Abstract
The complexity of co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health problems among adolescents challenges both researchers
and practitioners. The purpose of this study was to further disentangle those relationships and examine the role that peers
who engage in deviant activities plays in that relationship. A subset of variables from a larger study of adolescents referred
for substance use assessment was analyzed in this study. The results suggest that as the severity of substance use and mental
health problems increases so does the number of peers who engage in deviant activities; peers partially mediates the relationship
between those two variables. Implications for social work practice and other professionals are discussed.
and practitioners. The purpose of this study was to further disentangle those relationships and examine the role that peers
who engage in deviant activities plays in that relationship. A subset of variables from a larger study of adolescents referred
for substance use assessment was analyzed in this study. The results suggest that as the severity of substance use and mental
health problems increases so does the number of peers who engage in deviant activities; peers partially mediates the relationship
between those two variables. Implications for social work practice and other professionals are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10560-012-0277-x
- Authors
- Amanda R. Reedy, School of Social Work, Eastern Washington University, 208 Senior Hall, Cheney, WA 99004-2479, USA
- Jeanne A. Saunders, School of Social Work, The University of Iowa, 308 North Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Journal Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-2797
- Print ISSN 0738-0151