Depressive symptoms, negative urgency and substance use initiation in adolescents

Abstract

Background Studies show depressive symptoms are associated with substance use in adolescents, but the mechanism underlying this association is still unclear. This study investigated negative urgency – the disposition to rash action during emotional states – as a factor explaining relations between depressive symptoms and use of several substances. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 476 adolescents (mean age 14.5 years) completed self-report surveys. Regression models and products of coefficient analyses examined the overall relation of depressive symptoms to substance use and negative urgency as a statistical mediator of this association Results Depression levels associated with increased likelihood of lifetime use of cigarettes, other forms of tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, inhalants, prescription painkillers, and any substance. Relations between depression levels and lifetime use of alcohol, inhalants, and any substance were accounted for (i.e., statistically mediated) by negative urgency. In adolescents endorsing lifetime use, depression levels associated with younger age of first use of other forms of tobacco and alcohol as well as use frequency of cigarette, alcohol, and composite frequency. Negative urgency accounted for the covariance between depression level and age of first use of alcohol, but did not for other forms of tobacco or frequency of use of any substances. Conclusions Depression levels are associated with lifetime use of a variety of substances in early adolescence and targeting this risk factor with preventive efforts may be useful in reducing risk. Negative urgency may be an important target for interventions aimed at alcohol and inhalant use.

Family dynamics and alcohol and marijuana use among adolescents: The mediating role of negative emotional symptoms and sensation seeking

“…It follows that negative family dynamics would have to increase negative emotional symptoms in adolescents for SU risk to increase. However, as we anticipated in the hypothesis, we found no single mediation of negative emotional symptoms on SU as reported in other studies (Guzmán et al, 2011;McCarty et al, 2012;Pang, Farrahi, Glazier, Sussman, & Leventhal, 2014;Scholes-Balog, Hemphill, Patton, & Toumbourou, 2015). Instead, our findings show that such symptoms increase sensation seeking, which in turn affects substance use.…”

Psychiatric comorbidity in adolescent electronic and conventional cigarette use

“…Each study measure described below has shown good psychometric properties in previous adolescent samples (Audrain-McGovern et al, 2004; Bastiani et al, 2013; Eaton et al, 2010; Johnston et al, 2015; Leventhal et al, 2015 in press; Martino, Grilo, & Fehon, 2000; Muris & Meesters, 2008; Pang, Farrahi, Glazier, Sussman, & Leventhal, 2015 in press; Wagner et al, 2006; White & Labouvie, 1989). Unless otherwise specified, a mean score per item composite was calculated and composites were scored such that higher scores reflect higher psychopathology.…”

“…Each of the transdiagnostic phenotype measures described below has been consistently associated with multiple psychopathologies (Audrain-McGovern et al, 2009; Audrain-McGovern et al, 2004; Cyders et al, 2007; Ellis & Rothbart, 2001; Isolan, Salum, Menezes Flores, de Carvalho, & Gus Manfro, 2012; Leventhal et al, 2015 in press; Leyro, Zvolensky, & Bernstein, 2010; Muris et al, 2008; Muris, Schmidt, Merckelbach, & Schouten, 2001; Pang et al, 2015 in press; Smith et al, 2007). …”

UPPS-P model impulsivity and marijuana use behaviors in adolescents: A meta-analysis

“…There is preliminary evidence that negative urgency is associated with marijuana use (e.g., Pang et al, 2014;Robinson et al, 2014) and negative marijuana consequences (e.g., Churchwell et al, 2010). Lack of planning has been robustly associated with adolescent marijuana use and frequency in some studies (e.g., Xiao, 2008;Castellanos-Ryan et al, 2013) but unrelated in other studies (e.g., Kong et al, 2013;Leeman et al, 2014).…”