Childhood stress exposure among preadolescents with and without family histories of substance use disorders
Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors
Abstract
Rationale: Having a family history of substance use disorders (FH+) increases risk for developing a substance use disorder. This risk may be at least partially mediated by increased exposure to childhood stressors among FH+ individuals. However, measures typically used to assess exposure to stressors are narrow in scope and vary across studies. The nature of stressors that disproportionately affect FH+ children, and how these stressors relate to later substance use in this population, are not well understood. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess exposure to a broad range of stressors among FH+ and FH− children to better characterize how exposure to childhood stressors relates to increased risk for substance misuse among FH+ individuals. Methods: A total of 386 children (305 FH+, 81 FH−; ages 10-12) were assessed using the Stressful Life Events Schedule prior to the onset of regular substance use. Both the number and severity of stressors were compared. Preliminary follow-up analyses were done for 53 adolescents who subsequently reported initiation of substance use. Results: FH+ children reported more frequent and severe stressors than did FH− children, specifically in the areas of housing, family, school, crime, peers, and finances. Additionally, risk for substance use initiation during early adolescence was influenced directly by having a family history of substance use disorders and also indirectly through increased exposure to stressors among FH+ individuals. Conclusions: FH+ children experience greater stress across multiple domains, which contributes to their risk for substance misuse and related problems during adolescence and young adulthood. (Author Abstract)
Description
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Article
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Keywords
child abuse, risk factors, long term effects, substance abuse, research
Citation
Charles, N. E., Ryan, S. R., Acheson, A., Mathias, C. W., Liang, Y., & Dougherty, D. M. (2015). Childhood stress exposure among preadolescents with and without family histories of substance use disorders. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 29(1), 192.