Journal Article

Youth Aggression and Peer Victimization as Predictors of Adolescent Alcohol and Marijuana Use: A Longitudinal Analysis of Youth with Aggressive Behavior Problems

Witte, Tricia H., Powell, Nicole, McDonald, Kristina L., Vernberg, Eric M., Hakim, Estephan A., Lochman, John E.

2024

Overview

Youth who are behaviorally aggressive and victimized by their peers comprise a significant population with specific risks and vulnerabilities relative to substance use. The goals of the current study were to examine the roles that youth aggression and peer victimization play in determining the timing of alcohol and marijuana use initiation and the frequency of use 5-years later in a sample of at-risk, aggressive youth. 360 youth ( M age = 10.17 years; 65% boys, 35% girls; 78.1% African American, 20.3% Caucasian, 1.4% Hispanic, and 0.3% other) recruited for a prevention program for at-risk youth were followed for 5 years (4th – 9th grade). Cox PH regressions were conducted to predict timing of alcohol and marijuana use initiation. Zero-inflated negative binomial regressions were used to predict frequency of alcohol and marijuana use 5 years later. Results showed that peer victimization inferred decreased risk of alcohol use initiation. However, this effect was only observed for youth with relatively moderate, and low levels of aggression. Findings suggest that differences in youth aggression and victimization interact to predict distinct outcomes, suggesting the need for a more comprehensive approach when working with aggressive youth who have experienced peer victimization.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adolescent / Adolescent Behavior - psychology / Adolescents / African Americans / Aggression / Aggression - psychology / Aggressiveness / Alcohol / Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology / Alcohol Drinking - psychology / Alcohol use / At risk populations / Behavior problems / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Boys / Bullying / Bullying - psychology / Bullying - statistics & numerical data / Child / Child and School Psychology / Crime Victims - psychology / Crime Victims - statistics & numerical data / Female / Frequency of occurrence / Girls / Humans / Longitudinal Studies / Male / Marijuana / Marijuana Use - epidemiology / Marijuana Use - psychology / Neurosciences / Peer Group / Peer relationships / Peers / Prevention programs / Problem Behavior - psychology / Psychology / Public Health / Risk / Secondary education / Substance abuse / Underage Drinking - psychology / Underage Drinking - statistics & numerical data / Victimization / White people / Youth