Dataset Information

Religious affiliation protects against alcohol/substance use initiation: A prospective study among healthy adolescents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A substantial volume of the literature suggests that religious factors buffer against alcohol/substance use among adults, but research among adolescents is sparse. Further, few studies in this area have been prospective, and therefore it is unclear how religion may impact less alcohol/substance use among adolescents.

Method

We prospectively evaluated effects of religious affiliation on initiation of alcohol/substance use in a sample of 81 psychiatrically healthy 13-14-year-olds from New England, over a 3-year period (from November 2015 to January 2019). Known risk factors were also evaluated including anxiety, depression, and impulsivity; family history of mental illness and alcohol/substance misuse; and volume of brain regions implicated in adolescent alcohol/substance misuse (assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

Results

Religiously affiliated adolescents were significantly less likely to initiate use of alcohol/substances (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.38). The addition of family history of alcohol/substance misuse to the model increased the predictive value of religious affiliation (HR = 0.34). Other risk factors did not diminish nor increase observed effects.

Conclusions

These findings support and extend the current research by suggesting that religious affiliation protects against initiation of alcohol/substance use during early adolescence, particularly in individuals with elevated risk.

SUBMITTER: Rosmarin DH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9908826 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Religious affiliation protects against alcohol/substance use initiation: A prospective study among healthy adolescents.

Rosmarin David H DH Pirutinsky Steven S Kaufman Caroline C CC Harris Sion K SK Sneider Jennifer T JT Silveri Marisa M MM

Journal of adolescence 20221107 2

<h4>Background</h4>A substantial volume of the literature suggests that religious factors buffer against alcohol/substance use among adults, but research among adolescents is sparse. Further, few studies in this area have been prospective, and therefore it is unclear how religion may impact less alcohol/substance use among adolescents.<h4>Method</h4>We prospectively evaluated effects of religious affiliation on initiation of alcohol/substance use in a sample of 81 psychiatrically healthy 13-14-y ...[more]

PMID: 36345114

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Dataset Information

Religious affiliation protects against alcohol/substance use initiation: A prospective study among healthy adolescents.

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Religious affiliation protects against alcohol/substance use initiation: A prospective study among healthy adolescents.

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