A Longitudinal Study of Coping Strategies and Substance Use in Adolescent Boys

ABSTRACT

The authors examined the extent to which religious coping predicted subsequent drug use in adolescent boys. Three hundred and twenty-six adolescent boys completed the Wills Coping Questionnaire (Wills, 1985) as well as a number of drug use inventories. Results showed that religious coping, measured at 12–14 years of age, predicted a significant reduction in number of drugs used, frequency of drug use, and problems associated with drug use measured at 15–16 years of age. These results were maintained even when controlling for age and other key coping variables. These findings may have implications for treatment and prevention efforts, specifically for populations who are amenable to “spiritual” interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Substance use
• religious coping
• adolescence