OBJECTIVE: The present study used an empirically based method to characterize substance use in a sample of Argentinean adolescents and analyzed the association between age at drinking onset and substance use behaviors. Differences in alcohol expectancies and personality traits as a function of different patterns of substance use were also explored. METHOD: Data were obtained from 583 adolescents aged 13-18years (M=15.01years; SD=1.5years; 59.5% female) from the city of Cordoba, Argentina. Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use and age at first alcohol use were measured. Personality traits, including extroversion, conscientiousness, impulsivity, and aggression, and positive and negative alcohol expectancies were assessed. Latent Class Analysis was applied to examine the structure of five co-occurring substance use behaviors: frequency of alcohol use, quantity of alcohol use, prevalence of drunkenness episodes, tobacco use, and drug use. RESULTS: Latent Class Analysis revealed five distinct patterns of substance use. The classes differed in substance use behaviors, personality traits, and alcohol expectancies. Adolescents with early drinking onset were more likely to show heavier alcohol use, more drunkenness episodes, and more drug use than adolescents with late drinking onset. CONCLUSIONS: Latent Class Analysis allowed the detection of groups of adolescents with distinct patterns of substance use. These groups exhibited significantly different personality and alcohol expectancy profiles, likely representing subgroups who are at greater risk for developing alcohol-related problems.
OBJECTIVE: The present study used an empirically based method to characterize substance use in a sample of Argentinean adolescents and analyzed the association between age at drinking onset and substance use behaviors. Differences in alcohol expectancies and personality traits as a function of different patterns of substance use were also explored. METHOD: Data were obtained from 583 adolescents aged 13-18years (M=15.01years; SD=1.5years; 59.5% female) from the city of Cordoba, Argentina. Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use and age at first alcohol use were measured. Personality traits, including extroversion, conscientiousness, impulsivity, and aggression, and positive and negative alcohol expectancies were assessed. Latent Class Analysis was applied to examine the structure of five co-occurring substance use behaviors: frequency of alcohol use, quantity of alcohol use, prevalence of drunkenness episodes, tobacco use, and drug use. RESULTS: Latent Class Analysis revealed five distinct patterns of substance use. The classes differed in substance use behaviors, personality traits, and alcohol expectancies. Adolescents with early drinking onset were more likely to show heavier alcohol use, more drunkenness episodes, and more drug use than adolescents with late drinking onset. CONCLUSIONS: Latent Class Analysis allowed the detection of groups of adolescents with distinct patterns of substance use. These groups exhibited significantly different personality and alcohol expectancy profiles, likely representing subgroups who are at greater risk for developing alcohol-related problems.
Authors: María Belén Acevedo; Michael E Nizhnikov; Juan C Molina; Ricardo Marcos Pautassi Journal: Behav Brain Res Date: 2014-02-28 Impact factor: 3.332
Authors: Laura Delgado-Lobete; Rebeca Montes-Montes; Alba Vila-Paz; José-Manuel Cruz-Valiño; Berta Gándara-Gafo; Miguel-Ángel Talavera-Valverde; Sergio Santos-Del-Riego Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-04-27 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Mehdi Moradinazar; Vahid Farnia; Mostafa Alikhani; Ali Kazemi Karyani; Satar Rezaei; Shahab Rezaeian; Behzad Karami Matin; Farid Najafi Journal: Oman Med J Date: 2020-01-23
Authors: Victoria Whitaker; Melissa Oldham; Jennifer Boyd; Hannah Fairbrother; Penny Curtis; Petra Meier; John Holmes Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-01-14 Impact factor: 3.295