Motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Engaging in sexual activities at a younger age is associated with higher risk of substance misuse among adolescents. It could be hypothesized that substance misuse and certain romantic relationship related behaviors may be influenced by similar hormone and other inner physiological facto...

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Main Authors: Liang, Wenbin, Chikritzhs, Tanya
Format: Journal Article
Published: Scientific Research Publishing Inc 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28093
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author Liang, Wenbin
Chikritzhs, Tanya
author_facet Liang, Wenbin
Chikritzhs, Tanya
author_sort Liang, Wenbin
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description BACKGROUND: Engaging in sexual activities at a younger age is associated with higher risk of substance misuse among adolescents. It could be hypothesized that substance misuse and certain romantic relationship related behaviors may be influenced by similar hormone and other inner physiological factors that are affected by related motives. This study investigated the association between motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use from adolescence through to early adulthood.METHOD: A population-based longitudinal study using data collected from Wave I and Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Characteristics of romantic relationship ideals (as the proxy of motives) measured in Wave I (mean age: 16 yrs) were applied to predict substance use indicated at Wave III (mean age: 22 yrs) using multivariate analyses.RESULTS: Adolescents who included sexual activities as part of their romantic relationship ideals were at significantly higher risk of cannabis use among males and heavy alcohol use among females. Romantic ideals that included, gift giving (female) or receiving (male), declaration of love (male), marriage (male) and becoming pregnant (female) were associated with reduced risk of one or more types of substance use.CONCLUSION: In adolescence, sexual motives for romantic relationships were associated with higher risk of substance use and misuse, while motives related to intimacy and commitment in romantic relationships were associated with lower risk.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-280932017-09-13T15:11:55Z Motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: a longitudinal study Liang, Wenbin Chikritzhs, Tanya Alcohol Romantic Relationship Longitudinal Study Cannabis Tobacco Motives BACKGROUND: Engaging in sexual activities at a younger age is associated with higher risk of substance misuse among adolescents. It could be hypothesized that substance misuse and certain romantic relationship related behaviors may be influenced by similar hormone and other inner physiological factors that are affected by related motives. This study investigated the association between motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use from adolescence through to early adulthood.METHOD: A population-based longitudinal study using data collected from Wave I and Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Characteristics of romantic relationship ideals (as the proxy of motives) measured in Wave I (mean age: 16 yrs) were applied to predict substance use indicated at Wave III (mean age: 22 yrs) using multivariate analyses.RESULTS: Adolescents who included sexual activities as part of their romantic relationship ideals were at significantly higher risk of cannabis use among males and heavy alcohol use among females. Romantic ideals that included, gift giving (female) or receiving (male), declaration of love (male), marriage (male) and becoming pregnant (female) were associated with reduced risk of one or more types of substance use.CONCLUSION: In adolescence, sexual motives for romantic relationships were associated with higher risk of substance use and misuse, while motives related to intimacy and commitment in romantic relationships were associated with lower risk. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28093 10.4236/ojim.2013.32006 Scientific Research Publishing Inc fulltext
spellingShingle Alcohol
Romantic Relationship
Longitudinal Study
Cannabis
Tobacco
Motives
Liang, Wenbin
Chikritzhs, Tanya
Motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: a longitudinal study
title Motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: a longitudinal study
title_full Motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: a longitudinal study
title_fullStr Motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: a longitudinal study
title_full_unstemmed Motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: a longitudinal study
title_short Motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: a longitudinal study
title_sort motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: a longitudinal study
topic Alcohol
Romantic Relationship
Longitudinal Study
Cannabis
Tobacco
Motives
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/28093