EXPLORING THE THEORETIC BASIS OF AN ADOLESCENT DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM.
Contributors: University of Washington.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 183
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Health.; Psychology, Behavioral.
Description: Drug abuse among adolescents is a serious societal problem. Although reports indicate peer group prevention programs have been effective in reducing drug use, research in this area lacks inquiry into the therapeutic mechanisms by which successful programs work. This study addressed this gap by exploring a theoretical model posited to explain how a school-based drug prevention program for at-risk adolescents achieved its effects on decreasing drug involvement. Data had been collected over 4 years in 4 high schools within a Northwest urban school district. The sample included 245 at-risk adolescents who participated in a semester-long peer group prevention program based on social support and social learning theories. Four major therapeutic components were analyzed for their effects on drug involvement among program participants: (1) program leader support; (2) program peer group support; (3) exposure to general skills, and (4) exposure to drug use monitoring.

Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the specified theoretic model using a repeated measures and multiple cohort design. Confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a good-fitting and reliable measurement model. A respecified structural model resulted in a good fit and results showed that lower levels of prior school support were associated with greater drug involvement at pre-test and bonding to deviant peers had a positive effect on drug involvement at post-test. However, therapeutic effects of the prevention components were not observed.

Exposure to drug use control skills training had a positive effect on post drug involvement. This finding may reflect appropriate leader response to groups having greater levels of drug involvement by increasing time spent on drug monitoring content. Also, results from several post-hoc analyses suggested the utility of analyzing the three drug involvement elements separately for gender and cohort interactions. Findings were discussed within existing theoretical frameworks and issues of study design. Further research exploring alternative structural models was discussed. Clinical implications included the need for increasing the strength and specificity of social support and social skills training components in this prevention program.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-09, Section: B, page: 3820.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, 1994.

School code: 0250.