Situational Correlates of Adolescent Substance Use: An Improved Test of the Routine Activity Theory of Deviant Behavior

Abstract

Objectives To test the routine activity theory of deviance, we assess whether adolescents are most likely to use substances while they are involved in unstructured activities, in the presence of peers and in the absence of authority figures. We also test whether these situational factors interact. Methods A time use instrument was applied to collect hour-by-hour information on activities and substance use from a sample of adolescents. To control for potential confounders, the effects of the three situational factors on substance use were estimated with fixedeffects logit models. Results The findings show that adolescents' substance use takes place during unstructured activities, when peers are present, and when authority figures are absent, and that these situational factors are not strengthened by each other. Conclusions Supporting the routine activity theory of deviance, we conclude that unstructured activity, peer presence and absence of authority figures are situational factors that facilitate substance use. In contrast to what the theory proposes, and relevant for parents and professionals, these factors function independently and need not all be present simultaneously for deviant behavior to occur.

For Whom Do Unstructured Activities Matters? The Interaction Between Unstructured and Structured Activities in Delinquency and Cannabis Use: A National Self-Report Study

“…(e.g., Badura et al, 2018;Spillane et al, 2020;Vandell et al, 2015). As a result of the structured nature of these activities, they provide fewer opportunities for delinquency and substance use, and they are also often conducted in the presence of authority figures (de Jong et al, 2020;Osgood et al, 1996).…”

An Online Space-Time Budget and Propensity for Cybercrime by Students of Tertiary Educational Institutions in Jigawa State, Nigeria

“…Here, unstructured activity refers to youth hangout, spending time without designed agenda. (de Jong, Bernasco, & Lammers, 2020). The presence of peers in unstructured time and activity budget increases the tendencies of engagement in deviant acts, provided the guardians to exercise control are not present (Agustina & Felson, 2015;Hoeben et al, 2014).…”

Beyond the Situation: Hanging Out with Peers now is Associated with Short-Term Mindsets Later

“…There are two important reasons why non-situational effects of repeated exposure to UUS deserve further consideration. First, most of the existing tests of UUS effects on deviance have relied on data that did not distinguish between deviance within and outside of UUS contexts (for exceptions using situational data, see Bernasco et al, 2013 ; Chrysoulakis et al, 2022 ; de Jong et al, 2020 ; Wikström et al, 2012 ). Most studies measure UUS as how often adolescents are in UUS during a specified period of time (a month, a year, etc.).…”