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Indirect Associations between Middle-Childhood Externalizing Behaviors and Adolescent Substance Use through Late-Childhood Exposure to Violence

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Abstract

Longitudinal research to understand individual risk factors in childhood associated with exposure to violence and substance use is needed to inform prevention efforts. The present study tested indirect associations between age 8.5 externalizing behaviors and age 16 substance use through age 9.5 violence victimization and witnessing. Participants were 650 racially diverse (48.6% European American, 28.1% African American, 13.3% multiracial, and 10.0% other), predominantly socioeconomically disadvantaged youth (49% female). Externalizing behaviors were associated with higher levels of violence victimization and witnessing. The indirect path from externalizing behaviors to substance use was significant through victimization but not witnessing violence. Interventions aimed at reducing early externalizing behaviors may reduce risk for violence victimization, which may, in turn, reduce risk for adolescent substance use.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to extend our appreciation to the staff and research participants of the Early Steps Multisite Study.

Funding

Support for this research was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to the third, fourth and fifth authors (R01 DA023245, R01 DA022773).

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Shannon M. Savell, Sean R. Womack

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA

    Shannon M. Savell, Sean R. Womack & Melvin N. Wilson

  2. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA

    Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA

    Daniel S. Shaw

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Contributions

S.S. conceived of the present study with previously collected data, participated in its design and coordination, assisted with statistical analysis and interpretation, and drafted the manuscript; S.W. also helped to conceive the present study with previously collected data, participated in its design and coordination, led the statistical analysis and interpretation, and helped in drafting the manuscript; S.S. and S.W. contributed equally to the present study and share first-authorship; M.W. was one of the authors awarded the funding for the Early Steps Multisite Project from which the data for the present study are derived, participated in the design and coordination of the present study and helped to draft the manuscript; K.L.C. was one of the authors awarded the funding for the Early Steps Multisite Project from which the data for the present study are derived, participated in the design and coordination of the present study, assisted with interpretation of the data, and helped to draft the manuscript; D.S. was one of the authors awarded the funding for the Early Steps Multisite Project from which the data for the present study are derived, participated in the design and coordination of the present study, assisted with interpretation of the data, and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shannon M. Savell.

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Savell, S.M., Womack, S.R., Wilson, M.N. et al. Indirect Associations between Middle-Childhood Externalizing Behaviors and Adolescent Substance Use through Late-Childhood Exposure to Violence. J Youth Adolescence 51, 628–642 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01575-8

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