Child maltreatment types and adolescent substance use: The role of deviant peer affiliation

Abstract

This is the first study to examine the mediating effects of deviant peer affiliation on the association between different types of child maltreatment and adolescent substance use that includes alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Peer deviance is a well‐established correlate of adolescent substance use, but most studies exploring the relationship between child maltreatment and adolescent substance use have failed to include peer deviance. Structural equation modelling was conducted to examine the direct effects of each type of child maltreatment (i.e., physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and neglect) on adolescent substance use, as well as indirect effects via deviant peer affiliation, using Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect. The results indicated that deviant peer affiliation fully mediated the individuals who had been emotionally abused showed increased deviant peer affiliation, which in turn was associated with higher levels of adolescent substance use. None of the four types of child maltreatment was directly associated with adolescent substance use. The study's findings underscore the importance of early assessment and intervention for the peer relationships of youth who have been emotionally abused.

Targets for intervention to prevent substance use in young people exposed to childhood adversity: A systematic review

“…Table 3 presents studies examining mediators at the interpersonal level. Four studies identified peer factors as mediating the association between childhood adversity and substance use [49][50][51][52]. One study found socio-emotional difficulties to mediate PLOS ONE…”

“…the association between parental separation and alcohol use among adolescent girls, but not boys [52]. Three studies included some aspect of peer substance use or delinquency, which significantly mediated the relationship between adversity and was positively associated with substance use [49][50][51]. Peer deviancy accounted for between 32-63% of the effect of ACEs on substance use [49,50].…”

“…Three studies included some aspect of peer substance use or delinquency, which significantly mediated the relationship between adversity and was positively associated with substance use [49][50][51]. Peer deviancy accounted for between 32-63% of the effect of ACEs on substance use [49,50]. However, two studies failed to find a significant mediating effect of affiliation with deviant peers [53,54].…”

Parental Behavioral Control and Bullying and Victimization of Rural Adolescents in China: The Roles of Deviant Peer Affiliation and Gender

“…Deviant peer affiliation refers to adolescents’ selective affiliation with their peers with serious problem behaviors, including cheating, aggression, and substance abuse [ 27 , 28 ]. There are many causes of deviant peer affiliation in adolescents [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. One of them might be the poor parent-child relationship.…”

“…They have to follow the same rules and behavioral patterns to get accepted by the deviant peers [ 27 , 32 , 33 ]. In return, deviant peer affiliation would undoubtedly cause serious externalization behavior problems, such as drug abuse, aggressive behavior, and bullying [ 29 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. In other words, parent-child interaction, such as parental behavioral control, is likely to arouse school bullying via deviant peer affiliation.…”