The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #37709

Stephen Magura, CSW, PhD¹, Andrew Rosenblum, PhD¹, Chunki Fong, MS¹, Chris Norwood, MA², and Doris Casella². (1) Institute for Treatment and Services Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010, (2) Health Force: Women and Men Against AIDS, 552 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10455

Study objective: to determine the association of family functioning and peer networks with substance use and psychosocial adjustment among at-risk young adolescents. Study inclusion criteria were: having an HIV-ill parent and age 9-15 years. Study constructs were four measures of family functioning (family conflict, parental permissiveness, parental detachment, and parental child abuse and neglect), peer networks (anti-social behavior – including drug use – among peers), lifetime substance use, and psychosocial adjustment. Subjects (N=73) were 51% male, 59% African-American, 29% Hispanic; mean age was 11.9. Twenty-nine percent had a history of substance use (20% cigarettes, 22% alcohol, 8% other psychoactive drugs). Analysis was conducted by logistic and ordinary least squares regression; age was used as a covariate. Substance use was significantly (p < .05) associated with two family functioning measures (permissive parenting style and parental detachment); with severity of anti-social behavior among peers; and with age. Psychosocial adjustment was associated with parental detachment and with peer networks. Although substance use was correlated with psychological adjustment it did not remain significant in the multivariate analysis. Results suggest that permissive and detached parental functioning and anti-social peer networks increase the risk for initiating substance use and for poor psychosocial adjustment. The association between substance use and psychosocial adjustment appears to be accounted for by family functioning and peer networks. These data underscore the importance of developing and evaluating family and peer interventions for preventing poor developmental outcomes for this at-risk population. Funded by grant R01 HD37350; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session the participant will be able to

• List two social factors that are associated with substance use among HIV-affected youth;
• List two family functioning measures associated with substance use;
• Recognize the importance of devloping and evaluating family and peer interventions for HIV-affected youth.

Keywords: Adolescents, Substance Abuse Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.