Alcohol and marijuana use among rural youth: interaction of social and intrapersonal influences. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Epidemiological research indicates that the prevalence rate of drug use among adolescents has risen steadily during this decade, and although alcohol use has stabilized it is still highly prevalent. Psychosocial etiological models have typically examined main effects of risk and protective factors. This study examined moderating effects of intrapersonal skills on social (peer and parental) risks associated with alcohol and marijuana use among eighth-grade rural adolescents, an understudied population. Results indicated that the relationships of peer and parental attitudes, and peer usage to alcohol and marijuana use, are moderated by adolescents' decision-making and self-reinforcement skills. Social risk factors were strongly associated with increased alcohol and marijuana use among adolescents with poor intrapersonal skills. However, good decision-making and self-reinforcement skills diminished the influence of social risk factors on substance use. Results are discussed in terms of implications for psychosocial models of alcohol and drug use, and for designing effective school-based universal prevention interventions.

publication date

  • January 1, 1998

Research

keywords

  • Adolescent Behavior
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Marijuana Smoking
  • Rural Health
  • Substance-Related Disorders

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0031778201

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/s0306-4603(98)00006-9

PubMed ID

  • 9668935

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 23

issue

  • 3