Early temperament, propensity for risk-taking and adolescent substance-related problems: a prospective multi-method investigation.
One hundred thirty seven adolescents (M=15.3 yrs, SD=1.0 yr, n=72 girls) were recruited into temperament groups when they were 4 months of age based on reactivity to novel auditory/visual stimuli (Fox, Henderson, Rubin, Calkins, & Schmidt, 2001). Behavioral inhibition was observed across infancy (14 and 24 months). Additionally, self-reported substance-related problems and behavioral risk-taking was assessed during adolescence. High behavioral inhibition increased risk for substance-related problems among boys, whereas high behavioral inhibition protected against substance-related problems among girls, B=-1.18, SE=.48, 95% CI=-2.13 to -.24; p<.05. Additionally, high behavioral inhibition protected lower risk-taking children from adolescent substance-related problems whereas high behavioral inhibition increased risk for substance-related problems among higher risk-taking children, B=.04, SE=.02, 95% CI=.00 to .08. Findings from this prospective, multi-informant, longitudinal study suggest that risk-taking and gender may interact with temperamental traits to place adolescents at differential risk for substance-related related behavior problems.
Williams
Lela Rankin
LR
School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004-0689, United States. lrw@asu.edu
Fox
Nathan A
NA
Lejuez
C W
CW
Reynolds
Elizabeth K
EK
Henderson
Heather A
HA
Perez-Edgar
Koraly E
KE
Steinberg
Laurence
L
Pine
Daniel S
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013694:Temperament