NCJ Number
184646
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 39 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2000 Pages: 1190-1197
Editor(s)
Mina K. Dulcan M.D.
Date Published
September 2000
Length
8 pages
Annotation
To replicate previous findings among adults of an inverse association between religiosity and substance abuse in a nationally representative sample of adolescents, this study sampled 676 adolescents (328 female and 348 male) in the National Comorbidity Survey who were assessed for substance use and abuse with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.
Abstract
Religiosity was assessed through affiliation with religious denomination and through responses to seven questions concerning religious beliefs and practices. Confirmatory factor analysis replicated in adolescents the two religiosity factors of personal devotion and personal conservatism previously identified among adults, although the two factors were more highly correlated in adolescents than in adults. Personal devotion and affiliation with more fundamentalist religious denominations were inversely associated with substance use and substance dependence or abuse across a range of substances (alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, or any contraband drug). Personal conservatism, defined as a personal commitment to teaching and living according to creed, was inversely associated with alcohol use only. The authors conclude that low levels of religiosity may be associated with adolescent onset of substance use and abuse. 38 references and 3 tables