Effects of early adolescent drug use on cognitive efficacy in early-late adolescence: a developmental structural model.
Despite an accumulated body of research evidence that documents the negative physical consequences of chronic alcohol and drug use, it is less clear whether the use of these same substances produces impaired cognitive abilities during the early stages of use. Early drug use may impede acquisition of critical thinking skills and hinder the learning of important cognitive strategies required for successful transition to adulthood. To better understand these relations, longitudinal latent-variable analyses were used to examine the effects of early adolescent drug use on early-late adolescent cognitive efficacy. Latent factors of polydrug use, behavioral control, and cognitive efficacy were hypothesized in early adolescence, the latter two controlling for potential spurious relations. At outcome, six constructs were hypothesized tapping polydrug use, cognitive mastery, self-reinforcement, problem-solving confidence, decision-making skills, and cognitive and affective self-management strategies. Models were psychometrically sound and accounted for large portions of variance. Early adolescent drug use had a small but significant negative effect on cognitive and affective self-management strategies. By the 12th grade, linkages between drug use and cognitive functioning were of larger magnitude than long-term influences, perhaps reinforcing the argument that deficits in cognitive skills are developmentally delayed and surface only with exacerbated or persistent drug use. Overall, specific effects of drug use adversely influenced important cognitive skills that may be critically related to functioning in both interpersonal and intrapersonal domains.
Scheier
L M
LM
Institute for Prevention Research, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Botvin
G J
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013850:Thinking / Q000187:drug effects
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs