title: Self-perceived emerging adult status and substance use.
abstract: Very little research exists on how self-perceived emerging adult status is associated with substance use among low-income emerging adults. The Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) was administered to emerging adults (EAs) ages 18-25 screened for substance use problems (n = l05) in a state-subsidized, not-for-profit treatment agency. We examined whether the defining dimensions of Arnett's (2000a) emerging adulthood theory were associated with substance use frequency and substance-related problems, including: identity exploration, self-focus, possibilities, optimism, negativity/instability, and feeling in-between. In multivariate models, feeling in-between was positively associated with substance-related problems. An interaction term between minority status and feeling in-between approached statistical significance (p = .057). Further, IDEA scale score means were comparable to those found in college student samples. Implications for theory revision are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
authors.forename: Douglas C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
authors.forename: Ozge Sensoy
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Bahar
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
authors.forename: Leah R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Cleeland
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
authors.forename: Jordan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult