NCJ Number
219310
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 36 Issue: 6 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 725-740
Date Published
August 2007
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the effects of the Iowa Strengthening Families Program on growth patterns of adolescent internalizing and monthly polysubstance use, as well as the association between internalizing and polysubstance growth factors.
Abstract
The Iowa Strengthening Families Program (ISFP) condition adolescents demonstrated a lower rate of increase across time on internalizing symptoms than control condition adolescents. However, ISFP did not have a significant effect on overall levels of internalizing across the time frame studied. Regarding monthly polysubstance use, ISFP adolescents demonstrated a lower overall level and a lower rate of increase across time compared with control condition adolescents. ISFP effects on the rate of increase over time for polysubstance use were stronger for girls than for boys. Overall, this study has shown that the ISFP, a universal intervention targeting youth substance use, also had positive effects on internalizing symptoms in the sample of rural midwestern adolescents. Because both adolescent internalizing symptoms and polysubstance use are serious problems that can lead to short- and long-term consequences, public health goals emphasize their prevention. This study evaluated the effects of the ISFP, a theory-based family-focused adolescent substance use preventive intervention. The study examined the longitudinal effects of ISFP on internalizing symptoms, such as depression and anxiety and monthly polysubstance use (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants, and other illicit drugs). Appendix and references