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Biomedical subjects

R A Zucker

Publications and source records attributed to R A Zucker.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Scaling the developmental momentum of alcoholic process via the lifetime alcohol problems score.

This paper outlines background issues and theoretical underpinnings for a time-based, dimensional measure of problem alcohol involvement which recasts the occurrence of alcohol-related clinical symptomatology within a developmental context. The measure is constructed of three component subscores which assess onset, variety, and life-invasiveness of alcoholic symptomatology. Measurement characteristics of LAPS are presented and initial validity studies with the index are described. The data illustrate both the heuristic and practical value of using such a contextual framework, and the measure shows promise for use in prospective research as well as in applied settings.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Identification of alcohol by smell among preschoolers: evidence for early socialization about drugs occurring in the home.

This study tested preschoolers' ability to provide accurate verbal associations to alcoholic beverage odors and whether this ability was related to parental drinking patterns and motivations. Older preschoolers performed better than younger preschoolers; photographic cues improved performance; children who correctly identified a substance by smell had socially appropriate knowledge of the culturally appropriate users of the substance; children reported liking substances that are used mainly by children and adults, and generally reported disliking substances whose use is legally limited to adults only; children were better at identifying substances they commonly use, but success at recognition of alcoholic beverages was related to heavier parental drinking and use of alcohol for escape reasons. Findings have implications for theories of socialization to drug use and for models of prevention.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1980

Parental response to competence and trauma in infants with reproductive casualty.

This study of 31 infants in neonatal intensive care and their parents examined the relationship involving infant characteristics (medical and behavioral), parent characteristics (personality and stuational variables), and the development of parental attachment. As expected, infants who were more visually competent had mothers who were more attentive. Contrary to expectation, greater prematurity was related to greater parental involvement. There were important differences in maternal and paternal responses, with mothers using more denial to cope with the medical crisis. Parents who relied heavily on denial were found to have impaired attachment.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

A multivariate social-psychological approach to the prediction of psychoactive drug use in young adults.

This research develops and tests a comprehensive social-psychological model which is capable of predicting individual differences in psychoactive drug use. A questionnaire assessing drug use, opportunities for goal attainment, normative constraints against deviance, perceived opportunities for drug use, attitudinal tolerance of deviance, and expectations about the consequences of drug use was administered to two separate subject populations: a "College Sample" and a "Street Sample.". Consistent with predictions, the more extensive an individual's drug use: (1) the less the participation in prosocial groups, (2) the greater the perceived opportunities for drug use, (3) the more time spent using drugs with friends, (4) the greater the tolerance of deviance, and (5) the more positive the expectations about drug use. Results are discussed in terms of the utility of the model for the prediction of patterns of drug use and the need for expanding the schema in future research to include measures of socialization practices.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Relating early child adjustment to infant and parent temperament.

The central question at issue was the role of both infant and parent temperament in determining child adjustment at age 4. Within the conceptual framework of the New York Longitudinal Study (NYLS), both infant and parent temperament were assessed. Factor analyses yielded three comparable infant and parent temperament factors: Mood, Energy, and Consistency. Correlations with teacher ratings of child adjustment indicated the most significant relationship to be with the infant girls' Mood factor (comparable to the NYLS high-risk "difficult" infant factor). No infant factors were found to relate to boys' adjustment, while maternal Mood was significant across sexes. Indices of the temperamental similarity within families also revealed sex differences relative to adjustment, with similarity across all family members significantly related to adjustment for girls and boy-father dissimilarity significant for boys. Discussion centered around continuity-discontinuity issues relevant to sex differences.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1979

Some sociopsychological factors in attempted suicide among urban black males.

This study tests three hypotheses relating to suicidal behavior among urban black males: that black consciousness and group cohesiveness will be lower and depression will be higher. Inner-city, young adult black males with a suicide attempt in the last 6 months, and matched controls were examined. Hypothesis was one supported; the other two received partial support. The validity of the theory of black self-hatred as the basic cause of suicidal behavior among blacks is questioned. Atwo-factor theory of suicide, focusing on forces moving the person away from suicide toward positive subgroup ties, is proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Problem drinking in adolescence.

Diagnostic criteria for the early stages of alcoholism are unclearmaccordingly, especially in young problem drinkers, emphasis should be on symptomatic treatment and shifting environmental support away from drinking. Alcohol use is frequently a precursor and a corollary of other drug use. Active intervention by the family physician can be very effective. Starting at age 15, the medical history should include a survey of alcohol consumption.

Adolescent↗