The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68928

Monica L Adams, MPH (May 2003) and Susan T. Ennett, PhD. Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 311 Rosenau, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, 919-824-0244, mladams@email.unc.edu

Many studies have replicated the finding that adolescents from single-parent homes fare far worse in substance use behaviors than those coming from traditional two-parent households. Economics, parenting, and attachment are some of the factors that have been cited as contributing to, or causing this disadvantage. The changing trends in the demographic picture of the United States has necessitated further inquiry into how alternate family structures affect adolescents. Specifically, the implications of the increasing proportion of grandparents acting as primary caregivers because of death, incarceration, substance use, abuse, and abandonment need to be explored. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 2,352,724 grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. One study showed positive results for children being raised by grandparents, with the children not differing substantially from their traditional family counterparts and in many cases faring better than those from single-parent homes as far as their health and school behaviors. However, there has been no systematic documentation of how they compare with other family structures in regards to substance use. The purpose of this paper is to describe the alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use by adolescents in different family structures. Analyses will be based on 5,220 6th, 7th, and 8th grade North Carolina students who participated in a school-based questionnaire in 2002. Three hundred ninety-four adolescents identified their grandparent as their primary mother or father figure. Findings of this study will provide information about the substance use of adolescents in alternate family structures, and have implications for public programs and policies.

Learning Objectives:

• "At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Describe the substance use behaviors of a sample of adolescents in 5 different family structures.
• Recognize the need to investigate alternate family structures besides the traditional two-parent family, single parent family, and stepfamily.”

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.