Developing Theory-Based Substance Abuse Prevention Programs for Young Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Considerable progress has been made in prevention science, and since reaching a high in the late 1970s and early 1980s, overall substance use has declined in the United States. However, for some populations and substances, smaller declines or even increased use has been observed. Notably, the traditional gender gap in substance use has decreased substantially, and it has disappeared completely for some substances, especially among younger cohorts. This article was written to integrate existing evidence on the relevance of gender for substance use prevention research and to move the field forward by suggesting theoretical models that might inform future prevention research with girls. This article reviews the following: (a) trends in substance use, (b) gender differences in risk factors, and (c) theoretical models deemed relevant to substance use prevention among girls. Finally, recommendations regarding needed research and prevention strategies that take gender, race, and ethnicity into account are provided.

Depression as a moderator of benefit from Media Smart: A school-based eating disorder prevention program

“…In contrast to a study where depression has been found to reduce the effectiveness of substance abuse prevention programs (Amaro, et al, 2001), our findings showed that those with higher depression experienced greatest benefit in the short-term. Our findings were also different to those of a pilot study where girls with higher baseline depression experienced less benefit in reductions in media internalization scores than girls with lower depression (Wilksch, et al, 2006).…”

“…Previous evidence suggests that elevated baseline depression impedes: prevention programs targeting lateadolescent females at high-risk of an eating disorder (Stice, et al, 2012); prevention programs targeting other problems such as substance abuse (Amaro, et al, 2001); the effectiveness of treatment for eating disorders (Le Grange, et al, 2008;Steel, et al, 2000); and, the persuasiveness of eating disorder prevention messages in young adolescent females (Paxton, et al, 2002). In addition, beyond participant gender, age and risk status, this is the first study to investigate how individual variables might impact response to a universal eating disorder prevention program.…”

“…Third, depression has been identified as impeding recovery in treatment of bulimia nervosa with both adolescents (Le Grange, Crosby, & Lock, 2008) and adults (Steel, et al, 2000). Fourth, prevention programs in other fields such as substance abuse have been found to be less beneficial in participants with higher levels of depression (Amaro, Blake, Schwartz, & Flinchbaugh, 2001). Fifth, eating disorder prevention messages are rated as less persuasive by adolescent girls with higher depression scores (Paxton, Wertheim, Pilawski, Durkin, & Holt, 2002).…”

Drug Resistance Strategies and Substance Use among Adolescents in Monterrey, Mexico

“…These gender differences, however, show at least initial signs of eroding due to expanded educational and occupational opportunities for Mexican women and changes in gender socialization and family roles. The gender gap in substance use has narrowed substantially in the U.S. (Amaro et al 2001;Dakof 2000; National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse 2003); evidence of a similar trend has begun to appear in Mexico, at least in certain regions, among younger age groups, and for some substances (Medina-Mora et al 2006). A large random sample of Mexico City students in middle and secondary schools found tobacco and alcohol use to be equally prevalent among males and females, although use of marijuana remained substantially more common among males (Villatoro et al 2005).…”

Gender-Specific Intervention to Reduce Underage Drinking Among Early Adolescent Girls: A Test of a Computer-Mediated, Mother-Daughter Program

“…Because problems in female development often relate more to connection than to separation, girls may benefi t from relationship-building interventions. Data indicating that poor attachment to parents is a stronger risk factor for alcohol use among girls than among boys illustrate this connectivity factor (Amaro et al, 2001). Similarly, low parental monitoring and an unstructured home environment correlate more with substance use among girls than among boys (Freshman and Leinwand, 2001).…”