Exploring the Direct and Indirect Family Effects on Adolescent Drug Use

Abstract

Research exploring the development of adolescent drug use has focused much attention on family and peer influences. Most of this research has concentrated on the direct effects of family structure, parent-child relations, or peer associations on marijuana and other illicit drug use. Peers typically have the greatest impact, followed by family relations, and finally family structure. However, research has failed to explore the potential indirect effects of family variables on adolescent drug use. The author develops and evaluates empirically several models that examine the direct and indirect effects of family structure and family relations on marijuana and polydrug use. The results suggest that peers have the strongest effect on adolescent drug use, yet parent-child involvement and family structure also have a direct effect. The indirect models indicate that family factors influence peers, and family structure affects family relations. These findings suggest that the family effects on adolescent drug use are complex and in need of greater attention.