Attitude-Normative Belief Interactions in Predicting Adolescent Substance Use.

Additive and interactive models of attitudes and normative beliefs were compared in a survey of smoking, drinking, and drug use among post-primary students from Dublin, Ireland. It was hypothesized that contingent consistency interactions would be found: (1) when predicting drug use, but not smoking or alcohol use; (2) for younger, but not older students; (3) for normative beliefs about peers, but not about parents; and (4) for normative beliefs about substance use by others, but not about verbal approval. Questionnaires focusing on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to cigarette smoking were completed by 2,927 students. Questionnaires focusing on beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to alcohol and drugs were completed by 2,782 students. Contrary to expectations, significant interactions were found for all three target behaviors and regardless of the age of the students. These interactions primarily involved attitudes and normative beliefs about peer substance use. Interactions involving other normative beliefs generally were not significant. Contingent consistency effects may result from greater access to tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs on the part of adolescents who have friends involved in smoking, drinking, and other durg use. A reference list and six data tables supplement this document. (Author/NB)