OBJECTIVE: Emerging adulthood (ages 18-25 years) has been associated with elevated substance use. Transitional life events (TLEs) during emerging adulthood in relation to substance use are usually examined separately, rather than as a constellation. The purposes of this study were (a) to explore distinct subgroups experiencing various TLEs during emerging adulthood, (b) to identify heterogeneous trajectories of cigarette and alcohol use during emerging adulthood, and (c) to examine the association of TLEs with cigarette and alcohol use trajectories. METHOD: Five waves of longitudinal data (mean age range: 19.5-26.0 years) were used from a community-based drug prevention program (n = 946, 49.9% female). Distinct subgroups of emerging adults who experienced various TLEs were identified using latent class analysis. Cigarette and alcohol use were examined using a latent growth mixture model. RESULTS: A three-class model fit the data best in identifying TLE subgroups (new family, college attenders [NFCA]; uncommitted relationships, college attenders [URCA]; hibernators [HBN]). Three-trajectory models fit the data best for cigarette and alcohol use during emerging adulthood. The TLE categories were significantly associated with the cigarette (p < .05) and alcohol use groups (p < .001); specifically, the URCA and HBN groups were significantly more likely to be classified as accelerating cigarette users, relative to NFCA (ps < .05). The NFCA and HBN groups were significantly more likely to be classified as accelerating alcohol users, relative to URCA (ps < .01). CONCLUSIONS: To characterize an "at-risk" emerging adult group for cigarette and alcohol use over time, a range of life events during emerging adulthood should be considered. Interventions tailored to young adulthood may benefit from targeting the absence of these life events typifying "independence" as a potential marker for underlying substance use problems and provide supplemental screening methods to identify young adults with similar issues.
OBJECTIVE: Emerging adulthood (ages 18-25 years) has been associated with elevated substance use. Transitional life events (TLEs) during emerging adulthood in relation to substance use are usually examined separately, rather than as a constellation. The purposes of this study were (a) to explore distinct subgroups experiencing various TLEs during emerging adulthood, (b) to identify heterogeneous trajectories of cigarette and alcohol use during emerging adulthood, and (c) to examine the association of TLEs with cigarette and alcohol use trajectories. METHOD: Five waves of longitudinal data (mean age range: 19.5-26.0 years) were used from a community-based drug prevention program (n = 946, 49.9% female). Distinct subgroups of emerging adults who experienced various TLEs were identified using latent class analysis. Cigarette and alcohol use were examined using a latent growth mixture model. RESULTS: A three-class model fit the data best in identifying TLE subgroups (new family, college attenders [NFCA]; uncommitted relationships, college attenders [URCA]; hibernators [HBN]). Three-trajectory models fit the data best for cigarette and alcohol use during emerging adulthood. The TLE categories were significantly associated with the cigarette (p < .05) and alcohol use groups (p < .001); specifically, the URCA and HBN groups were significantly more likely to be classified as accelerating cigarette users, relative to NFCA (ps < .05). The NFCA and HBN groups were significantly more likely to be classified as accelerating alcohol users, relative to URCA (ps < .01). CONCLUSIONS: To characterize an "at-risk" emerging adult group for cigarette and alcohol use over time, a range of life events during emerging adulthood should be considered. Interventions tailored to young adulthood may benefit from targeting the absence of these life events typifying "independence" as a potential marker for underlying substance use problems and provide supplemental screening methods to identify young adults with similar issues.
Authors: Seth J Schwartz; Larry F Forthun; Russell D Ravert; Byron L Zamboanga; Adriana J Umaña-Taylor; Beryl J Filton; Su Yeong Kim; Liliana Rodriguez; Robert S Weisskirch; Michael Vernon; Yuliya Shneyderman; Michelle K Williams; V Bede Agocha; Monika Hudson Journal: Am J Health Behav Date: 2010 Mar-Apr
Authors: R H C Palmer; S E Young; C J Hopfer; R P Corley; M C Stallings; T J Crowley; J K Hewitt Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2009-02-27 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Jon-Patrick Allem; Steve Sussman; Daniel W Soto; Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati; Jennifer B Unger Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2016-02-17 Impact factor: 3.913
Authors: Tali Klima; Martie L Skinner; Kevin P Haggerty; Robert D Crutchfield; Richard F Catalano Journal: J Stud Alcohol Drugs Date: 2014-09 Impact factor: 2.582
Authors: Alyssa F Harlow; Dielle Lundberg; Julia R Raifman; Andy S L Tan; Carl G Streed; Emelia J Benjamin; Andrew C Stokes Journal: JAMA Pediatr Date: 2021-01-01 Impact factor: 16.193