Abstract: Early Aggression and Trajectories of Substance Use: The Evolving Role of Families during Adolescence (Society for Social Work and Research 21st Annual Conference - Ensure Healthy Development for all Youth)

Schedule:

Sunday, January 15, 2017: 9:00 AM

Preservation Hall Studio 1 (New Orleans Marriott)

* noted as presenting author

Kevin Tan, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL

Caitlin Elsaesser, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut, West Hartford, CT

Deborah Gorman-Smith, PhD, Professor, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Michael E. Schoeny, PhD, Assistant Professor, Rush University, Chicago, IL

Background and Purpose:

Previous research has identified a relation between early aggressive behavior and later substance use. Research has also highlighted the important role of parenting and family characteristics in the risk for both. Less well examined, however, is the interaction between aggressive behavior, family functioning and substance use risk over the course of adolescence. Examining developmental timing and the role of family on substance use is an important step forward in tailoring interventions to meet the needs of specific groups of youth. To address these key gaps, this study examines the role of family functioning and early aggression on alcohol and drug use among urban minority boys over the course of early and late adolescence. Two dimensions of family functioning salient in understanding youth risk and development are considered: parental monitoring and family cohesion.

Methods:

Data is from the Chicago Youth Development Study, a longitudinal sample of minority male youth living in impoverished urban neighborhoods are used in this study (n=304, African-American 62.5% and Latino 36.2%). Five waves of data were used beginning from early adolescence (mean age: 12.39, SD: 1.24) through late adolescence (mean age: 18.07; SD: 1.25). Alcohol and drug use were evaluated for the overall sample, and separately for those with and without early aggression. The relation of parental monitoring and family cohesion on substance use during early and late adolescence was examined using discontinuous (piecewise) linear growth models. To further assess for differences between those who displayed early aggression and those who did not, a series of models involving three-way interactions (early/late adolescence X presence/absence of early aggression X family functioning) were conducted.

Findings:

Analyses indicated that boys with early aggressive behavior had steeper increases in alcohol and drug use in both early and late adolescence compared to those without early aggression. After controlling for race, age, and caregiver education, higher parental monitoring predicted lower levels of alcohol use (b = -0.802; p ≤ 0.10) and drug use (b = -2.486; p ≤ 0.001). Higher levels of family cohesion also related to less alcohol use (b = -1.304; p ≤ 0.10); however, the effect on drug use was not statistically significant. Further analyses revealed statistical differences in the three-way interaction models for alcohol use only. Plots of the interaction effects showed that among early aggressors, parental monitoring and family cohesion had a stronger effect in reducing alcohol use during late adolescence than early adolescence.

Conclusion and Implications:

This study underscores the continued importance of family over the course of adolescence and the protective effects, even among youth with early involvement in aggressive behavior. Findings point to the importance of considering the developmental timing of family-focused interventions targeting aggressive youth and their alcohol use. This study highlights the importance of family-focused programs even after youth have transitioned into high school.