A six-year prospective study of pathways toward drug use in adolescent boys with and without a family history of a substance use disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to test a developmental model of drug use in male adolescents. The model postulates that low executive functioning and a difficult temperament are related to aggression and affiliations with delinquent peers which, in turn, are related to elevated drug use.


METHODS
Boys (N = 187) with and without a family history of a substance use disorder (SUD) were followed over a 6-year period. Executive functioning and temperament were measured at age 10-12, aggression and affiliations with delinquent peers were assessed at age 12-14 and drug use was measured at age 16.


RESULTS
Low executive functioning and a difficult temperament were related to increased aggression and affiliations with delinquent peers. These latter variables were related to increased drug use. Furthermore, the relation between difficult temperament and drug use was fully mediated by aggression and affiliations with delinquent peers.


CONCLUSIONS
Drug abuse prevention efforts may benefit from clinical interventions aimed at strengthening executive functioning, regulating temperament and improving socialization strategies in antisocial children.
Giancola
P R
PR
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506-0044, USA. peter@pop.uky.edu
Parker
A M
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D013694:Temperament