Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Although a number of studies have examined the effects of adolescent substance use on problem outcomes in adulthood, relatively little research has looked specifically at the consequences of such adolescent behavior on positive adult outcomes, such as success in advancing one’s education or in employment, healthy interpersonal connection, civic involvement, and physical health behaviors. Prior research suggests that, while negatively and moderately correlated, positive adult behaviors are conceptually and empirically distinct from the “opposite” of problem behaviors (Kosterman et al., 2005). Examining positive adult outcomes is important for understanding the development of healthy individuals, families, and communities that represent more than simply the absence of problems. This study examines the relationship between substance use in adolescence and positive behavioral outcomes at age 21. Data are from a prospective, longitudinal study of 429 participants from rural communities in a Midwestern state. Participants were interviewed throughout adolescence, on six different occasions from age 11 to 18, and again at age 21. Analyses account for prosocial orientation in early adolescence, as well as gender and other demographic indicators. Implications for the role of adolescent substance use in healthy development are considered.