Family and Peer Influences on Substance Attitudes and Use among Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth

Abstract

Juvenile justice-involved youth experience high rates of substance use, which is concerning given associated negative consequences, including health and functional deficits. Family and peer factors are associated with a high risk of substance use among justice-involved youth. It is hypothesized that this risk process operates through pro-drug attitudes. However, limited research has been conducted on the mechanisms through which family and peer factors increase risk for substance use among juvenile justice involved youth. The current study examined both the direct and indirect effects of family and peer substance use on youth's substance use (alcohol and illicit drug use). We also examined whether this relationship differs by race. 226 detained youth (81.9% male; 74.3% Black) were recruited from an urban county in the Midwest and completed a clinical interview and substance use assessment battery. A direct effect of family/peer risk on illicit drug use was found for all youth, though the effect was stronger among White youth. Results also supported the indirect effect pathway from family/peer risk to both illicit drug use and alcohol use through prodrug attitudes. This pathway did not vary by race. These findings suggest that interventions should focus on targeting both family/peer risk and pro-drug attitudes to reduce substance use. Given the racial difference in the direct effect of family/peer risk on illicit drug use, there may be other factors that influence risk more strongly for White youth, which warrants further investigation.

The Perceived Neighborhood Crime and Hazardous Alcohol Use Among Youth in University of the Northeastern Thailand Context

“…Moreover, family members and peers drinking were associated with increased risk of youths’ alcohol use 4 , 23 , 28 , 29 . In particular, deviant peers on substance use have a strong influence on alcohol use for youths residing in more disordered neighborhoods through alcohol offers and share positive attitudes toward alcohol use 4 , 23 , 27 , 30 .…”

Adolescent peer groups and drug abuse

“…Th e behavior identifi ed as "Drug distribution only" is reserved for the members of sports fan groups. (Allen, Donohue, Griffi n, Ryan & Turner, 2003;Krosnick & Judd, 1982;Van Ryzin, Fosco & Dishion, 2012) and that they play a crucial role in deviant behavior of various nature. Th is research shows, however, that this is not quite the case.…”

“…Када се чита литература о утицајима вршњачких група на злоупотребу дроге, врло брзо се стекне утисак о снажним и непосредним утицајима тих група на ово понашање. Штавише, неки аутори су изричито тврдили да је у адолесценцији тај утицај најјачи, највећи, да се улога породице помера у правцу вршњачких група (Allen, Donohue, Griffi n, Ryan & Turner, 2003;Krosnick & Judd, 1982;Van Ryzin, Fosco & Dishion, 2012) и да оне имају пресудну улогу у девијантним понашањима разне природе. Ово истраживање показује, међутим, да то није баш тако.…”

“…Many scholars prioritize these groups over narrower or wider social settings, such as families, and personality factors when it comes to deviant behavior. It is logical, however, to expect that there is an interaction between family and peer factors and in that case there is the strongest and immediate impact of both (Zapolski, Clift on, Banks, Hershberger & Aalsma, 2019). Moreover, some researchers believe that the role of peers in drug abuse cannot be understood i n isolation, but only as part of a broader context that certainly involves the family (Andrews & Hops, 2010).…”

Exploring gender differences in the vulnerability towards drug abuse among adolescents in Malaysia

“…For instance, Anderberg and Dahlberg (2018) and Johnston, O'Malley, Miech, Bachman and Schulenberg (2015) found that substance abuse was higher among girls in early adolescence, while boys showed higher rates of abuse during late adolescence. Among the factors influencing drug use are peer and other social influences (Zapolski et al, 2019). The reasons for drug use among adolescent boys and girls can be to cope with mood changes, low self-esteem, or discomfort in social settings (Schwinn, Schinke, Hopkins, & Thom, 2016).…”