Cognition, negative affectivity and substance use in adolescent boys with and without a family history of a substance use disorder.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test a model of substance use in adolescent males. The model is based on the premise that cognitive distortions and poor constructive thinking represent weaknesses in the ability to adaptively cope with everyday problems. It is postulated that failures in adaptive coping result in increased negative affectivity (e.g., frustration, anger, and anxiety), which fosters substance use as a means of alleviating unpleasant feelings. METHOD: Subjects (N = 276) were 15- to 17-year-old males with a positive (FHP; n = 118) or a negative (FHN; n = 158) family history of a substance use disorder (SUD). Subjects completed self-report measures of constructive thinking, cognitive distortions, negative affectivity, substance use frequency and substance use problems. RESULTS: Negative affectivity mediated the relations between constructive thinking and both substance use variables, in separate analyses, for the FNP and FHN groups. Negative affectivity also moderated the relation between constructive thinking and substance use frequency, such that constructive thinking was negatively related to substance use frequency but only for individuals high in negative affectivity. CONCLUSIONS: Poor constructive thinking skills are related to increased substance use in adolescent males, in part through an association with greater negative affectivity. SUD treatment and prevention efforts may benefit from strategies aimed at improving constructive thinking abilities and reducing negative affectivity.
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Poor emotional regulation is a risk factor for both initial and continued substance use.
“Poor emotional regulation is a risk factor for both initial and continued substance use (Cheetham et al., 2010; Shoal & Giancola, 2001).”
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- Authors
- Shoal, G. D., & Giancola, P. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Kentucky (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Studies on Alcohol
- Publisher
- Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc.
- Published
- 2001-07
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 675-686
- ISSN
- 0096-882X (ISSN-L)
- 1934-2683
- OpenAlex
- W2037889555
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Studies on Alcohol (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01-AA-11691, R01AA011691)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (P50-DA 05605, T32 DA07304, P50DA005605, T32DA007304)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- adolescent substance use, negative affectivity, constructive thinking, cognitive distortions, family history of substance use disorder, adaptive coping, substance use frequency, problematic substance use, mediation, moderation, adolescent boys
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Cognition Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Personality Disorders, Personality Inventory, Severity of Illness Index, Mood Disorders, Substance-Related Disorders
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