Loher Michelle, Steinhoff Annekatrin, Bechtiger Laura, Ribeaud Denis, Eisner Manuel, Shanahan Lilly, Quednow Boris B
Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, University of Zurich, Andreasstrasse 15, P.O. Box 12, Zurich, 8050, Switzerland.
University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, Bern, 3000, 60, Switzerland.
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Mar;34(3):1063-1074. doi: 10.1007/s00787-024-02536-1. Epub 2024 Jul 31.
Associations among self-control, substance use (e.g., tobacco and cannabis use), and violence perpetration have been documented during the adolescent years, but the direction of these associations is not well understood. Using five assessments (covering 9 years) from a prospective-longitudinal study, we examined self-control as a precursor and subsequent mechanism of associations between adolescent substance use and physical violence perpetration. Data came from a large, ethnically diverse sample (n = 1,056). Youth reported their self-control at ages 11, 13, 15, 17, and 20; and their tobacco and cannabis use, and physical violence perpetration at ages 13, 15, 17, and 20. Cross-lagged panel analyses examined associations between these constructs over time. More self-control in late childhood and early adolescence was associated with less future tobacco and cannabis use and physical violence perpetration. Tobacco use was partially associated with more physical violence over time; these associations were not mediated by self-control. Tobacco use in early adolescence was associated with future cannabis use; during late adolescence, tobacco and cannabis use were reciprocally associated over time. Cannabis use was not associated with future physical violence perpetration. Early adolescent self-control plays an important role in later substance use and violence perpetration, and tobacco use has unique links with both later cannabis use and violence perpetration. Supporting the capacities for self-control in late childhood and early adolescence and preventing the initiation and use of entry-level substances could play an important role in preventing both substance use and violence perpetration and their many costs to society.
自我控制、物质使用（如烟草和大麻使用）与暴力行为之间的关联在青少年时期已有记录，但这些关联的方向尚不清楚。我们利用一项前瞻性纵向研究的五次评估（涵盖9年），将自我控制作为青少年物质使用与身体暴力行为之间关联的前兆及后续机制进行了研究。数据来自一个规模较大、种族多样的样本（n = 1056）。青少年报告了他们在11岁、13岁、15岁、17岁和20岁时的自我控制情况；以及他们在13岁、15岁、17岁和20岁时的烟草和大麻使用情况及身体暴力行为。交叉滞后面板分析考察了这些构念随时间的关联。儿童晚期和青少年早期更强的自我控制与未来较少的烟草和大麻使用及身体暴力行为相关。随着时间推移，烟草使用与更多的身体暴力行为部分相关；这些关联并非由自我控制介导。青少年早期的烟草使用与未来的大麻使用相关；在青少年晚期，烟草和大麻使用随时间相互关联。大麻使用与未来的身体暴力行为无关。青少年早期的自我控制在后期的物质使用和暴力行为中起着重要作用，且烟草使用与后期的大麻使用和暴力行为均有独特的联系。在儿童晚期和青少年早期支持自我控制能力并防止入门级物质的开始使用和使用，可能在预防物质使用和暴力行为及其给社会带来的诸多代价方面发挥重要作用。
