Good self-control as a buffering agent for adolescent substance use: an investigation in early adolescence with time-varying covariates.
This study tested the prediction that self-control would have buffering effects for adolescent substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana) with regard to 3 risk factors: family life events, adolescent life events, and peer substance use. Participants were a sample of public school students (N = 1,767) who were surveyed at 4 yearly intervals between 6th grade and 9th grade. Good self-control was assessed with multiple indicators (e.g., planning and problem solving). Results showed that the impact of all 3 risk factors on substance use was reduced among persons with higher scores on good self-control. Buffering was found in cross-sectional analyses with multiple regression and in longitudinal analyses in a latent growth model with time-varying covariates. Implications for addressing self-control in prevention programs are discussed.
Wills
Thomas A
TA
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. wills@aecom.yu.edu
Ainette
Michael G
MG
Stoolmiller
Mike
M
Gibbons
Frederick X
FX
Shinar
Ori
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D011340:Problem Solving; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012932:Social Facilitation