Longitudinal associations between adolescent out‐of‐school time and adult substance use

Abstract

Introduction: Based on Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory and Bornstein's specificity principle, the purpose of this study was to examine adolescents' time in out-of-school settings as a precursor of three types of problematic substance use in adulthood (i.e., binge drinking, regular marijuana use, and use of illicit drugs). Method: Adolescents (N = 978) reported the time they spent in four common out-ofschool settings at ages 15 and 18: unsupervised time with peers, organized sports, other organized activities, and paid employment. At age 26, participants reported binge drinking, marijuana use, and illicit drug use. Results and Conclusions: Adolescents' time in out-of-school settings during high school predicted age 26 substance use over and above family and adolescent factors, including adolescents' substance use during high school. Adolescents' unsupervised time with peers increased the odds and frequency of binge drinking and regular marijuana use at age 26. Time in high school organized sports increased the odds of binge drinking at age 26, but not marijuana or illicit drug use. Time spent in other organized activities, such as community service and the arts, lowered the odds of illicit drug use whereas paid employment in high school was not related to age 26 substance use. Aligned with Bornstein's specificity principle, time spent in specific out-of-school settings during adolescence were differentially related to substance use problems in early adulthood, with some activities serving as a risk factor and other activities serving as a protective factor for young adults.binge drinking, employment, organized activities, organized sports, out-of-school time, substance use, unsupervised time | INTRODUCTIONAdolescents spend more than half of their waking hours outside of school (Livingston, 2019; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). During high school, this time can be spent in a variety of settings including hanging out with peers, participating in organized sports, participating in other organized activities, and working at part-time jobs (Vandell et al., 2015). These settings differ in their structure, potential for adult supervision, and opportunities for different types of interactions with adults and with peers. A robust literature has documented the relations between adolescents' time in out-ofschool settings and their alcohol and marijuana use in high school through cross-sectional and short-term longitudinal studies (

Disentangling the Contexts of Adolescent Substance Use: An Examination of Gender Differences

“…Researchers have consistently noted that the school context typically serves as a strong protective factor in regard to adolescent substance use (Lee et al, 2021). For adolescents, having a strong connection with their school has been associated with lower rates of substance use, delinquency, and overall risk-taking (Hsieh et al, 2023). Participation in high school clubs, band, sports, and other organized activities places adolescents in a context which is typically adultmonitored and focused upon constructive and educational experiences, a context which lends itself to reducing the likelihood of engaging in risk-taking behaviors, such as substance use (Badura et al, 2021).…”

The Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD): Studying Development from Infancy to Adulthood

“…Here, more unsupervised time with peers in high school increased the odds and frequency of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use at the end of high school, whereas more time in organized sports increased the odds and frequency of alcohol use (but decreased tobacco and marijuana use) (Lee & Vandell 2015). An age 26 follow-up study has asked if these out-of-school contexts were precursors of problematic substance use in adulthood (Hsieh et al 2023). Controlling for family and adolescent factors including substance use in high school, unsupervised time with peers in high school increased the odds and frequency of binge drinking and regular marijuana use at age 26, whereas participation in organized activities in high school lowered the odds of illicit drug use.…”