Abstract
In an effort to self-medicate psychological distress stemming from exposure to traumatic life events, at-risk youth may be
likely to seek intoxication via substance use. Concomitantly, self-medication with psychoactive substances is theorized to
confer risk of developing future psychiatric and substance use disorders. The present study employed structural equation modeling
to examine self-medication among a sample of 723 youth in residential treatment for antisocial behavior via recursive and
non-recursive relationships between trauma history, substance misuse, and psychological distress. Results supported study
hypotheses that: (a) the effects of trauma history on psychological distress are partially mediated by substance misuse, and
(b) exposure to traumatic life events drives a feedback loop between substance misuse and psychological distress. Findings
from this large-scale survey of adolescents exhibiting behavioral dysfunction suggest that identification of self-medication
processes among traumatized youth may be crucial for developing targeted prevention and treatment initiatives.
likely to seek intoxication via substance use. Concomitantly, self-medication with psychoactive substances is theorized to
confer risk of developing future psychiatric and substance use disorders. The present study employed structural equation modeling
to examine self-medication among a sample of 723 youth in residential treatment for antisocial behavior via recursive and
non-recursive relationships between trauma history, substance misuse, and psychological distress. Results supported study
hypotheses that: (a) the effects of trauma history on psychological distress are partially mediated by substance misuse, and
(b) exposure to traumatic life events drives a feedback loop between substance misuse and psychological distress. Findings
from this large-scale survey of adolescents exhibiting behavioral dysfunction suggest that identification of self-medication
processes among traumatized youth may be crucial for developing targeted prevention and treatment initiatives.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10865-012-9413-5
- Authors
- Eric L. Garland, Trinity Institute for the Addictions, Florida State University, University Center, Building C, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570, USA
- Carrie Pettus-Davis, Washington University of Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Matthew O. Howard, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Journal Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1573-3521
- Print ISSN 0160-7715