Purpose The purpose of this study was to test a mobile application for mental health created for ... more Purpose The purpose of this study was to test a mobile application for mental health created for Filipinos. Specifically, it tested the Lusog-Isip mobile app vis-à-vis a mental health workbook as they affect psychosocial well-being and coping strategies of users. Design/methodology/approach This study used a randomized control trial design. Participants were assigned to two conditions: a treatment group using the mobile app and a control group that used an existing mental health workbook. Pre- and post-tests were conducted before and two weeks after. Findings Results revealed improved psychological well-being and use of cognitive reappraisal for both mobile app and workbook users. Users of the mobile app reported higher scores compared to those who used the workbook for emotional release. Originality/value This study adds to the dearth of knowledge on the use of a mobile application for mental health in low-resource countries. It highlights the potential of using digital technologie...
Objective: This study is the first to examine how the manner of searching for information in the ... more Objective: This study is the first to examine how the manner of searching for information in the social environment is associated with college male students’ self-reports of sexual aggression and attitudes supportive of sexual aggression. Method: A modified MouselabWEB task, a Web-based program for tracing information acquisition processes, was utilized in this study. Asked to imagine themselves in a social situation, participants (N = 167) were tasked to reveal and gather information about 5 women by clicking on and opening “boxes” in a 5 (Number of Women) × 6 (Number of Female Attributes) matrix grid. Female attributes include attractiveness, sharing similar interests, dressing sexy, having an “easy” reputation, being intoxicated, and being alone most of the time. Results: The data suggest that those who engaged in prior sexually aggressive acts and those with attitudes supportive of sexual aggression were more likely to search for information related to a woman’s vulnerability. T...
Childhood abuse and sexual violence against women are prevalent in the United States. However, re... more Childhood abuse and sexual violence against women are prevalent in the United States. However, researchers have not fully explored the intersection among important predisposing factors that predict recent sexual violence experienced by women who are also survivors of childhood abuse. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among early childhood trauma, alexithymia, impulsivity, alcohol use severity, and sexual victimization in later life among female college students from the United States ( n = 1,178). Participants were part of a larger cross-cultural study, conducted between 2012 to 2014, which examined sexual aggression and victimization in the context of alcohol use. The current study aimed to examine if: (a) early trauma, impulsivity, alexithymia, and alcohol use severity impact sexual victimization in later life, and (b) if impulsivity, alexithymia, and alcohol use severity mediate the relationship between early trauma and victimization in later life. It was...
Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate a psychosocial treatment program for prisoners i... more Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate a psychosocial treatment program for prisoners incarcerated because of methamphetamine use. It compared the outcomes of prisoners who received the program while incarcerated, those who were released and received the treatment as part of community-based drug recovery program and a waitlist-control group (WC) with no treatment. Design/methodology/approach A quasi-experimental design was use with pre- and post-test surveys administered to three groups: a WC group, a pre-release treatment-while-incarcerated (TWI) group, and a post-release outpatient treatment group (OP). Surveys measured recovery skills, life skills and substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms were administered before and after the intervention. Findings Results revealed that at baseline OP and TWI had significant higher recovery skills compared to WC group. However, in terms of life skills, there was no significant difference observed among the WC, OP and TWI group at basel...
In this study, we examined the relationships between prior trauma, alexithymia, and sexual aggres... more In this study, we examined the relationships between prior trauma, alexithymia, and sexual aggression perpetration among 610 U.S. college students and 107 college students from the Philippines utilizing a cross-sectional retrospective design. We tested a moderated mediation model with alexithymia as the mediator between prior trauma and sexual aggression perpetration, and alcohol use as a moderator of the alexithymia–sexual aggression link. Moreover, given that cultural norms may influence these relationships, we also examined the structural invariance of the proposed moderated mediation model. Path analyses and multiple group analysis were used to examine the moderated mediation model, and examine model differences between samples. We did not find evidence for alexithymia as a mediator, but there was a significant interaction between alcohol use severity and alexithymia on sexual aggression perpetration across both samples. Alexithymia is a key variable in understanding the alcohol...
This article documents the development of a community-based drug intervention for low- to mild-ri... more This article documents the development of a community-based drug intervention for low- to mild-risk drug users who surrendered as part of the Philippine government's anti-drug campaign. It highlights the importance of developing evidence-informed drug recovery interventions that are appropriate to the Asian culture and to developing economies. Interviews and consultations with users and community stakeholders reveal the need for an intervention that would improve the drug recovery skills and life skills of users. Evidence-based interventions were adapted using McKleroy and colleagues’ (2006) Map of Adaptation Process (MAP) framework. The resulting intervention reflected the country's collectivist culture, relational values, propensity for indirect and non-verbal communication, and interdependent self-construal. The use of small groups, interactive and creative methodologies, and the incorporation of music and prayer also recognised the importance of these in the Philippine c...
In this study, we examined how sexual objectification can help explicate the relationship between... more In this study, we examined how sexual objectification can help explicate the relationship between alcohol use and sexual assault perpetration. Specifically, we examined a mediation and a moderation model. Moreover, given that gender roles and sexual norms vary across cultures, we also examined the structural invariance of the models between a U.S. male ( n = 404) and Philippines male ( n = 100) college sample. Path analyses were used to examine the mediation and the moderation model, and multiple groups analysis was utilized to examine model differences between samples. Sexual objectification fully mediated the relationship between alcohol use severity and sexual aggression. Furthermore, the mediation model was invariant between the U.S. sample and Philippines sample. A significant alcohol use severity by sexual objectification interaction effect was found for both samples. Simple slopes analysis indicated that alcohol use severity was not associated with sexual aggression among tho...
Purpose The purpose of this study was to test a mobile application for mental health created for ... more Purpose The purpose of this study was to test a mobile application for mental health created for Filipinos. Specifically, it tested the Lusog-Isip mobile app vis-à-vis a mental health workbook as they affect psychosocial well-being and coping strategies of users. Design/methodology/approach This study used a randomized control trial design. Participants were assigned to two conditions: a treatment group using the mobile app and a control group that used an existing mental health workbook. Pre- and post-tests were conducted before and two weeks after. Findings Results revealed improved psychological well-being and use of cognitive reappraisal for both mobile app and workbook users. Users of the mobile app reported higher scores compared to those who used the workbook for emotional release. Originality/value This study adds to the dearth of knowledge on the use of a mobile application for mental health in low-resource countries. It highlights the potential of using digital technologie...
Objective: This study is the first to examine how the manner of searching for information in the ... more Objective: This study is the first to examine how the manner of searching for information in the social environment is associated with college male students’ self-reports of sexual aggression and attitudes supportive of sexual aggression. Method: A modified MouselabWEB task, a Web-based program for tracing information acquisition processes, was utilized in this study. Asked to imagine themselves in a social situation, participants (N = 167) were tasked to reveal and gather information about 5 women by clicking on and opening “boxes” in a 5 (Number of Women) × 6 (Number of Female Attributes) matrix grid. Female attributes include attractiveness, sharing similar interests, dressing sexy, having an “easy” reputation, being intoxicated, and being alone most of the time. Results: The data suggest that those who engaged in prior sexually aggressive acts and those with attitudes supportive of sexual aggression were more likely to search for information related to a woman’s vulnerability. T...
Childhood abuse and sexual violence against women are prevalent in the United States. However, re... more Childhood abuse and sexual violence against women are prevalent in the United States. However, researchers have not fully explored the intersection among important predisposing factors that predict recent sexual violence experienced by women who are also survivors of childhood abuse. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among early childhood trauma, alexithymia, impulsivity, alcohol use severity, and sexual victimization in later life among female college students from the United States ( n = 1,178). Participants were part of a larger cross-cultural study, conducted between 2012 to 2014, which examined sexual aggression and victimization in the context of alcohol use. The current study aimed to examine if: (a) early trauma, impulsivity, alexithymia, and alcohol use severity impact sexual victimization in later life, and (b) if impulsivity, alexithymia, and alcohol use severity mediate the relationship between early trauma and victimization in later life. It was...
Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate a psychosocial treatment program for prisoners i... more Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate a psychosocial treatment program for prisoners incarcerated because of methamphetamine use. It compared the outcomes of prisoners who received the program while incarcerated, those who were released and received the treatment as part of community-based drug recovery program and a waitlist-control group (WC) with no treatment. Design/methodology/approach A quasi-experimental design was use with pre- and post-test surveys administered to three groups: a WC group, a pre-release treatment-while-incarcerated (TWI) group, and a post-release outpatient treatment group (OP). Surveys measured recovery skills, life skills and substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms were administered before and after the intervention. Findings Results revealed that at baseline OP and TWI had significant higher recovery skills compared to WC group. However, in terms of life skills, there was no significant difference observed among the WC, OP and TWI group at basel...
In this study, we examined the relationships between prior trauma, alexithymia, and sexual aggres... more In this study, we examined the relationships between prior trauma, alexithymia, and sexual aggression perpetration among 610 U.S. college students and 107 college students from the Philippines utilizing a cross-sectional retrospective design. We tested a moderated mediation model with alexithymia as the mediator between prior trauma and sexual aggression perpetration, and alcohol use as a moderator of the alexithymia–sexual aggression link. Moreover, given that cultural norms may influence these relationships, we also examined the structural invariance of the proposed moderated mediation model. Path analyses and multiple group analysis were used to examine the moderated mediation model, and examine model differences between samples. We did not find evidence for alexithymia as a mediator, but there was a significant interaction between alcohol use severity and alexithymia on sexual aggression perpetration across both samples. Alexithymia is a key variable in understanding the alcohol...
This article documents the development of a community-based drug intervention for low- to mild-ri... more This article documents the development of a community-based drug intervention for low- to mild-risk drug users who surrendered as part of the Philippine government's anti-drug campaign. It highlights the importance of developing evidence-informed drug recovery interventions that are appropriate to the Asian culture and to developing economies. Interviews and consultations with users and community stakeholders reveal the need for an intervention that would improve the drug recovery skills and life skills of users. Evidence-based interventions were adapted using McKleroy and colleagues’ (2006) Map of Adaptation Process (MAP) framework. The resulting intervention reflected the country's collectivist culture, relational values, propensity for indirect and non-verbal communication, and interdependent self-construal. The use of small groups, interactive and creative methodologies, and the incorporation of music and prayer also recognised the importance of these in the Philippine c...
In this study, we examined how sexual objectification can help explicate the relationship between... more In this study, we examined how sexual objectification can help explicate the relationship between alcohol use and sexual assault perpetration. Specifically, we examined a mediation and a moderation model. Moreover, given that gender roles and sexual norms vary across cultures, we also examined the structural invariance of the models between a U.S. male ( n = 404) and Philippines male ( n = 100) college sample. Path analyses were used to examine the mediation and the moderation model, and multiple groups analysis was utilized to examine model differences between samples. Sexual objectification fully mediated the relationship between alcohol use severity and sexual aggression. Furthermore, the mediation model was invariant between the U.S. sample and Philippines sample. A significant alcohol use severity by sexual objectification interaction effect was found for both samples. Simple slopes analysis indicated that alcohol use severity was not associated with sexual aggression among tho...
Prior research has examined the role of alcohol in sexual assault through utilizing date rape ana... more Prior research has examined the role of alcohol in sexual assault through utilizing date rape analogue vignettes to study perpetration and victimization. There is a paucity of cross-cultural research on this topic, leaving the generalizability and universality of the findings to question. Intimate relationships, sexual norms, and transgressions from it are governed by gender roles and social and power relations which may vary across cultures. It is unclear how individuals from different cultures would respond to situations that Americans would constitute as sexual aggression. For example, Serquina-Ramiro (2005) found that sexual coercion was common among Filipino male adolescents. Furthermore, it is also unclear how the role of alcohol intoxication would influence sexual aggression cross-culturally. The purpose of the present study was to examine culture, gender, and alcohol consumption as predictors of leaving behavior in a novel sexual encounter vignette.
Data were collected from a cross-cultural study of 417 undergraduates (M age= 19, 75% Female) from a large United States University (n = 232) and a large Filipino University (n = 185). The participants completed a set of surveys which assessed problematic substance use, emotional states, trauma history, sexual history, and attitudes towards sex. A vignette was created in order to assess the participant’s comfort, level of excitement, and likelihood of leaving a coercive sexual situation between a female and a drunk male. The vignette was delivered as a between group design with four possible conditions, varying whether or not the female was drunk and whether the couple knew each other well or had just met. The vignette had eighteen possible questions, beginning with consensual interaction and progressing towards sexual assault and rape. Five of the questions were identified as events which substantially increased the level of inappropriate behavior: inappropriate touch, verbal coercion, physical coercion, verbal assault, and physical sexual assault.
Differences in leaving behavior were examined as a function of gender, culture, and whether or not the female was intoxicated in the vignette. Results indicated that there were cultural differences beginning at verbal coercion and continuing to physical assault, with a greater portion of the Filipino population continuing at three of the four time points (p = .003, .034, .013 respectively). Gender differences were also present regarding the decision to stay in the situation after the inappropriate touch, with males being more likely to continue than females (X2 = 7.435, p = .024); however, no significant variability was present at other key events. There were no differences in leaving behavior related to whether or not the female was intoxicated in the encounter. Implications of these findings are discussed.
The present study used structural equation modeling to evaluate whether the college Filipino stud... more The present study used structural equation modeling to evaluate whether the college Filipino students’ (N = 312, Mean Age = 17.69, SD = .97) decision on either intent to seek face-to-face counseling or intent to seek online counseling is influenced by the effect of attitudes toward help-seeking on loss of face, stigma (private and public), and problem severity. Using path analysis, results indicate that attitudes about help seeking, problem severity, and loss of face have a direct effect on intent to seek face-to-face and online counseling, whereas stigma (private and public) has an indirect effect through attitudes towards counseling. Implications on future counseling psychology research, prevention, and intervention were discussed.
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Data were collected from a cross-cultural study of 417 undergraduates (M age= 19, 75% Female) from a large United States University (n = 232) and a large Filipino University (n = 185). The participants completed a set of surveys which assessed problematic substance use, emotional states, trauma history, sexual history, and attitudes towards sex. A vignette was created in order to assess the participant’s comfort, level of excitement, and likelihood of leaving a coercive sexual situation between a female and a drunk male. The vignette was delivered as a between group design with four possible conditions, varying whether or not the female was drunk and whether the couple knew each other well or had just met. The vignette had eighteen possible questions, beginning with consensual interaction and progressing towards sexual assault and rape. Five of the questions were identified as events which substantially increased the level of inappropriate behavior: inappropriate touch, verbal coercion, physical coercion, verbal assault, and physical sexual assault.
Differences in leaving behavior were examined as a function of gender, culture, and whether or not the female was intoxicated in the vignette. Results indicated that there were cultural differences beginning at verbal coercion and continuing to physical assault, with a greater portion of the Filipino population continuing at three of the four time points (p = .003, .034, .013 respectively). Gender differences were also present regarding the decision to stay in the situation after the inappropriate touch, with males being more likely to continue than females (X2 = 7.435, p = .024); however, no significant variability was present at other key events. There were no differences in leaving behavior related to whether or not the female was intoxicated in the encounter. Implications of these findings are discussed.