Self-Control and Substance Use Among College Students

    Authors

    J. A. Ford;L. Blumenstein

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Drug Issues

    Keywords

    self-control; substance use; peers; opportunity; PRESCRIPTION DRUG-USE; HIRSCHIS GENERAL-THEORY; SOCIAL-LEARNING THEORY; NONMEDICAL USE; BINGE DRINKING; EMPIRICAL-TEST; CRIME; GOTTFREDSON; ALCOHOL; SCHOOL; Substance Abuse

    Abstract

    Gottfredson and Hirschi's self-control theory has generated considerable academic interest and become one of the most influential theories of the past 20 years. The current study seeks to confirm and extend this line of research by examining the generality of self-control across several forms of substance use: binge drinking, marijuana use, prescription drug misuse, and other illicit drug use. Data were collected from a sample of more than 1,000 undergraduate students attending a public university in the United States. Findings indicate that students with low self-control were at greater risk for reporting binge drinking, marijuana use, and prescription drug misuse. Further analysis indicates that the influence of self-control on substance use is moderated by opportunity and peer influence. That is, self-control was significantly correlated to binge drinking and marijuana use when students reported greater opportunity to use and also when they reported substance use by their friends.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Drug Issues

    Volume

    43

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    56

    Last Page

    68

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000317396700004

    ISSN

    0022-0426

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