Substance use in adolescent girls: the interplay of pubertaltiming, family and peer influence
Year: 2014
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Pubertal timing and relationships with parents and peers have each been linked to \nsubstance use in adolescent girls. However, to understand the origin of adolescent \nsubstance use in relation to these factors, it is important to focus on combined risk \neffects. As shown in the systematic review (the first part of this PhD project) only a few \nstudies have tested the relationships between these factors in predicting adolescent \nsubstance use \nThe aim of this thesis was to evaluate the main effects of pubertal timing and \npsycho-social factors (parent-daughter relations and peer deviance) on substance use. A \nsecond aim was to examine whether the links between pubertal timing and girl’s \nsubstance use are indirect via psycho-social factors (mediation) and whether the links \nbetween psycho-social factors and substance use differ across pubertal timing groups \n(moderation). \nGirls’ data from the population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and \nChildren (ALSPAC) was analysed. Pubertal timing was assessed yearly between ages 8 \nand 17, parent-daughter relations and peer deviance at age 15, and alcohol, cigarette and \ncannabis use at age 16. Additionally, analyses controlled for a set of a priori selected confounders. \nLate maturing girls had lower levels of cannabis use compared to on-time \nmaturing girls. Late maturing girls had fewer alcohol drinking, cannabis using and \ndelinquent friends than early maturing girls and fewer cannabis using friends than ontime \nmaturing girls. Additionally, late maturing girls’ lower levels of alcohol use were \npartly explained by having fewer cannabis using and delinquent friends. \nTo conclude, in late adolescence, the combined effects of peer deviance and \npubertal timing are more influential than the combined effects of parent-daughter \nrelations and pubertal timing, in predicting adolescent substance use. Collectively, the \nfindings indicate the importance of creating targeted prevention programs that are \nsensitive to developmental stage in relation to the peer group.
Author: Alegra Hummel
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G2364322865, G401429357, G8061159278
OpenAlex ID: W1946533864