Based on a sample of 1,218 students in the 10th and 11th grades, 14 variables measuring behavioral and emotional problems were modeled as four factors via confirmatory factor analysis.The factors were labeled Polydrug Use, Delinquency, Negative Affect, and Academic Orientation. A similar four-factor structure was supported 1 year later, and a cross-lagged autoregressive structural equation model indicated high stability but also some significant cross-lagged predictions. For instance, higher levels of Delinquency at Wave 1 predicted higher levels of Wave 2 Polydrug Use and Negative Affect and lower levels of Academic Orientation. Significant predictors common to the four factors included stressful life events and family social support. Specific predictive relations were indicated for particular temperament attributes and specific problem factors (e.g., high Activity Level predicted Delinquency; Behavioral Inflexibility predicted Negative Affect), and for peer substance use variables and specific problem factors (e.g., Peer Drug Use predicted Polydrug Use).The findings are discussed with regard to the need to use research designs and statistical models that facilitate the evaluation of the generality and specificity of influences on behavioral and emotional problems during adolescence.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Achenbach, T.M. (1991). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 and 1991 Profile. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
2.
Arbuckle, J.L. (1997). Amos user's guide. Chicago : Small Waters.
3.
Armor, D.J., & Polich, J.M. (1982). Measurement of alcohol consumption. In E. M. Pattison & E. Kaufman (Eds.), Encyclopedic handbook of alcoholism (pp. 72—81). New York: Gardner Press.
4.
Barnes, G.M., & Welte, J.W. (1986). Patterns and predictors of alcohol use among 7—12 grade students in New York State. Journal of Studies on Alcohol , 47, 53—62.
5.
Bollen, K.A. (1989). Structural equations with latent variables. New York: Wiley.
6.
Brook, J.S., Cohen, P., Whiteman, M., & Gordon, A.S. (1992). Psychosocial risk factors in the transition from moderate to heavy use or abuse of drugs. In M. Glantz & R. Pickens (Eds.), Vulnerability to drug abuse (pp. 359—388). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Coie, J.D., Watt, N.F., West, S.G., Hawkins, J.D., Asarnow, J.R., Markman, H.J., et al. (1993). The science of prevention: A conceptual framework and some directions for a national research program. American Psychologist, 48, 1013—1022.
9.
Dornbusch, S.M., Mont-Reynaud, R., Ritter, P.L., Chen, Z., & Steinberg, L. (1991). Stressful events and their correlates among adolescents of diverse backgrounds. In M. E. Colten & S. Gore (Eds.), Adolescent stress: Causes and consequences (pp. 111— 130). New York: Aldinede Gruyter .
10.
Dryfoos, J.G. (1990). Adolescents at risk: Prevalence and prevention . New York: Oxford University Press .
11.
Dumenci, L., & Windle, M. (1996). A latent trait-state model of adolescent depression using the Center for Epidemiological Studies—Depression Scale. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 31, 313—330.
12.
Elliott, D.S., Huizinga, D., & Menard, S. (1989). Multiple problem youth: Delinquency, substance use, and mental health. New York: Springer-Verlag.
13.
Forman, B.D., Eidson, K., & Hagan, B.J. (1983). Measuring perceived stress in adolescents: A cross validation study. Adolescence, 18, 573—576.
14.
Harrington, R., Rutter, M., & Fombonne, E. (1996). Developmental pathways in depression: Multiple meanings, antecedents, and end-points. Development and Psychopathology , 8, 601—616.
15.
Hawkins, J.D., Catalano, R.F., & Miller, J.Y. (1992). Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications for substance abuse prevention. Psychological Bulletin,112, 64—105.
16.
Huizinga, D., & Elliott, D.S. (1986). Reassessing the reliability and validity of self-report delinquency measures. Journal of QuantitativeCriminology , 2, 293—327.
17.
Jessor, R., & Jessor, S.L. (1977). Problem behavior and psychosocial development: A longitudinal study of youth . New York: Academic Press.
18.
Johnston, L.D., O'Malley, P.M., & Bachman, J.G. (1991). Drug use among American high school seniors, college students and young adults, 1975—1990. Rockville, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse.
19.
Kessler, R.C., & Greenberg, D.F. (1981). Linear panel analysis . New York: Academic Press.
20.
Lewinsohn, P.M., Gotlib, I.H., & Seeley, J.R. (1995). Adolescent psychopathology: IV. Specificity of psychosocial risk factors for depression and substance abuse in older adolescents . Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 34, 1221—1229.
21.
Lewinsohn, P.M., Roberts, R.E., Seeley, J.R., Rohde, P., Gotlib, I.H., & Hops, H. (1994). Adolescent psychopathology: II. Psychosocial risk factors for depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103, 302—315.
22.
Loeber, R., Farrington, D.P., Stouthamer-Loeber, M., & Van Kammen, W.B. (1998). Antisocial behavior and mental health problems: Explanatory factors in childhood and adolescence. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
23.
Luby, J.L., & Steiner, H. (1993). Concordance of parent-child temperament ratings in a clinical sample of adolescent girls. Child Psychiatry andHuman Development, 23, 297—305.
24.
Marcoulides, G. A., & Schumacker, R. E. (Eds.). (1996). Advanced structural equation modeling: Issues and techniques. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
25.
Merikangas, K.R., Stolar, M., Stevens, D.E., Goulet, J., Preisig, M.A., Fenton, B., et al. (1998). Familial transmission of substance use disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry,55, 973—979.
26.
Newcomb, M.D., Huba, G.J., & Bentler, P.M. (1981). A multidimensional assessment of stressful life events among adolescents: Derivation and correlates. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 22, 400—415.
27.
Oetting, E.R., & Beauvais, F. (1990). Adolescent drug use: Findings of national and local surveys. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 58, 385—394.
28.
Petersen, A.C., Compas, B.E., Brooks-Gunn, J., Stemmler, M., Ey, S., & Grant, K.E. (1993). Depression in adolescence. American Psychologist, 48, 155—168.
29.
Procidano, M.E., & Heller, K. (1983). Measures of perceived social support from friends and from family: Three validational studies. American Journal of Community Psychology, 11, 1—24.
30.
Radloff, L.S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385—401.
31.
Sroufe, L.A., & Rutter, M. (1984). The domain of developmental psychopathology. Child Development, 55, 17—29.
32.
Tsuang, M.T., Lyons, M.J., Meyer, J.M., Doyle, T., Eisen, S.A., Goldberg, J., et al. (1998). Co-occurrence of abuse of different drugs in men: The role of drug-specific and shared vulnerabilities. Archives of General Psychiatry,55, 967—972.
33.
Weiss, B., Süsser, K., & Catron, T. (1998). Common and specific features of childhood psychopathology . Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 107, 118—127.
34.
White, H.R., & Labouvie, E.W. (1994). Generality versus specificity of problem behavior: Psychological and functional differences. Journal of Drug Issues, 24, 55—74.
35.
Windle, M. (1987). Stressful life events, general mental health, and temperament among late adolescent females. Journal of Adolescent Research, 2, 13—31.
36.
Windle, M. (1992a). A longitudinal study of stress buffering for adolescent problem behaviors.DevelopmentalPsychology, 28, 522— 530.
37.
Windle, M. (1992b). Revised Dimensions of Temperament Survey (DOTS-R): Simultaneous group confirmatory factor analysis for adolescent gender groups . Psychological Assessment, 4, 228—234.
38.
Windle, M. (2003). Internalizing and externalizing problems. In F. Jacobs, D. Wertlieb, & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of applied developmental science: Vol. 2. Enhancing the life course chances of youth and families (pp. 17—38). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
39.
Windle, M., & Lerner, R.M. (1986). Reassessing the dimensions of temperamental individuality across the life span: The Revised Dimensions of Temperament Survey (DOTS-R) . Journal of Adolescent Research, 1, 213—230.
40.
Windle, M., & Miller-Tutzauer, C. (1992). Confirmatory factor analyses and concurrent validity of the Perceived Social Support—Family measure among adolescents. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 54, 777—787.
41.
Windle, M., & Windle, R.C. (1999). Adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and drug use: Current findings. In L. Juszczak, L. Klerman, & M. Fisher (Eds.), Prevention issues in adolescent healthcare: State of the art reviews, 10, No. 1 (pp. 153—163). Philadelphia: Hanley & Belfus.
42.
Winters, K.C., Stinchfield, R.D., Henly, G.A., & Schwartz, R.H. (1991). Validity of adolescent self-reports of alcohol and other drug involvement. International Journal of the Addictions, 25, 1379—1395.
43.
Yeaworth, R.C., York, J., Hussey, M.A., Ingle, M.E., & Goodwin, T. (1980). The development of an adolescent life change event scale. Adolescence, 15, 91—97.
