Patterns of substance use among Argentinean adolescents and analysis of the effect of age at first alcohol use on substance use behaviors.
Addict Behav
; 38(12): 2847-50, 2013 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24018229
OBJECTIVE: The present study used an empirically based method to characterize substance use in a sample of Argentinean adolescents and analyzed the association between age at drinking onset and substance use behaviors. Differences in alcohol expectancies and personality traits as a function of different patterns of substance use were also explored. METHOD: Data were obtained from 583 adolescents aged 13-18years (M=15.01years; SD=1.5years; 59.5% female) from the city of Cordoba, Argentina. Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use and age at first alcohol use were measured. Personality traits, including extroversion, conscientiousness, impulsivity, and aggression, and positive and negative alcohol expectancies were assessed. Latent Class Analysis was applied to examine the structure of five co-occurring substance use behaviors: frequency of alcohol use, quantity of alcohol use, prevalence of drunkenness episodes, tobacco use, and drug use. RESULTS: Latent Class Analysis revealed five distinct patterns of substance use. The classes differed in substance use behaviors, personality traits, and alcohol expectancies. Adolescents with early drinking onset were more likely to show heavier alcohol use, more drunkenness episodes, and more drug use than adolescents with late drinking onset. CONCLUSIONS: Latent Class Analysis allowed the detection of groups of adolescents with distinct patterns of substance use. These groups exhibited significantly different personality and alcohol expectancy profiles, likely representing subgroups who are at greater risk for developing alcohol-related problems.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas
/
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
America do sul
/
Argentina
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Addict Behav
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de publicação:
Reino Unido