TY - JOUR
T1 - Universal school-based substance abuse prevention programs
T2 - Modeling targeted mediators and outcomes for adolescent cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use
AU - Stephens, Peggy C.
AU - Sloboda, Zili
AU - Stephens, Richard C.
AU - Teasdale, Brent
AU - Grey, Scott F.
AU - Hawthorne, Richard D.
AU - Williams, Joseph
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this study was provided by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant nos. 039223 and 040371; the RWJF had no further role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
PY - 2009/6/1
Y1 - 2009/6/1
N2 - Objective: We examined the relationships among targeted constructs of social influences and competence enhancement prevention curricula and cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use outcomes in a diverse sample of high school students. We tested the causal relationships of normative beliefs, perceptions of harm, attitudes toward use of these substances and refusal, communication, and decision-making skills predicting the self-reported use of each substance. In addition, we modeled the meditation of these constructs through the intentions to use each substance and tested the moderating effects of the skills variables on the relationships between intentions to use and self-reported use of each of these substances. Methods: Logistic regression path models were constructed for each of the drug use outcomes. Models were run using the Mplus 5.0 statistical application using the complex sample function to control for the sampling design of students nested within schools; full information maximum likelihood estimates (FIML) were utilized to address missing data. Results: Relationships among targeted constructs and outcomes differed for each of the drugs with communication skills having a potentially iatrogenic effect on alcohol use. Program targets were mediated through the intentions to use these substances. Finally, we found evidence of a moderating effect of decision-making skills on perceptions of harm and attitudes toward use, depending upon the outcome. Conclusions: Prevention curricula may need to target specific drugs. In addition to normative beliefs, perceptions of harm, and refusal and decision-making skills, programs should directly target constructs proximal to behavioral outcomes such as attitudes and intentions. Finally, more research on the effects of communication skills on adolescent substance use should be examined.
AB - Objective: We examined the relationships among targeted constructs of social influences and competence enhancement prevention curricula and cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use outcomes in a diverse sample of high school students. We tested the causal relationships of normative beliefs, perceptions of harm, attitudes toward use of these substances and refusal, communication, and decision-making skills predicting the self-reported use of each substance. In addition, we modeled the meditation of these constructs through the intentions to use each substance and tested the moderating effects of the skills variables on the relationships between intentions to use and self-reported use of each of these substances. Methods: Logistic regression path models were constructed for each of the drug use outcomes. Models were run using the Mplus 5.0 statistical application using the complex sample function to control for the sampling design of students nested within schools; full information maximum likelihood estimates (FIML) were utilized to address missing data. Results: Relationships among targeted constructs and outcomes differed for each of the drugs with communication skills having a potentially iatrogenic effect on alcohol use. Program targets were mediated through the intentions to use these substances. Finally, we found evidence of a moderating effect of decision-making skills on perceptions of harm and attitudes toward use, depending upon the outcome. Conclusions: Prevention curricula may need to target specific drugs. In addition to normative beliefs, perceptions of harm, and refusal and decision-making skills, programs should directly target constructs proximal to behavioral outcomes such as attitudes and intentions. Finally, more research on the effects of communication skills on adolescent substance use should be examined.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Alcohol
KW - Marijuana
KW - Mediators
KW - Prevention program theory
KW - Tobacco
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=64849098012&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.12.016
DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.12.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 19362433
AN - SCOPUS:64849098012
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 102
SP - 19
EP - 29
JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
IS - 1-3
ER -