Martin Whiteman

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.

Childhood Aggression, Adolescent Delinquency, and Drug Use: A Longitudinal Study

The interrelation of childhood aggression, early and late adolescent delinquency, and drug use was explored. Data were obtained for the subjects when they were 5-10 years old. Follow-up interviews were conducted when the subjects were between 13-18 years old and again when they were 15-20 years old. A LISREL analysis of the three waves of data indicated that childhood aggression is a precursor of adolescent drug use and delinquency, and that early adolescent drug use is correlated with contemporaneous delinquency as well as with later drug use and delinquency.

PEER, FAMILY, AND PERSONALITY DOMAINS AS RELATED TO ADOLESCENTS' DRUG BEHAVIOR

Three models (interdependent, mediational, and independent) for examining the interrelations of personality and interpersonal (peer and family) factors and their effect on adolescents drug behavior are identified. 403 adolescents participated in the study. Results show support for the independent model; each of the three domains (personality, peer, and family) had an impact on adolescents drug behavior independent of the latters relation with the remaining two domains. Some theoretical, methodological, and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Initiation into Adolescent Marijuana Use

In this longitudinal study, the relationship of three domains (personality/attitudinal orientations, peer relationships, and family socialization factors) with initiation into adolescent marijuana use was examined. One hundred and eighty-three adolescent boys and girls and their mothers were interviewed when the adolescents were 13-17 years old and again three years later. The results indicate that the domains of personality and family (with control on the other two domains and demographic variables) each appear to be related to subsequent involvement with marijuana. In contrast, the peer domain is not significantly associated with initiation into marijuana use once personality, family, and demographic clusters are controlled. However, the interaction of maternal demographic clusters are controlled. However, the interaction of maternal conventionality and peer marijuana use was related to initiation into marijuana use.

Qualitative and quantitative aspects of adolescent drug use: interplay of personality, family, and peer correlates.

The purpose of this study was to examine domains of personality, family, and peer variables and their relationship to the qualitative (stage) and quantitative (frequency) aspects of adolescents drug use. Black (245) and white (418) high school freshmen and sophomores served as subjects. Analysis indicated that the same personality and peer factors differentiated between the quantitative as well as the qualitative drug groups. However, more family variables were related to stage than to frequency of use. Several models were proposed for examining the interrelationships of the three domains and associations with stage and frequency of drug use. The data supported an independent model for the stage groups; that is, each of the three domains (personality, family, and peer) was associated with the adolescents stage of drug use independent of the latters relationship with the remaining domains. For the frequency groups, the data supported a mediational model; that is, the family and personality domains were associated with the peer domain which in turn was associated with frequency of drug use. One interpretation advanced is that stage of drug use is sensitive to an array of factors from all three domains whereas the frequency with which adolescents use the drug depends on the current influence of the peer group.

Role of Mutual Attachment in Drug Use: A Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVEnThis study examines childhood aggression, mutual attachment and later drug use.nnnMETHODnData on 397 children and adolescents at three points in time were collected and analyzed. Mothers and their children were individually interviewed.nnnRESULTSnA weak parent-child mutual attachment in girls can be viewed as a consequence of childhood aggression. Moreover, mutual parent-child attachment affects later drug use through three stabilities: (1) the stability of attachment during adolescence, (2) the stability of unconventionality during adolescence, and (3) the stability of drug use during adolescence.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe multiple pathway perspective on drug use poses a number of ways in which to think about interventional approaches. First, interventions may be targeted toward those risk factors showing the strongest relations with later drug use. A second mode of orientation to intervention would deal with the amenability of the target to particular interventional agents. Interventions may be geared to intraindividual characteristics or may focus more attention on familial characteristics. A third way of considering interventions, as suggested by the developmental pathways to drug use, seeks to address the temporal order of risk factors leading to drug use.

Sibling influences on adolescent drug use : older brothers on younger brothers

This study was designed to examine sibling influences on adolescent drug use. The sample was composed of 278 white, predominantly middle-class male college students and their oldest brothers. Self-administered questionnaires were taken separately by the students and their brothers. The findings indicated that the oldest brothers personality and the sibling relationship had an influence on the younger brothers drug use. Three hypothesized mechanisms that supported the findings, the Personality Influence Mechanism, the Genetic Temperament Connection, and the Environmental Reactive Mechanism were discussed.

Relationship of Maternal and Adolescent Perceptions of Maternal Child-Rearing Practices.

The present study was designed to examine the relationship between the adolescents and mothers perceptions of maternal child-rearing practices. Both the adolescents and their mothers completed questionnaires containing modified forms of several Bronfenbrenner and Schaefer parental behavior scales. The results indicated that in several areas of maternal child-rearing practices there was substantial agreement between the mother and child; however, in a few areas there was low to moderate agreement.

Coping with AIDS and the threat of AIDS in intravenous drug abusers

In this investigation of patterns of coping with AIDS or the threat of AIDS by male intravenous drug abusers (both HIV positive and HIV negative), psychosocial measures were used to study the effects of personality factors and social support. Correlational analyses and multiple hierarchical regression analyses were used to assess the results. The pathways by which psychosocial factors affected coping differed in HIV-positive and HIV-negative subjects. A mediational model best depicted the interrelation of personality, family, and peer factors among HIV-positive subjects. Anger and rebelliousness interfered with coping among HIV-negative subjects, but not among HIV-positive subjects. This cross-sectional study provides insight into the interplay of inner personality factors and external support factors and their effects on coping ability in male intravenous drug abusers. Differences between those with HIV and those at risk for HIV infection are discussed.

PATERNAL AND PEER CHARACTERISTICS: INTERACTIONS AND ASSOCIATION WITH MALE COLLEGE STUDENTS' MARIJUANA USE

This study investigated the relationships and interactions of fathers personality/behavioral attributes, their childrearing practices, and adolescent peer influences and their associations with the adolescent sons use of marijuana. Male college students (N = 246) and their fathers were administered written questionnaires. Analysis indicated that paternal personality/behavioral and childrearing variables were associated with peer factors, which in turn were related to the sons marijuana use. Certain paternal drug models were associated with the adolescents having friends who used drugs. In addition, the sons lack of conscious identification with their fathers was associated with a peer rather than a parental orientation. The results on father-peer interactions suggested that the peer group impact on the adolescents marijuana use may be affected by paternal factors.