Predicting Marijuana Use Among Adolescents

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Abstract
The present paper (1) contrasts the prevalence of marijuana use and involvement with marijuana among 194 delinquent and 405 nondelinquent adolescents, (2) examines the utility of an expanded version of Jessor and Jessor''s (1977) problem behavior model in predicting adolescent marijuana use, and (3) tests the relative importance of the predictors of marijuana use. Personality variables that were added to the Jessor problem behavior model included: (1) stimulus reducing - augmenting, (2) ego strength, (3) anxiety, and (4) field dependence. Results showed that delinquents reported using marijuana more often than nondelinquents. In the multiple regression analyses the expanded model explained a slightly greater percentage of the variance in adolescent marijuana use than the Jessor and Jessor mdel. Of the added personality variables, the Vando (1969) Reducer-Augmenter dimension seemed to be a particularly significant predictor. In addition, reducing-augmenting seemed to be a better predictor of involvement with marijuana than several previously used personality and demographic variables since it replaced these in the final regression equation. Perceived environment variables measuring pressure from friends to use marijuana and friends as models for marijuana use were the best predictors of marijuana use.

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