The relationship of perceived social support to substance use in offspringof alcoholics

The present study examined the relationship of perceived social support (PS S) to substance use among adolescents with [family history positive (FH+)] and without [family history negative (FH-)] a family history of alcohol dep endence. A sample of 144 adolescent offspring of alcoholic fathers and a co ntrol group (n = 125) were assessed in relation to substance use and their PSS from both family and friends. The effects of gender and age were also e xamined. Overall, friend PSS was higher than family PSS, regardless of pate rnal history. Females scored higher than males on friend PSS. Older adolesc ents (19-21 years old) perceived higher social support from friends than yo unger adolescents (14-15 years old). Heavy marijuana and tobacco users repo rted lower family and friend PSS than light users, while heavy alcohol user s reported higher friend PSS than light users. Young FH+ adolescents report ed using marijuana at an earlier age than young FH- adolescents. Since the influence of friend PSS on substance use provides a more complex picture th an family PSS among adolescents, future analyses will focus on the underlyi ng mechanisms of peer influence on drinking and drug use. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.