LATENT VARIABLE MODELING OF LONGITUDINAL AND MULTILEVEL SUBSTANCE USEDATA

This article demonstrates the use of a general model for latent variab le growth analysis which takes into account cluster sampling. Multilev el Latent Growth Modeling (MLGM) was used to analyze longitudinal and multilevel data for adolescent and parent substance use measured at fo ur annual time points. An associative LGM model was tested for alcohol , marijuana, and cigarette use with a sample of 435 families. Hypothes es concerning the shape of the growth curve and the extent of individu al differences in the common trajectory over rime were tested. The eff ects of marital and family status and socio-economic status on family levels of substance use were also examined. Findings are discussed in terms of family-level substance use and similarities in developmental trajectories across substances, and the impact of contextual factors o n family levels of substance use and development.