RELATIONSHIP OF PERCEIVED COMPETENCES, PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND GENDER TO SUBSTANCE USE IN YOUNG ADOLESCENTS

Objective: This survey study explores the relationship between area-sp ecific perceived self-competence, perceived social support, gender, an d substance use in young adolescents. Method: Questionnaires were admi nistered to 140 male and 131 female adolescents attending middle schoo l to assess self-perception of competencies, social support, and subst ance use. Correlations were performed between the predictor variables and the substance use measures. Hierarchical multiple regressions were also used to identify potential interactions between gender, perceive d competencies, and perceived social support in the prediction of spec ific substances. Results: Higher perceived scholastic competence was a ssociated with less substance use in both genders. In boys, more perce ived support from teachers, and to a lesser degree parents, was associ ated With less substance use, particularly in those with low scholasti c competence. In girls, social support was unrelated to substance use except for support from classmates, which was associated with more cig arette and marijuana use. However, in girls with low scholastic compet ence, more support from peers was consistently associated with more su bstance use. Conclusions: The gender differences in risk factors for e arly substance use identified in this study deserve further investigat ion, in view of their potential relevance for adolescent substance abu se prevention and early intervention.