TY - JOUR
T1 - Teen Pregnancy, Depression, and Substance Abuse
T2 - The Conditioning Effect of Deviant Peers
AU - Walker, D’Andre
AU - Holtfreter, Kristy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - General Strain Theory (GST) suggests that individuals who experience strain are pressured into criminal and deviant behavior. Consistent with GST, the current study assesses the relationship between strain in the form of teenage pregnancy and substance use behavior, specifically alcohol problems and marijuana use. In addition, deviant peer association is a robust predictor of criminal behavior, therefore, we also investigate the role of deviant peers in the coping process among females who experience teenage pregnancy. Data for the analysis were obtained from Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescents to Adult Health (Add Health). In a sample of 5,236 adolescent females drawn from Waves I and II, results show that teenage pregnancy is a significant predictor of depression and substance use involvement. Furthermore, a 3-way-interaction effect was observed, specifically teenage pregnancy, association with deviant peers, and depression was a significant predictor of substance use behaviors. Implications for theory, research, and social programs for teen parents are discussed.
AB - General Strain Theory (GST) suggests that individuals who experience strain are pressured into criminal and deviant behavior. Consistent with GST, the current study assesses the relationship between strain in the form of teenage pregnancy and substance use behavior, specifically alcohol problems and marijuana use. In addition, deviant peer association is a robust predictor of criminal behavior, therefore, we also investigate the role of deviant peers in the coping process among females who experience teenage pregnancy. Data for the analysis were obtained from Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescents to Adult Health (Add Health). In a sample of 5,236 adolescent females drawn from Waves I and II, results show that teenage pregnancy is a significant predictor of depression and substance use involvement. Furthermore, a 3-way-interaction effect was observed, specifically teenage pregnancy, association with deviant peers, and depression was a significant predictor of substance use behaviors. Implications for theory, research, and social programs for teen parents are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85073975402&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85073975402&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/01639625.2019.1666610
DO - 10.1080/01639625.2019.1666610
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85073975402
SN - 0163-9625
VL - 42
SP - 297
EP - 312
JO - Deviant Behavior
JF - Deviant Behavior
IS - 3
ER -