The Effects of Developmental Trajectories of Family Functioning on Substance Use Among Minority Urban Adolescents: A Growth Mixture Model

Background and Purpose: Urban youth are disproportionately likely to engage in substance use, including alcohol and other drug use. Family functioning has been shown to play an important role in preventing and reducing alcohol and drug use among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine (1) classes of family functioning and parent support trajectories, and (2) whether and to what extent these classes are associated with an increased risk of alcohol and other drug use.

 

Method: The data were drawn from a longitudinal study of high school dropout and substance use behaviors among urban adolescents in Flint, Michigan (R01 DA007484-14). A total of 851 adolescents (M_age = 15.1 years) were included in this study and assessed at baseline, 12-, 24-, and 36-months post-baseline. At each time point, adolescents completed self-report measures to assess recent alcohol and other drug use, and indicators of family functioning, including family conflict and family support. A latent class growth analysis was conducted to examine classes of family functioning trajectories, and whether and to what extent the probability of reporting substance use at last assessment varied by class.

 

Results: Latent class growth analysis yielded four-class solutions for each family functioning (i.e., Low-Increasing, Low-Decreasing, High-Increasing, High Decreasing) and parent support (i.e., Low-Stable, Low-Increasing, High-Decreasing, High-Increasing). With respect to family functioning, relative to the High-Decreasing and High-Increasing Family Functioning class, the Low-Decreasing Family Functioning class was more likely to report past 30-day marijuana use (OR=1.69 and 2.95, respectively). Furthermore, the Low-Increasing Family Functioning class was more likely to report binge drinking (OR=1.12, p<0.05) and past 30-day marijuana use (OR=2.29 and 1.31, respectively), as compared to the High-Increasing and High Decreasing Family Functioning classes.  Finally, relative to the High-Increasing Family Functioning class, the High-Decreasing Family Functioning class was more likely to report past 30-day marijuana use (OR=1.75, p<0.001), but less likely to report past 30-day alcohol use (OR=.95, p<.01) and binge drinking (OR=.84, p=0.01). With respect to parent support, relative to the Low-Stable Parent Support class, the High-Increasing and High-Decreasing Parent Support classes were more likely to report past 30-day alcohol use (OR= 1.26 and 1.34, respectively). When compared to the High-Increasing class, the High Decreasing class was more likely to report binge drinking (OR=1.41, p<.05) and past 30-days marijuana use (OR=1.71, p < .001), but less likely to report past 30-day alcohol use (OR=.94, p < .001).  Relative to the High-Increasing class, the Low-Increasing class was more likely to report past 30-day marijuana use (OR=1.85, p<.01).

 

Conclusions and Implications: These results suggest that higher levels of family functioning are associated with a decreased risk of substance use over time. Thus, developing a fuller understanding of trajectories of family functioning may help with identifying youth who may be at increased risk of engaging in substance use behaviors, as well as inform family-based prevention programs to work toward optimally efficacious and effective preventive interventions.