Risk and protective factors associated with adolescent girls' substance use: Data from a nationwide Facebook sample

ABSTRACT

Background: Despite overall reductions in teenage substance use, adolescent girls' rates of substance use remain unacceptably high. This article examines whether girls' substance use is associated with general risk and protective factors (goal setting, problem solving, refusal skills, peer use, and self-efficacy) and gender-specific risk and protective factors (communication style, coping skills, self-esteem, body image, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression). Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected in 2013 via online surveys from a nationwide sample of adolescent girls (N = 788), aged 13 and 14 years, who were recruited through Facebook. Results: In multivariate analyses, controlling for correlates of adolescent substance use, 11 of the 13 general and gender-specific risk and protective factors were consistently associated with past-month alcohol, cigarette, and other drug use in the expected direction; past-month marijuana use was associated with 8 of the 13 factors. Refusal skills, peer use, coping, and depressive mood were most consistently and strongly associated with substance use. Conclusions: Substance abuse prevention programs targeting adolescent girls should focus on such general risk and protective factors as problem solving, refusal skills, peer influences, and self-efficacy, as well as such gender-specific risk and protective factors as communication style, coping, self-esteem, body image, perceived stress, and mood management.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescent
• substance use prevention
• Facebook
• female
• risk factors

Author contributions

Drs. Schwinn and Schinke were responsible for the concept and design of the research. Dr. Schwinn also oversaw data collection and data analysis and interpreted study findings. Ms. Hopkins managed data collection and conducted data analyses. Bridgette Thom assisted with the literature review and data analysis. All authors contributed to the manuscript draft and subsequent revisions.

Funding

Supported by funding from grant DA031782 from the National Institute of Drug Abuse. The funder played no role in the design and conduct of the study; data collection, management, analysis, or interpretation; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.