Perceived academic performance and alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use: longitudinal relationships in young community adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To study longitudinal relationships between perception of academic performance (PAP) and alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use at age 13 and 15 years.


METHODS
Self-report data from students in 27 schools in South Australia (n=1579) was analysed with ANCOVA and logistic regression, controlling for confounding factors (socio-demographic, parenting, depressive symptoms, anxiety, self-esteem, antisocial behaviour).


RESULTS
Persistent or increasing perception of academic 'failure' (self-rated failing or below average performance), compared to improving or stable perception of average (or above) performance, from age 13 to 15 years, predicts more than weekly alcohol and tobacco use at age 15 (3- to 4-fold risks), in addition to increased risks from early substance use (e.g., 12- to 15-fold for triple combinations), controlling for confounders. Increased risks for more than weekly marijuana use at age 15 are 3-fold in those with increasing perception of failure; though relationships are fully mediated by antisocial behaviour in those with persistent perceptions of failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions to maintain or improve academic self-esteem in early adolescence may reduce risks for accelerating substance use in mid-adolescence.
Bergen
Helen A
HA
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Herston, Qld, Australia.
Martin
Graham
G
Roeger
Leigh
L
Allison
Stephen
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D012938:Social Perception