Ann Scovell Gordon

The role of older brothers in younger brothers' drug use viewed in the context of parent and peer influences.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an older brothers drug use on his younger brothers drug use viewed in the context of parent and peer influences. The sample consisted of 278 White, middle-class male college students and their oldest brothers, who were given questionnaires assessing drug behavior. Results indicated that older brother, parental, and peer drug use each had an independent impact on younger brothers use. The degree of influence varied, with drug modeling by peers and older brothers having a stronger association with younger brother drug use than did parental drug modeling. Further, the older brothers advocacy of drugs was associated with his younger brothers use even if the older brother did not serve as a drug model. Similarly, older brother drug modeling was of importance even if he did not advocate use. Finally, interactive results suggested that older brothers who did not use drugs could offset the negative effects of parental drug risks on younger brother use. Also, younger brothers were least likely to use drugs if both older brothers and peers served as models for nonuse.

IMPACT OF ATTRITION IN A SAMPLE IN A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF ADOLESCENT DRUG USE

Data on attrition in a sample of a longitudinal study indicated that adolescent participants differed significantly from dropouts on a number of important variables. Suggestions were made for dealing with the impact of attrition in longitudinal research.

Fathers and Daughters: Their Relationship and Personality Characteristics Associated with the Daughter's Smoking Behavior

This study examined the interrelationships of domains (i.e., sets) of paternal personality and father-daughter relationship variables and daughter characteristics and their impact on the daughters smoking. In addition, the interactive effects of individual father and daughter variables on the daughters smoking were studied. Female college student volunteers (N = 403) and their fathers were given closed-ended questionnaires that included a number of scales assessing father and daughter characteristics. Results indicated that the domains of father and daughter variables each had a direct impact on the daughters smoking (an independent model). Interactive findings revealed that daughter protective factors (those conducive to her not smoking) could offset the negative impact of paternal risk factors (those conducive to her smoking), and that, to a lesser extent, daughter protective factors further enhanced the positive effect of father protective variables.