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The developmental tasks associated with adolescence pose a unique set of stressors and strains. Included in the normative tasks of adolescence are developing an identity, differentiating from the family while still staying connected, and fitting into a peer group. The adolescent's adaptation to these and other, often competing demands is achieved through the process of coping which involves cognitive and behavioral strategies directed at eliminating or reducing demands, redefining demands so as to make them more manageable, increasing resources for dealing with demands, and/or managing the tension which is felt as a result of experiencing demands. In this paper, individual coping theory and family stress theory are reviewed to provide a theoretical foundation for assessing adolescent coping. In addition, the development and testing of an adolescent self‐report coping inventory, Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (A‐COPE) is presented. Gender differences in coping style are presented and discussed. These coping patterns were validated against criterion indices of adolescents' use of cigarettes, liquor, and marijuana using data from a longitudinal study of 505 families with adolescents. The findings are discussed in terms of coping theory and measurement and in terms of adolescent development and substance use.

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Drawing data from the first year of a longitudinal study of 508 families with focal adolescents aged 11 to 13 years and their older siblings (14 to 18 years), the investigators examined the influence of older siblings' drug-using attitudes and behaviors, in comparison with parental and peer drug-using attitudes and behaviors, on focal adolescents' nonuse and use of substances. Older siblings are frequently a source of drugs and use substances with their young siblings, though peers remain the primary source and the most frequent coursers. For most substances, frequency of use was predicted by older sibling and peer substance use, each after controlling for the other. Parental drug use was found to be minimal in comparison to older siblings and peers. Findings relative to the potentially important role of older siblings in influencing their younger siblings' drug-using behavior are discussed.