Mediators between coping styles and substance use/intentions in urban, high school freshmen.

To explore what mediates relationships between coping styles and substance use, different types of coping, proximal precursors of substance use, and reported substance use/intentions to use were examined in a study of low income, urban, high school freshmen from American ethnic minority groups. Regression analyses showed evidence for two mediators. The relationship between a tendency to depend upon parents to cope with problems and increased substance use was mediated by lowered perceptions of harm from use. The relationship between a tendency to use substances to cope with problems and increased substance use was mediated by increased tolerance for and use by friends.