Narrative Engagement and Interpersonal Communication about Substance Use on Adolescent Substance Use Behaviors: A Case Study of Keepin’ it REAL

Abstract

The present study examined direct and indirect effects of adolescent narrative engagement on substance use behaviors via refusal self-efficacy. This study also tested moderation effects of communication about substance use with parents, siblings, and friends on substance use behaviors. Students in 8th grade (N = 225) participated in surveys at two different time points. Path analyses revealed a positive association between identification with main characters and refusal self-efficacy as well as negative associations between refusal self-efficacy and the past 30-days substance use. Communication with parents and friends significantly moderated the relationship between refusal self-efficacy and the past 30-days substance use.

Keywords:

• Adolescent Substance Use
• Entertainment-Education
• Interpersonal Communication about Substance Use
• Narrative Engagement

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Dr. Michael Hecht for his advice regarding this article.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This publication was supported by Grant Number R01DA021670 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to the Pennsylvania State University (Michael Hecht, Principal Investigator). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.