NCJ Number
139417
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: (November 1992) Pages: 412-430
Date Published
1992
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Data from a longitudinal study of males and females tested at ages 15, 18, and 21 years were used to study the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships among 11 problem behaviors, the stability of problem behaviors from middle adolescence to early adulthood, and the relationship of adolescent problems to drug problems at age 21.
Abstract
The data were collected as part of the Rutgers Health and Human Development project, with initial testing taking place between 1979 and 1981 and followup 3 and 6 years later. A total of 1,270 individuals completed all of the self-report questionnaires. Results supported the existence of a problem behavior in terms of the clustering of certain problem behaviors at various points in the life cycle, but they also suggested that the cluster of problems varies by gender. The data also demonstrated that the associations among problem behaviors over time are unstable. Moreover, the predictors of problem drug use at early periods of development are different from those at later periods and are different for males and females. Findings indicated that the focus of drug abuse prevention programs will have to vary by age and gender, and programs must be aimed at the age-appropriate and gender-appropriate predictors for the target population. Tables, notes, and 55 references (Author abstract modified)