REPUTATION ENHANCEMENT THEORY AND ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE USE

Data pertaining to self-reported substance use, reputation enhancement , self-concept and coping strategies were obtained from 1,204 Western Australian metropolitan state high school adolescents using the High S chool Student Activity Questionnaire. Previous research has identified low self-concept levels and inadequate coping strategies as being maj or contributors to adolescent substance use. The findings of the prese nt research offer some support for this. A 4 x 2 x 3 MANOVA revealed, however, that reputation enhancement differentiated between current su bstance users, ex-users and non-users to a greater extent than either self-concept levels or coping strategies. Differences between male and female students, however, were identified more through self-concept a nd coping variables than by reputation enhancement variables. No inter action effect and no main effect for year group were present. The impl ications for drug education are discussed. Copyright (C) 1996 Associat ion for Child Psychology and Psychiatry.