational context DV= Prescription drug related problems and symptoms of dependency.

The participants that were used in this study were 400 young adults with a mean age of 24.5 recruited via time-space sampling. The researchers utilized time space-sampling in wide range of venues that house nightlife scenes in New York City. Using a random digit generator, a random number was drawn corresponding to a particular venue on a particular day.

In the initial assessment participants completed the informed consent process, and then completed the survey via ACASI or in-house assessments and via Qualtirics for online

assessments. Once completed, participants were compensated $50 in cash, check or Amazon gift card, which ever they preferred.

According to the authors young adults in the nightlife are more likely to abuse prescription drugs due to a negative situation which can be a key driver of drug problems. Addressing negative situations with young adults may assist with helping to keep them from relapsing or starting to use drugs at all.

The night life is not the only place where young adults can access prescription drugs, researchers in this next article Nonmedical prescription drug use among US young adults by educational attainment the researchers are looking to find if education has any connection to young adults use of prescription drugs. (Martins et al., 2014)

Prescription drugs used among young adults based upon their educational attainment can affect their use of drugs positively or negatively. The researchers would also want to learn if there is a connection with NMUPO or nonmedical stimulant use involving racial/ethnic and male and female young adults.

Hypothesis 1: IV= Educational Level DV= Prescription drug use

Hypothesis 2: IV=Racial/Ethnic & Male or female DV= NMUPO or nonmedical stimulant use.

The independent variable in this study are education level and racial/ethnic and male or female. The dependent variables are prescription drug use and NMUPO or nonmedical stimulant use.

In this study, 36, 781 young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 were involved. They were chosen from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health public use files. They were also

chosen by the adjusted main effects for current educational attainment, along with its interaction with gender and race/ethnicity was considered.

Survey items were administered by computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) conducted by an interviewer and audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI). Respondents were offered a $30 incentive payment or participation in the survey. All respondents provided information about their drug experiences and their socio demographic characteristics.

The results found that young adults will benefit from prevention and intervention programs that should target nonmedical prescription drug use beyond college campuses. The hypothesis was supported in this article.

According to the authors young adult nonmedical prescription drug use is not only an issue on college/school campuses. This appears to be an all-around issue with young adults.

In Ethnic/Racial Differences in Peer and Parent influence on Adolescent Prescription Drug Misuse the researchers are looking to study the misuse of prescription drugs based off of young adults ethnic/racial background and also how their parental and peer disapproval affects their decisions to indulge in prescription drug use. (Conn & Marks, 2014)

In this article the hypothesis is the misuse of prescription drugs based off of adolescent ethnic/racial background along with peer and parental disapproval may have a correlation to young adults likelihood of using prescription drugs.

Hypothesis 1: IV= Ethnic/Racial DV= Adolescent prescription drug use

Hypothesis 2: IV=Parental or peer DV= Adolescent prescription drug use

The independent variables are ethnic/racial and parental or peer. The dependent variables are Adolescent prescription drug use.

The samples used in this study was Adolescents aged 12 -17 years old in 50 states were chosen for this study. They self-identified as African American, Hispanic or White American. Half the study sample were males.

Researchers used computer-assisted interviewing methodology combines with computer-assisted interviewing personal interviewing (CAPI) and audio computer assisted self-interviewing (ACASI). For more sensitive questions pertaining to drug use, respondents listened to prerecorded questions through headphones and entered responses directly into the computer without interviewer observation or assistance. The sample is composed of adolescents who selected mono racial categories: non-Hispanic, black/African American, non-Hispanic white and Hispanic.

The study shows that substance use disapproval by important socialization agents such as family and peers may significantly influence NMUPD. The findings also state that parents continue to remain a vital part of adolescent’s decision making. The hypothesis was supported in this study.

According to the author Parental and peer disapproval of prescription drug misuse has an effect on young adults’ decisions to use drugs or not. Due to the researchers having a small number of minority samples the white participants had a greater number than the others which made it difficult to examine the numbers.

References

Conn, B. M., & Marks, A. K. (2014). Ethnic/Racial Differences in Peer and Parent Influence on Adolescent Prescription Drug Misuse. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 35(4), 257-265. doi:10.1097/dbp.0000000000000058

Kelly, B. C., Rendina, H. J., Vuolo, M., Wells, B. E., & Parsons, J. T. (2015). Influences of motivational contexts on prescription drug misuse and related drug problems. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 48(1), 49-55. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2014.07.005

Martins, S. S., Kim, J. H., Chen, L., Levin, D., Keyes, K. M., Cerdá, M., & Storr, C. L. (2014). Nonmedical prescription drug use among US young adults by educational attainment. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 50(5), 713-724. doi:10.1007/s00127-014-0980-3