A longitudinal study of protective factors against substance use in early adolescence. An ecological approach.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent substance use has been widely related to different individual, school, family and community factors. Yet, the number of studies with all these variables together in a model from an ecological perspective is still low, and they rarely used a longitudinal design. The aim of this study was to explore, from an ecological perspective, the prospective impact of different individual, school, family and neighbourhood factors on adolescent substance use. METHODS: This was a longitudinal study with a one-year follow up. There were 881 participants (Mage = 12.57; 48.1% females) at wave 1, of which 686 (Mage = 13.51; 51.8% females) were followed-up at wave 2. Validated questionnaires were used for data collection. RESULTS: Regression analyses showed that higher substance use was predicted by high family socio-economic status cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and it was related to low neighbourhood socio-economic status cross-sectionally only. Participants who disliked school and had a poor academic performance were more likely to use substances, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of families in substance use prevention programmes could be a key component in these interventions. Moreover, promotion of a positive school climate could protect adolescents from using substances.

A longitudinal study of preadolescent and adolescent substance use: Within-individual patterns and protective factors.

Substance use is one of the main risks for adolescent health. Many research projects have studied longitudinal patterns of use and risk/protective factors, but the number of studies focused on within-individual stability and change is low. The objective of this study was to discover specific longitudinal profiles of drug use and explore the role of social and emotional competencies, and empathy as possible protective factors against substance use. Method: This was a longitudinal study with 879 students (9-17 years at wave 1, 10-18 at wave 2). Substance use, social and emotional competencies, and empathy were measured with a survey. Results: Nine longitudinal profiles of substance use were found in this sample. Multinomial regression analysis found that low responsible decision making, self-management and affective empathy predicted the profiles of ascending user, chronic user and experiencer, respectively. Experiencer was also predicted by a low level of social awareness. Conclusions: The trend to a higher use over time can increase the odds of addiction in future. Some personal variables were found as protective factors against drug use. Thus, school interventions addressed to promote social and emotional competencies, and empathy seem necessary in order to decrease the adolescent drug use.

El consumo de sustancias es uno de los mayores riesgos para la salud de los adolescentes. Numerosas investigaciones han estudiado el patrón longitudinal de consumo y factores de riesgo/protección, pero pocas han estudiado la estabilidad y el cambio a nivel intraindividual. El objetivo de este estudio fue descubrir patrones longitudinales específicos de consumo de drogas y explorar el papel de las competencias sociales y emocionales, y la empatía como posibles factores protectores. Método: Un estudio longitudinal con 879 participantes (9-17 años en tiempo 1; 10-18 en tiempo 2). El consumo de sustancias, las competencias socioemocionales y la empatía se midieron con una encuesta. Resultados: Se encontraron nueve perfiles longitudinales de consumo. Los análisis de regresión encontraron que baja toma de decisiones responsables, autocontrol y empatía afectiva predijeron los perfiles de consumidor ascendente, consumidor crónico y experimentador, respectivamente. Experimentador también fue predicho por bajos niveles de conciencia social. Conclusiones: La tendencia a aumentar el consumo a través del tiempo puede incrementar el riesgo de adicción en el futuro. Algunas variables personales actúan como factores de protección. Por ello, parecen necesarias intervenciones escolares dirigidas a promocionar las competencias sociales y emocionales, y la empatía para disminuir el consumo de sustancias.

A longitudinal study of preadolescent and adolescent substance use: Within-individual patterns and protective factors / Estudio longitudinal del consumo de sustancias en preadolescentes y adolescentes: patrones intraindividuales y factores protectores

Substance use is one of the main risks for adolescent health. Many research projects have studied longitudinal patterns of use and risk/protective factors, but the number of studies focused on within-individual stability and change is low. The objective of this study was to discover specific longitudinal profiles of drug use and explore the role of social and emotional competencies, and empathy as possible protective factors against substance use. Method: This was a longitudinal study with 879 students (9-17 years at wave 1, 10-18 at wave 2). Substance use, social and emotional competencies, and empathy were measured with a survey. Results: Nine longitudinal profiles of substance use were found in this sample. Multinomial regression analysis found that low responsible decision making, self-management and affective empathy predicted the profiles of ascending user, chronic user and experiencer, respectively. Experiencer was also predicted by a low level of social awareness. Conclusions: The trend to a higher use over time can increase the odds of addiction in future. Some personal variables were found as protective factors against drug use. Thus, school interventions addressed to promote social and emotional competencies, and empathy seem necessary in order to decrease the adolescent drug use. (AU)

El consumo de sustancias es uno de los mayores riesgos para la salud de los adolescentes. Numerosas investigaciones han estudiado el patrón longitudinal de consumo y factores de riesgo/protección, pero pocas han estudiado la estabilidad y el cambio a nivel intraindividual. El objetivo de este estudio fue descubrir patrones longitudinales específicos de consumo de drogas y explorar el papel de las competencias sociales y emocionales, y la empatía como posibles factores protectores. Método: Un estudio longitudinal con 879 participantes (9-17 años en tiempo 1; 10-18 en tiempo 2). El consumo de sustancias, las competencias socioemocionales y la empatía se midieron con una encuesta. Resultados: Se encontraron nueve perfiles longitudinales de consumo. Los análisis de regresión encontraron que baja toma de decisiones responsables, autocontrol y empatía afectiva predijeron los perfiles de consumidor ascendente, consumidor crónico y experimentador, respectivamente. Experimentador también fue predicho por bajos niveles de conciencia social. Conclusiones: La tendencia a aumentar el consumo a través del tiempo puede incrementar el riesgo de adicción en el futuro. Algunas variables personales actúan como factores de protección. Por ello, parecen necesarias intervenciones escolares dirigidas a promocionar las competencias sociales y emocionales, y la empatía para disminuir el consumo de sustancias. (AU)

A Social-Ecological Approach to Understanding Adolescent Sexting Behavior.

This study examined the extent to which active and passive sexting behaviors are associated with family-, school-, peer-, and romantic-level variables. Young people (N = 3,322; 49.1% female, 48.3% male, 2.6% other) aged 11 to 15 years old (M = 12.84, SD = 0.89) took part, and all attended mainstream secondary schools in Scotland. Participants completed self-report measures of school connectedness, parental love and support, perceived susceptibility to peer- and romantic-pressure (e.g., to display behaviors just to impress others), and their involvement in active and passive sexting. The importance of both school- and family-level factors was evident, though perceived romantic-pressure had the largest effect. However, neither school- nor family-level variables were moderated by either perceived romantic-pressure or perceived peer-pressure. Efforts to reduce sexting or increase its safety should primarily seek to tackle young people's ability to respond effectively to romantic-pressure. It may also be helpful to develop school connectedness and to help families provide support that is constructive and not intrusive.

Emotional content in cyberspace: Development and validation of E-motions Questionnaire in adolescents and young people / Contenido emocional en el ciberespacio: desarrollo y validación del Cuestionario E-mociones en adolescentes y jóvenes (AU)

Background: Studies on emotional intelligence show that some of its dimensions are related to psychological adjustment and the quality of interpersonal relationships. Besides face-to-face interaction, nowadays, relationships are also initiated and maintained in cyberspace. Some studies suggest that emotional content is present in cyber-behavior. The objective of this study was to reveal whether emotions are expressed, perceived and managed online - a concept called E-motions, and to validate an instrument to measure this concept. Method: The E-motions Questionnaire was designed and together with other instruments, completed by 612 university students. Then, the questionnaire was completed by a representative sample of 2139 students in compulsory secondary education in 22 schools in all Andalusian provinces. The first sample was used for exploratory factor analysis and the second sample for confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The E-motions Questionnaire was validated with good psychometric properties. Four factors were found showing that emotions are perceived, expressed, used, understood and managed online. This behavior is related to some aspects of emotional intelligence and also to difficulties in identifying feelings. Conclusions: This new promising research field could be useful for further advancement of research into cyber-behavior (AU)

Antecedentes: estudios sobre la inteligencia emocional muestran que algunas de sus dimensiones están relacionadas con el ajuste psicológico y la calidad de relaciones interpersonales. Además de las interacciones cara a cara, las relaciones se inician y mantienen también en el ciberespacio. Algunos estudios sugieren que el contenido emocional está presente en la ciberconducta. El objetivo del estudio fue descubrir si las emociones se expresan, perciben y gestionan online- concepto denominado E-mociones y validar un instrumento para medirlo. Método: se diseñó un Cuestionario de E-mociones que, con otros instrumentos, fue completado por 612 estudiantes universitarios. Posteriormente, dicho cuestionario fue respondido por una muestra representativa de 2.139 alumnos de la educación secundaria matriculados en 22 escuelas de todas las provincias andaluzas. Se realizaron análisis factoriales - exploratorio con la primera muestra y confirmatorio con la segunda. Resultados: el Cuestionario E-mociones fue validado mostrando muy buenas propiedades psicométricas con cuatro factores. Las emociones se perciben, expresan, utilizan, comprenden y gestionan en el ciberespacio. Esta conducta se relaciona con algunos aspectos de la inteligencia emocional y también con dificultades emocionales. Conclusiones: esta nueva línea podría ser útil para avanzar en la investigación sobre la ciberconducta (AU)

Emotional content in cyberspace: Development and validation of E-motions Questionnaire in adolescents and young people.

BACKGROUND: Studies on emotional intelligence show that some of its dimensions are related to psychological adjustment and the quality of interpersonal relationships. Besides face-to-face interaction, nowadays, relationships are also initiated and maintained in cyberspace. Some studies suggest that emotional content is present in cyber-behavior. The objective of this study was to reveal whether emotions are expressed, perceived and managed online – a concept called E-motions, and to validate an instrument to measure this concept. METHOD: The E-motions Questionnaire was designed and together with other instruments, completed by 612 university students. Then, the questionnaire was completed by a representative sample of 2139 students in compulsory secondary education in 22 schools in all Andalusian provinces. The first sample was used for exploratory factor analysis and the second sample for confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: The E-motions Questionnaire was validated with good psychometric properties. Four factors were found showing that emotions are perceived, expressed, used, understood and managed online. This behavior is related to some aspects of emotional intelligence and also to difficulties in identifying feelings. CONCLUSIONS: This new promising research field could be useful for further advancement of research into cyber-behavior.