Household Dysfunction and Adolescent Substance Use: Moderating Effects of Family, Community, and School Support

Abstract

Adolescents exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at increased risk for substance use. Factors that reduce likelihood of adolescent substance use are an important area of research and intervention. The present study aimed to understand the cumulative impact of household dysfunction ACEs on adolescent alcohol and marijuana use and to examine how family, school, and community support mitigate these relationships. Results showed that community support moderated the relationship between ACEs and alcohol and marijuana use. Family support moderated the relationship between ACEs and marijuana use. School support did not moderate the relationship between ACEs and alcohol or marijuana use.

Keywords:

• Adolescent alcohol use
• adverse childhood experiences
• household dysfunction
• sources of support

Additional information

Funding

The 2016 NRPFSS is sponsored by Grant #5U79SP020162-04 under the Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success Grant for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Behavioral Health.