Abstract
Risk-taking is statistically normative during adolescence, yet is associated with adverse outcomes including substance use.
The present study draws the distinction between protective factors (effective for those identified as high risk takers) and
promotive factors (effective for all) against substance use, focusing on parental monitoring, school bonding, and sports participation.
A total of 36,514 8th and 10th grade participants in the national Monitoring the Future study were included. Although parental
monitoring was associated with lower alcohol and marijuana use among all adolescents (i.e., promotive effect), these effects
were strongest among the highest risk takers (i.e., protective effect) and females. School bonding was associated with lower
levels of both alcohol and marijuana use among all groups of adolescents, but these promotive effects were weak. Sports participation
was associated with higher levels of alcohol use among all males and among 8th grade females who did not identify as high
risk takers. Despite being a risk factor for alcohol use, sports participation did demonstrate a promotive effect against
marijuana use among 10th grade females only, and especially so for high risk-taking females (i.e., protective effect). Overall,
these findings suggest that of the three mechanisms studied, parental monitoring emerged as the most promising entry point
for substance use prevention and intervention across groups, particularly for females and high risk-taking adolescents.
The present study draws the distinction between protective factors (effective for those identified as high risk takers) and
promotive factors (effective for all) against substance use, focusing on parental monitoring, school bonding, and sports participation.
A total of 36,514 8th and 10th grade participants in the national Monitoring the Future study were included. Although parental
monitoring was associated with lower alcohol and marijuana use among all adolescents (i.e., promotive effect), these effects
were strongest among the highest risk takers (i.e., protective effect) and females. School bonding was associated with lower
levels of both alcohol and marijuana use among all groups of adolescents, but these promotive effects were weak. Sports participation
was associated with higher levels of alcohol use among all males and among 8th grade females who did not identify as high
risk takers. Despite being a risk factor for alcohol use, sports participation did demonstrate a promotive effect against
marijuana use among 10th grade females only, and especially so for high risk-taking females (i.e., protective effect). Overall,
these findings suggest that of the three mechanisms studied, parental monitoring emerged as the most promising entry point
for substance use prevention and intervention across groups, particularly for females and high risk-taking adolescents.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11121-012-0288-z
- Authors
- Bridget V. Dever, College of Education, Georgia State University, 30 Pryor Street, Suite 412, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
- John E. Schulenberg, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Jodi B. Dworkin, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
- Patrick M. O’Malley, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Deborah D. Kloska, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Jerald G. Bachman, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Journal Prevention Science
- Online ISSN 1573-6695
- Print ISSN 1389-4986