Pathways from proactive and reactive aggression to substance use.

Full Abstract

Childhood aggression is a known risk factor for adolescent substance use; however, aggression is a complex construct, and developmental researchers have identified a variety of subdimensions that may be germane to substance use. Very little research has examined risk pathways from subdimensions of aggression. The current study examined a developmental model and tested whether childhood proactive aggression, reactive aggression, or both were related to the development of substance use in adolescence in a sample of 126 children (mean age at initial assessment = 10.4 years, SD = 0.51). Peer rejection and peer delinquency were examined as potential mediators of these relations. The findings suggest that proactive aggression was indirectly associated with substance use through peer delinquency. Reactive aggression was also indirectly associated with substance use through a complex mediational chain, such that high levels of reactive aggression were associated with high levels of peer rejection, which in turn were associated with peer delinquency (p = .06), which subsequently predicted substance use.

Author information

Author/s: Fite, Paula J (PJ); Colder, Craig R (CR); Lochman, John E (JE); Wells, Karen C (KC);

Affiliation: University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. pjfite(-atsign-)buffalo.edu

Grants: DA018016 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; KD1 SP08633 (Agency:CSAP SAMHSA HHS) ; UR6 5907956 (Agency:PHS HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors (Psychol Addict Behav), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Sep; vol 21 (issue 3) : pp 355-64

Dates: Created 2007/09/18; Completed 2007/11/13; Revised 2007/12/03;

PMID: 17874886, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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