This study explored the
relationship between trajectories of affective self-regulation skills during
secondary school and young adult substance use in a large multi-ethnic, urban
sample (N =
995). During secondary school, participants completed a measure of cognitive
and behavioral skills used to control negative, unpleasant emotions or
perceived stress. As young adults, participants reported on the frequency and
quantity of their alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use in a telephone
interview. Controlling for demographic variables, self-regulation did not
significantly change over adolescence, although there was significant variation
in participants' rates of growth and decline. Lower seventh grade
self-regulation and less steep increases in self-regulation were predictive of
higher young adult substance use. Male participants had significantly lower
initial self-regulation and higher young adult substance use. The results
suggest that interventions that build affective self-regulation skills in
adolescence may decrease the risk of young adult substance use.
Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana
use have been associated with a host of negative social and health risk
behaviors in adolescence and emerging adulthood, including poor academic and
vocational performance, relationship difficulties, risky sexual behavior,
aggressive and violent behavior, the abuse of illicit and prescription drugs,
and other physical and mental health problems (e.g., Dogan et al., 2010; Griffin
et al., 2010; Hermos et al., 2008; Newcomb
et al., 1993; Perkins,
2002; Schulenberg et al., 2005). These findings have
broad implications for young people and suggest that substance use and abuse
may decrease the likelihood of a healthy and successful developmental
transition into young adulthood. In order to develop effective prevention and
intervention programs that promote healthy development, it is important for
researchers to identify key psychosocial risk and protective factors during
adolescence that are associated with substance use and related problem outcomes
during emerging adulthood.
One of the most popular
conceptual models of substance use etiology, both from a scientific and lay
perspective, is that individuals use or abuse alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
in order to regulate negative affective responses (e.g., distress, stress, or
anxiety) that they experience due to exposure to unpleasant or threatening
stimuli. This notion has been operationalized in models that emphasize
substance use as a way to cope with or reduce anxiety or stress (Kushnera et al., 2000; Vaccaro & Wills, 1998; Wagner et al., 1999) or a way to self-medicate
a variety of negative affective states (e.g., Khantzian, 1997; Weiss & Mirin, 1987). There has been
significant support for these conceptual models in numerous studies and
multiple populations. Studies have shown that youth who struggle with
psychological distress, anxiety, perceived powerlessness, meaninglessness or
other negative emotions engage in more licit and illicit drug use (Crutchfield & Gove, 1984; Labouvie, 1986; Labouvie
et al., 1990; Mainous et al., 1996). In a study of
adolescents aged 12 to 17 who participated in the National Household Survey on
Drug Abuse, findings indicated that adolescents with serious emotional problems
were twice as likely to use marijuana and four times as likely to use other illicit
drugs compared to youth with low levels of emotional problems (Department
of Health & Human Services, 1999).
Given the existing empirical
support for the self-medication and coping models of substance use and abuse, a
corollary hypothesis is that individuals who are able to regulate their
affective responses in adaptive ways will be less likely to use alcohol,
tobacco, or illicit drugs. Of particular interest is whether such affective
self-regulation skills during adolescence serve as a protective factor for
substance use during the early twenties – the years when the use of alcohol,
tobacco, and other drugs typically peak in prevalence (Griffin,
2010). Scholars have focused increasingly on protective factors
during the years of emerging adulthood (between ages 18 and 25). This period of
life is characterized as a period of instability, exploration, and increasing
responsibility (Arnett, 2000). Research has demonstrated that
among college undergraduates, poor emotional self-regulation was associated
with greater participation in risky behaviors such as cigarette smoking and
alcohol-induced verbal and physical aggression (Magar
et al., 2008). However, no study to our knowledge has assessed
whether trajectories of affective self-regulation over the course of the
secondary school years prospectively predict young adult substance use...
Below: Affective Self-Regulation Skills During Adolescence and Young Adult Substance Use
Full article at: http://goo.gl/BEpwrN
By:
- 1Weill Cornell Medical College, Department of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
- 2Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, New York, NY, USA.
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