Abstract
The current study assessed the relative importance of conduct problems and depressive symptoms, measured at two ages (11 and 15), for predicting substance use at age 15 in an unselected birth cohort of New Zealand adolescents. Among males, when the relative predictive utility of both conduct problems and depressive symptoms was assessed, only pre-adolescent depressive symptoms were found to predict multiple drug use 4 years later. No predictive relation was found between early symptomatology and later substance use among females. The strongest association between predictors and substance use emerged between age 15 multiple drug use and concurrent conduct problems for both males and females. Finally, both conduct problems and depressive symptoms at age 15 were also found to be associated with concurrent “self-medication” among females.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, J., Williams, S., McGee, R., & Silva, P. A. (1987). The prevalence of DSM-III disorders in a large sample of preadolescent children from the general population.Archives of General Psychiatry, 44, 69–81.
Braught, G., Brakarsh, D., Follingstad, B. D. & Berry, K. (1973). Deviant drug use in adolescence: A review of psychosocial correlates.Psychological Bulletin, 79, 92–106.
Carlson, G., & Cantwell, D. (1980). Unmasking masked depression in children and adolescents.American Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 445–449.
Costello, A., Edelbrock, C., Kalas, R., Kessler, M., & Klaric, S. (1982).Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Child Version. Contract No. RFP-D.3-81-0027. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Mental Health.
Elley, W., & Irving, J. (1972). A socio-economic index for New Zealand based on levels of education from the 1966 census. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 7, 153–167.
Ensminger, M., Brown, C., & Kellam, S. (1982). Sex differences in antecedents of substance use among adolescents.Journal of Social Issues, 38, 25–42.
Geller, B., Chestnut, E., Miller, D., Price, D., & Yates, E. (1985). Preliminary data on DSM-III associated features of major depressive disorder in children and adolescents.American Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 643–644.
Jacobs, A., & Ghodes, H. (1987). Depression in solvent abusers.Social Science and Medicine, 24, 863–866.
Jessor, R., & Jessor, S. (1977).Problem behavior and psychosocial development: A longitudinal study of youth. New York: Academic Press.
Johnson, R., Marcos, A., & Bahr, S. (1987). The role of peers in the complex etiology of adolescent drug use.Criminology, 25, 323–339.
McGee, R., Feehan, M., Williams, S., Partridge, F., Silva, P., & Kelly, J. (1990). DSM-III disorders in a large sample of adolescents.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 611–619.
Moffitt, T., & Silva, P. (1988). Self-reported delinquency: Results from an instrument in New Zealand.Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 21, 227–240.
Puig-Antich, J. (1982). Depression and conduct disorder in prepuberty.Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 21, 118–128.
Silva, P. (1990). The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study: A 15 year longitudinal study.Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 4, 96–127.
Stanton, W., McGee, R., & Silva, P. (in press). Indices of perinatal complications, family background, child rearing and health as predictors of early cognitive and motor development.Paediatrics.
Williams, S., McGee, R., Anderson, J., & Silva, P. (1989). The structure and correlates of self-reported symptoms in 11-year-old children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 17, 55–71.
Windle, M. (1990). A longitudinal study of antisocial behaviors in early adolescence as predictors of late adolescent substance use: Gender and ethnic group differences.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99, 86–91.
Windle, M., & Miller, B. (1990). Problem drinking and depression among DWI offenders: A three-wave longitudinal study.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 58, 166–174.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by USPHS grants MH-43746 and MH-45070 from the Antisocial and Violent Behavior Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health to Terrie Moffitt. Bill Henry was funded by a Fulbright Travel Award. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit is supported by the Medical Research Council and Health Research Council of New Zealand. Appreciation is expressed to the interviewers who collected the data, and to the young New Zealanders who were members of the sample.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Henry, B., Feehan, M., McGee, R. et al. The importance of conduct problems and depressive symptoms in predicting adolescent substance use. J Abnorm Child Psychol 21, 469–480 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916314
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916314