Relationship between perceived life satisfaction and adolescents' substance abuse

Purpose: To explore the relationship between perceived global life satisfac tion and selected substance use behaviors among 5032 public high school stu dents. Methods: The 1997 South Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Survey substance abuse and life satisfaction variables were used. An adjusted polychotomous logis tic regression analysis utilizing SAS/SUDAAN, revealed a significant race/g ender interaction. Subsequent multivariate models were constructed individu ally for four race/gender groups. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence i ntervals were calculated to assess the magnitude of risk for selected subst ance abuse behaviors and their association with reduced global life satisfa ction. Results: Cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, regular al cohol use, binge drinking, injection drug, and steroid use were significant ly (p < .05) associated with reduced life satisfaction for specific race/ge nder groups (white males; black males; white females; and black females). I n addition, age (less than or equal to 13 years) of first alcohol drink, fi rst marijuana use, first cocaine use, and first cigarette smoked were also significantly (p < .05) associated with reduced life satisfaction. Conclusion: Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether dissatisfa ction with life is a consequence or determinant of substance abuse behavior for adolescents. (C) Society for Adolescent Medicine, 2001.