Onset of substance use: Deviant peer, sex, and sympathetic nervous system predictors. (8th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hinnant, J. Benjamin; Gillis, Brian T.; Erath, Stephen A.; El-Sheikh, Mona
• Is Part Of: Development and psychopathology. Volume 34:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 1506
• Page End: 1515
• Publication Date: 2022-10-08
• Subjects: adolescence -- deviant peer affiliation -- repeated measures -- substance use -- sympathetic nervous system; Child psychopathology -- Periodicals; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Pathological -- Periodicals; 618.9289
• DOI: 10.1017/S0954579421000158
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-5794

Abstract

Abstract: We evaluated whether the association between deviant peer affiliation and onset of substance use is conditional upon sex and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) reactivity as measured by pre-ejection period (PEP). Community-sampled adolescents ( N = 251; M = 15.78 years; 53% female; 66% White, 34% Black) participated in three waves. PEP reactivity was collected during a mirror star-tracer stress task. Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, or any substance use, as well as binge drinking and sexual activity involving substance use were outcomes predicted by affiliation with deviant peers and two- and three-way interactions with sex and PEP reactivity. Probability of substance use increased over time, but this was amplified for adolescents with greater deviant peer affiliation in conjunction with blunted PEP reactivity. The same pattern of results was also found for prediction of binge drinking and sexual activity involving substance use. Findings are discussed in the context of biosocial models of adolescent substance use and health risk behaviors.