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Youth Aggression and Peer Victimization as Predictors of Adolescent Alcohol and Marijuana Use: A Longitudinal Analysis of Youth with Aggressive Behavior Problems

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Abstract

Youth who are behaviorally aggressive and victimized by their peers comprise a significant population with specific risks and vulnerabilities relative to substance use. The goals of the current study were to examine the roles that youth aggression and peer victimization play in determining the timing of alcohol and marijuana use initiation and the frequency of use 5-years later in a sample of at-risk, aggressive youth. 360 youth (Mage= 10.17 years; 65% boys, 35% girls; 78.1% African American, 20.3% Caucasian, 1.4% Hispanic, and 0.3% other) recruited for a prevention program for at-risk youth were followed for 5 years (4th – 9th grade). Cox PH regressions were conducted to predict timing of alcohol and marijuana use initiation. Zero-inflated negative binomial regressions were used to predict frequency of alcohol and marijuana use 5 years later. Results showed that peer victimization inferred decreased risk of alcohol use initiation. However, this effect was only observed for youth with relatively moderate, and low levels of aggression. Findings suggest that differences in youth aggression and victimization interact to predict distinct outcomes, suggesting the need for a more comprehensive approach when working with aggressive youth who have experienced peer victimization.

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Data Availability

The data generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available on reasonable request.

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Funding

The research in this paper has been supported by grants from the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (R01 HD079273) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (R01 DA023156).

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  1. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

    Estephan A. Hakim, Kristina L. McDonald, John E. Lochman, Nicole Powell & Tricia H. Witte

  2. University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Eric M. Vernberg

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  1. Estephan A. Hakim
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Hakim, E.A., McDonald, K.L., Lochman, J.E. et al. Youth Aggression and Peer Victimization as Predictors of Adolescent Alcohol and Marijuana Use: A Longitudinal Analysis of Youth with Aggressive Behavior Problems. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-024-01166-0

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