Premium
The utility of locus of control for predicting adolescent substance use
Author(s) -
Bearinger Linda Holm,
Blum Robert William
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199706)20:3<229::aid-nur6>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - locus of control , cannabis , psychology , substance use , structural equation modeling , personality , marijuana smoking , clinical psychology , latent variable , developmental psychology , peer group , psychiatry , social psychology , statistics , mathematics , polysubstance dependence
Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the utility of locus of control (LOC) for predicting adolescent substance use. As part of a larger three‐wave cohort‐sequential study (1983–1989), 155 secondary school‐based adolescents completed questionnaires on substance use, personality characteristics, family/peer influences, and health behaviors. Latent variable indicators were developed from the Nowicki‐Strickland Personal Reaction Survey and substance use survey items. LOC was a weak predictor of substance use. In two instances were relationships significant: (a) 7th grade LOC predicted 11th grade alcohol use; and, (b) 9th grade LOC correlated with 11th grade cannabis use. Small samples precluded analysis of gender and social class effects. SEM with panel data offers a methodological approach for examining the explanatory capability of LOC. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 20: 229–245, 1997