STRUCTURE AND RELATIONS - THE INFLUENCE OF FAMILIAL FACTORS ON ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE USE AND DELINQUENCY

In this paper we examine the robustness of the influence of family str ucture on substance use among 2,057 Ontario adolescent students interv iewed in 1993. Specifically, we examine the unadjusted and adjusted in fluence of four family structures (both parents; one parent; one paren t and stepparent; and neither natural parent) on five substance use an d delinquency outcomes. The results showed family structure difference s for four of the five outcome variables disappeared or weakened signi ficantly after adjusting for familial factors. The most influential fa milial interaction factor was the amount of time students spent with t heir family which showed a significant inverse relationship for all fi ve outcome variables. Overall, the analysis suggests that family relat ions and interactions are more influential on substance use and delinq uency than is family structure.