Adolescent substance use is a significant public health concern. The 30-day prevalence rates of alcohol (18.2%), marijuana (15.6%), and cigarette (3.7%) use among youth are notable despite declines from historical highs (Johnston et al., 2020). Youth who use alcohol by age 14 have a fivefold increased risk of alcohol use disorder compared to youth who begin using alcohol at age 21 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2009). Adolescent substance use can harm brain development, which may contribute to risk for cognitive impairments (e.g., memory) and psychopathology (Hummel et al., 2013). Accordingly, understanding factors contributing to adolescent substance use is critical.Adolescent substance use is a complex phenomenon best understood from a developmental viewpoint.Two perspectives help us understand the multiple levels of influence that contribute to substance use by adolescents. Cascade models posit dynamic, multilevel transactions between the youth and the environment in emergent behaviors characterized by a sequential progression from temperamental differences in childhood (e.g., impulsivity, negative affectivity) to problem behaviors (e.g., externalizing, internalizing) in early adolescence to riskier behaviors, such as alcohol and drug use during midadolescence (Dodge et al., 2009). Moreover, biologically based differences (e.g., genes, neural deficits) are believed to initiate this cascading sequence. Bronfenbrenner's developmental ecological systems theory (1979) organizes various systems that interact with individual differences to affect development, including

Given the salience of socialization factors on adolescence and their role in vulnerability to disasters and trauma, this study examined whether COVID-19-associated fears and impacted quality of life mediated associations between pandemic-focused family conversations and media exposure and subsequent youth mental health. A primarily Latinx sample of adolescents ( N = 167 ; Mage = 16.2 years, 44.9% female) participated in a longitudinal (summer 2020-winter 2020) COVID-19 study. COVID-19 media exposure predicted engagement in relevant safety behaviors, which negatively impacted quality of life, which in turn predicted increased internalizing problems. COVID-19 family conversations predicted social distancing fears, which negatively impacted quality of life, which then in turn also predicted increased internalizing problems. Targeting key socialization factors may minimize negative consequences following major community trauma among adolescents.