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Substance use among adolescents: fulfilling a need state
A G Mainous1, C A Martin, M J Oler
1Department of Family Practice, Kentucky Clinic, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536-0284, USA.
Adolescence
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Adolescents with unfulfilled needs are more likely to engage in substance use, including smoking, drinking, and marijuana use. This feeling state, not tied to age, may be a precursor to adolescent substance abuse.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Adolescent Studies
Background:
- Adolescent substance use is a significant public health issue.
- The role of need fulfillment in adolescent substance use is under-investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between need fulfillment and adolescent substance use.
- To explore the association between need fulfillment, depression, and substance use behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 823 high school students in the Southeastern United States.
- Utilized a needs fulfillment scale, Children's Depression Inventory, and substance use items.
- Employed t-tests and correlation analyses to examine relationships.
Main Results:
- Higher scores on the Need scale were significantly associated with increased likelihood of substance use (p < .05).
- Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and marijuana use showed significant positive correlations with the Need scale for both genders.
- The Need scale positively correlated with the Children's Depression Inventory (r = .45, p = .0001) but was not collinear; it did not correlate significantly with age (r = .04, p = .11).
Conclusions:
- A state of unfulfilled needs may drive adolescents toward substance use.
- Unmet needs, rather than developmental stage, appear to be a precursor to adolescent substance abuse.
- Addressing adolescent need fulfillment may be a strategy for preventing substance use.