Internalizing and externalizing problem behavior and early adolescent substance use: a test of a latent variable...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Externalizing problem behaviors strongly predict adolescent substance use (SU).
• The link between internalizing problems and SU is inconsistent, suggesting moderating factors.
• Understanding these moderators is crucial for effective intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if externalizing problems moderate the relationship between internalizing problems and adolescent SU.
• To examine the mediating role of peer delinquency in this relationship.
• To clarify the complex interplay of internalizing and externalizing behaviors on SU.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study utilizing a community sample of early adolescents.
• Structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent variables to test moderation and mediation.
• Controlled for prior levels of mediator and outcome variables to establish temporal precedence.

Main Results:

• Internalizing problems were protective against associating with deviant peers, but only when externalizing symptomatology was high.
• Elevated peer delinquency was associated with increased SU.
• Peer delinquency mediated the interaction effect of problem behaviors on SU.

Conclusions:

• The impact of internalizing problems on SU is contingent on the presence of externalizing problems.
• Internalizing symptoms generally appear protective against SU in early adolescence, especially when not co-occurring with high externalizing behaviors.
• Developmental models of SU should incorporate the moderating role of externalizing behaviors.