Experimental Substance Use in Young Adolescents: Family Processes as Buffering Agent

The present study was conducted to find out the effect of family processes i.e. family environment and attachment style as buffering agent in experimental substance use. Experimental substance use (ESU) is the initial stage of substance use during which the adolescents are not committed to continuous use and substance has not become a regular part of their lives but they take the substances for recreational purpose only. To combat this issue of ESU, family processes play crucial and protective role among adolescents who are at risk. Children who perceive their parents as authoritarian rather than democratic are reported to be more likely to engage in substance use. Parent-child relationships established in infancy are important for an individual's future relationship. Longitudinal studies of children from infancy to middle childhood have proven that children who are classified as securely attached are more likely to be loved and valued by their peers. When compared to children with insecure attachment, these children were shown to build more successful relationship with friends. Individuals with insecure attachment lack effective coping strategies, which make them vulnerable to substance use when they find themselves exposed to stressful life events. For the present research paper, a total of 60 young adolescents (13–16 years) were taken. They were administered Family Environment Scale (Moos & Moos, 1994), Attachment Style Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) and Alcohol, Smoking & Substance Involvement Screening Inventory (ASSIST 3.0; WHO, 2007). Although t-test was found to be significant for one group, mean scores revealed that young adolescents of cohesive family environment and secure attachment style were found to be low on ESU as compared to young adolescents from conflict ridden family environment and insecure attachment style. Implications of the study are discussed and future suggestions are recommended.