BEHAVIOR OF BOYS IN KINDERGARTEN AND THE ONSET OF SUBSTANCE USE DURING ADOLESCENCE

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of personality dimensions measured at ages 6 and 10 years in predicting e arly onset of cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, and other drug use in boys. In addition, the stability of the prediction between the measure ments at ages 6 and 10 years was investigated. Methods: Data from a la rge longitudinal study of boys were used to assess the relation betwee n childhood personality and the onset of substance use from 10 to 15 y ears of age. Childhood personalities were assessed by teachers' rating s of behaviors. Self-reports of smoking cigarettes, getting drunk, and using other drugs provided the measurement of substance use. Discrete -time survival analysis was used for the statistical analyses. Results : High novelty-seeking and low harm avoidance significantly predict ea rly onset of substance use leg, cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs), but reward dependence was unrelated to any of the outcomes studied. T he results also indicated that either set of predictors tie, the perso nality dimensions measured at ages 6 and 10 years) could be used to pr edict onset of cigarette smoking, getting drunk, and other drug use, b ecause the power of prediction was similar between the measurements at ages 6 and 10 years. Conclusions: High novelty-seeking and low harm a voidance lead to early onset of substance use in boys. The stability o f the prediction between ages 6 and 10 years suggests that the kinderg arten assessments may be used for preventive efforts at school entry i nstead of waiting until early adolescence.