TY - JOUR
T1 - The Utility of Locus of Control for Predicting Adolescent Substance Use
AU - Bearinger, Linda Holm
AU - Blum, Robert William
PY - 1997/6
Y1 - 1997/6
N2 - Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the utility of locus of control (LOC) for predicting adolescent substance use. As part of a larger three-wave cohort-sequential study (1983-1989), 155 secondary school-based adolescents completed questionnaires on substance use, personality characteristics, family/peer influences, and health behaviors. Latent variable indicators were developed from the Nowicki-Strickland Personal Reaction Survey and substance use survey items. LOC was a weak predictor of substance use. In two instances were relationships significant: (a) 7th grade LOC predicted 11th grade alcohol use; and, (b) 9th grade LOC correlated with 11th grade cannabis use. Small samples precluded analysis of gender and social class effects. SEM with panel data offers a methodological approach for examining the explanatory capability of LOC.
AB - Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the utility of locus of control (LOC) for predicting adolescent substance use. As part of a larger three-wave cohort-sequential study (1983-1989), 155 secondary school-based adolescents completed questionnaires on substance use, personality characteristics, family/peer influences, and health behaviors. Latent variable indicators were developed from the Nowicki-Strickland Personal Reaction Survey and substance use survey items. LOC was a weak predictor of substance use. In two instances were relationships significant: (a) 7th grade LOC predicted 11th grade alcohol use; and, (b) 9th grade LOC correlated with 11th grade cannabis use. Small samples precluded analysis of gender and social class effects. SEM with panel data offers a methodological approach for examining the explanatory capability of LOC.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Locus of control
KW - Structural equation modeling
KW - Substance use
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031154263&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0031154263&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/(SICI)1098-240X(199706)20:3<229::AID-NUR6>3.0.CO;2-K
DO - 10.1002/(SICI)1098-240X(199706)20:3<229::AID-NUR6>3.0.CO;2-K
M3 - Article
C2 - 9179177
AN - SCOPUS:0031154263
SN - 0160-6891
VL - 20
SP - 229
EP - 245
JO - Research in Nursing and Health
JF - Research in Nursing and Health
IS - 3
ER -