Nichea S Spillane
Biographic Data
| ID | 1662423 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Nichea S Spillane |
| GIVEN NAMES | Nichea S |
| FAMILY NAME | Spillane |
| SIGNATURE | SPILLANE N S |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Rhode Island |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4110-3255 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 25 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Racial Discrimination Moderates the Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol-Related Consequences Among One First Nation Reserve Community’s Youth
North American Indigenous (NAI) adolescents experience disproportionately high rates of alcohol-related consequences and racial discrimination but report similar rates of alcohol consumption as other racial/ethnic groups. Racial discrimination serves a deleterious role on adolescent development and well-being. To test if NAI adolescents’ disproportionate rates of alcohol-related consequences are related to the negative effects of racial discrimin…
The protective role of valuing cultural activities on cannabis use in reserve-Dwelling First Nation youth
Cannabis legalization and use across North America disproportionately negatively affects North American Indigenous (NAI) youth. Cultural activities may function as an alternative reinforcer to protect against substance use and promote engagement in substance-free activities. The present study explored the role of valuing cultural activities on positive cannabis expectancies and past-month cannabis use. This was a secondary data analysis of data f…
Primary Socialization Theory and American Indian Adolescents’ Intentions to Use Substances
Objective Intentions to use substances are a robust risk factor for future substance use. Primary Socialization Theory (PST), with its focus on relational factors, is well-suited to provide insight into American Indian adolescents’ intentions to use substances given the importance of relationships in American Indian communities. The goal of the present study was to examine the role of PST-related factors (i.e., parental monitoring, peer pressure,…
Discrimination and school outcomes in first nation youth
INTRODUCTION: Positive psychological characteristics have been found to be associated with discrimination and school outcomes separately; however, no work has examined these associations together or in North American Indigenous (NAI) populations. NAI adolescents experience high rates of racial discrimination. Because discrimination has a detrimental impact on academic outcomes it is critical to identify factors that could buffer this impact. The …
Trauma and Substance Use among Indigenous Peoples of the United States and Canada
Substance use has been identified by Indigenous populations as contributing to health disparities facing their communities. Rates of trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder are higher in Indigenous, compared to non-Indigenous, populations and have been linked to substance use. Historical trauma is thought to be one mechanism underlying substance use and related disorders. The purpose of the present study is to summarize the current sta…
Sexual and Gender Minority Inclusivity in Bystander Intervention Programs to Prevent Violence on College Campuses
Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals are at increased risk for experiencing sexual violence. Bystander intervention training programs are a first-line prevention recommendation for reducing sexual and dating violence on college campuses. Little is known regarding the extent to which SGM individuals are represented in the content of bystander intervention programs or are included in studies examining the effectiveness of bystander interven…
Depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and alcohol-related consequences
Results of the present study may inform the development of gender-sensitive recommendations for the assessment and treatment of alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences among AI adolescents. For instance, results suggest that treatments focusing on depressive symptoms may subsequently reduce alcohol use and related consequences for female AI adolescents
The Role of Savoring in Young Adult Cannabis Use and Associated Consequences
Young adults exhibit high rates of cannabis use and are at heightened risk of experiencing negative cannabis-associated consequences. The purpose of the present study was to replicate and extend to prior work on savoring, the ability to experience positive experiences/emotions, and cannabis use frequency on cannabis-associated consequences. Young adults (18-25 years old, N = 122, 36.1% women) who reported weekly cannabis use completed self-report…
Positive Psychological Characteristics and Substance Use in First Nation Adolescents
BackgroundNorth American Indigenous (NAI) adolescents experience disproportionate harm related to substance use compared to non-Indigenous adolescents. Strengths-based approaches to substance use prevention and treatment are consistent with Indigenous conceptualizations of health, which tend to be holistic and incorporate more spirituality and community than mainstream Western conceptualizations. Despite this, little is known about how positive p…
Drinking to Fit in
Objective: Over the past two decades, rates of alcohol use among female students have risen to meet or even surpass those seen among males. Yet, little is known about factors that play a role in the relationship between drinking motives and alcohol consumption for female college students. The present study examines self-esteem as a moderator in the association between categories of drinking motives and alcohol use in a sample of female college st…
Correlates of Bystander Intervention Among Heavy Drinking College Men
The present study utilized survey assessments to examine correlates of bystander intervention intentions among heavy drinking college men ( N = 210). Intentions to engage in bystander intervention were associated with fewer heavy drinking days, lower alcohol-related consequences, greater use of strategies to limit drinking, and lower endorsement of alcohol expectancies. A range of constructs commonly associated with perpetration of sexual aggress…
Harm reduction acceptability and feasibility in a North American indigenous reserve community
AIMS: The present study assessed community and culturally specific alcohol-related harm among North American Indigenous (NAI) individuals, as well as the acceptability and feasibility of harm reduction approaches in one reserve-based NAI community. METHODS: Participants lived on or near a NAI reserve in Canada. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with health care workers (N = 8, 75% NAI) and community members (N = 9, 100% NAI). Self-repor…
Subjective happiness interrupts the association between alcohol expectancies and alcohol consumption among reserve-dwelling first nation adolescents
25). Results of the present study provide preliminary support for the utility of positive psychological interventions aiming to increase adolescent's subjective happiness to indirectly target alcohol consumption. Future work should test the effectiveness of such interventions and aim to replicate these findings in larger samples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
The protective effects of self-compassion on alcohol-related problems among first nation adolescents
Given the disproportionate alcohol-related consequences experienced by North American Indigenous youth, there is a critical need to identify related risk and protective factors. Self-compassion, which has been found to mitigate the effects of trauma exposure, may serve as one such protective factor given the high-degree of historical trauma and contemporary discrimination identified as contributing to the alcohol-related disparities experienced b…
The associations of Latino/a racial status and neighborhood discrimination to alcohol use and psychological distress
Minority Stress Theory posits that discrimination is associated with negative mental health outcomes; however, the location of the perceived discrimination may matter. This study examines whether race, inside-neighborhood discrimination, and their interaction are associated with hazardous drinking, alcohol-related consequences, and depressive/anxiety symptoms in a racially diverse sample of Latino/a adults. Participants (N = 296, 63% male, Mage=4…
Testing the competing life reinforcers model for substance use in reserve-dwelling First Nation youth
PURPOSE: North American Indigenous (NAI) communities often cite substance misuse as problematic in their communities. The Competing Life Reinforcers (CLRs) model suggests that when reinforcers are valued, important, and incompatible with substance use, they will be associated with less substance misuse. Three categories of CLRs were identified in our formative work and include the following: cultural, social, and extracurricular activities. The a…
Identifying Competing Life Reinforcers for Substance Use in First Nation Adolescents
Background: Indigenous youth are at increased risk of initiating substance use at early ages and suffer greater negative consequences related to substance use as compared to non-Indigenous youth. Behavioral Theories of Choice suggests that substance use is contingent on the availability of substances and the availability of alternatives to substance use. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate risk and protective factors associated wit…
Structured and Unstructured Activities and Alcohol and Marijuana Use in Middle School
Background: Behavioral Theories of Choice applied to substance use suggests that use depends on availability of substances and alternative activities. Applying this theory to younger adolescents offers the possibility of investigating potentially malleable prevention and intervention targets. Objectives: The current study examines the role of perceived availability and engagement in structured and unstructured activities on adolescent alcohol and…
Difficulties Regulating Positive Emotions and Substance Misuse
Background: Alcohol and drug misuse present significant public health concerns due to their high prevalence and deleterious outcomes. A growing body of research provides support for the role of difficulties regulating positive emotions in alcohol and drug misuse. However, research is needed to better understand for whom difficulties regulating positive emotions are most strongly associated with alcohol and drug misuse to inform assessment and tre…
The factor structure of self-esteem and its association with alcohol use in American Indian (AI) adolescents
14.8, 47.7% female) attending schools on or near reservations across 11 states. Participants completed the American Drug and Alcohol Survey. Factor analytic results suggested 2 factors, representing intrapersonal (from intrinsic sources) and interpersonal self-esteem (from extrinsic sources). Multilevel regression analyses revealed that, with both factors entered into the model, intrapersonal self-esteem was negatively associated with alcohol con…
Regional and gender differences in tobacco use among American Indian youth
Tobacco use is among the top preventable causes of death in the United States, and American Indian (AI) adolescents tend to use tobacco at higher rates compared to the general population. To examine regional and gender differences in rates of smoked, smokeless, and poly-tobacco use among AI adolescents as compared to White counterparts, participants were sampled as part of a larger ongoing study examining substance use among American Indian adole…
Emotion-based impulsivity, smoking expectancies, and nicotine dependence in college students
The aim of this study was to enhance our understanding of the relationship between affect-related dispositions to rash action, negative urgency (NU: the tendency to act rashly when in a negative mood), positive urgency (PU: the tendency to act rashly when in a positive mood) and level of nicotine dependence symptoms by examining how the two traits transact with affect-related smoking expectancies. Based on the Acquired Preparedness model of addic…
On the pursuit of sound science for the betterment of the American Indian community
We argue that ongoing criticism of existing theories, the development of alternative theories, and empirical theory tests offer the best chance for advancing American Indian research. We, therefore note our appreciation for Beals et al.'s comments. We nevertheless did disagree with many of Beals et al.'s specific claims, noting that (a) our characterization of the existing literature on reservation-dwelling American Indian drinking was accurate; …
Integration of impulsivity and positive mood to predict risky behavior
In 3 studies, the authors developed and began to validate a measure of the propensity to act rashly in response to positive affective states (positive urgency). In Study 1, they developed a content-valid 14-item scale, showed that the measure was unidimensional, and showed that positive urgency was distinct from impulsivity-like constructs identified in 2 models of impulsive behavior. In Study 2, they showed that positive urgency explained varian…
A theory of reservation-dwelling American Indian alcohol use risk
The authors present a theory for understanding risk for problem drinking among reservation-dwelling American Indians. The theory offers an overall framework for understanding the risk process for this group. It considers the distinction between factors that influence mean levels of American Indian problem drinking and factors that influence individual differences in American Indian drinking. It proposes important contextual differences between re…
A theory of reservation-dwelling American Indian alcohol use risk
The authors present a theory for understanding risk for problem drinking among reservation-dwelling American Indians. The theory offers an overall framework for understanding the risk process for this group. It considers the distinction between factors that influence mean levels of American Indian problem drinking and factors that influence individual differences in American Indian drinking. It proposes important contextual differences between re…
Integration of impulsivity and positive mood to predict risky behavior
In 3 studies, the authors developed and began to validate a measure of the propensity to act rashly in response to positive affective states (positive urgency). In Study 1, they developed a content-valid 14-item scale, showed that the measure was unidimensional, and showed that positive urgency was distinct from impulsivity-like constructs identified in 2 models of impulsive behavior. In Study 2, they showed that positive urgency explained varian…
A theory of reservation-dwelling American Indian alcohol use risk
The authors present a theory for understanding risk for problem drinking among reservation-dwelling American Indians. The theory offers an overall framework for understanding the risk process for this group. It considers the distinction between factors that influence mean levels of American Indian problem drinking and factors that influence individual differences in American Indian drinking. It proposes important contextual differences between re…
On the pursuit of sound science for the betterment of the American Indian community
We argue that ongoing criticism of existing theories, the development of alternative theories, and empirical theory tests offer the best chance for advancing American Indian research. We, therefore note our appreciation for Beals et al.'s comments. We nevertheless did disagree with many of Beals et al.'s specific claims, noting that (a) our characterization of the existing literature on reservation-dwelling American Indian drinking was accurate; …
Emotion-based impulsivity, smoking expectancies, and nicotine dependence in college students
The aim of this study was to enhance our understanding of the relationship between affect-related dispositions to rash action, negative urgency (NU: the tendency to act rashly when in a negative mood), positive urgency (PU: the tendency to act rashly when in a positive mood) and level of nicotine dependence symptoms by examining how the two traits transact with affect-related smoking expectancies. Based on the Acquired Preparedness model of addic…
Regional and gender differences in tobacco use among American Indian youth
Tobacco use is among the top preventable causes of death in the United States, and American Indian (AI) adolescents tend to use tobacco at higher rates compared to the general population. To examine regional and gender differences in rates of smoked, smokeless, and poly-tobacco use among AI adolescents as compared to White counterparts, participants were sampled as part of a larger ongoing study examining substance use among American Indian adole…
Identifying Competing Life Reinforcers for Substance Use in First Nation Adolescents
Background: Indigenous youth are at increased risk of initiating substance use at early ages and suffer greater negative consequences related to substance use as compared to non-Indigenous youth. Behavioral Theories of Choice suggests that substance use is contingent on the availability of substances and the availability of alternatives to substance use. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate risk and protective factors associated wit…
Structured and Unstructured Activities and Alcohol and Marijuana Use in Middle School
Background: Behavioral Theories of Choice applied to substance use suggests that use depends on availability of substances and alternative activities. Applying this theory to younger adolescents offers the possibility of investigating potentially malleable prevention and intervention targets. Objectives: The current study examines the role of perceived availability and engagement in structured and unstructured activities on adolescent alcohol and…
Difficulties Regulating Positive Emotions and Substance Misuse
Background: Alcohol and drug misuse present significant public health concerns due to their high prevalence and deleterious outcomes. A growing body of research provides support for the role of difficulties regulating positive emotions in alcohol and drug misuse. However, research is needed to better understand for whom difficulties regulating positive emotions are most strongly associated with alcohol and drug misuse to inform assessment and tre…
The factor structure of self-esteem and its association with alcohol use in American Indian (AI) adolescents
14.8, 47.7% female) attending schools on or near reservations across 11 states. Participants completed the American Drug and Alcohol Survey. Factor analytic results suggested 2 factors, representing intrapersonal (from intrinsic sources) and interpersonal self-esteem (from extrinsic sources). Multilevel regression analyses revealed that, with both factors entered into the model, intrapersonal self-esteem was negatively associated with alcohol con…
The protective effects of self-compassion on alcohol-related problems among first nation adolescents
Given the disproportionate alcohol-related consequences experienced by North American Indigenous youth, there is a critical need to identify related risk and protective factors. Self-compassion, which has been found to mitigate the effects of trauma exposure, may serve as one such protective factor given the high-degree of historical trauma and contemporary discrimination identified as contributing to the alcohol-related disparities experienced b…
The associations of Latino/a racial status and neighborhood discrimination to alcohol use and psychological distress
Minority Stress Theory posits that discrimination is associated with negative mental health outcomes; however, the location of the perceived discrimination may matter. This study examines whether race, inside-neighborhood discrimination, and their interaction are associated with hazardous drinking, alcohol-related consequences, and depressive/anxiety symptoms in a racially diverse sample of Latino/a adults. Participants (N = 296, 63% male, Mage=4…
Testing the competing life reinforcers model for substance use in reserve-dwelling First Nation youth
PURPOSE: North American Indigenous (NAI) communities often cite substance misuse as problematic in their communities. The Competing Life Reinforcers (CLRs) model suggests that when reinforcers are valued, important, and incompatible with substance use, they will be associated with less substance misuse. Three categories of CLRs were identified in our formative work and include the following: cultural, social, and extracurricular activities. The a…
Positive Psychological Characteristics and Substance Use in First Nation Adolescents
BackgroundNorth American Indigenous (NAI) adolescents experience disproportionate harm related to substance use compared to non-Indigenous adolescents. Strengths-based approaches to substance use prevention and treatment are consistent with Indigenous conceptualizations of health, which tend to be holistic and incorporate more spirituality and community than mainstream Western conceptualizations. Despite this, little is known about how positive p…
Drinking to Fit in
Objective: Over the past two decades, rates of alcohol use among female students have risen to meet or even surpass those seen among males. Yet, little is known about factors that play a role in the relationship between drinking motives and alcohol consumption for female college students. The present study examines self-esteem as a moderator in the association between categories of drinking motives and alcohol use in a sample of female college st…
Correlates of Bystander Intervention Among Heavy Drinking College Men
The present study utilized survey assessments to examine correlates of bystander intervention intentions among heavy drinking college men ( N = 210). Intentions to engage in bystander intervention were associated with fewer heavy drinking days, lower alcohol-related consequences, greater use of strategies to limit drinking, and lower endorsement of alcohol expectancies. A range of constructs commonly associated with perpetration of sexual aggress…
Harm reduction acceptability and feasibility in a North American indigenous reserve community
AIMS: The present study assessed community and culturally specific alcohol-related harm among North American Indigenous (NAI) individuals, as well as the acceptability and feasibility of harm reduction approaches in one reserve-based NAI community. METHODS: Participants lived on or near a NAI reserve in Canada. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with health care workers (N = 8, 75% NAI) and community members (N = 9, 100% NAI). Self-repor…
Subjective happiness interrupts the association between alcohol expectancies and alcohol consumption among reserve-dwelling first nation adolescents
25). Results of the present study provide preliminary support for the utility of positive psychological interventions aiming to increase adolescent's subjective happiness to indirectly target alcohol consumption. Future work should test the effectiveness of such interventions and aim to replicate these findings in larger samples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Primary Socialization Theory and American Indian Adolescents’ Intentions to Use Substances
Objective Intentions to use substances are a robust risk factor for future substance use. Primary Socialization Theory (PST), with its focus on relational factors, is well-suited to provide insight into American Indian adolescents’ intentions to use substances given the importance of relationships in American Indian communities. The goal of the present study was to examine the role of PST-related factors (i.e., parental monitoring, peer pressure,…
Discrimination and school outcomes in first nation youth
INTRODUCTION: Positive psychological characteristics have been found to be associated with discrimination and school outcomes separately; however, no work has examined these associations together or in North American Indigenous (NAI) populations. NAI adolescents experience high rates of racial discrimination. Because discrimination has a detrimental impact on academic outcomes it is critical to identify factors that could buffer this impact. The …
Trauma and Substance Use among Indigenous Peoples of the United States and Canada
Substance use has been identified by Indigenous populations as contributing to health disparities facing their communities. Rates of trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder are higher in Indigenous, compared to non-Indigenous, populations and have been linked to substance use. Historical trauma is thought to be one mechanism underlying substance use and related disorders. The purpose of the present study is to summarize the current sta…
Sexual and Gender Minority Inclusivity in Bystander Intervention Programs to Prevent Violence on College Campuses
Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals are at increased risk for experiencing sexual violence. Bystander intervention training programs are a first-line prevention recommendation for reducing sexual and dating violence on college campuses. Little is known regarding the extent to which SGM individuals are represented in the content of bystander intervention programs or are included in studies examining the effectiveness of bystander interven…
Depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and alcohol-related consequences
Results of the present study may inform the development of gender-sensitive recommendations for the assessment and treatment of alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences among AI adolescents. For instance, results suggest that treatments focusing on depressive symptoms may subsequently reduce alcohol use and related consequences for female AI adolescents
The Role of Savoring in Young Adult Cannabis Use and Associated Consequences
Young adults exhibit high rates of cannabis use and are at heightened risk of experiencing negative cannabis-associated consequences. The purpose of the present study was to replicate and extend to prior work on savoring, the ability to experience positive experiences/emotions, and cannabis use frequency on cannabis-associated consequences. Young adults (18-25 years old, N = 122, 36.1% women) who reported weekly cannabis use completed self-report…
The protective role of valuing cultural activities on cannabis use in reserve-Dwelling First Nation youth
Cannabis legalization and use across North America disproportionately negatively affects North American Indigenous (NAI) youth. Cultural activities may function as an alternative reinforcer to protect against substance use and promote engagement in substance-free activities. The present study explored the role of valuing cultural activities on positive cannabis expectancies and past-month cannabis use. This was a secondary data analysis of data f…
Racial Discrimination Moderates the Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol-Related Consequences Among One First Nation Reserve Community’s Youth
North American Indigenous (NAI) adolescents experience disproportionately high rates of alcohol-related consequences and racial discrimination but report similar rates of alcohol consumption as other racial/ethnic groups. Racial discrimination serves a deleterious role on adolescent development and well-being. To test if NAI adolescents’ disproportionate rates of alcohol-related consequences are related to the negative effects of racial discrimin…
Psychology (22 works) · Clinical Psychology (19 works) · Social Psychology (16 works) · Psychiatry (15 works) · Medicine (14 works) · Demography (8 works) · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes (8 works) · Alcohol (7 works) · Clinical Psychology (7 works) · Community Health and Development (7 works)