Gary C K Chan1, Adrian B Kelly2, Annemaree Carroll3, Joanne W Williams4. 1. Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: c.chan4@uq.edu.au. 2. Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. 3. Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; School of Education, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. 4. School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract
AIMS: This study examined the association between peer drug use and adolescent polysubstance use, and investigated if this association was moderated by parenting and/or school factors. METHODS: The sample consisted of 9966 participants (mean age=14.3; 49.34% males) randomly selected from secondary schools in Victoria, Australia. Three 30-day polysubstance use profiles were derived from latent class analysis - no drug use (47.7%), mainly alcohol use (44.1%) and polysubstance use (8.2%). These profiles were then regressed on peer's drug use, family conflict, parental monitoring, parental disapproval of drug use, school commitment, reward for prosocial involvement in school and academic failure, and the interactions between peer's drug use and each of the parenting and school variables. RESULTS: Relative to non-users, peer's drug use was strongly associated with polysubstance use (OR=30.91, p<0.001), and this association was moderated by parental disapproval of drug use (OR=0.46, p<0.001). This indicated that high level of parental disapproval may mitigate the negative influence of drug using peers. School commitment and parental monitoring were significantly associated with reduced likelihood of polysubstance use (p<0.05), but they did not moderate the relationship between peer drug use and adolescent polysubstance use. All analyses were adjusted for key demographic factors such as age, gender, areas of residence, birth place and family affluence. CONCLUSION: Reinforcing parent disapproval of drug use may be an important strategy in reducing adolescent substance use. Parents may need to be more integrated into mainstream prevention programs.
AIMS: This study examined the association between peer drug use and adolescent polysubstance use, and investigated if this association was moderated by parenting and/or school factors. METHODS: The sample consisted of 9966 participants (mean age=14.3; 49.34% males) randomly selected from secondary schools in Victoria, Australia. Three 30-day polysubstance use profiles were derived from latent class analysis - no drug use (47.7%), mainly alcohol use (44.1%) and polysubstance use (8.2%). These profiles were then regressed on peer's drug use, family conflict, parental monitoring, parental disapproval of drug use, school commitment, reward for prosocial involvement in school and academic failure, and the interactions between peer's drug use and each of the parenting and school variables. RESULTS: Relative to non-users, peer's drug use was strongly associated with polysubstance use (OR=30.91, p<0.001), and this association was moderated by parental disapproval of drug use (OR=0.46, p<0.001). This indicated that high level of parental disapproval may mitigate the negative influence of drug using peers. School commitment and parental monitoring were significantly associated with reduced likelihood of polysubstance use (p<0.05), but they did not moderate the relationship between peer drug use and adolescent polysubstance use. All analyses were adjusted for key demographic factors such as age, gender, areas of residence, birth place and family affluence. CONCLUSION: Reinforcing parent disapproval of drug use may be an important strategy in reducing adolescent substance use. Parents may need to be more integrated into mainstream prevention programs.
Authors: Devin E Banks; Alexandra R Hershberger; Taylor Pemberton; Richelle L Clifton; Matthew C Aalsma; Tamika C B Zapolski Journal: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Date: 2019-01-08 Impact factor: 3.829
Authors: Christopher J Mehus; Jennifer Doty; Gary Chan; Adrian B Kelly; Sheryl Hemphill; John Toumbourou; Barbara J McMorris Journal: Subst Use Misuse Date: 2018-03-06 Impact factor: 2.164