These stressful situations may also increase cortisol levels, exacerbate other health problems such as substance use, and compromise self-care behaviors such as sleep hygiene; all of which can lead to poor cognitive and physical functioning.
For example, eliminating addictive behaviors, such as substance use, may be very different from promoting preventive health behaviors, such as increasing the use of mammography.
Indeed, such effects may be caused by a number of interacting factors including genetic predisposition, prenatal and perinatal factors such as maternal infection and obstetric complications, and later environmental effects such as substance use and social isolation.
That is, adolescent-onset problem behavior is associated with delinquent peer involvement [ 39, 40] and such peer groups may also conduce other forms of problem behavior such as substance use and risky sex [ 41, 42].
Mediating variables such as self-efficacy, coping, and social and environmental support, and possible confounds such as substance use, were also assessed during the structured telephone interviews.
Impulsivity is an important factor in adverse outcomes such as substance use, problem gambling and psychopathology.
Her research focuses on understanding the neurobiology (for example, adaptations of both the mesocorticolimbic dopamine and endocannabinoid systems) underlying resilience and vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders, such as substance use disorder.
