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This study examined the relationship between the domains of environmental factors, family illegal drug use, parental child-rearing practices, maternal and adolescent personality attributes, and adolescent illegal drug use. A nonclinical sample of 2,837 Colombian youths and their mothers were interviewed about intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors in their lives. Results indicated that certain environmental factors (e.g., violence, drug availability, and machismo), family drug use, a distant parent-child relationship, and unconventional behavior are risk factors for adolescent illegal drug use. As hypothesized, results showed that the adverse effects of family illegal drug use on adolescent drug use can be buffered by protective parental child-rearing practices and environmental factors, leading to less adolescent illegal drug use. Prevention and treatment efforts should incorporate protective environmental, familial, and intrapersonal components in order to reduce adolescent illegal drug use.

To investigate change in personality disorder (PD) traits between early adolescence and early adulthood among individuals in the community.PD traits were assessed in 1983 (mean age = 14), 1985-86 (mean age = 16) and 1992 (mean age = 22) in a representative community sample of 816 youths.Overall, PD traits declined 28% during both adolescence and early adulthood. PD traits were moderately stable during the first 2-year interval, and were as stable as they have been reported to be among adults over similar intervals. PD trait stability declined slightly as the inter-assessment interval increased. Adolescents with PDs tended to have elevated PD traits during early adulthood.PD traits tend to decline steadily in prevalence during adolescence and early adulthood. However, adolescents with PDs often have elevated PD traits as young adults, and the stability of PD traits appears to be similar during adolescence and early adulthood.

The purpose of this study was to examine older brother correlates of younger brother drug use in the context of parental influences and younger brother personality. The sample consisted of 278 White male college students and their oldest brothers, who volunteered to answer self-administered questionnaires. Results indicated that 3 domains of influence each had an independent impact on younger brother drug use: (a) parent-younger brother relationships and parent drug use, (b) older brother-younger brother relationships and older brother drug use, and (c) younger brother personality. Modeling of nondrug use and a strong attachment relationship in the parent-younger brother and sibling dyads, as well as younger sibling traits of conventionality, had strong links to low younger brother drug use. Our findings highlight the importance of modeling and mutual parent-child attachment relationships as well as sibling relationships as they relate to the possible etiology of drug use.

This study longitudinally examined the psychosocial correlates of coping strategies among 165 HIV positive and 179 HIV negative female injection drug users (IDUs). Participants were interviewed twice using a structured questionnaire, with a 6-month interval between interviews. The questionnaire included psychosocial measures as well as measures of general coping and specific HIV-related coping. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. The findings indicated that favorable factors in the psychosocial domains at Time 1 were significantly associated with an increased likelihood at Time 2 of the use of general coping and specific adaptive coping strategies, such as problem solving and seeking social support, and with a decreased likelihood at Time 2 of the use of maladaptive coping strategies, such as aggression and the use of illicit drugs. These findings highlight particular areas of psychosocial functioning that can be targeted by intervention programs to promote adaptive coping and minimize maladaptive coping among HIV positive and HIV negative female IDUs.

Social causation theory and social selection theory have been put forth to explain the finding that low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with risk for psychiatric disorders. The predictions of both theories were investigated using data from a community-based longitudinal study. Psychosocial interviews were administered to 736 families from 2 counties in New York State in 1975, 1983, 1985-1986, and 1991-1993. Results indicated that (a) low family SES was associated with risk for offspring anxiety, depressive, disruptive, and personality disorders after offspring IQ and parental psychopathology were controlled, and (b) offspring disruptive and substance use disorders were associated with risk for poor educational attainment after offspring IQ and parental psychopathology were controlled. These findings indicate that social causation and social selection processes vary in importance among different categories of psychiatric disorders.

The study examined the psychosocial determinants of coping ability in a cohort of 249 HIV positive and HIV negative female injection drug users (IDUs), using a cross-sectional retrospective design. Information collected using a structured questionnaire included data on psychosocial risk and protective factors in the personality, family, and peer domains, HIV status, and coping ability. Coping ability was associated with conventionality, greater control of emotions, less psychopathology, and family cohesion in both HIV positive and HIV negative subjects. The psychosocial factors affected coping in HIV positive and HIV negative IDUs via two different mediational models. The interactional findings supported the influence of risk/protective interactions in both groups. The findings demonstrate the impact of the interplay between personality factors and external support on coping ability in female IDUs.

Young adult drug use stemming from childhood aggression, the parent-child mutual attachment relationship, and the effect of unconventionality were studied. Youngsters and their mothers were interviewed when the former were early adolescents, late adolescents, and young adults. Additional data were collected from the mothers when their youngsters were children. The analysis was conducted on youngsters who had complete data at all 4 points in time. The findings were in accord with the family interactional model; that is, the parent-child mutual attachment relationship affects unconventionality in the youngster, which, in turn, affects young adult drug use. The results indicate that the parent-child mutual attachment relationship does so through (a) the stability of the attachment relationship from childhood to young adulthood, (b) the stability of unconventional personality and behavioral attributes from early adolescence to young adulthood, and (c) the stability of drug use from early adolescence to young adulthood. The findings imply that (a) early intervention with respect to aggression, (b) interventions that focus on strengthening the parent-child bond and conventional behavior, and (c) interventions aimed at early drug use should be most effective in reducing young adult drug use.

One hundred fifteen 2-year-old toddlers, one of the parents of each toddler, and the corresponding grandmother of each toddler were studied to determine the influence of the grandmother and the parent on the toddler's behavior. Findings indicated that the grandmother's parenting skills have an effect on the grandchild's anger via two pathways. More specifically, the grandmother's child-rearing techniques are mediated by the parent's personality traits, which, in turn, are associated with the parent's child-rearing practices and, ultimately, the grandchild's anger. The second pathway through which the grandmother's child-rearing is related to the grandchild's behavior involves the parent's imitation of the grandmother's parenting skills, which, in turn, are correlated with the toddler's behavior.

To examine the linkages, cultural/ecological factors, and major psychosocial risk factors as they relate to drug use in a sample from Colombia, South America.The participants were 1.687 adolescents living in mixed urban-rural communities in Colombia, South America. An individual interview was administered to youths in their homes by Colombian interviewers. The scales used were based on item intercorrelations grouped into the following risk categories: (1) adolescent personality, (2) family traits, (3) peer factors, and (4) cultural/ecological variables.Pearson correlations were computed for each variable and the frequency of marijuana use. Results show that each of the domains was related to adolescent marijuana use, with some notable gender differences. As regards the interrelation of domains, a mediational model was operative.Findings support a family interactional theory. The domains of family, personality, and peer factors had a direct effect on the adolescents' marijuana use. Implications for prevention are also addressed.

The authors examined the influences of domains of psychosocial risk and protective factors on male-partner condom use in a cobort of 209 female HIV-positive (HIV+) and HIV-negative (HIV-) injection drug users (IDUs) by use of a cross-sectional, retrospective design. Information collected from a structured questionnaire included data on psychosocial risk and protective factors in the personality, family, and peer domains; HIV status; and condom use. Among HIV+ IDUs, personality risk factors (e.g., unconventionality), family (e.g., low maternal identification), and peer factors were related to less male-partner condom use. Resources and condom availability were associated with greater male condom use with both HIV+ and HIV- IDUs. The psychosocial domains affected male condom use with both HIV+ and HIV- female IDU patients via two different mediational models. The findings suggest the need to use specific psychosocial interventions for risky sexual behavior among HIV+ and HIV- female IDUs.

To examine the interrelationship of acculturation, family, personality, ecology, and peer domains measured in adolescence as they impact drug use 5 years later and to assess the role of family variables as buffers against personality risks.Youths completed questionnaires in classrooms at T1 and were individually interviewed at T2 (mean age = 20 years). Data were analyzed separately for African-Americans and Puerto Ricans using correlations, hierarchical multiple regressions, and two-way interactions.Most results were similar for both ethnic groups. Eighty percent of the T1 variables significantly related to T2 stage of drug use. A mediational model of the path to drug use was supported. Acculturative influences were associated with family relations, which in turn were related to personality attributes. A reciprocal relationship emerged between the personality and peer domains in their impact on drug use. Family variables primarily enhanced the effect of protective personality traits on drug use.Stability of drug use alone cannot explain the relationship between the earlier domains and later drug use. Specific adolescent risks have long-lasting effects. The personality domain has a direct effect on later drug use despite a benign picture in the acculturation, family, and peer domains.

The authors studied the influences of domains of psychosocial risk factors on needle-sharing with familiar people and with strangers in a cohort of female injecting drug users (IDUs). Subjects were 119 female IDUs, 46% of whom were HIV+. Subjects were given individually administered questionnaire interviews: Using Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple hierarchical regression analyses, the authors found that personality, family, and peer attributes related to needle-sharing in women were similar to those found in men, with certain exceptions. The role of the family, particularly the Significant Other, was more important and proximal in its effect on needle-sharing behavior in women than in men. There was a main effect as well as a mediating effect of family in women, buffering risk factors leading to needle-sharing.

The goals of this longitudinal, prospective study were to 1) examine coping strategies of HIV-positive (HIV+) and HIV-negative (HIV-) injecting drug users; 2) study the relationship of earlier social support to later coping in HIV+ men; and 3) examine the effects of earlier coping strategies on later psychosocial function. The authors studied 287 men given a structured questionnaire at two points in time. HIV+ subjects scored higher than HIV- subjects on measures of AIDS-related adaptive coping (social support) and AIDS-related maladaptive coping (aggression), but not on general coping. General coping was not specifically AIDS-related, but was correlated positively with adaptive coping and negatively with maladaptive coping. These results suggest that earlier general coping is related to the later avoidance of maladaptive coping, and they have specific implications for teaching preventive strategies. AIDS-related adaptive or maladaptive coping techniques may be used simultaneously, and coping behavior may change over time. Earlier social support is related positively to aspects of later coping in HIV+ men.

How parental personality and drug use and the parent-child relationship are related to a toddler's anger and negativity was investigated. The sample consisted of 62 female and 53 male 2-year-old children and their parents. The results supported a mediational model. The father's drug use and parental personality attributes were linked to the child's anger and negativity indirectly, through the parent-child relationship. The findings indicated that maternal personality and child-rearing practices had a greater effect on the child than the paternal characteristics or the father-child relationship did. The results also suggested that the effect of one parent on the child was altered by the relationship the child had with the other parent. Implications for prevention and treatment are discussed.

We studied the psychosocial risk factors associated with Black, Hispanic, and White (N = 257) male intravenous drug abusers' needle-sharing behavior with familiar individuals and with strangers. Approximately half the subjects were HIV+. The findings supported a mediational model in that risk factors in the family domain were associated with peer and personality risk factors conducive to needle sharing that, in turn, were related to needle-sharing behavior.

Using a family interactional theoretical framework giving primacy to the mutual attachment between parent and child, we examined the interrelationship of acculturation, ecological factors, family, personality, peers, and drug context domains with drug use in an inner city sample. We also assessed the extent to which family protective factors mitigated against risks for drug use from most of the other domains. The sample consisted of 695 African-American and 637 Puerto Rican 7th-10th graders who answered the questionnaire while listening to it on personal tape players in their classrooms. The results of hierarchical regression analyses sufficiently supported the hypothesized sequence of interrelationships in both ethnic groups to substantiate our developmental model of drug use. We also found protective buffers common to both ethnic groups and buffers specific to each group. The implications of the results for targets and timing of intervention in the path to drug use are discussed.

Childhood and adolescent intrapersonal and interpersonal influences on older adolescents' drug use were examined with an interactional approach. Data were obtained when subjects were 5-10, 13-18, and 15-20 years old. Latent-variable confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the fit of the variables to the latent constructs. Next, a structural model was hypothesized and tested to assess the influences of childhood and earlier adolescent factors on later adolescent drug use. Childhood aggression and parental sociopathy affected drug use in late adolescence. Unconventionality during early and middle adolescence had an important and pervasive impact on all aspects of middle and late adolescent functioning. Finally, both intrapersonal and interpersonal factors from childhood and early adolescence affected self-drug use during middle and late adolescence.

An exploration of the role of communion tokens in Scotland. It describes their use in Scottish religious practice, how the markings on tokens changed over time and how the tokens were made. The paper concludes with an alphabetical list of list of tokens and their descriptions, followed by illustrations of over 1000 tokens and their place of origin (where known).

The interrelationship of neighborhood, school, peer, and family factors and adolescent drug involvement was investigated. Data were collected separately from 518 adolescents and their mothers when the children were between 9 and 18 years of age and again two years later. Neighborhood and school effects were not directly related to adolescent drug use. Neighborhood effects were mediated through the domains of school, peer, and family; school effects were mediated through the peer domain. Family and peer variables had a direct impact on adolescent drug involvement. Risk factors in the adolescents' peer environment can be ameliorated by protective factors in their school environment. Implications for the prevention of drug use are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine how stability of personality, measured at two points during adolescence, relates to adolescents' stage of drug use, measured at the second point in time. The subjects were 704 black and white high school freshmen and sophomores who participated again two years later. Results indicated that the earlier measures of personality were significantly associated with the later measures of personality, which in turn were associated with the adolescents' stage of drug use. In addition, the adolescents' personality attributes showed a fair amount of stability over the two-year span of the study.

Information concerning their environments was obtained from 127 first and 165 fifth grade children and their patents. These data were examined interactively--to determine whether patterns of relationships among environmental components changed as a function of the general status variables of sex, age, class, and race--and factorially, to obtain groupings of components. Chi square comparison of subgroup intercorrelation matrices revealed no differences among matrices as a function of the status variables. Factor analysis revealed six common factors: Social Class, Interactive Opportunity and Experience, Maturity, Aspiration Level, Family Interaction, and Amount of Income.

This study was designed to examine the paternal determinants of male adolescent marijuana use in the context of the mother-son and parental relationships. In addition, parental factors affecting experimental vs regular use of marijuana were examined. Two hundred forty-six male college students and their fathers were administered written questionnaires. Results indicated that the father's personality attributes and socialization techniques are associated with the son's use of marijuana despite control on the mother-son relationship. Fathers of marijuana users score higher on measures of psychopathology and unconventionality, and are less likely to have established close relationships with their sons. In addition, marijuana users more than nonusers have unaffectionate mothers and parents with less harmonious marital relations. Also of importance were interactions within the family system. The significance of these second-order effects highlights the importance of examining the father-son relation in the context of mother-son and parental interactions.

This study examines the interactive effects of background factors and personality/attitudinal and perceived environmental dimensions on adolescent drug behavior. Data were collected during home interviews using a structured interview schedule. The sample consisted of 403 British West Indian black, American black, and white adolescents, ranging in age from 13 to 17. Results suggested that two processes, nonconformity to conventional middle class values at both the personality/attitudinal and institutional level, and modeling of familial and peer drug use account in large part for adolescent drug behavior. The majority of correlates of adolescent drug behavior were similar in different sex, age, and ethnic groups.

This study examined prenatal, perinatal, and early childhood risk factors in relation to the etiology of adolescent involvement in cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs. Over a span of 10 years, data were collected on 638 mainly White mother-child pairs at three points in time: at T1, when the children were 1 to 10 years old; at T2, when they were 9 to 18, and again at T3, when they were 11 to 20. Results showed that the early risks of an unwanted pregnancy and major illness were linked to all of the drug categories except "other illicit drugs." Aspects of mutual attachment in the mother-adolescent relationship were negatively correlated with adolescent drug use. Data on the interrelationship of the domains (i.e., sets of variables) of early risk factors and mother-adolescent relations supported an independent model with respect to cigarette and marijuana involvement, a finding in keeping with results showing that early risk did not significantly affect mother-adolescent relations. However, mother-adolescent protective factors were able to mitigate the impact of early risk factors on adolescent drug involvement.

We examined the effects of marijuana use on adolescent personality, attitudinal, and behavioral attributes, perceived parent-adolescent relations, and perceived peer factors. Volunteer high school students (292 Blacks, 401 Whites) of middle-class backgrounds filled out questionnaires in their classrooms first when they were in the 9th and 10th grades and again 2 years later when they were in the 11th and 12th grades. Results suggest that regular use of marijuana may lead to lower achievement, increased tolerance of deviance, and more deviant behavior, and greater rebelliousness. Regular use also appears to interfere with adolescents' relationships with their parents and to lead them to associate with more deviant and drug-using friends. The consequences of marijuana use for intrapersonal and interpersonal functioning were for the most part similar in the different sex and age groups, although there were some ethnic differences.