INDIVIDUAL AND PEER CHARACTERISTICS IN PREDICTING BOYS EARLY-ONSET OFSUBSTANCE-ABUSE - A 7-YEAR LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

Early onset of substance abuse is a clear marker for future maladjustm ent in adolescents. The present study employed data originating from 7 55 6-year-old boys from low SES neighborhoods, who were followed throu gh age 13, to predict this marker. 3 models were tested using LISREL a nalyses to determine whether individual characteristics and/or peer in fluences were linked to subsequent substance abuse. Individual charact eristics consisted of fighting, hyperactivity, oppositional behaviors, and likability. Peer influences referred to mutual friends' character istics (aggressiveness and likability). Data were obtained from 3 diff erent sources: teacher ratings, peer ratings, and self-reports. Result s were replicated at ages 10, 11, and 12 years with 3 subsamples of th e original sample and indicated that individual characteristics, more than friends' deviance, are pivotal in the development of substance ab use. This finding is consistent with results from other longitudinal s tudies involving children from a variety of cultural backgrounds. It s uggests that prevention programs should target individual characterist ics and begin at an early age.