Primary Socialization Theory and American Indian Adolescents’ Intentions to Use Substances

Abstract

Objective

Intentions to use substances are a robust risk factor for future substance use. Primary Socialization Theory (PST), with its focus on relational factors, is well-suited to provide insight into American Indian adolescents’ intentions to use substances given the importance of relationships in American Indian communities. The goal of the present study was to examine the role of PST-related factors (i.e., parental monitoring, peer pressure, attitudes toward school) on likelihood of intending to use substances (i.e., alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, other drugs) among American Indian adolescents.

Methods

American Indian participants (N = 8,950, 50.7% females) were recruited as a part of the Our Youth, Our Future survey, an ongoing surveillance of substance use among 7th–12th graders attending school on or near reservations.

Results

Parental monitoring was found to be associated with decreased likelihood of intending to use alcohol (aOR = 0.97, 95%CI [0.96, 0.99]), cigarettes (aOR = 0.96, 95%CI [0.94, 0.98]), cannabis (aOR = 0.95, 95%CI [0.94, 0.96]), and other drugs (aOR = 0.94, 95%CI [0.92, 0.96]). Peer pressure was associated with increased likelihood of intending to use alcohol (aOR = 1.68, 95%CI [1.59, 1.78]), cigarettes (aOR = 1.73, 95%CI [1.60, 1.86]), cannabis (aOR = 1.81, 95%CI [1.71, 1.92]), and other drugs (aOR = 1.40, 95%CI [1.26, 1.56]). More positive attitudes toward school were associated with decreased likelihood of intending to use alcohol (aOR = 0.93, 95%CI [0.91, 0.94]), cigarettes (aOR = 0.92, 95%CI [0.90, 0.94]), cannabis (aOR = 0.90, 95%CI [0.88, 0.91]), and other drugs (aOR = 0.96, 95%CI [0.93, 0.99]).

Conclusions

Results support incorporating social relationships into interventions aiming to prevent substance use initiation, including promoting positive parental monitoring, peer interactions, and school attitudes.

Keywords:

• Alcohol use
• cannabis use
• substance use
• cigarette smoking
• Primary Socialization Theory

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Data availability statement

Data and supporting documentation are publicly available through ICPSR at https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR35062.v3. Code is available upon request to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse grant R01DA003371. Work on this article by the first author (MS) was supported by National Institute on Drug Abuse grant T32DA019426. Work on this article by the third author (TN) was supported by National Institute on Drug Abuse grant F31DA053754 and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism grant R25AA028464.