Peer victimization and substance use in early adolescence: longitudinal analyses of risk and protective factors

This dissertation uses socio-ecological and transactional frameworks (Bronfenbrenner, 1977; Espelage & Swearer, 2003; Sameroff & Chandler, 1975) to examine how variables in adolescents’ individual, family, and peer contexts interact to predict, and prevent, peer victimization and subsequent substance use. Through a series of analyses the dissertation examines risk and protective factors including depression and self-esteem (individual ecology); family conflict and family closeness (family ecology); and association with delinquent peers and peer social support (peer ecology). These variables are hypothesized to have mediating and moderating roles in the association between peer victimization and substance use. These questions are examined as a secondary data analysis using longitudinal data collected at four time points over a period of two years in a diverse (49% female, 51% Black, 34% Caucasian) middle school sample of 1132 early adolescents. Longitudinal structural equation modeling was used the primary data analytic technique. A transactional association was found between peer victimization and substance use. Additionally, all the variables examined significantly influenced the relation between peer victimization and substance use. Depression, self-esteem, family conflict, and peer social support were found to have meditational associations with peer victimization and substance use. Family closeness and affiliation with delinquent peers was found to moderate the association between peer victimization and substance use. The implications of these findings and potential points of intervention and prevention are discussed