BEHAVIORAL SELF-REGULATION - CORRELATES AND 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UPS FOR BOYS AT RISK FOR SUBSTANCE-ABUSE

This investigation demonstrated the heuristic construct of behavioral self-regulation (BSR) as a salient component of the liability to subst ance abuse. Three dimensions of childhood behaviour were employed to c reate a dimensional model of BSR: inattention, impulsivity/hyperactivi ty and aggressivity. Multiple measures and multiple informants were em ployed to develop indices of the three traits in a sample of 10-12 yea r old sons of substance abusing fathers (high risk (HR); n = 180) and normal controls (low average risk (LAR); n = 200). Informants included mothers, boys and their teachers. The results confirmed the presence of a first-order latent trait of BSR. HR boys had significantly higher scores on BSR than LAR boys. Concurrent validity of the BSR trait sco res was supported by significant associations with measures of family dysfunction, deviant peer affiliations and poor school performance. Th ese latter problems are commonly prodromal to substance abuse. Predict ive validity of the BSR trait baseline scores (age 10-12 years) was su pported at 2 year follow-up by significant associations of BSR scores with magnitude of deviant peer affiliations; trends toward significanc e were found for family dysfunction and poor school performance. Taken together, these results confirm and extend previous findings which in dicate that poor BSR is prodromal to substance abuse. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science ireland Ltd.