Community-Based Correlates of Adolescent Substance Use

描述：（申请人提供） 目前的研究结果表明，以社区为基础的生态变量， 暴露于社区暴力可能是心理困扰的风险因素 和青少年药物使用情况。发现也可能 表明积极的种族认同可能会缓和暴露的影响， 作为一种保护因素， 物质使用。这项相关的组内调查研究旨在 研究暴露于社区暴力和种族认同的影响 非洲单一跨部门抽样药物使用情况的发展 14-18岁的美国青年。该调查将包括一组 评估直接（受害者）和间接（证人）的自我报告措施 暴露于社区暴力（频率，严重程度和范围），种族 身份发展，心理功能（抑郁，绝望， 控制点）和物质使用（意图使用，开始年龄，水平 烟草、酒精和非法药物）。预计暴露于 社区暴力将与心理功能较差有关 (e.g.,抑郁、绝望和无力/控制点） 意图使用酒精，烟草，和/或非法药物的青少年谁做的 不使用酒精，烟草和非法药物，以及较早的启蒙年龄， 开始吸毒的青少年中药物使用水平较高。 人们还预计，更高层次的族裔认同将与 使用物质的意图水平较低，延迟开始使用物质 非裔美国青年的药物使用水平较低。的 这项研究的结果应该增加我们对组内 与接触社区暴力有关的药物使用差异， 种族认同;可能促进儿童复原力的认同因素 生活在高暴力社区;以及援助发展中国家 针对特定民族的药物滥用预防和干预方案， 非裔美国青少年

DESCRIPTION: (provided by applicant) Current findings suggest that community-based, ecological variables such as exposure to community violence may be risk factors for psychological distress and adolescent substance use among African Americans. Findings may also indicate that a positive ethnic identity may moderate the effects of exposure to community violence by serving as a protective factor that prevents or delays substance use. This correlational, within-group survey study is designed to examine the influence of exposure to community violence and ethnic identity development on substance use in a single, cross-sectional sample of African American youth aged 14-18 years. The survey will include a battery of self-report measures that assess direct (victim) and indirect (witness) exposure to community violence (frequency, severity, and range), ethnic identity development, psychological functioning (depression, hopelessness, locus of control), and substance use (intent to use, age of initiation, level of use for tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs). It is expected that exposure to community violence will be associated with poorer psychological functioning (e.g., depression, hopelessness, and powerlessness/locus of control) greater intent to use alcohol, tobacco, and/or illegal drugs among adolescents who do not use alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs, and earlier ages of initiation and higher levels of substance use among adolescents who have initiated drug use. It is also expected that higher levels of ethnic identity will be associated with lower levels of intent to use substances, delayed initiation of substance use, and lower levels of substance use among African American youth. The results of this study should increase our understanding of within-group disparities in substance use related to exposure to community violence and ethnic identity; identity factors that may promote resiliency in children living in communities of high violence; and aid in the developing ethnic-specific substance abuse prevention and intervention programs for African American adolescents.